Arachnids

[ShadowVengance]

I've kept a pair of emperor scorpions for a about a year or two now, i've had them since a few months after birth and they are about 2-3".

I love them. Now, I've been looking into getting another.

Ive handled my scorps as if they were dangerously venomous, just to practice,
although I'm aware this sounds stupid. lol. Since they are emperors though i like to have fun with them and handle them a bit more regularly.

I want a tarantula, simply because I haven't ever owned one before, I was thinking either a pinktoe or a rosehair to start. rosehair seems a lot better in price, and i heard they were good for beginners, they are hardy for sure.
I've read mixed things about handling rosehairs.

Apparently though in most cases they are super docile unless of course you are stupid.

I really like flatrock scorpions, because of their unique shape.

Lastly, I was looking at a deathstalker, I want to get into something more venomous, of course I the downside is, I would most likely never handle it, but it would be cool to see something that actually uses it's tail to kill larger prey, not just rip it apart with claws.

(P.S. it's all good and legal where I live)

I was wondering, which species would you guys recommend?

Are there any species which I may have overlooked?

Ive got a 2 gallon and a 5 gallon ready, I believe they are more than enough, I dont want to use my 25 gallon haha.


Also, I was wondering if anyone has any idea of tarantula's kept in communities, a couple of tarantula's kept together.

Ive seen it done in a large tank, about 40 gallons, but Im not sure of the species.

I just want someone else's opinion, any comments welcome

 

[Jessica Dring]

Chilean Rose Tarantula's (rose hair) are good in the fact that they are very hardy, being hardier than the pink toed, but I think, pink toed's are better for handling (IME). So if your serious, look up as much as possibe about the pink toeds, and get one of them. I'm not sure about gallons, but you need to tell us the measurements of both tanks to help you. Obviously this will also effect whether you can house a chilean rose or pink toed. Though to me, a 2 gallon doesn't sound enough.

As for the scorpions, why not get the flatrock AND the deathstalker. You can sillcone in dividers in your 25 gallon.. and then have adequate space for all of these.

 

[ShadowVengance]

Thanks for the advice!

At first I thought pink toes were going to be expensive, but there is only a 10 dollar difference between the two. lol.

I'm going to ask to handle both species before I decide.

I've got a 10 gallon free too, so I think i'll use that, but I need to find a cover

Siliconing the 25 gallon sounds like a great Idea. Never thought of just using a divider.

I just checked my lfs, they said they won't be getting a death stalker in for about a month.

So right now it looks like I'm going to go for the pinktoe.


Oh yea, when I'm picking it up, are there any ways to tell how healthy it is?

Obviously I'll make sure it has all it's legs, is there anyway to tell how hydrated they are (although I doubt it matters in most cases)

Do pinktoes even drink? I read they get it all from food. Should I add a shallow dish just incase?

 

[Jessica Dring]

You definately need a water dish either very shallow with shallow sides or one with a tarantula sponge. It really DOES matter if your pink toe is dehydrated, it matters with ANY animal, and this is possibly the worst thing you have to watch out for, to keep them healthy. If you get a dehydrated spider in, it takes some one experienced to turn them around. Most begginners lose theirs to it. Unfortantely its hard to tell you what to look for when it comes to symtoms of dehydration, it's better to show you, but seeing as I am not there... here goes.....

Look up LOTS of pictures of examples of each healthy spider, then look up aa few of dehdrated animals. They look dull, lifeless, they won't be standing correctly, their legs will look rather skinny and like they aren't standing properly. They will generally, be weak, maby to weak to defend themselves if feeling threatened.

All spiders drink, including pink toes. You wont usually spot them doing it, though I caught mine on occassions, they love a good slurp. So if you don't catch them drinking don't take their water away from them..thats when you have problems. Remember the heat mat goes on the side of the tank with most spiders (unless burrowing species that require humid/warm burrows)

 

[ShadowVengance]

thanks a lot

I handled a pinktoe and i'm loving it. Im working on the enclosure.

Im not sure if the picture I found were of extremely severe cases of dehydrated spiders, but It seems very obvious when a spider is dehydrated or not doing well.

look at the legs. wow.

I wont be able to pick it up this week, so ive got another week to get ready, ill post pics when I do.

As for the deathstalker, 50 bucks seems a bit pricey, I read 30 is what they regularly are, i'm gonna hold off until I find a better deal. ... unless 50 bucks is a good deal? (p.s. i'm canadian, so my money is worthless, haha jokes)

 

[Jessica Dring]

Glad you liked them. So whats the dimentions of your tank your gonna use?
As for 50 bucks hmm.. im english but i believe that would be 25/30 quid in our money, am i right anyone? lol.
If so it seems fair to me. We pay out about that for emperors..

 

[ShadowVengance]

so right now i have a 25 long (I dont know the exact measurements, they are in my garage and I dont wanna go out there right now hehehe. )

it's custom and its about 3' long and 1' tall

then ive got a 5 gallon, which is about 1.5' long and .5' high and .5' wide

and ive got an exo-terra tank which is 1'x1'x1'x1' cube. right now its got a pair of anoles that im going to upgrade to a 15 gallon.

I'm going to go for a spiderling to get a bit more out of it, so it should be ok in the 5 gallon for at least a few years, Ive read you can keep spiderlings in tuperware with holes in the top until they are of age to be upgraded. Which i dont want to do cause I want to make the tank fancy and fun to look at, one of the best parts.

I have no idea what a quid is lol.
emperor scorps here go for 25 dollars.

 

[AttackFish]

I've got a five gallon laying around... I think its time for a spiderling!

 

[ShadowVengance]

I've got a five gallon laying around... I think its time for a spiderling!

hey man don't be a dick. Ive done my research. Ive got more than a 5 gallon, and tanks are readily available, big als sells them a dollar a gallon so tanks aren't an issue. but i'm going to use what I have. Young spiders are also a lot cheaper than adults, I just have to be careful adjusting the heat and humidity as it grows.

Im going to use an old 15 gallon and turn it sideways, fill it with plenty of climbing material to house it when it becomes adult. which should be plenty of space.

And im not getting it for another week, so your saying I shouldn't look things up or ask questions when they aren't sure of something or make any attempt to gain experience. At least thats what I get out of the joke.

But i'm considering making use of the fact that they are communal and give it a try with a pair or trio in the 25 gallon, with dense plants, but right now since i havent owned a tarantula before I'd like to learn what I'm doing before getting many.

 

[TheBloodyIrish]

When it come to inversts, I find KISS works best. Although I don't have a lot of experience with taranulas, but the spiders I kept did best with an artifical burrow and basic soil compost.

Tarantulas rarely venture 10 inches from their burrow anyway, and if they are kept in too large of an enclosure they can get lost and sometimes starve or dehydrate themselves. Obviously, in nature, the ones that stay close to their burrows are the one that survive and breed.