Operating Rules | ŽIVÁ EXOTIKA

Operating Rules of the ŽIVÁ EXOTIKA Event

Event organiser:
Downstream s.r.o.
Gutova 2134/26, Praha 10, 100 00, Czech Republic
Company ID (IČO): 29462959, VAT ID (DIČ): CZ29462959
Bank account: 2902274042/2010

Venue: TOP HOTEL Praha, Blažimská 1781/4, Praha 4

Opening hours for the public: The current opening hours are always published on the organiser’s official website www.zivaexotika.cz

1. Purpose of the Event

1.1. The event serves for the exchange and sale of exotic plants, breeding and collectors’ insects and other invertebrates, terrarium and aquarium animals, feeder animals, natural history collectibles, breeding and growing supplies, specialist literature and supplementary goods related to terraristics, aquaristics and animal keeping.

2. Exhibitor Registration and Rental of Sales Spots

2.1. Exhibitors (persons offering plants, animals or goods listed in Section 1 for exchange or sale – hereinafter the “Exhibitor”) register via the reservation system on the website www.zivaexotika.cz. Exhibitors without a confirmed registration will not be allowed to take part in the event.
By submitting the registration, the Exhibitor confirms that they have read these Operating Rules and agree to them. The Exhibitor is responsible for ensuring that all of their Assistants (see Section 2.7) attending the event with them are familiarised with these Operating Rules. The Exhibitor may transfer their sales spot to another person only with the organiser’s consent.

2.2. Every Exhibitor is obliged to rent a sales spot. Any handling or trading outside the rented sales spots is prohibited.

2.3. Sales spots are reserved exclusively via the reservation system at the address stated in Section 2.1.

2.4. The Exhibitor may cancel a reservation under the conditions below. The cancellation fee is calculated from the price of the reserved spot:

15 or more days before the event – 0%,
8–14 days before the event – 50%,
0–7 days before the event, or failure to attend without cancellation – 100%.

Settlement depends on the method of payment:

a) Advance payment by invoice – the cancellation fee is deducted from the amount paid; if the invoice has not yet been paid, the cancellation fee will be invoiced separately with a 14-day due date.

b) Payment from credit (a deposit paid in advance) – the cancellation fee is deducted from the Exhibitor’s credit.

c) Payment on site – if the Exhibitor has not yet paid anything, no monetary cancellation fee is charged. However, late cancellations and no-shows are recorded by the organiser and may result in the loss of priority when booking and a temporary suspension of the option to reserve a spot at future events.

On the Exhibitor’s request, the amount paid (less any cancellation fee) may be transferred to one of the upcoming events.

2.5. Handover of reserved sales spots takes place from 6:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. After this time the reservation expires and the spot may be offered to another interested party.

2.6. Immediately upon arrival, the Exhibitor shall report to the organiser and will be given an identification wristband. Without this identification, they will not be allowed to enter the event premises. The Exhibitor takes over their sales spot in person and bears full responsibility for all goods and animals offered at their sales spot.

2.7. From 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., free access to the exhibition premises is granted only to Exhibitors and their Assistants (persons helping the Exhibitor at their sales spot), up to a maximum of:

2 persons per first table (or per 4 square metres of floor space),
1 person per each additional table (or per each additional 2 square metres of floor space).

Exhibitors and their Assistants collect their identification wristbands in person and together when taking over their spot, and put them on their wrists immediately. Entry to the event premises will not be permitted without a wristband on the wrist. By accepting the identification wristband, the Exhibitor and their Assistants confirm that they have been familiarised with these Operating Rules and undertake to comply with them.

2.8. The organiser reserves the right to move an Exhibitor to another spot if necessary for operational or organisational reasons.

2.9. If the Exhibitor brings additional persons who are not their Assistants, these persons may purchase regular (main) admission together with the Exhibitor’s registration.

2.10. The Exhibitor may have a dog at their sales spot under the following conditions:

the dog is healthy and has valid vaccinations, in particular against rabies; the Exhibitor is obliged to present the vaccination certificate at the organiser’s request,
the dog is under the Exhibitor’s direct supervision for the entire duration of the event, stays at the Exhibitor’s sales spot and moves around the event premises only on a leash,
the dog’s behaviour does not disturb or endanger the exhibited animals, visitors or other participants of the event (barking, signs of aggression, interest in the exhibited animals, etc.).

If the dog does not meet these conditions, the organiser may require its removal from the event premises. The Exhibitor is liable for any damage caused by the dog.

3. Conditions for the Exchange and Sale of Live Animals and Invertebrates

3.1. Animals are transported to the event in accordance with Act No. 246/1992 Coll., Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, and other related regulations. In particular, they must be kept in thermostable boxes which are, where necessary, suitably adapted to the animal’s needs, e.g. heated.

3.2. The exchange and sale of animals at the event may take place exclusively under the conditions set out in these Rules and in accordance with the applicable laws of the Czech Republic and the EU, in particular: Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 on the protection of species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade therein; Act No. 100/2004 Coll., on Trade in Endangered Species; Decree No. 210/2010 Coll.; Act No. 246/1992 Coll., on the Protection of Animals against Cruelty; Decree No. 451/2021 Coll., on the Protection of Animal Species Requiring Special Care; and EU Regulation No 1143/2014 on invasive alien species.

3.3. Boxes containing animals must be visibly labelled with the following information:

scientific name,
sex,
origin,
whether the animal is captive-bred or wild-caught,
level of protection; specimens subject to mandatory CITES registration must additionally bear a clearly visible notice “mandatory CITES registration”,
adult size,
diet; for fish and other permanently aquatic animals also the minimum recommended tank volume and water temperature,
name of the Exhibitor or their company.

The Exhibitor is obliged to provide the buyer with written information on the species’ husbandry requirements and any other information necessary for the proper care of the animal.

3.4. Boxes containing animals must be placed at least 70 cm above the floor and secured against falling.

3.5. Display boxes must be made of opaque material with a transparent lid, sufficiently ventilated, adequately lit and heated if necessary. Mammals are kept in suitable boxes or cages.

3.6. The dimensions of display boxes must not be smaller than:

1.5 times the body length (excluding tail) for lizards and amphibians, 1/3 of the total length for snakes,
2 times the carapace length for tortoises and turtles,
the box height must not be less than 2 times the body height, or 3 times for arboreal species,
rodents must be placed in boxes so that at least 1/2 of the floor area of the box remains free.

3.7. Animals are kept in boxes individually (except for juveniles and feeder rodents) and must have suitable substrate (bedding); chameleons must have something to hold on to (branches etc.). Moisture-loving animals must have suitable damp material; semi-aquatic animals must have water with a dry island or a water level low enough that they are not forced to swim constantly. For fish and other permanently aquatic animals, the conditions of Section 3.14 also apply. Mammals must have suitable bedding, water and food; nocturnal species must have a shelter.

3.8. Tarantulas, scorpions and centipedes are kept individually.

3.9. Any sale or exchange may only take place after the inspection of sales spots has been completed, and no earlier than 9:00 a.m.

3.10. At the event it is PROHIBITED to:

Exhibit, offer for sale or exchange animals that are physically exhausted, ill or suspected of illness, pregnant females, or juveniles unable to feed independently (including feeder rodents).
Offer live animals for sale or exchange to persons under 15 years of age without the consent of their legal guardian (Section 13(3) of Act No. 246/1992 Coll.).
Offer animals requiring special care for sale or exchange to persons under 18 years of age.
Exhibit, offer for sale or exchange an animal that has undergone a procedure listed in Section 4(1)(g) of Act No. 246/1992 Coll.
Exhibit, offer for sale or exchange invasive alien species under EU Regulation No 1143/2014.

3.11. If any animal escapes, its owner or whoever discovers the escape shall immediately inform the organiser.

3.12. Venomous snakes and other animals requiring special care, or dangerous animal species, may be offered only under the following conditions:

Before the event:

An Exhibitor offering venomous snakes or other animals requiring special care shall inform the organiser of their number and species in advance.
The Exhibitor is obliged to familiarise themselves with the rules and lists under Decree No. 451/2021 Coll.

During sale and handling on site:

Venomous reptiles and other dangerous animals may be sold exclusively at the designated location.
The seller is obliged to take all necessary precautions to prevent any threat to the life and health of the event participants.
Venomous and dangerous animals are handed over to the buyer outside, in front of the building.

Information for the buyer:

For animals requiring special care, the Exhibitor shall advise the buyer that keeping them requires a permit from the regional veterinary administration competent for the place of keeping, to be obtained before the keeping begins.
For specimens subject to mandatory CITES registration, the seller shall advise the buyer of the obligation to apply for a registration certificate at the regional authority competent for their place of residence within 30 days of acquisition.
For dangerous species, the Exhibitor shall also advise the buyer of the permit regime for their keeping and of the minimum age of 18 years.

3.13. Sales cages or carriers for birds must be fitted with at least two perches. An exception applies to cages or carriers for ground-dwelling bird species, where perches may be removed (gallinaceous birds, waterfowl etc.). Birds must have sufficient food and drinking water available at all times. For hygiene reasons, feed must not be used as bedding (bedding itself is not mandatory). Water and feed must be placed so that they cannot be contaminated by droppings.

The size of sales cages or carriers and the number of birds placed in them follow the standard below (internal dimensions in cm, species and recommended number of birds):

TYPE I	30–34 × 15–16 × 29	2 birds – budgerigar, lovebird, grass parakeet (Neophema); 4 birds – small finches and exotics up to the size of a diamond dove
TYPE II	45 × 22 × 38	2 birds – rosella, red-rumped parrot, Senegal parrot, Pyrrhura conure, starling, medium-sized doves, cardinal
TYPE III	49 × 22 × 44	2 birds – short-tailed parrots up to the size of the Cape parrot; 2 birds – long-tailed parakeets up to the size of the rose-ringed parakeet, red-winged parrot, regent parrot, Pennant’s rosella; other species up to approx. 40 cm
TYPE IV	60 × 28 × 59	2 birds – Amazon parrot, African grey, Australian king parrot, smaller gallinaceous birds and waterfowl, smaller owls and birds of prey, smaller hornbills, aracaris and similar – up to approx. 50 cm (large door)
Birds larger than 50 cm		Must have a cage at least 10% larger than their total size – placed 1 bird per cage.

3.14. Fish and other aquatic animals. The following applies to the exhibition, exchange and sale of fish and other permanently aquatic animals:

Fish are kept in containers or transport bags with a volume of water appropriate to the size and number of individuals, so that they can move freely and no deformation of the body or fins occurs. In bags, water makes up approx. 1/3 of the volume, the rest being air or oxygen. For aquariums and other tanks, the rule of no more than 1 cm of fish length per 1 litre of water applies; at higher stocking densities, the Exhibitor is obliged to check the water quality more frequently and change the water.
The water must remain visibly clean for the entire duration of the event; during longer exhibition, the Exhibitor is obliged to change the water, add oxygen or provide aeration. The water temperature must meet the requirements of the species (thermoboxes, heating). Aquariums and larger tanks must be equipped with aeration or filtration. Tap water may only be used after standing for at least 12 hours.
Aggressive and territorial species (e.g. male Siamese fighting fish) are kept individually, but always in a container allowing movement – exhibiting and selling in miniature cups is prohibited.
Containers must be protected from direct lighting, draughts and vibrations; tapping on the walls of containers and any other unnecessary disturbance of the animals is prohibited. Species that require it must have access to a shelter.
Marine animals must have water of appropriate salinity and temperature.
It is prohibited to exhibit, offer for sale or exchange fish that are artificially dyed, tattooed or subjected to any other procedure under Section 4(1) of Act No. 246/1992 Coll., as well as fish that are visibly ill, injured or exhausted.
Fish are sold exclusively in suitable transport bags or containers (with oxygen for sensitive species). The Exhibitor shall provide the buyer with information on the species’ requirements, in particular adult size, minimum tank volume, water temperature and compatibility with other species.
Catching and handling of fish must be done gently (net, wet hands); fish must not be kept out of water unnecessarily.

4. Penalties

4.1. If the Exhibitor cancels a reservation, the Exhibitor shall pay a cancellation fee in accordance with Section 2.4 of these Operating Rules.

4.2. If the Exhibitor violates these Operating Rules or applicable regulations, they may – depending on the seriousness of the violation – be excluded from the event once or permanently, without any right to compensation.

4.3. It is prohibited to end sales before the end of the event for the public. An exception may be granted by the organiser, especially if the Exhibitor has sold out before the end of the event for the public. Violation of this prohibition obliges the Exhibitor to pay a contractual penalty of CZK 500 / €20.

5. General Conditions

5.1. In the event premises and in all other indoor areas of the hotel, smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes are strictly prohibited.

5.2. To the extent permitted by law, the organiser is not liable for damage or losses incurred by participants during the event.

5.3. The event involves the presence of live animals, including potentially dangerous species. The organiser takes reasonable safety measures and imposes on Exhibitors the obligations set out in particular in Sections 3.3–3.14 of these Operating Rules. However, the organiser is not liable for injuries resulting from the natural behaviour of animals, provided that the Exhibitor has fulfilled all obligations under these Operating Rules. The Exhibitor is liable for damage caused by their failure to comply with these obligations. If a visitor violates the obligations set out in the Visitor Rules of the event or the organiser’s instructions (in particular the prohibition on handling animals without the Exhibitor’s consent), the visitor is liable for any harm caused thereby.

5.4. Everyone is obliged to follow the organiser’s instructions.

5.5. Please keep all areas of the event tidy and, after the event, return your sales spot to the condition in which you received it.

5.6. Advertising or any other promotion at the event is possible exclusively by agreement with the organiser.

5.7. Taking photographs, videos or any other visual, audio or audiovisual recordings at the event is permitted only with the prior consent of the organiser, including for personal use. The organiser’s consent is also required for any public distribution of recordings – for example live streaming, publication on social media or any other form of publication. If a specific Exhibitor, their sales spot or their animals appear in a recording intended for publication, the consent of that Exhibitor is also required.

5.8. The Exhibitor is obliged to park, unload goods and prepare their sales spot in a way that does not unnecessarily block other exhibitors, and to clear the space for their unloading and preparation as soon as possible.

5.9. The Exhibitor is obliged to behave towards other participants of the event with common decency and to protect the good name of the event, including outside of it.

5.10. The organiser reserves the right to use, for marketing purposes, the content of posts published in the Facebook group ŽIVÁ EXOTIKA Group and the content of messages sent to the organiser by any form of electronic communication, in accordance with the organiser’s Privacy Policy.

5.11. Exhibitors are obliged to use electrical equipment with a valid inspection under ČSN 33 1600 ed. 2 (Inspections and checks of electrical appliances during use).

5.12. The Exhibitor is solely responsible for fulfilling all of their tax, accounting and trade-licensing obligations related to selling at the event. The organiser is not responsible for their fulfilment.

5.13. The purchase relationship between the Exhibitor and the buyer (consumer) is governed by the Civil Code and Act No. 634/1992 Coll., on Consumer Protection. Any claims arising from a purchase are handled by the buyer directly with the specific Exhibitor; the organiser is not a party to the purchase contract.

5.14. These Operating Rules are binding on Exhibitors and their Assistants; visitors to the event are subject to the Visitor Rules, which refer to these Operating Rules in the relevant sections.

These Operating Rules are effective from 14 July 2026