Thanks for all the help guys, im getting a environmental lawyer and a normal blood sucker to have a look at the fine print. Will be sorting out as much of the legal things as possible, will then take a dive into this more prepared! It for personal use so i cant see why they will deny one.

IMO T's in general are not the threat as if they did become invasive then T business would boom(Job creation hahaha) things become invasive as there is no money in them. Id love to see a invasive species thats consumes by the population remain invasive. IMO, it would be more of the dangers in disease.(this is just a view nothing more)

Now can anyone tell me if they know of any disease or virus\ fungus thats has wiped out T populations in the past?

Since no one else has said it yet, I will:

Apart from all the other issues, people don't get permits to import tarantulas because the hobby is technically illegal

Now can anyone tell me if they know of any disease or virus\ fungus thats has wiped out T populations in the past?

There is only one virus/fungus/disease that I know of that has the potential to wipe all life from this planet, and probably will... Homo sapiens...

Reynolds wrote:

Thanks for all the help guys, im getting a environmental lawyer and a normal blood sucker to have a look at the fine print.

Wow that does sound cool I hope they dont suck you to dry! :laugh:

Now can anyone tell me if they know of any disease or virus\ fungus thats has wiped out T populations in the past?

Well there are two diesies you get

Dyskenitic syndrome (spelling)
Nematods (spelling)

There is a boit more info on the American sites and the Eu sites.

Like I said, good luck.
People have tried and failed many a time.
Firstly, why do you want to import the spiders? Nat Con will ask you this.
Secondly, they can be evasive. You will need to do an EIA for all areas in Sa, for incase you decide to sell the spiders to someone and they escape. Certain areas of KZN are a paradise for tarantulas.
Yes there are definately diseases. Just look at Diskinetic syndrome. No one knows what causes this or even if it is just 1 disease or just a whole bunch of issues put into one. Going to be very hard to prove that you can stop a potentially deadly disease if no one knows what causes it.
You will probably find yourself so buried under red tape and lawyers bills that you will probably give up.
My advise. Enjoy what we have in the country. Eventually people will manage to breed the rarer species and supply the South African market.

my goal here is to make T husbandry a legal affair and i guess in someway to build a base on tarantula pet keeping. These are kept as pets and should have no other implications than any other animal entering
the country.Dogs and cats in general have a way bigger impact on wildlife IMO. If i follow the lines of the law then there should be no issue importing a few slings.
I am not importing anything Endangered nor protected in ANY country due to the CITES\NEMA regulations.

Anyways i will try my best, im not trying to upset anyone on the wild side nor authorities.Good and bad I and think its 100% correct for such studies to be done before new lifeforms are introduced into a country!

Now on a more personal note, who here at tarantulas.co.za has a valid CPB4 Licence? that the licence just to own a Spider. I think there must be quite a few T lovers in South Africa as i know a few myself!

Dont be shy to discuss