Are you a Tarantula hobbyist? If so, we invite you to join our community! Once you join you'll be able to post messages, upload pictures of your pets and enclosures and chat with other Tarantula enthusiasts. Sign up today!

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Denny Dee" data-source="post: 28884" data-attributes="member: 1393">Hi Skymall007,Okay, I will take a crack at this:1. Were you ever afraid of spiders and if so how did you overcome that fear?  No.2. What got you interested in owning spiders?  Always fascinated with predators species in the animal kingdom.  When I studied Entomology, the spider was the on the top of the food chain and they absolutely fascinated me with their hunting abilities.  From a pet perspective, they are also one of the lowest maintenance pets one can acquire.  ++3. Do tarantulas of the same species exhibit personality? Can they recognize their owners?  Yes, definitely.  However, through research (like forums like this), you can find general characteristics that you can rely on in selecting a T based on their aggressive tendancies.  There are always exceptions though so you need to experiment with your new T to get to know them before you assume they are docile and safe to handle.  I do not think they can recognize their owners as site is not a primary attribute for most T's.  But you never know?4. What is your favorite species and why?  I own 18 T's because I have never been able to answer this question properly <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />5. Are there any deadly tarantulas? I know that most are venomous? I think? I heard new world spiders have a more intense bite?  There are hundreds of opinions on this.  Since I have avoided being bit (by T's that is), I would not be 100% confident.  I will tell you that in any venom rankings, you will see the Haplopelma, Poecilotheria, most of the larger bird eating spiders, and some of the baboons.  They are all venomous and venom is a funny thing.  Depending on the health of the individual that gets bit, the amount of actual venom that the spider injects, allergic reactions, infections caused by the bite not being treated are all some variables in the equation.  Most people that treat the bite and any possible allergy that you may not be aware of.  If you decide not to get treatment, there are wide varieties of symptoms including fever and intense pain and potentially worse.  If you do get bit, go get it checked out just to be safe.  New world species generally have a less intense bite than old world species.  New world species have the ability to sling uticrating hairs from the abdomen as a first defense and bite only when necessary.  The hairs can cause intense itching on the skin and even temporary blindness if they get in the eyes.  Again, you should research individual species by species to determine their "normal" mode of defense.6. Interesting facts:  The forums are full of fascinating and interesting T facts.  Too many to list here.  Enjoy.7. Do you find them cute? I find snakes adorable but I know that for many snake owners they might not. More just interesting.  Cute no.  Gorgeous and fascinating, yes.  But I also find scorpions, true and primitive spiders the same. 8. What do you do when you see a house spider? Do you also find them cute? I always try to let them back outside. I don't know if the feelings differ? If I found a snake in my house I would be very happy, unless it was venomous in which case I would call someone to safety bring it back to its home. Preferably outside my house.   I usually try to capture it and either release it or add it to my True Spider collection to save a buck or two <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink    ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />8. Anything really. The more the better. I want to better understand this hobby and community.   Although I have read that owning a T is good therapy for arachnophobia, I would definitely not recommend it.  There are several folks out there that will probably argue this point but for every 1 that has overcome it using T's, I would wager there are many more that have not and probably not done their T's justice in upkeep and health.  Female T's can live 10-15 years under the right conditions so this is a major commitment.  Granted that you probably will never be short of T collectors that will help you relocate your T to another home if it does not work out but they are not goldfish.  If you continue your research and are still intrigued, fascinated and determined to give it a go, than go for it.  But remember, you don't have to handle T's to own T's.  I do not handle my specimens unless absolutely necessary as I am confident that they don't "enjoy" it and there is always a risk of damaging the T.   Keep in mind that this is my own personal opinion and you find others completely counter these points. Hopefully, you will continue your research and find them as fascinating as we do.</blockquote>

Verification