Need advice on potential Avicularia purchase, please?

[lasiodora-parahybana1980]

Okay, the situation is: there is an Avicularia sp of some kind, most likely a pink toe at my local pet store just up from my place. In my opinion, they're more of an exotic animal/reptile shop, and the tarantulas don't seem to get adequate care. My question is it wrong to buy this little T mostly because I feel bad for it? Of course, I do want an Avicularia because I think they're gorgeous too. Does this perpetuate tarantulas being kept in less than suitable environment if people, like myself, continue to shop there and pick up T's? I will say, that the store does seem to care after their reptiles pretty well, however.

 

[Enn49]

That's a difficult question to answer. Yes, I agree that you shouldn't buy from these shops as it just encourages them to sell more but how can you walk away and leave one being kept in poor conditions by people who don't know how to keep them. I'm afraid I would buy but try to get a discount pointing out to them what is wrong with their husbandry.

 

[lasiodora-parahybana1980]

That's a difficult question to answer. Yes, I agree that you shouldn't buy from these shops as it just encourages them to sell more but how can you walk away and leave one being kept in poor conditions by people who don't know how to keep them. I'm afraid I would buy but try to get a discount pointing out to them what is wrong with their husbandry.

Yeah, to be honest, I am torn about this. I can see your points too.

 

[Arachnoclown]

I have bought many Ts in this same situation. I usually tell them why I'm buying it and how they should keep them in the future.

 

[lasiodora-parahybana1980]

Yeah, I am leaning towards picking up the little tarantula.

 

[Tortoise Tom]

First off: All Avics are super duper cool spiders. My very first T ever was a pink toe, back in the early 90s, and man did I love that little one!

Next, you gotta ask your self: Do I care more about this individual spider, or do I care more about the plight all of these other animals will suffer when these people turn a profit from my purchase and buy more to sell?

Neither answer is wrong. Neither answer is right. Its an individual decision. I feel bad for the spider sitting there neglected, but if I buy it, they will replace it with another, in perpetuity. I had a friend that used to go around and steal neglected animals from stores like that and give them away for free to good homes. Not condoning anything illegal, but he smiled a lot and felt good about what he was doing. He took pride when one of the bad shops went out of business.

If you buy it, you'll love it, but feel bad about its replacement. If you don't buy it, you can feel good about ending a bad cycle, but you'll feel guilty about leaving him there.

My strategy has been to educate them and try to get them to improve. I've even offered to help them clean cages or change a water if they were understaffed. Many times they don't want to hear it. If they get hostile, I'll threaten them with all the new social media stuff. That usually settles them down. I try to be polite and direct them to good sources to get better educated on the animals they sell. My results have been all over the spectrum over the years, but sometimes improvements are made. Some people eventually appreciate the help, and others are just A-holes that need to be shut down. I worked in the retail pet industry for 9 years. I've been on both sides of that counter. I use that experience to try and make things better for the animals and for the business. Sometimes it works.

 

[lasiodora-parahybana1980]

You know, I really appreciate this and all the other replies regarding this question. I get your point about the perpetual state that these wonderful spiders would be placed in if they're continually being purchased. I think you're spot on in this regard, that education is the key to stop the poor husbandry. Again, thank you and to all who offered insight into this matter.

 

[Enn49]

Another point to bear in mind is that if you don't buy the T then it may end up in the hands of a complete novice that will keep it in the same way as the shop because they pass on the poor information.

 

[ilovebrachys]

Another point to bear in mind is that if you don't buy the T then it may end up in the hands of a complete novice that will keep it in the same way as the shop because they pass on the poor information.

Good words of advice @Enn49-unfortunatly some members of the public take the pet stores advice as gospel and when its bad advice they wouldn't think to question it-we learn from mistakes but mistakes don't need to be made when a Ts life hangs in the balance

 

[Tortoise Tom]

Another point to bear in mind is that if you don't buy the T then it may end up in the hands of a complete novice that will keep it in the same way as the shop because they pass on the poor information.

This is true. Its true of any animal sold in a pet store. They key to the whole thing is the pet store people knowing what they are talking about. Some want to learn and others don't.

 

[Greg]

Okay, the situation is: there is an Avicularia sp of some kind, most likely a pink toe at my local pet store just up from my place. In my opinion, they're more of an exotic animal/reptile shop, and the tarantulas don't seem to get adequate care. My question is it wrong to buy this little T mostly because I feel bad for it? Of course, I do want an Avicularia because I think they're gorgeous too. Does this perpetuate tarantulas being kept in less than suitable environment if people, like myself, continue to shop there and pick up T's? I will say, that the store does seem to care after their reptiles pretty well, however.

I bought an Avic avic last March. I considered it a "rescue purchase", because it was poorly housed at a large chain pet store (this is not where I buy my tarantulas). I assumed it was a juvenile based on size - approx. 3" - and was unsexed. After about nine months it began walking around the enclosure for several days, even on the ground. Then it moved back into its (now shredded) webbing and re-wove a more funnel-shaped web, It stayed in there, and didn't eat, for over two months. I pulled out a molt that was oddly shaped, and then pulled out the spider. It had died. I was told by keepers on this forum that those types of stores often have a mature male that is nearing the end of it's life. It had done a walkabout in the enclosure to search for a female, which was its last stand. Of course, store staff knew nothing about the tarantula's life history. So, beware of purchasing a tarantula from those kinds of places.

 

[lasiodora-parahybana1980]

Greg, yeah this is a tough one for me because I truly can see all sides to the argument. As to your point about these shops not giving or knowing what T's they have, I totally agree with you. I went in there a while back and they were selling a Goliath birdeater. Upon further investigation, and chatting with some other keepers, it was actually a T. stirmi. Oh well, thanks for your comment on this.

 

[shaun]

Love my pinktoe, my first and only spider, can't see me falling for any other type

 

[Tortoise Tom]

Greg, yeah this is a tough one for me because I truly can see all sides to the argument. As to your point about these shops not giving or knowing what T's they have, I totally agree with you. I went in there a while back and they were selling a Goliath birdeater. Upon further investigation, and chatting with some other keepers, it was actually a T. stirmi. Oh well, thanks for your comment on this.

Goliath bird eater is the common name for T. stirmi. Same for T. blondi.

I think this is why most of us prefer to use Latin names. Less confusion.

 

[lasiodora-parahybana1980]

Goliath bird eater is the common name for T. stirmi. Same for T. blondi.

I think this is why most of us prefer to use Latin names. Less confusion.

Yeah, I have been trying to get outta the habit of using the common names for that very same reason too.