HeteroScuderia wrote: Some people get in to the hobby for quick bucks, and others with great intentions, and I must use this opportunity to address the obvious issue in this thread with the user, Linn Currie. In this instance she clearly thought this entire thread was aimed at her because we had recently held a telephone conversation where she explained to me that she recently got in to the hobby and has spent a good deal of money buying T's that she hopes to raise, breed, photograph etc. Unfortunately it turned into a slinging match as it went on but (and I hope you are reading Linn) I fully believe you to be someone that will stick around and you were completely mistaken at answering my comments as though I was talking to you directly. However I do realize that due to our recent conversation, it was easy to think so. And I'm sorry.

Danny, if that is your heartfelt apology, then I gracefully accept.

Yes, I did perceive your recent rant (as you called it yourself) to be directed at me personally as it came within hours of me inquiring about mature males.

I am now (obviously) pleased that you realise and publicly admit that I am not a fly-by-night, even though I had plenty of cash to throw around. I don't need to impress you nor anybody else on this forum by telling you that all of our spare time is spent on reading, learning and watching ... and talking to whoever has the time to share their knowledge with us. If we (my husband Robert, T partner Niekie and myself) were not serious about this new hobby, then we wouldn't be bothered about trying to do everything as best as we possibly could.

HeteroScuderia wrote: SO, THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION: They have spent little to no time in the hobby at all, getting to know it's dynamics, it's peers, it's trends etc. They have spent no time researching the economy of the hobby to see if there is actually a market to sell what they want to breed, they have not researched anything about care, habitat and general husbandry of tarantulas, let alone how to deal with 500 B.smithi slings. THEREFORE - I would say, a VETERAN at the very least is someone who has done all of the above to some extent and over a period of say three or four years - has actually used what he/she has learned to the benefit of the people in the hobby as well as himself. Taking, but also giving. A true veteran is someone that has been doing this for 10 or more years already I would think.

What we have also experienced is that some of these so-called veterans care next to nothing about their Ts. In any hobby, you will find some breeders that become too complacent and too lazy to care for their animals properly. Who suffers? No, not the hobby, but the animals and the unsuspecting buyer! I would much rather prefer to deal with a "newbie" that is putting heart and soul in his hobby by breeding the best of the best and in the most humane way possible ... than spend my money with somebody that has been in the business too long and stopped caring about anything but the money.

Groete
Linn

My 1c worth, let whoever got the money to buy what they want buy it thats why they got the bucks.

Let them breed their spiders and sell it to us cheaply.
Then i can get gootys too, and maybe t blondi.

If given breeder realy where into it for the love they would do what the magnificent duke does and sell all spiders for the same VERY cheap price.

Sent from my GT-P7300 using Tapatalk HD

Linn Currie wrote: What we have also experienced is that some of these so-called veterans care next to nothing about their Ts. In any hobby, you will find some breeders that become too complacent and too lazy to care for their animals properly. Who suffers? No, not the hobby, but the animals and the unsuspecting buyer! I would much rather prefer to deal with a "newbie" that is putting heart and soul in his hobby by breeding the best of the best and in the most humane way possible ... than spend my money with somebody that has been in the business too long and stopped caring about anything but the money.

Groete
Linn

As a newbie and nowhere near any thoughts of breeding let me just ask what you mean by the BOLD statements. This is just a question from somebody wanting to learn and improve his skills and avoid the wrongs. What have you observed that led to these statements. I do my learning is via www and there they don't normally showcase the wrongs.

Capitalism has failed!!!!! Lets all embrace Communism and share our Ts with everyone!

Seriously though, I think everyone should let up on breeding for a while as it is not worth it at this moment

Really

and i take it it all the big time breeders are not in it for the money, and they where never noobs as well. if someone has the money and wants to spend it on rare species WHATS THE PROBLEM?

AHH you not going to make as much on your slings because he sold his p.metallicas for R1000.00 and you where hoping to get what R1600.00
SHAME

Quintrix wrote: As a newbie and nowhere near any thoughts of breeding let me just ask what you mean by the BOLD statements. This is just a question from somebody wanting to learn and improve his skills and avoid the wrongs. What have you observed that led to these statements. I do my learning is via www and there they don't normally showcase the wrongs.

Enclosures that stink; multiple cricket skeletons in cage; bone-dry water bowls and in some cases, not even a water bowl; and not being able to tell me when last the T ate.

Groete
Linn