Hey hey everyone.

In my opinion I would say, if imports ever get legal, there must be a system in place to make the people that is serious about the hobby buy a "license" of some sort and renew it every year. Make the price reasonable for people that want to better the hobby.

I have always said, if people need to pay for something, the appreciate it more, and look after it with passion.

So, make people pay to be able to participate in the hobby.

Bonzai wrote: Hey hey everyone.

In my opinion I would say, if imports ever get legal, there must be a system in place to make the people that is serious about the hobby buy a "license" of some sort and renew it every year. Make the price reasonable for people that want to better the hobby.

I have always said, if people need to pay for something, the appreciate it more, and look after it with passion.

So, make people pay to be able to participate in the hobby.

I disagree with that 100%.

What is stopping, for example, a big petshop chain from paying tons of money for import permits because they know that they could make tons of money off of people by being the only ones able to import rare species?

In the same breath, I have met people who dedicate all of their time to researching spiders and they therefore have to take odd jobs (Like doing educational talks for very little money) just to survive. These people might be the best candidates for importing and possibly breeding (With all of their knowledge) rare species, but they can't afford to pay for the permits.

People like oceanblue (Who is still a scholar), has much more knowledge on spiders that most other members of this forum but just because he doesn't have a job that pays 6 figures, why should he not be allowed to import spiders?

@ Cerat

Imports is a different story, and I agree fully with you. Sorry for it not sounding that way.

What I'm talking about, is keeping Ts.

My mom has been part of dog breeding clubs etc, and they pay like annual fees. These people come out inspect your premises etc.

Why not something like this. Remember, I'm only talking: "Keeping Ts wise."

Importers etc must be controlled in another manner, and in our country we have seen much of this going down the drain. Look at all the piracy, cheap clothing etc.

I take my hat off to people earning little money to survive and still do research and still being part of something they have passion for. Me and my wife also HAVE to work to make it every month. We both earn together a 4 digit nr salary. The hobby I pay for with enclosures that I build for people. And with this I'm also studying a degree, which is not cheap.

There are currently no people that can come out and inspect premises of permit holders, so there will never be enough people to inspect hundreds of people across the country unfortunately.

In a perfect world, this would be possible though.

Ceratogyrus wrote:

cascade wrote: And they have to be put into curtain, so now if we import tarantulas they will first be put into curtain and you have to look after them for so many months will they there, and then you have to still pay for there stay!

But the main thing is They can keep local snakes,as they get permits to keep them!

Assuming you mean quarantine?

I have never applied for a snake permit, but heard that you need to be part of a herpetelogical society for a certain amount of time before you get a permit? Is this true?
Wish we could get some feedback about local permits, but i know it was quite a fight with local snakes, so could take a few years still for it to be finalized.

Yes quarantine!

As far as I understand it, it makes it easier and helps in the process if you do belong to a herpetelogical society or buying the snakes from some who all ready has permits in place, but any one can apply for a permit, there is a couple of things that Natcon will check up on.

And for anything it sometimes takes ages to get permits. But it can and does happen.

I really don't care that Imports for Tarantulas are illegal. There are plenty of people who do it so I don't have to. If Permits for Locals were made readily available I also wouldn't care. I prefer exotics anyway and the only local I like is that Blue Legged one.

As Ceratogyrus said quite a few times, the Risks are too great. You will always have that one ignoramus who when he get's bored of Tarantulas, will release his entire collection somewhere in the Veld.
In a perfect world everyone would respect the enviroment and imports would be legal and monitored effectively.

People should just stop fretting over Imports. Despite what we may think, NatCon and Cape Nature are doing a good job and it could be a million times worse.