Concentrating on the animals  

No reliable figures are available regarding the keeping of reptiles and amphibians in Europe, especially with regard to populations and the size of the markets. Many manufacturers form their own impression of the market on the basis of the information they receive from their distribution partners. In response to a question from PET in Europe, it was reported that Spain currently appears to be the country with the biggest growth potential, particularly in relation to the import of protected species. There has been slight growth in the market in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Greece. Growth rates are more pronounced, on the other hand, for the markets in Austria, Italy, the UK, France, Portugal, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Switzerland, Sweden and, as reflected by the increase in pet numbers, Spain. Most Eastern European countries are conspicuous for the rather small volume of their markets, for example Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, but most are exhibiting some growth. "Only the UK market is comparable in volume with Germany with regard to the animals themselves and the accessory segment," says Jürgen Hoch of the German reptile and amphibian wholesalers Peter Hoch. Many experts estimate the number of serious manufacturers of reptile and amphibian products in Europe to be very small, and these are to be found mainly in the UK and Germany. Many manufacturers of pet food and accessories in other European countries only offer a small additional line of reptile products. The US manufacturer Zoo Med operates in the European market through its offshoot Dependance in Belgium and numerous wholesalers in individual states. The lack of domestic manufacturers of reptile and amphibian products in most countries has led the wholesale trade to rely on its own imports. A large number of retailers, especially in Italy, Portugal, France and Spain, complain about the poor availability of accessories, while suppliers criticise the sometimes complex wholesaler structures for obstructing the expansion and development of this segment. The situation in Benelux, Scandinavia, Austria and even in Eastern Europe is regarded as much better on this front. The volume of sales for individual product groups varies sharply from country to country. For example, the German manufacturer Euro Zoo reports that pelleted food for reptiles is significantly more popular in Italy, Spain, Slovakia, Portugal and the UK than in other countries of Europe. And fewer special UVB…