I am doing a presentation at the upcoming Invertebrates in Education, Conservation, and Captivity conference on the benefits of captive rearing tarantulas in mass. Can anyone help me out with finding a few statistics and pictures? I want to start the presentation with amounts of tarantulas that are being imported from around the world. I would also like to report on any endangered or threatened tarantulas. Does anyone have any real data on how many tarantulas are coming into the US or to the world for the pet trade? Any pictures of large shipments of tarantulas going to wholesalers? Anything at this point would help. Thank you!

The US Fish & Wildlife Service may have the data you need, but I wouldn't get too optimistic. They're far more interested in busting people than they are in educating them.

And, I don't think that the pet industry itself really appreciates the number of tarantulas that are imported. In any case, they're much too interested in fending off each other, and the USF&WS to try to keep records of that sort of thing.

And, enthusiasts (a.k.a., hobbyists) are neither in a position to know such data, nor in a position to have taken such photos. In fact, most importers, distributors, wholesalers, and retailers would deem such information as confidential and none of our business (trying to protect themselves from the competition and the USF&WS), and wouldn't allow anyone around with a camera in the first place.

This is going to be a tough one for you. You may simply have to "wing it," (i.e., stand up there and spout vague generalities in front of a blank screen).

Sorry. Not much help, I know.

Thanks for the help, Stan. I kind of assumed that would be the case. I was really hoping for jaw-dropping numbers of how many rose haired tarantulas, for example, are harvested every year. I'm presenting on a husbandry technique that eliminates individualized care for s'lings and I'm hoping to show how this new system could undercut the wild caught supply and drive down the market. I'm at the point in my presentation that I wanted to put down some cold-hard facts. Oh well, generalizations will have to do.

Trace,

You can file a Freedom of Information Act request to the USFWS to request information regarding that data. They will give you the records for all species they have records for and for whatever years. I can tell you that in 2009 and 2010 there were tens of thousands of "Grammostola" imported, to the tune of 55,000. The problem is that you'll have G. rosea, which is or is not G. rosea. The taxonomic nightmares in the hobby extend to the USFWS.

In any case, via a FOIA request, I have the 2009 and 2010 data. There is a specific format you must follow for requests, and for my request the time was only about 30 days for delivery. It's a pretty easy process. You only have to ask, there is NO mystery and NO hidden agenda with them. It literally was two emails, and a short wait for two years of data.

I would also suggest looking at the IUCN Red Lists regarding many species. For example P. metallica:

http://www.iucnredlist.org/apps/redlist/details/63563/0

Christian

Awesome, thanks for the info Christian. Do you have specific data on G. rosea? Is there anyway you can forward the statistics to me so that I may qoute them in my presentation?

I have nothing of real importance to add, but I just wanted to say that your presentation sounds fascinating and I hope you'll share your findings with the forum.

Trace,

You might also look at what Mexico has done or Australia to captive breed massive amounts of animals for export to the USA. I know in about 2003 or 2004 there was a massive release of B. smithi to PetCo for example. That pushed the price down for a short time, and of course was all captive bred. I am not sure if those were domestic or international in origin though. I believe the people to talk to would be tarantulas.com. More information of both efforts can be found on arachnoboards.com or on the yahoo group where the ATS lived before this discussion board.

I will email you some numbers shortly.

Christian

Way to go Christian.