Thanks Marula,

I know that the few "k" for a puppy is another story. There are innoculations and registrations that cost a fair amount. Nevermind the costs of looking after the litter for the 6-8 weeks it takes before you can sell them safely.

The point I am trying to make here is that if we are purchasing captive bred specimens then this will have no impact on the natural populations provided that the original breeder has the relevant permits in place or their own captive bred specimens to breed with. I guess the problem comes in when tracking which are captive bred and which are natural population.

Also, in the event of a mass natural population problem that significantly reduces the natural populations in an area, keepers of captive bred specimens can help balance the problem by releasing some of their stock into the wild, thereby maintaining the balance.

Masta_Splinta wrote:

I know that the few "k" for a puppy is another story. There are innoculations and registrations that cost a fair amount. Nevermind the costs of looking after the litter for the 6-8 weeks it takes before you can sell them safely.

Exactly! And not to forget the expensive tests to be done by the vet on both parents to exclude a number of genetically transmitted problems. Which may and will mean that only a fraction of viable dogs can actually be used responsibly for breeding!

Also, in the event of a mass natural population problem that significantly reduces the natural populations in an area, keepers of captive bred specimens can help balance the problem by releasing some of their stock into the wild, thereby maintaining the balance.

There are numerous problems with releasing local species into the wild that render this option literally impossible. The local species (and probably not only these) are highly variable in both their appearance and their behaviour and life cycles, which is exactly adapted to the specific environment they live in.

On top of that captive bred individuals will not have undergone the natural selection process their wild counterparts will. Thus any release of spiders into the wild will most likely mean a hazardous intervention with the local fauna.

I think we should just enjoy the beautiful and huge range of exotic T's available in the country.

Yeah, the laws are in place we have to respect them. Maybe one day they will change them or in the very least, allow permits to be applied for more easily.

I would love a few Ceratogyrus sp. but I am more after the OBT's.

I hadn't considered the natural selection angle and you're right, it would definitely be a problem releasing captive bred into the wild.

Thanks goodness these decisions are left to the qualified people At least my children and great-grand-children will be able to appreciate the local species in future generations.

a Friend of my owns a obt now what must he do with it he bought it 4 years back ?

What permit or to who do i need to talk to be able to import p.metallicas and M.balfouri? I would like to import the more rare but not ToPS spieces for the benifit of the south african community and for tarantulas as a whole. These will be CB slings and will be rared and bred in SA if the permit allows. Can anyone point me in the right direction as to whom i should talk to. Your help will be much appreciated.
PS. as for the natrual selection comment, Ts have been here before the dinosaurs
so im sure natrual salection has played its role pretty well in genereal they are like crocodiles, they perfect in design as they have proven over time!.
Regards

The price part is what I don't understand , how can you get 500 slings from a eggsack and still sell the slings at 400 each? Why does that work out to 200 000?