So, you want to keep a pet tarantula?

Lopéz · 7 Mar 2003 at 18:04

Just to clear up what I said about beginners keeping the more aggressive species, it can be done.

The only need to expose yourself to possible attack (or rather defence) from the spider on limited occasions.

1 - When the spider initially arrives through the post

Generally the tarantula will be dazed, confused, cold and sluggish.
They normally come in small plastic containers. Simply pop the container in your tarantula tank, and open the lid.
Let the spider do the rest. Once warmed up it will soon leave the pot it came in. If it doesn't they can generally be coaxed out.
When the spider has left it's transport tub, simply remove remove it and discard

2 - Feeding

Check visually that the spider is not on the walls or top of the tank, open the lid, pop in the cricket. It's that simple.

3 - Cleaning out

This doesn't need doing often - wait until the spider is burrowed away, or in it's retreat, then go ion with some long tweezers and pick out any cricket remains, or shed skins.

That's it - water can be poured through the top without taking the lid off, so even if you have a spitting hell-fire species, you really shouldn't get bitten by following these simple rules. People get bitten when they either

Try to hold an unwilling tarantula
Poke it about or disturb it (we're all guilty of this one)
Careless, not checking the spider's location before invading the tank.

I use these long-nosed pliers:

And these excellent long forceps:

Mugabe still looking as orange as ever btw::

Lopéz · 8 Mar 2003 at 12:49

Once your spiders are around 2 inches across, then you can get away with popping them into full size tanks. My tanks are 9"x9"x12", and I find that's more than enough space - enough room for them to avoid crickets if they aren't hungry, but not so big they look lost.

Moving them can be fun.

I teased the spider out slowly using a chopstick, so it's in the open rather than in a burrow.
Then, get a freezer or food bag and lay it open on the floor in front of the spider.
Nudge the spider from behind a couple of times, and it should run into the bag at a mighty rate of knots - you need your wits about you though, incase it legs it in the other direction and escapes up the side of the glass.
As soon as the spider is in the bag, it will try to hide in the corner.
Just pick the bag up, and plop it in the new tank. The tarantula will climb out when it's ready.

When it's climbed out, remove the bag.

Other techniques involve using something like an old cricket tub (I always keep mine) and just putting it over the spider, like you'd use a glass to catch a house spider. Slide a piece of stiff card or similar under it and move the whole shebang into the new tank.

Some people do this whole operation in a wet bath - this way if the spider does go nuts and get out, you can trap it using a cricket tub before it gets too far - they struggle to walk up the wet sides of the bath.

Lopéz · 9 Mar 2003 at 16:58

Originally posted by Master Skooter
Awwwwwww, bless!

Just as a point of interest, when shopping for new spiders it's always worth checking out wanted and for sale sections on some of the UK based tarantula sites.

Saw this one today:

Hi,
The tarantulas I have for sale are as follows,
Hysterocrates gigas –Cameroon red baboon 6” adult female (gravid)
“ “5” sub adult male
Usambaron baboon 5” adult female (gravid)
“ “ 2” sub
P.regalis 3.5” and 2”
Kilamanjaro baboon 5” adult female
Haplopelma lividium –cobalt blue 2”
P.junodi male
Lasiodora parahybana-salmon pink 2.5”

SLINGS
Acanthoscurria geniculata-white knee
Hetroscodra maculata-togo starburst
Phomictopus cancerides-haitian brown
Straight horned baboon

I would like sensible offers for all or individuals. Thanks Paul

From a chap who's working abroad and therefore unable to look after his collection.

Always worth making a sensible enquiry.

Lopéz · 11 Mar 2003 at 20:50

Originally posted by SaBBz
I was thinking of maybe a Mexican Redknee or a Mexican Flame Leg

I'd go for the Flame Leg myself - a bit more exclusive and the markings are nicer.

As I said a few pages ago, I'm always looking to expand my collection.

I was organising a deal to get an A versicolor and a P irminia....but something with the seller didn't seem quite right.
He only wanted cash or postal order - cheque was unacceptable and he didn't want to take a bank transfer either. I don't know why but my head said "don't do it" all the more so when his emails started bouncing randomly.
I'm sure the guy isn't a dodgy trader, but I always go with my gut instinct.
And on this occasion it was telling me to walk away.

So, still wanting a baby arboreal I went on the hunt again, and found some baby Psalmopoeus pulcher for sale. The seller is a well known breeder, and these are his fifth batch of the above species, all bred in captivity by himself.

Panama Blonde - Psalmopoeus pulcher

Temperament: Agressive, fast and nervous

Size: 5 to 6 inches across

Heat: 70 to 80 degrees

Humidity: 70 to 80 percent

Habitat: Arboreal - Panama

"Small , nervous arboreal spiders with a tendancy for multiple biting. Most people report that they are generally calm and shy, but will attack any prey given to them instantly"

These are really gorgeous but understated things - check out the fuzzy legs (all Psalmopoeus have these furry legs)
The pale pink iridescance really shows up, especially just after a moult.

£4 each for spiderlings.

Hoping to get mine in a couple of weeks.

I really think buying tarantulas as spiderlings is the best way to get into the hobby.

1) Spiderlings are cheap to buy
2) Spiderlings grow reasonably fast - so you get lots and lots of shed skins, and you get to watch them mature
3) Given high mortality rates in the wild, spiders have a lot of babies - so if your spider dies it will be a lot easier to replace than an adult. What would you rather? Lose a £3 spiderling because of your n00bishness, or lose an £80 adult?
4) You get to learn your pet's temperament and speed, and all it's little quirks.

Lopéz · 12 Mar 2003 at 16:51

Originally posted by Master Skooter
Leon, how many do u own now mate?

Still looking for a A versicolor then? I've just seen a shop selling Cobalt S.Lings.

I'm totally gutted that i can't own one, really peeved with my GF atm.

I'm toying with the idea of getting a Mantis. Someone suggested that by owning a 'less threatening' exotic pet may help to ease my GFs fears, and give her the oportunity to see how interesting these pets are. Mantis ain't no T, but they're kinda cool imo.

Just the 4 atm, this P pulcher will be my fifth. I might get the Guyanan pink toe that they're selling at easyexotics as spiderlings.

They're unidentified, but my money is on them being A metallica or A urticans.

Good idea with the "less threatening" pet.

Lopéz · 13 Mar 2003 at 11:32

Originally posted by hsp70
after some serious thinking and a lot of inspiration from this thread i've decided to keep a T of my own. 2 in fact

a B.vagans (red rump)
and a B.boehmei (mexican beauty/rusty leg/fire leg)

special thx to lopez for the inspiration and lostkat for the source

ps. lostkat that lady was just as you said, very friendly and fast, i'm expecting them on friday

Excellent choices mate, similar spiders (being from the same genus) which means you can basically house them in the same way. B vagans likes to dig, B boehmei often doesn't bother.

I nearly got a B vagans a couple of years back but didn't have space for one. Now things have changed I might look into getting one again - they're very classy looking T's.

Lopéz · 14 Mar 2003 at 09:22

Well, I was just saying to Kate this morning how Miguel's abdomen has darkened this week, and lo and behold if he hasn't just flipped onto his back ready to moult.
He didn't even lay down any extra webbing.

He's not in eaten in 5 days - spiderlings normally only fast for a short while before a moult because they are so small. His baldpatch went from grey to black yesterday, and today he begins the moult.

I'm going to hang around for a while this morning to see how long it takes him.

Lopéz · 14 Mar 2003 at 12:05

After 2 1/2 hours of laying motionless (just like Mugabe did) Miguel started flexing, and before I knew it was nearly out of his skin. You can see the old carapace (his "back" where the eyes are) on the ground next to him. Note his soft white fangs.

He's pretty much at the half way stage now.

Lopéz · 14 Mar 2003 at 12:26

He's nearly out now.....legs are darkening already, but those fangs will stay soft for days.

Lopéz · 14 Mar 2003 at 12:37

Free at last! Miguel stretches and pumps some haemolymph (spider blood/hydraulic fluid) around those legs. Moulting is exhausting stuff.

Lopéz · 14 Mar 2003 at 12:55

Now that he's totally free, he'll stay like this for a while recovering.
I managed to straighten out the old skin (so much easier when they are still soft)

Lopéz · 14 Mar 2003 at 14:32

His lordship has finally decided to put himself upright again.

Bungee
Yes, it will be a few days before I attempt to feed or handle him. The fangs take a particularly long time to harden, and can be easily deformed when still soft.

Master Skooter
Sure, I'll have a look for one of Pepper's old skins later, or when Mugabe/Miguel next moult you can have one of theirs.

hsp70
Sorry, I missed your earlier post!

Bone dry vermiculite is dusty, which bugs spiders a bit. I always spray it once lightly all over so it's damp. Once damp it never really dries out enough to be dusty. I just splash water onto the "warm" end of the tank every 2 or 3 days.
Always make sure there is an open water bowl (something like a small bottle top) for both humidity and drinking water.

As for substrate, the more the better - ifyou can then fill it up to about halfway. B vagans might appreciate you mixing the vermiculite with sterilised (microwaved) peat, as this lets it dig a little. Alternatively just make sure there's always something for them to hide under - anything will do in all honesty.

Here's a tip for most burrowing T's (both yours are strictly speaking burrowers)
Don't put the heat mat underneath the tanks, put it across the back of them instead. This way, the spider can dig to keep cool. If the heat mat is at the bottom then the poor spider digs and digs only to find it's getting hotter and hotter....

That's how I have all my tanks set up.

Lopéz · 14 Mar 2003 at 18:51

Originally posted by ungod
Is it possible to get tarantulas posted to Ireland? Exotic pets are very limited here.

Cheers,
Mel

This seems to be a constant problem in Ireland.
I'm sure Scuzi and Kieran were discussing a pet shop in Ireland (not sure exactly where) very near the beginning of this thread.

A lot of people won't send stuff out to Ireland by mail either.

Your best bet is to mail independant dealers, as they tend to be more accomodating than online shops.

Keep a close eye on this message board

http://www.thebts.co.uk/cgi-bin/bulletinboard/newsboard.cgi

as this seems to be where everyone gets their more desirable specimens from.
Alternatively, there's the British Tarantula Society Show in May (in the Midlands) which will be packed out with rare and more common tarantulas for sale.

Lopéz · 17 Mar 2003 at 10:45

Remember Mugabe's treetop web?
Well, he built a ground floor extension to moult in, but grew so much in the moult that he's had to make more extensions - a nice middle floor linking between the ground floor and his penthouse apartment.

The web had been looking awfully battered, most of it has been destroyed over time.

Here are the results of his overnight work:

Must be tiring work for such a small creature.

Oh, and Miguel has hardened nicely after his moult on Friday.

If you look back and compare the new pics to his old ones a few pics back, you can see he's grown substantially.

That should keep the pic lovers happy for a while.

Lopéz · 18 Mar 2003 at 13:52

Originally posted by ungod
Thanks for the reply Lopéz.

No probs mate - hope you get some luck.

Lack of species choice is bad enough on the mainland, being in Ireland must be really frustrating.

Lopéz · 20 Mar 2003 at 11:40

Darkening and swelling of the abdomen are both classical signs of an impending moult.
Judging by that shot, Rio is in pre-moult for sure. I'd say a shed within the next week or so is likely.

My own Idi is also in premoult. Swollen abdomen despite refusing food, complete loss of appetite, extreme inactivity to the point that you'd think he was dead, and he's completely sealed himself into his burrow.
I'm hoping he'll shed this week and that his missing leg regenerates. It could be a tough moult for him

Lopéz · 23 Mar 2003 at 12:33

Tarantulas eyesight is thought to be quite poor - from what we can ascertain they can tell the difference between dark and light, and not a great deal else - moving shapes and that's about it.
The 8 eyes are for apparently 360 degree vision.

Lopéz · 23 Mar 2003 at 13:55

Originally posted by taliesyn
I'm aware of what you've covered, having followed the thread with interest from its creation.

I was just making a general comment, and not specifically answering Bundles' point

However, it is their chitinous exterior that keeps them rigid isn't it? The haemolymphatic fluid simply pumps them up until their exoskeleton hardens.

Or am I barking up the wrong tree here

Correct

Lopéz · 23 Mar 2003 at 14:07

Originally posted by taliesyn
Caught me in mid-edit there Lopéz

Still correct

Lopéz · 24 Mar 2003 at 11:21

Don't you just love waiting for new arrivals?

Should be here by the weekend with a bit of luck.