Hi there . Please can someone assist me ? Are rain spiders legal to keep as a pet in South Africa ? There is a lot of contraversy concerning this topic !! Thank you

Hi Jean

It is legal to keep rain spiders in SA, you can keep all true spiders with out an issue.

Couple people keep and have kept them.
On a stage I had 3 females, which all gave me egg sacks and plenty babies.

Where is the controversy coming from?

Thanks for that . I went to an exotic pet store in JHB this week end and asked where I could buy some and was informed that I am not permitted to keep them and if I was caught with it , I will be fined and all my T's taken !! I really didn't want want any trouble !! It's like the OBT !! I didn't know they were illegal to keep and someone advertised them on gumtree and I bought some ! Only to be told they are illegal !! I got rid of them quickly but lost out on the money !! I got a list of illegal T's and will make sure I won't get caught again !!
Where can I get some rain spiders from ?
Thanks

Ok, before this escalates: I think I know which pet shop you went to and who informed you that you couldn't keep them - it was my husband (he was there buying roaches for us) ... he told me about this story when he got home and I quickly corrected him on this fact - he is not active on the forum and I never informed him on the legal status of keeping true spiders - naturally he assumed that they have the same legal status as Pterinochilus, Ceratogyrus, etc.

Sorry about that, but I'm glad you came on this forum to confirm!

Ok, so we have found the controversy. :laugh: :laugh:
And it is a small world. welcome

I would not know where to find a rain spider, our true spider hobby is not that great and people don't breed true spiders for a hobby.
Your best bet would be to find one in the wild.