Foo - Pet Tarantulas

I've been thinking about this for a while now. Since a lot of the houses and apartments around here don't allow pets like cats and dogs, I thought a tarantula would make a pretty good pet. Right now, we have some fish and two turtles, but they are boring and stupid! I think having a giant spider that I can play with and train to bite people would be the bee's knees.

Has anyone else had or know of anyone who's had a pet tarantula? I just read the article on wikipedia on them and said they could be bought for around $50, and they sound like they would be easy to take care of.

RAWR!
http://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/images/red-kneed-tarantula-sm.jpg

My 3rd grade teacher had one. They are pretty cool. Unfortunatley I don't know much of anything about them.

Yeah, some of my science teachers had them, but they just sat in the aquarium all day and never moved. I want one that I can take out and play with! :D

She always did play with hers. She'd hold it in her hand and pet it and stuff.

All Spiders Must Die!!

http://www.wallpaperbase.com/wallpapers/movie/8leggedfreaks/8_legged_freaks_3.jpg

My wife is terrified of spiders. I want to get a tarantula just to put on her when she is sleeping. I'll be sure to film her reaction and post it here.

My wife is terrified of spiders. I want to get a tarantula just to put on her when she is sleeping. I'll be sure to film her reaction and post it here.
Don't forget to show us a scan of the divorce papers too.....you know, for completeness.

Those things barely have brains, so you really can't train them to do squat.

Oh, I will train them. And strap lasers to them. Tarantulasers...I like it! :D

KILL THEM WITH FIRE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


ten times!

Tarantulas are ok pets. A friend of mine had some, they are very fragile, a fall to the floor from waist level it will kill them.

You really want a cool pet that you can interact with and train to do things? Might I suggest you strongly consider rats. They are very intelligent, social, affectionate, and responsive to human interaction. I can't think of a cooler pet.

Plus, chicks dig 'em. Go out somewhere with one on your shoulder and you're an instant babe magnet.

I have a pet tarantula but not a Mexican Redknee (CITES II species). They make good pets although they're not exactly the active type. They sit still very well!

But the good thing is they don't need to eat that much and you can go on vacation for a week or two and when you return, they'll still be alive. Females live longer than males and much longer than true spiders.

Jay

. They sit still very well!



Jay


Thats what I've seen. My friend had one and I thought it was dead until he fed it. The thing never moved, it may as well have been a pet rock

Yeah, it might not be the most fun pet, but it has to be better than the fish and turtles we have now.

+1 on Rats for a pet that is more interactive. Only problem, some Apt managers will tell you "rats are not allowed. They carry diseases". I got that, and my wife changed their tune, by marching in with the Vet bill.

As for turantulas... They are great. Just as long as you want one. As specified already, cheap and easy. In captivity females can live up to 40 years. Males in captivity and in the wild are only good for about 10. I had one for 14 years, she (Riggy, short for Rigor Mortis) was wild caught, so I don't know how old she really was. I do know that from the time I got her, to the day she died (4 years ago on Good Friday), Riggy was the only stable female in my life.:) It was $1.06 a month for a dozen crickets, and check her water sponge ever other day.

There are a few things to be careful of. Temp, don't let the aquarium (or whatever) get below 70. Don't let it get too humid or dry. When they are multing, humidty is their friend, once molted, it is their enemy. And speaking of molting, wait at least a week til you feed them.

As for falls, and when/if crickets eat a whole leg off... that could be simply fixed with super glue. I didn't catch Riggy molted, and feed her. The crickets ate off one of her legs, since her exo was still soft. Super glue on the wound, kept her fluids inside. After that there was a year of quick molts. After the first one, she had a "baby leg". After each subsequent molt, the leg gradually grew back to normal size. My brother used the saved molts for a High School science project.. scored a 150!

As for bites... if they do at all, it will be painful. It is much like a bee sting. It will swell up and hurt for a while, unless of your alergic.

Training... good luck. Mine just sat there. The joke was she was so laid back, she had a THC gland.

If you want a larger sized one, get a Mexican Red Leg. There are some types that are known to be aggresive. MRL's and Chilean Rose Hairs, are generally good first timers. I'm currently looking, locally, for a "Pink Toe", and have had no luck.

I could go on and on. PM me if you have any questions. Here is a resource other then wiki http://www.thebts.co.uk/

They're probably better than crabs!!

I've been thinking about this for a while now. Since a lot of the houses and apartments around here don't allow pets like cats and dogs, I thought a tarantula would make a pretty good pet. Right now, we have some fish and two turtles, but they are boring and stupid! I think having a giant spider that I can play with and train to bite people would be the bee's knees.

Has anyone else had or know of anyone who's had a pet tarantula? I just read the article on wikipedia on them and said they could be bought for around $50, and they sound like they would be easy to take care of.

RAWR!
http://www.cotswoldwildlifepark.co.uk/images/red-kneed-tarantula-sm.jpg

Well it sounds like a good idea if you like spiders, but some people don't like them and some are even afraid of them, which includes me in that wild bunch. Not exactly expensive, can be found in a local pet shop.