dodgy pet shops??

[Adam Smith]

Its a shame (also good) that when it comes to domestic pets; dogs, cats, rabbits and many other pets there is more to help them with the RSPCA and numerous organisations that will rehome pets and there are laws on cruelty to the pets yet there is a lack of this kind of concern when it comes to reptiles and especially spiders. From time to time the RSPCA will have snakes that the owner bought on an impluse not reading up and realising how large they get but in general there is not a great deal spent on exotics. Even though these days seeing a lizard or tarantula or whatever can be more common these days in fact corn snakes are bred to the point they could be considered as domestic animals however in society this is still pretty much kept underground and never a mention about it in the media. The only time that there is a taranutla in the media is speculative crap who have no stats or information to back up making the taratnula to be pulic enemy number 1. Twice last year there was stories in the paper about tarantulas stating that the Red knee (B smithi) was fatally dangerous to humans. We all know thats bull for starters. I think that the Gov't RSPCA and any other orgs need to start getting in people who are qualified to deal with exotic pets whether exotic vet, herpetologist, reptile breeders and dealers as well as tarantula experts and that way more can be done. ITs rediculous that in this day they can put someone away for mistreating a cat but when its a snake or spiders nothing is done. Surely the society the size it is could start some kind of campaign

[Phil Rea]

Personally I would never support any organisation who would actually destroy healthy animals, so that's the RSPCA completely out for me.

[Adam Smith]

That is a good point. surely there are organisations (small ones) that keep healthy animals til re homed.

[Nicola Dolby]

spiders and snakes

At the end of the day spiders and snakes are living creatures. They kill to eat, they do no harm otherwise unless they think they are in danger and need to protect themselves. I wish I could say the same about people. As living creatures they may well have the capacity to feel pain, as mammals do. They may not feel it in the same way as we do, but it is more than likely there. Anyone who willfully inflicts pain on a living animal of any kind should be educated as to how and why this is unacceptable behaviour, and failing this be put in a situation where they cannot harm animals. If people cannot be responsible around animals then that responsibility should be taken from them until such times as they can behave otherwise. I know that the BTS tries very hard to raise awareness concerning tarantulas, but if it is legal for them to be maltreated in this country then I feel the BTS should be speaking to Defra about a change in the law. As for the reputation of tarantulas, the media is responsible for a lot of the atitude people have in this country towards tarantulas. Credit should be given to the BBC for the positive truthful things its programme set at Longleat has said about their, and by proxy all B. smithis. Similarly in a programme on BBC2 last week about 'vampire fish' in Peru there was a very complementary section on this Avicularia which was sharing a hut with the camera crew. But more often than not its the sensationalist garbage which claim to be documentaries, usually found on the more 'alternative' channels which fills people's heads. This is why I feel (it would be expensive but worth it) that the BTS should make promotional documentary DVDs concerning the individual genuses of tarantula, where people could see them in their natural habitat and learn the truth. I know there are other DVDs out currently but a regulated series, possibly with the support of Defra, would be an excellent benefit both in educational and entertainment terms for many people. Sorry to go on a bit but I'm grateful for the chance to say how I feel. So thank you!!!!

[Mark Pajak]

i agree with you totally, it just seems a bit unfair on anyone who buys a T from this shop, espessially the chap who thought he was getting a black coloured goliath and all he got was a overpriced wrongly named L.parahybana.

Looks like this happened to me too, but actually it is probably for the best.....

I bought a "T.Blondi" 2nd instar from a shop, and 6 months lather its grown into a (hopefully) female, about 6" with an attractive reddish tint and voracious appetite. It isn't that aggressive and looks nothing like the lighter brown T.blondi pics I've seen on the net.

I am assuming that it is probably a Lasiodora SP, but its impressive size and health mean I don't feel ripped off as I've never kept a 'giant' before. Obviously I do not agree with the lack of concern the shop had for correct taxonomy, but in this case no harm done...