So, you want to keep a pet tarantula?

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Wow!

I have just sat up all night reading this fascinating thread. I sat down at my computer at about 11pm and got to this thread about 1am. and read from start to finish.

I have just been into town to have a look in the pet shop there but was disappointed to see only adults. One Mexican Red Knee(I think) which was £71 but quite chunky and a pair of Chile Rose spiders at £22 each. They were pretty big too. I didn't want to buy an adult after reading this thread and the lady in the shop wasn't very helpful when I asked where they came from.

Then I remembered my friend who works for www.dinosaurnutrition.com so I called him. He is going to fix me up with a Chile Rose spiderling. Rock on!

When I first looked at this thread I couldn't really see the appeal. Now I can't wait to get my T home and next to my computer. I might even get my webcan set up so that I can watch him/her while I'm at work.

Summing up, thanks Lopez and LostKat who have made this possibly the most interesting thread I've ever read on the internet. Anywhere. :D :) :cool:
 
Just had a quick look at the dinosaurnutrition site & was reading the writeups on the different food types. It appears that locusts are the most optimal food for reptiles etc. Is it the same for T's, as I can't remember seeing them being mentioned in this thread or on any of the T care sheets I've seen. :confused:


... or do I just have a bad memory? ... :p
 
When spiders attack!

So what do you do exactly when spiders escape? Do you run and cry like my mum or do you pull out a chair and whip and try to tame the beast?!

Seriously though, if a spider makes a break for it and gets past you, what's the best way of getyting it back into it's tank? I imagine you have yo be careful not to squish it .....:rolleyes:
 
Well you don't generally let them escape! The only one of mine who legged it was a 1.5cm versicolor who poses absolutely no danger to anyone... ever. I just let him run on to my hand and popped him back in. I'd never get complacent enough to allow any of my bigger T's to escape (touch wood). You have to have your wits about you when dealing with T's, and make sure that you replace the lid afterwards. It's second nature once you get used to it.

If they did then I'd just grab an empty tank and put it over the top of them, then slide a piece of card gently underneath and transport them back to their tanks. Easy. :)
 
Right, so it's just like the old jamjar and a piece of paper thing then:)
But the rule of thumb is, don't even give them the chance.

Thanks for that. I have a fortnight off work and am expecting my spider to arrive tomorrow morning. Getting excited now. The lady in the pet shop must have thought I was a bit nuts this morning, I just stood there for half an hour watching a motionless spider but I couldn't take my eyes off it. It felt like watching one of those shows on the Discovery channel where a tiger sits motionless for hours.....I think the one I was watching could have eaten a gazelle too :p
 
Yup, don't give it the chance in the first place. I can be almost 100% certain that your Chile Rose won't be trying to escape :) They're renound for being pet rocks, and move extremely slowly. In the unlikely event that it bolts, wait for it to stop running about and then just get it into a jar or tub and pop it back into it's tank. Rosies are so docile so it'll probably let you pick it up and is almost guaranteed not to even flick a hair at you. However, there are always exceptions and you might get an utter ball of hell fire... like my 'supposedly' docile B. vagans who tries to kill me everytime I go near the tank :D
 
Thanks....

....for the info LK. I will put a picture on here tomorrow sometime after lunch. DHL are delivering everything so I will have it by noon. As he/she is going to be a Chilean spider I think I will follow Lopez's lead and call him/her Pinochet. w00t!
 
Re: Thanks....

Originally posted by si_sleaf
....for the info LK. I will put a picture on here tomorrow sometime after lunch. DHL are delivering everything so I will have it by noon. As he/she is going to be a Chilean spider I think I will follow Lopez's lead and call him/her Pinochet. w00t!
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Haha! That actually made me laugh out loud :D

Good luck with the baby Chile - remember spiderlings are a lot more sensitive to drying out than adult tarantulas, so it pays to keep the little ones reasonably moist :)
 
Re: Chilean Chum

Originally posted by si_sleaf
I have ordereed hi m from my friend weho works fro dinosaurnutrutiom,.vom,. I hsvr to go bed nowj i'm verry drunk.

see you tomorrow

simon
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Rofl, quality post :D

I'm trying my first mail order crickets this week, from Global Live Foods (Easy Exotics)
They should arrive today so I'll find out if they're any good. :)
 
Quality post?

Not as quality as the post I made in the middle of last night when the drink came back to haunt me and was ill. Now I am waiting for Pinochet:cool: to arrive while I have a cracking headache:(
 
Re: Re: Chilean Chum

Originally posted by Lopéz
I'm trying my first mail order crickets this week, from Global Live Foods (Easy Exotics)
They should arrive today so I'll find out if they're any good. :)
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Leon, i've just recieved my 1st order from that company. Ordered crickets, waxworms & mealworms, they're sat under my desk as i type :D

Haven't opened the box as i'm at work.......but i'll take a peek when my manager goes to lunch ;)
 
Re: Re: Chilean Chum

Originally posted by Lopéz
Rofl, quality post :D

I'm trying my first mail order crickets this week, from Global Live Foods (Easy Exotics)
They should arrive today so I'll find out if they're any good. :)
Click to expand...

Easy Exotics are excellent, i use them all the time for my mantis. good service, nice and fast.
 
I understand spiders don't really need much in their homes, but that livefood website does have some nice things that could be used as a hideaway in their 'decor' section.
 
Quick Question

When my spider arrives what will be the best way to remove it from the packaging that it ships in?

I don't think I'm going to want to touch it so much as watch and observe. Do I just put the box or whatever in the tank and loosen the lid or shake it out and put the lid back on quick? Obviously there's going to be more than one way of skinning a cat and was just looking for a bit of advice. Not nervous or anything:rolleyes:

How do you get the fiercer spiders into their cases? That baboob spider that Lopez has looks pretty feisty, surely you don't pick them up and place them in gently......:confused:
 
It will probably arrive in a film cannister full of cotton wool. Put the cannister into it's tank and take off the lid and cotton wool plug. You can then either pull out the piece of cotton wool with your sling attached with some fine forceps/tweezers or you can put the cannister on its side near the heat mat and wait for the little guy to come out by himself. If he's anything like my B. emilia was, he'll probably prefer to hide in the cannister and you'll have to pull out his cotton wool. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you do it IN the tank, so if he makes a break for it then he won't get away, and be as gentle as possible with him

Be warned that he will have been in a cold van overnight, so he'll probably be very sluggish and spend all day hiding in a hunched up position. You need to leave him in his tank by the heatmat for a day for him to warm up. I wouldn't recommend that you bother him or handle him in that time as it will caused unnecessary stress. Just leave him alone for a day or so.

Good luck :) Let us know how it goes.

Nexus - If you're getting a terrestrial tarantula, all it will need is a small waterbowl (narrower than your slings legspan so it won't drown) and a piece of cork bark for a shelter.
 
Originally posted by Nexus
I remember Lopez saying something about cooling them down so they don't want to do much moving.
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Yes, that's the method used for fast, aggressive tarantulas when you're moving them from tank to tank. However, this little guy will have been in a cold van last night, and he is neither fast OR aggressive. You won't need to cool him or do anything like that. He'll probably be slow as hell unless you startle him (by jolting or breathing on him). You really don't need to worry
 
Everything Kate's said is pretty much spot on :)

Your Chile will be very cold, sluggish and dehydrated after it's overnight journey.
You should have no bother at all just opening the container and letting him crawl out. Leave him to settle somewhere very warm, and make sure he has access to some form of moisture. Don't bother offering him food initially as he'll be a bit stressed.

Godd luck :)
 
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