Has anyone here ever had an accidental death happen by their hands?

[SikmT7]

I am so thankful to all that have answered this thread I love you all.

 

[SikmT7]

Thank you so much for your reply and condolences. They are like my children and if anything bad happens to them it happens to me. I guess when you've been a keeper for several years you expect the best from yourself but mistakes are what make us better keepers, otherwise we would be considered perfect which is not possible.

 

[SikmT7]

Not a death by my hands, but my stupidity tells a funny story,

So, I have this Phormingochilus sling. And of course it is a pet hole. It hasn't eaten in 3 weeks and is no where to be found in my dram vial. Well, like an idiot I go exploring in my bathroom. I am sifting through substrate carefully and dumping it into the trash can. Over time, I end up dumping all the substrate and no spider. I am bummed and assume I threw away the dead carcass and didn't realize it.
The next day I am sitting in the bathtub (our shower houses cat litter boxes--another long dumb story). Anyway, I am taking a bath. My wife had previously exited the bath and she is blow drying her hair wrapped in a bath towel seated on her side of the bathroom. On the back of her chair is a white towel. I so happen to glance up toward her.....and there is my sling chillaxing on her towel just inches from her back. And...of course, my wife is petrified of spiders. My first reaction is "Cool". It is alive. My second reaction is "How the heck did it get out without me realizing on the previous day". My third reaction is "Holy sh÷÷" How am I going to pull this one off so my wife doesn't freak and end my favorite hobby.

So, since my heart is small black and cold like the Grinch, I hatch a plan. I ease my buck naked self out of the tub, dry off and put a towel around me. I say to my wife. "Ummm. there is a spider on the towel right behind you". She jumps a mile, runs to the bathroom door and yells "It's not one of your tarantulas is it?" I calmly say, "No, it looks like a cute house spider". "Well get rid of it dammit!"

So while she has obviously exited the bathroom for good, I take a catch cup and place my spider in another dram vial with appropriate substrate. I then take the catch cup, it is empty now, and put a piece of cardboard under it and make a show of bringing it to the front door, opening it, and "let to go" off of the front porch.

She has never been the wiser and I learned a valuable lesson about patience with fossorial old worlds.

Wow what a story my friend lol. I'm so glad you were able to retrieve your Phormingochilus sling what are the odds of that? I had this huntsman spider a while back and I didn't even know it got out of the vial that I had it in until I seen it running a thousand laps with smoke on its trail around my cricket keeper. Here I am thinking "oh yeah it's safe and sound" lol they are escape artists that put Houdini to shame. My wife loves my T's so much that she owns a couple of her own one of them being an adult female P. murinus. I'm sure your wife will warm up to them eventually, just not if they're in the bathroom lol. Thank you for sharing your incredible story with me!

 

[SikmT7]

The response on this thread was awesome and I appreciate everyone taking the time out to comfort and encourage me. I love you all you are great!

 

[SikmT7]

Numerous times...its the circle of life though. I feel bad every time he doesn't make it out. (I perfer male tarantulas over females as pets).View attachment 60647

Yessir that's the nature of the beast and it is quite distressing to see a male get done in during a pair up. Poor Lil guys they just wanted some lovin, their lifespan is short enough as it is. Thank you brother for writing to me I appreciate your support and your words of wisdom.

 

[Delhall]

What up T Forum family, I am currently up at 1:29 AM Eastern Standard Time having an IPA and a couple of shots of Jack Daniel's. This is not a celebration, this is sheer stress. Earlier this evening, I was pulling a bolus from a vial that I kept my L. mactans baby @1/8 inch and as I was pulling out the bolus it bolted out of the vial onto my hand. I got it back into the vial after about 3 minutes of trying to catch it and as I was putting the cap on the vial I didn't realize it bolted up to the cap right under the lip of the cap and I accidentally squashed it . I felt so horribly heartbroken and I was kicking myself like I could have avoided it, I actually broke down into tears for the Lil one. Ah T family I need a shoulder, has anyone in here ever accidentally killed their spider or tarantulas? The more responses the merrier, I appreciate everyone on here.

It's happened to me too, fortunately just the once when rehousing a juvi P. reduncus. Bolted and ran under sofa. Could see it near the front but as I lifted sofa it ran towards the back and was squashed. I know you will feel bad but is was an accident.and unfortunately Ts can be unpredictable at times

 

[RedrockTarantulas]

What up T Forum family, I am currently up at 1:29 AM Eastern Standard Time having an IPA and a couple of shots of Jack Daniel's. This is not a celebration, this is sheer stress. Earlier this evening, I was pulling a bolus from a vial that I kept my L. mactans baby @1/8 inch and as I was pulling out the bolus it bolted out of the vial onto my hand. I got it back into the vial after about 3 minutes of trying to catch it and as I was putting the cap on the vial I didn't realize it bolted up to the cap right under the lip of the cap and I accidentally squashed it . I felt so horribly heartbroken and I was kicking myself like I could have avoided it, I actually broke down into tears for the Lil one. Ah T family I need a shoulder, has anyone in here ever accidentally killed their spider or tarantulas? The more responses the merrier, I appreciate everyone on here.

I was rehousing one of my blue leg baboon slings. As it was on its way out of its old enclosure and into the new one , it decided to go a different direction.... it went over the side and onto its back... i managed to flip it over and get it into the new enclosure but It later died. I felt like a failure and was very sad for the spider . It happens no matter how careful we are and no matter how much experience we have.. they kinda do their own thing.

 

[Noodlelove]

I can certainly sympathize. I am sorry that you had to go through this. And Oursapoil, the more I learn about you the more I am convinced you are an amazing person!

Some people think it's strange, but I genuinely love my tarantulas. I talk to them, give them words of encouragement and advice. We are humans and it's in our nature to care. And it's in the nature of tarantulas to try to survive, whether that means to fight, hide or to bolt.

Same here. I am fully convinced that sentient beings can interact and trust and respect humans when we choose to wisely and compassionately interact with them. I'm a brand new Lasiodores polycuspalatus mom and I am convinced this sling trusts me.

 

[Noodlelove]

Numerous times...its the circle of life though. I feel bad every time he doesn't make it out. (I perfer male tarantulas over females as pets).View attachment 60647

thank you for saying you prefer males to females. I'm new to this but experienced with other types of animals, dogs, fish, snakes, birds and this makes a big difference. I'm a new Lasiodores Polycuspalatus mom and I'm in love.

 

[birdonfire]

Once

 

[Egon]

Numerous times...its the circle of life though. I feel bad every time he doesn't make it out. (I perfer male tarantulas over females as pets).View attachment 60647

I'm sorry for the OP's loss and I apologize for hijacking this thread, but can I ask you, @Arachnoclown, why you prefer males?

I just ordered my first tarantulas and am just curious because I haven't seen much, if any, discussion about gender beyond size and lifespan.

Thanks.

 

[Arachnoclown]

I'm sorry for the OP's loss and I apologize for hijacking this thread, but can I ask you, @Arachnoclown, why you prefer males?

I just ordered my first tarantulas and am just curious because I haven't seen much, if any, discussion about gender beyond size and lifespan.

Thanks.

There are many reasons why.
First off males in many species are more beautiful then the females.

There also isn't a long term commitment with males like females. The typical male has passed on by 7 years or so. Where as the female lives to be 20-40 years.

Males are usually more fun to watch. They’re usually always up to something especially when mature. From moving dirt to climbing all over their enclosure to making sperm webs males seam to be less boring.

Also most male are more docile which make interaction better( this doesn't pertain to all species ofcourse).

Another reason is their time is short so I like to spoil them before they pass.

And my favorite reason of all is breeding them. They are so brave in what they do knowing what lies ahead for them, yet they do it anyways. Not to mention males are worth way more then females, but not every one can see it.

 

[Egon]

There are many reasons why.
First off males in many species are more beautiful then the females.

There also isn't a long term commitment with males like females. The typical male has passed on by 7 years or so. Where as the female lives to be 20-40 years.

Males are usually more fun to watch. They’re usually always up to something especially when mature. From moving dirt to climbing all over their enclosure to making sperm webs males seam to be less boring.

Also most male are more docile which make interaction better( this doesn't pertain to all species ofcourse).

Another reason is their time is short so I like to spoil them before they pass.

And my favorite reason of all is breeding them. They are so brave in what they do knowing what lies ahead for them, yet they do it anyways. Not to mention males are worth way more then females, but not every one can see it.View attachment 60744

Wow; what a GIF!

Got it. That all makes a lot of sense. I appreciate your insights!

 

[betht]

What up T Forum family, I am currently up at 1:29 AM Eastern Standard Time having an IPA and a couple of shots of Jack Daniel's. This is not a celebration, this is sheer stress. Earlier this evening, I was pulling a bolus from a vial that I kept my L. mactans baby @1/8 inch and as I was pulling out the bolus it bolted out of the vial onto my hand. I got it back into the vial after about 3 minutes of trying to catch it and as I was putting the cap on the vial I didn't realize it bolted up to the cap right under the lip of the cap and I accidentally squashed it . I felt so horribly heartbroken and I was kicking myself like I could have avoided it, I actually broke down into tears for the Lil one. Ah T family I need a shoulder, has anyone in here ever accidentally killed their spider or tarantulas? The more responses the merrier, I appreciate everyone on here.

What up T Forum family, I am currently up at 1:29 AM Eastern Standard Time having an IPA and a couple of shots of Jack Daniel's. This is not a celebration, this is sheer stress. Earlier this evening, I was pulling a bolus from a vial that I kept my L. mactans baby @1/8 inch and as I was pulling out the bolus it bolted out of the vial onto my hand. I got it back into the vial after about 3 minutes of trying to catch it and as I was putting the cap on the vial I didn't realize it bolted up to the cap right under the lip of the cap and I accidentally squashed it . I felt so horribly heartbroken and I was kicking myself like I could have avoided it, I actually broke down into tears for the Lil one. Ah T family I need a shoulder, has anyone in here ever accidentally killed their spider or tarantulas? The more responses the merrier, I appreciate everyone on here.

I am so sorry for your loss. But it is wonderful to see everybody reply to you in such an uplifting way.

 

[SikmT7]

I am so sorry for your loss. But it is wonderful to see everybody reply to you in such an uplifting way.

Yes indeed thank you so much I really appreciate your reply as well

 

[BlueEyesAndSunnySkies]

What up T Forum family, I am currently up at 1:29 AM Eastern Standard Time having an IPA and a couple of shots of Jack Daniel's. This is not a celebration, this is sheer stress. Earlier this evening, I was pulling a bolus from a vial that I kept my L. mactans baby @1/8 inch and as I was pulling out the bolus it bolted out of the vial onto my hand. I got it back into the vial after about 3 minutes of trying to catch it and as I was putting the cap on the vial I didn't realize it bolted up to the cap right under the lip of the cap and I accidentally squashed it . I felt so horribly heartbroken and I was kicking myself like I could have avoided it, I actually broke down into tears for the Lil one. Ah T family I need a shoulder, has anyone in here ever accidentally killed their spider or tarantulas? The more responses the merrier, I appreciate everyone on here.

I had a divided terrarium and when I was out of town a few days the younger Tarantula somehow managed to push through the divider and murdered/ate my older 10 year old Tarantula. It was extremely traumatic. Learned my lesson at the expense of Priscilla.

 

[SikmT7]

Same here. I am fully convinced that sentient beings can interact and trust and respect humans when we choose to wisely and compassionately interact with them. I'm a brand new Lasiodores polycuspalatus mom and I am convinced this sling trusts me.

I totally agree, these creatures were created by God and they do interact with us humans. Especially when you raise them up from slings, they really get to know you more. My female Lasiodora parahybana comes up to me when I open her enclosure, climbs into my hand and lets me pet her as I talk to her. They are highly intelligent creatures.

 

[SikmT7]

I had a divided terrarium and when I was out of town a few days the younger Tarantula somehow managed to push through the divider and murdered/ate my older 10 year old Tarantula. It was extremely traumatic. Learned my lesson at the expense of Priscilla.

Oh my I'm so sorry to hear that. Yes it is quite traumatic especially when you have owned this T for a decade. I am going to be pairing a few species so keep in touch and I will keep you in mind. But don't kick yourself like I did, you do the best you can to keep them safe as these T's are escape artists and you just never know what they could be up to whenever unattended. I'm sure you're a great keeper and you have been in the hobby for quite some time so we just chalk it up to experience and we acquire more knowledge from these experiences.