Does anyone know of any reputable, decent exotic pet shops in this fine country of Switzerland?
I'd like to get a new pet, perhaps a praying mantis or a giant pricky stick insect and there's no-where in Geneva that I can find. I don't mind travelling to Zurich or wherever, but I'd like to give them a call first and visit the website - which means finding one first.
I probably wouldn't be allowed to buy the eggs abroad and have them sent, or bring them over in a bag, is that correct? So I'm guessing I would need to source them here.
I remember I used to have a GIANT prickly stick insect before and he used to FLY across the room and land on my face. Cool!
In order to own a wild or exotic animal here you need a permit from the cantonal vet. Also, please make sure that you are up to speed on Switzerland's draconian animal protection laws. Once you have figured them out you will understand why you are unlikely to find what you are looking for in a local pet shop....
wow - seriously? I know Switzerland has many restrictive laws but do you think that really appplies to stick insects that have been reared in the country and not imported?
There is this pet shop or pet supply shop in Nyon, http://www.lescalaire.ch , they claim to have 'exotic' fish, so not sure if that is exotic enough for you or not, but maybe have a look, they might have other exotics I'm not aware about or maybe they can refer you.
I see your point and I don't think that picking up a bug in the forest and keeping it at home will get you in to trouble.
I did go back and check the law though and it actually only applies to animals with vertebrae (i.e. with a spine), so it doesn't apply to insects anyway. So, you get a big green light to set up bug city....good luck and have fun!
Thanks for checking that out for me - someone just recommended me a pet shop in Nyon so I dropped them a line and we'll see what happens.
I did import a snake from the UK into Switzerland a few years ago and I remember it was an administrative nightmare, not to mention a personal nightmare for the taxi driver who brought us back from the airport, with a huge box marked "LIVE SNAKE - HANDLE WITH CARE"
When I told him what that meant, he almost flipped the car ...
Glad to know having a big scary insect as a pet might not pose me so many problems ..
glad to hear you didn't overreact and kill the thing - so many people just freak with snakes - I'm wondering what it was? The only black snake I know of could be a Montpellier snake, or - a black mamba, but I doubt it was that!
Just wondering if you had any luck with this in the end?
I am currently in the same situation. In Geneva and I want some pet bugs! Preferably mantises or stick insects.
Grateful for any info I found a Polish website called Exo-Factory that has lots and claims to ship worldwide, but I am not sure about the issues of customs, or what species are allowed in Switzerland. So any info on that would also be appreciated, please.
Hello - I ended with a couple of Bombina frogs, which are pretty cool.
I never really followed up on this, but if you are in the Nyon area you could try La Scalaire pet shop, they have stick insects and reptiles.
Personally, I wouldn't order any animal through the post, I am not sure that is in the best interest of the creature concerned and I wouldn't want anything to due in transit.
Other than that, you might try Schillagers (in Gland) they have a few lizardy things and the staff are super friendly.
May potentially have some Black beauty stick insects. We just had one emerge, so if more start to come there is a possibility that you could have some.
Qualipet Zürich Sihlcity also has a bunch of exotics and (for Switzerland) a huge range of attributes for terraria and exotic animalcare.
Other stores from them probably also have such, but i only know this one from the inside. They also have a store in Geneva. (almost in every decent place in Switzerland) Might have what you want, or be able to provide what you want. Mantiden should be almost default in their stores tho.
Over mail i would never do, and Poland ships so easily things that are illegal in most European countries that i wonder if it would be any better with the exotic animals.