I'm pretty sure I already know the answer to shis, but is it easy to import spiders?

Has anyone ever sent any home from abroad? Anyone tried taking any with them through customs?

Any advice would be appreciated

depends where you want to bring them in from?

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Apart from Australia its a peice of urine

If you want any other details drop me a PM.

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Well, I'm going to the Dominican Republic later this year, and they have a native T, that I'd love to be able to bring back.

Cue the raptures of "Don't be so silly, of course you can't do that!" lol

I just thought that someone here may know somehting about it

I've known people to post spiders via European ground mail, just like we post via royal mail. I am not sure on the legalities of it though, whether you have to declare it as spiders - I know you don't for within the UK.

If outside the EU I would think that the shipping costs would make it rather too expensive for pet keepers to bother importing, only wholesalers buying thousands at a time. The wholesalers must get them from somewhere as most spiders in the pet trade are WC sub adults / Adults, so obviously shipped from their country of origin somewhere along the way before they end up here.

If you are bringing yourself through the EU via car / foot, you will not have a problem as it is perfectly legal to bring home your own pet reptiles and invertebrates from the EU (ie. Hamm shows).

If you are flying, you would have to declare, and it is very unlikely that the air carrier will allow you to take a tarantula on the plane, due to the havoc and panic that would be caused if it escaped - all animals have to be declared on planes and usually go down in the hold, and it's expensive!

** EDIT just read about the DR.. you'll have to fly, so there is no real way you can legally get it back as the plane is unlikely to take it, but you would have to check with the carrier whether you could carry an animal in the hold. There may also be laws regarding taking animals out of the country as there are in a lot of countries, especially if WC.

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Do you mean just bring back in your suitcase or somethin?

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Well, I'm sure it'd be fine in the suitcase, as long as I don't have someone practicing their 'Shot Putt' with my case, like last time! lol

Although, I'm sure the missus would have something to say about it; she's not big on spideys

You have to apply for permits to bring spiders back from other countries. And the only way you'll be granted that permit is if its to do study work on. They won't let you bring them back just to keep as pets. They look better in the wild anyway

I had a strong suspicion this would be the official line