My Oldest Daughter is Going to Be the Death of Me!

[Mrs InsaneOne]

Yes... and I refuse to retract that statement!

Four nights ago, while taking the trash out, my oldest did a bit of freelance herping in the immediate area - the neighbor's backyard to be specific. After running home, all excited and out of breath, she begged me for something to use to catch a bug in, so she can take a picture of this thing she found. I gave her one of the extra-large delis we have, and she happily went tearing back outside.

Fifteen minutes later, she bounces into the house carrying a wild-caught tarantula asking if she can keep it. I want to know how it went from a photo shoot to a new pet, in less than twenty minutes!?!?

ANYway, I said she can hold onto until dad gets home to take a picture of it, because it was jumpy and in a right scary mood so I um... refused to take pictures. What does dad do? Gives her permission to keep it, starts researching to identify it, and in the end refuses to take the pictures. On account of it being a 'little' feisty at the time.

So, we now have this THING, that my daughter lovingly named 'Took' sitting in the house. It has eaten a wild-caught grasshopper and a house fly for us in the time it has been here, and has actually calmed down just enough for me to brave taking pictures of it.

Here he/she is:

According to the research that the hubby did, it is an Aphonopelma chaleodes (We live right smack in the middle of their habitat apparently) and this is the first one I've seen in all the years we've lived out here.

A few close up pics of Took:

It would appear that he's found a temporary home, and my daughter has officially taken up bug catching to provide him with a natural diet. I know we need to move him into a bigger cage, but could use a little advice on how best to set one up for him. We currently have him on some organic potting soil, in the deli he was caught in.

My daughter has been doing some research on how to care for him, but we could still use some helpful hints/advice to insure that this mini-monster lives happily as long as he's with us. (We think he might be a mature male, but if anyone out there can tell us for sure, we'd be grateful.)

And, it's not that I'm scared to death of spiders, mind you, it's just that big spiders creep me out a bit and the thought of it getting loose is making me loose sleep at night.

 

[Drizzt80]

I want to know how it went from a photo shoot to a new pet, in less than twenty minutes!?!?

Um, how many snakes do you and Tim have?! I'm sorry to inform you that she's officially a direct desecendent of you two!!

Thanks for sharing the story and congrats on the new addition!

D80

 

[Kokopelli]

I've no idea what type it is so I can't help you much.
I would suggest putting a small bottle cap with water in it.
Also, I would advise getting some mealworms (the big ones) or some other feeding bugs...
you can never know what's the state of the bugs you bring in from outside(may have parasites/poisoned)

 

[a_god_s]

Jynx posted a "bite report" on a tarantula .. see general chit-chat. It does seem like she keeps spiders.

Hope that helps and please be careful. I'm not afraid of spiders but after reading that bite report, it has made me wary of those spiders that can affect my health. It doesn't seem yours is the same species but what do I know ...

From Jynx post:

Scientific Name: Latrodectus mactans
2. Size of Tarantula: 2"

http://www.cornsnakes.com/forums/showthread.php?t=73861

 

[The_Thunderer]

LOL... I'm with Brent... Snakes everywhere and a Tarantula is an issue??? ROFLOL!

As for Jynx's post... that was for a Southern Black Widow... not really a tarantula, but certainly a "bigger" spider. Nothing to worry about here.

In all likelihood, it is a mature male, hunting for a female. Good news for you... if it IS a mature male, it probably won't live too long.

Bad news... if it is a FEMALE, it can live MUCH longer (depending on its current age... up to 20-25 years) and it'll probably have sperm saved up for eggs. If it is a female and you don't want baby T's... HOPE for a molt! LOL.

More bad news... if it is an immature male, it could (depending on its current age) live 8-10 years. It'll then have its final molt after which it will "hunt for a female" and then not live much longer.

Can you take pics of the front legs? I THINK I see a hook on one of the front legs in your second pic. IF it is a hook, it'll be a male. Good news for you! A good pic of the front legs would help out.

Don't know whether to congratulate you... but congrats to your daughter! LOL!

Here are some links for help...
http://spiderpharm.com/venoms/spp/spi/theraphosidae/a_chalcodes.htm

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphonopelma_chalcodes.html

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/tarantulas/p/desertblonde.htm

You could also go to another board I'm a member of... www.arachnoboards.com! Much like here, they're great and have lots of friendly people who are willing and can help.

Good luck!

 

[a_god_s]

As for Jynx's post... that was for a Southern Black Widow... not really a tarantula

Thanks for the correction...I don't know much about spiders and after reading Jynx report ... I'm ok with not keeping any as pets, except for those indigenous to my house (to keep the fly/insect population down).

 

[waldo]

Sad to say that yes, that is a mature male and he will probably only live for a few months. Really the best thing to do is release him so he can breed while he has the chance, if your daughter really wants a pet T, a captive breed species would be a better choice.
If you are going to keep him, then get a large kritter keeper, fill it half way with peat or soil with no chemicals added, a shallow water dish and something like half a plastic flower pot for a hide. Feed him as much as he is willing to eat, soon he will loose interest in eating all together.

 

[Mrs InsaneOne]

Thanks for the advice so far, and Waldo, that's pretty much what we figured. I'll let my daughter decide if she wants to still keep him, knowing his days are fairly numbered. She's done great with him so far - so maybe , if she's responsible enough about him, I'll let her get a captive bred one for her birthday or something.

And Brent, I don't see the correlation between the number of snakes owned and a spider... They aren't even distantly related... besides, spiders have legs... meaning that they can crawl, run, and jump slightly better than a snake. Though, admittedly, we do have some spring loaded snakes, I still prefer them to spiders... lol

 

[Mrs InsaneOne]

LOL... I'm with Brent... Snakes everywhere and a Tarantula is an issue??? ROFLOL!

As for Jynx's post... that was for a Southern Black Widow... not really a tarantula, but certainly a "bigger" spider. Nothing to worry about here.

In all likelihood, it is a mature male, hunting for a female. Good news for you... if it IS a mature male, it probably won't live too long.

Bad news... if it is a FEMALE, it can live MUCH longer (depending on its current age... up to 20-25 years) and it'll probably have sperm saved up for eggs. If it is a female and you don't want baby T's... HOPE for a molt! LOL.

More bad news... if it is an immature male, it could (depending on its current age) live 8-10 years. It'll then have its final molt after which it will "hunt for a female" and then not live much longer.

Can you take pics of the front legs? I THINK I see a hook on one of the front legs in your second pic. IF it is a hook, it'll be a male. Good news for you! A good pic of the front legs would help out.

Don't know whether to congratulate you... but congrats to your daughter! LOL!

Here are some links for help...
http://spiderpharm.com/venoms/spp/spi/theraphosidae/a_chalcodes.htm

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Aphonopelma_chalcodes.html

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/tarantulas/p/desertblonde.htm

You could also go to another board I'm a member of... www.arachnoboards.com! Much like here, they're great and have lots of friendly people who are willing and can help.

Good luck!

Yep, he definitely has the little hooks on the front legs and um... NO... I'm not going to get a close up picture of them at the moment.. maybe I can talk my husband into doing that later. I've already disturbed him enough today! lol

Appreciated the links though, the forum one especially...

 

[Drizzt80]

And Brent, I don't see the correlation between the number of snakes owned and a spider...

Ah yes, I would agree . . . More specifically, it's not the number of snakes owned compared to a spider, it's the collecting of, and caring for, wild animals and/or things.

D80

 

[Mrs InsaneOne]

Ah yes, I would agree . . . More specifically, it's not the number of snakes owned compared to a spider, it's the collecting of, and caring for, wild animals and/or things.

D80

Ah, ok... I admit you have a point... and I'd much rather my daughter collect the wild animals (or in this case bug) than kill them or injure them like the rest of the kids around here do. At least I know I taught my daughter to respect nature.

Oh, and after spending about an hour considering her options, Elizabeth (my oldest) has decided to let Took go. Her and my husband are going to take him up to the hills that are a few miles away to release him into a safer environment where he is sure to find and woo a few ladies before his time is up.

The only bad news about that, is that she's already plotting and planning what type of T she's going to get for her birthday. So, even though I swore we'd never have T's in the house, we'll have one by the end of January if my daughter has her way. (I'm making her save up her money for the spider and a habitat for it - and I know we'll be able to find a captive bred one at the show in January without having to purchase one from the local shops around here.)

 

[Nanci]

Well, hopefully she can pick out a nice tame one! Pretty cool she caught Took- she's braver than I am...

 

[waldo]

That was a very good choice on her part, you have a very considerate daughter. If she wants to do some research, have her check out arachnoboards.com, its a fantastic tarantula site.
I'd really recommend a Brachypelma albopilosum as a beginner species. They are cheap, easy to care for, live a lonngg time and are generally extremely docile. What ever you do, stay away from rose hairs, they are recommended as beginner due to their low price and availability but they can have extreme mood swings with some being down right nasty.

 

[The_Thunderer]

That was a very good choice on her part, you have a very considerate daughter. If she wants to do some research, have her check out arachnoboards.com, its a fantastic tarantula site.
I'd really recommend a Brachypelma albopilosum as a beginner species. They are cheap, easy to care for, live a lonngg time and are generally extremely docile. What ever you do, stay away from rose hairs, they are recommended as beginner due to their low price and availability but they can have extreme mood swings with some being down right nasty.

I'll also add that many (not all) rose hairs are wild caught that may have been inseminated. So, you may get one T... and several months later be "expecting" several hundred!!! PLUS, she may be able to remain inseminated for more than one egg sac.

I'm glad she chose to let him go. I leg go 2 last year. At least now he can "fulfill" his lot in life and have sired several hundred children!!!

Kudos to you all and especially your daughter!

 

[Ricky87]

I have respect for anyone who will get past the fear of spiders for their children. Most parents would be more than happy to pass their dislike of spiders unto their kids. I personally am deathly afraid of spiders. If theirs a spider half the diamater of a penny loose in my room, I won't sleep until its gone. I don't kill them out of respect, but I will cup them and throw them into the cold, let alone a tarantula. Good luck with him and I hope he settles in!

 

[diamondlil]

What a great story, and kudos to your daughter. I look forwards to seeing her birthday spider!

 

[Mrs InsaneOne]

Well, hopefully she can pick out a nice tame one! Pretty cool she caught Took- she's braver than I am...

It's ironic really, cause she used to scream like a banshee when she found a tiny spec of a house spider in the bathroom! lol

That was a very good choice on her part, you have a very considerate daughter. If she wants to do some research, have her check out arachnoboards.com, its a fantastic tarantula site.
I'd really recommend a Brachypelma albopilosum as a beginner species. They are cheap, easy to care for, live a lonngg time and are generally extremely docile. What ever you do, stay away from rose hairs, they are recommended as beginner due to their low price and availability but they can have extreme mood swings with some being down right nasty.

I'll also add that many (not all) rose hairs are wild caught that may have been inseminated. So, you may get one T... and several months later be "expecting" several hundred!!! PLUS, she may be able to remain inseminated for more than one egg sac.

I'm glad she chose to let him go. I leg go 2 last year. At least now he can "fulfill" his lot in life and have sired several hundred children!!!

Kudos to you all and especially your daughter!

Thank you both for the recommendation, I'll pass along that info to my daughter, because she was actually considering a rose hair. She likes the way they look. And I was right worried that she might have found a female when she first asked to keep it - I in no way wanted hundreds or thousands of little spiderlets running around the house. Especially ones that will grow that big! lol

I have respect for anyone who will get past the fear of spiders for their children. Most parents would be more than happy to pass their dislike of spiders unto their kids. I personally am deathly afraid of spiders. If theirs a spider half the diamater of a penny loose in my room, I won't sleep until its gone. I don't kill them out of respect, but I will cup them and throw them into the cold, let alone a tarantula. Good luck with him and I hope he settles in!

I'm not actually afraid of spiders, I can look at pictures, take photos of the little ones, and will transport live ones inside the house to outside instead of kill them. I just really never saw them as pets and my brother used to intentionally try to scare me with large ones. Plus I watched one too many scary spider movies, so I don't feel as comfortable around them as I used to. My youngest though, is in the 'deathly' afraid of any bug stage, and I was more concerned about her sister trying to scare her with a live spider - which would have made matters worse. Luckily, my oldest showed a bit more responsibility than that though. =)

What a great story, and kudos to your daughter. I look forwards to seeing her birthday spider!

Thanks, she's definitely excited about getting one. She's not happy that she'll have to wait a few months, but at least by than I know she'll be ready to take care of one properly after doing research on her own.

 

[jenneses]

I must commend you and Tim on raising such a responsible young lady!

 

[krtemt]

hey guys. I used to own a wild caught Tarantula from outside a friends house in barstow. He lived up until last year, and i got him when i was in the 5th grade. so it was a good 12 years that i had him. Research i did said they could live up to 30 years male and females. Males die a year after mating. I feed mine a dozen crickets every two weeks. He was housed in a 10 gal aquarium, with coconut or aspen substrate(what ever i could afford). I had him a hide, water dish, and a heating rock. They can be very docile if you work with them. Enjoy the eight legged friend.

 

[Jynx]

Rose hair nasty? Are you kidding me? You guys must've been messing with the wrong kind of rosea. There's a reason that Roseas are the #1 kept T in the world. Any T can be downright nasty if it is pissed off enough.

Sorry I missed this post earlier honey! You are absolutely right about it being a A. chaleodes. Thats a beautiful one too! From the look of it, I would definitely say male, though I cannot attest to its maturity as I can't see any tibial spurs or hooks. For the most part, they are pretty calm but the do have urticating hairs, so don't be surprised if he starts to kick them at you.

As for a beginner spider, this guy isn't actually too bad. They can be pretty quick though, so she may want to look for a slower more heavy bodied T such as a B. albopilosum B. smithi, B. vagans, G. rosea, G. pulchra, or even a G. aureostriata. There is always a risk of importing a gravid female with any importation, so don't narrow it down to roseas. Any spider can disagree with any situation, and no matter what, roseas are one of the best beginner spiders.

One way to avoid an importation issues is to just buy a sling. I'll have some B. vagans and G. roseas in a few months, but I might also suggest Theresa over at Tarantula Inc. She has some absolutely wonderful animals, and at very nice prices. I've done business with her a few times, and she's been nothing but pleasant. I frequent www.tarantulas.us. This is a wonderful forum with a wealth of information on it.

Good luck with the little guy and don't hesitate to ask for help! He'll grow on you after a while... I guarantee it!