Every now and again I pop in here and find a thread that is very apt in regard to what is happening in my caudate room or what is on my mind.
Some miscellaneous thoughts...
1) Am I the only the person who feels Hortag is over-rated? I believe it is hard to get hold of, produces a dirty liquid, enables crickets to hide (and then quickly rot) and fragile feet, eg Neurergus strauchii, seem to stumble and bumble on it.
2) At the time of writing I am trying to get my hands on the above mentioned Tylototriton. I know this is a rare opportunity, but - my buying decision having been made - all that has happened so far is that I have had confirmed to me just what a frustrating, labyrinthine thing the pet trade is.
The current state of play is I am paying Petshop A tomorrow to pay Herp supplier B to pick them up from Importer-Wholesaler C and deliver them to A. I have had a devil of a job finding someone to help me. It reminded me of a famous US psychologist I once heard talk about car salesmen who dissuade - fight?! - customers who have decided to buy, know what they want and just want to pay. After days of ignored emails and ringing round I still fear I have "missed the boat" (I was very recently reassured there are lots left, but apparently it is less than 10?!).
3)Somebody said this importation was a special arrangement not carried through normal channels. What does this mean? Just curious...
4) They aren't £65 a pop though are they - that is the trade price. So a retailer is supposed to buy them for that plus Value Addded Tax (VAT on an amphibian - I ask you!!!), then add the industry mark-up. Which is usually - although it seems I have found a merciful retailer - a mark-up of 100% as far as I can tell. In the words of a well-know UK bank advert, there must be "another way".
5) After recently reading about a different species which was imported and spotted at a garden centre the worse for wear, let us hope that not only am I in time but also that the other hands which must be involved in this pass-the-parcel know what they are doing.
6) Thanks for the get-at-least-four advice. I contemplated obtaining 2 and needed a thin excuse to double-up. Advice accepted eagrely, John.
Off to pray to the Patron St of Lost Causes,
Matthew