#tarantulas and jumpers especially

[onenicebugperday]

I am somewhat happy that jumping spiders are becoming popular as pets and even people who normally don't like spiders seem to find them cute, but people have GOT to stop acting like they are miniature mammals who want love and affection and pets and want to hang out with you.

I have seen countless posts in jumper groups from people asking why their jumper tries to escape when they're holding it or seems skittish or threat poses at them. It's because you are a giant predator and they want to get away from you. They don't get any happy chemicals from handling like mammals would.

I'm starting to see this in millipede groups as well. "Why is my millipede secreting this liquid on me?" Because it does not want to be handled. It's stressful for the animal, and stress can kill them.

Not only does it stress them, but often taking them out of their enclosure is dangerous for them - I have seen a lot of posts from people whose spider escaped and was injured or was crushed in the door of the enclosure because they were taking it in and out frequently. Drops can also be harmful, especially for larger invertebrates like tarantulas and bigger millipedes.

In general, invertebrate pets are not going to be a good option if you want to handle something frequently. There are definitely some species and individuals who tolerate it more, and if you're an experienced keeper, you can learn the signs of a stressed animal and only handle ones that are chill about it. But the majority of the time, they should be left alone and observed only.

[memories-of-ancients]

Why the recent interest in spiders? I've been following you for years and this is new

When I was a kiddo I lived in the woods and would spend a lot of time in the woods. I used to explore and overturn rocks and logs and see what creepy crawlies were hiding. I'd find huge wolf spiders, snakes, and other things. I spent a lot of time at a creek in the state game lands and there were these huge fishing spiders the size of your hand, and I was amazed that they would walk on water. I was just all around fascinated by them.

Been spending more time outdoors in the summer and noticed the wide variety of wildlife where I live. Especially with spiders since I have been seeing them on my little outdoor adventures. Last summer was reading a book by a creek and felt a little tickle on my arm and it was a tiny little fuzzy jumping spider crawling up my arm and I died of cuteness overload! Now I'm rediscovering that fascination albeit in a much more academic way; learning the different species, their habitats, their diets, etc. Plus many species like jumpers, wolfies, velvet spiders, tarantulas, and other are just darn cute little critters. Come summer I intend to do some spider hunting, except maybe with a camera.

[suranastair]

Hey! For Compilation of Rook Questions: 2, 4, 14 and 15?

Wah! Thank you so much for the ask! I’ll answer for each of my 6 main rooks, since…choosing one is very hard, and I feel like yapping about my children. As such...I'll put a read more for my obnoxious ass. 😅

2. What is your favorite headcanon for your Rook?

💀 For Esteri, my Mourn Watch Rook, I have a headcanon that she really loves arachnids and has pet spiders! She keeps her favorite tarantula at the Lighthouse with her :3 I imagine not everyone approves of this lol. 🕷️

💎 For Cayden, my Lord of Fortune Rook, I headcanon that he has debilitating thalassophobia. Despite this, he still loves to adventure past the reefs—as long as the vessel is optimally secure near some kind of foreseeable land, and he doesn’t have to deep-sea dive. 👌😅

🪽 For Raya, my Grey Warden Rook, I headcanon that they grew up on the streets of Kirkwall before being recruited/conscripted by one of Hawke’s siblings that became a Grey Warden in their DA2 journey. Because of the latter, they have a closer connection to Varric than my other Rooks. On a different note, they also have a MASSIVE sweet tooth. 😋

🐉 For Dai Lu, my Shadow Dragon Rook, I headcanon that they LOVE cheesy romance novels and serials. She would vex Varric in the early months of them traveling together because she would ask to read his Swords and Shields collection. 📖

🐦‍⬛ For Kestrel, my Crow Rook, he can sometimes act like a downright DIVA. Viago’s nickname for him is “Diva de Riva.” As such, he has a passion for fashion and likes designing his own outfits and sewing/crafting in his free time—clothing that he doesn’t much like getting dirty. Quite a conundrum for an assassin. Blood, Darkspawn, and Arlathan Forest are bigger enemies to him than Solas could ever be. ✨

🦌 For Nohr, my Veil Jumper Rook, they ADORE all manner of birds and love to bird watch and climb the high trees of Arlathan in their downtime. They often like to be alone and have solitude. Going to the shore’s edges with Taash to feed the seagulls is one of their favorite things to do together. 🕊️❤️

4. What is the worst loss your Rook has endured? How did they deal with that?

💀 As a socially-awkward, studious, and dedicated member of the Mourn Watch, Esteri is surrounded by death of all kinds; loss in terms of death, for her, is moreso a transition, and possibly not a true end. Being separated from Emmrich and the others after being locked in the Fade by Solas made her realize there are always worse fates than death, especially when not given a choice. Her loss of that choice made her more attuned to the world of the living and those in it who love and care for her—especially Emmrich.

💎 Cayden lost his childhood, his parents, and his freedom when he was captured and sold into slavery at a young age. He was bounced around from place to place, master to master because he was uncooperative and rebellious until he was bought by a Tevinter slaver and brought aboard their ship as a scullery hand. He and others banded together to mutiny and free those aboard on the shores of Rivain, catching the attention of the Lords. He’s never looked back. While he respects and looks up to the work of the Shadow Dragons, there’s too much “red tape” for his liking and he never takes his newfound freedoms for granted, always off on another adventure. He’s a hard guy to tie down.

🪽 Losing Varric (and Harding to an extent) and coming to terms with that is still an ongoing process for Raya. As a Warden, loss is always there, hounding them and other Wardens, but the way Varric went and how Solas was involved left its mark. Let alone, they lost Weisshaupt and most of their friends/comrades there as well. Tying in my headcanon for them, along with a headstrong & hotheaded façade to cover their lack of confidence, the whole of Veilguard is harrowing for Raya. Davrin and Assan’s presences in their life afterwards helps tremendously. Just to have that connection with someone who can fully understand.

🐉 Dai Lu has severe amnesia/memory issues and can’t remember most of her past—just little bits here and there, and that she was from a Dalish clan. Blood Magic manipulation after being captured and enslaved in Minrathous did a number on her psyche and memory. She owes everything to The Viper and Tarquin for their rescue and recruitment, and to Neve for being her rock on their journey. She tries not to live in the past, and always looks and works towards a better future for herself and Minrathous.

🐦‍⬛ On another personal note, Kestrel lost his identity. His parents were overly-devout Andrastians who hated him once he began manifesting magic abilities. Growing up in an environment where he didn’t feel at home in his own skin as well as being neglected and ostracized by his own family had him feeling trapped in a prison no one else could see. Perhaps it was a stroke of ironic luck that his family got on the Crows’ bad side and were thusly “taken care of”. He was then taken in and given the attention and support to fully realize himself and transition into the man he is today. He doesn’t let gender bullshit hold him back and lets himself flourish and shine as a Crow…even if it gets on Viago’s and others’ nerves at times. He’s a diva (de Riva)! ✨

🦌 Nohr was once a saarebas of the Qun, one that earned her some stitches in her lips—in her early teen years, at that—due to her being unable to tame her magic like other saarebas. Once the Antaam broke away from the Qun, many saarebas came under suspicion, and the ones considered more dangerous were taken away for execution, unbeknownst to them. Her group was making a route through Arlathan and crossed paths with some Dalish. A fight broke out, leaving her escorts dead and the other saarebas to scatter or take their own lives. Nohr was to commit the latter, feeling as though she’d now lost her purpose, but the Dalish stopped her and took her in. She eventually joined with the Veil Jumpers, her purpose renewed to help Arlathan flourish and to find purpose for any she may come across who’s left the Qun—something she and Taash do together post-game.

14. Extra: If someone wanted to reach your Rook but couldn't find them, who would be the best person to ask where they are?

💀 Emmrich, if they’re not joined at the hip as is. Or, if they are, Vorgoth. Esteri doesn’t get too far from the Necropolis, even if her adventure takes her everywhere else all the time. Post game, she decompresses back in Nevarra for a while.

💎 Isabela or Taash. The former always hears about the trouble Cayden brings while the latter is mostly part of it. Bellara could be asked, too, being his significant other, but Bellara tends to be scattered on his whereabouts if she’s not currently with him lol.

🪽 Evka (as the new First Warden for whatever foreseeable future the series may have, in my headcanon). Raya keeps tabs on the remaining order with her. Antoine is too busy training the griffons to keep tabs on anyone else lol. Wherever Raya is, Davrin and Assan are as well.

🐉 Elek will know where Dai Lu (and Neve) is at all times, but he’ll spin you a story to keep anyone unruly off the trail of his new boss’s boo. Ashur and Tarquin are too busy bickering like a married couple to keep track of her. Post game, I imagine everyone’s pitching in to rebuild/help Minrathous in some way, so she stays close to help her city along with Neve for the time.

🐦‍⬛ Kestrel’s not a hard man to find and doesn’t mind being found. He loves Treviso and is always in the market or the café, mainly with Lucanis. Of course, Teia would know even more than Viago where he is. Lucanis would know, too, if he and Kestrel aren’t together, but Viago and Lucanis keep their cards close, mainly because they care.

🦌 Maybe Bellara. Again, she’s scattered at the best of times. Otherwise, any of the Lords, especially Taash. But many will probably tell you she’s in Arlathan…without specifics. Good luck! 😉

15. Extra: Pre-game, what is your Rook's biggest regret? Post-game, does this change?

💀 Esteri has always idealized the Dalish lifestyle and regrets not being able to know it growing up. She was found abandoned as a baby in Nevarra’s crypts and had little to no one to rely upon to tell her otherwise until the events of Veilguard. She not only got a taste of reality outside of Nevarra, but also the truth about the Dalish and their so-called gods. She regrets what could have been for her, but accepts reality and tries to remain in her present post-game, very much in the same vein as Bellara.

💎 Cayden very much regretted being tied to the Veilguard mission and Varric after what happened in the Lords’ origin. But the journey taught him the discipline of true leadership, patience, and commitment—especially with Bellara.

🪽 Raya regrets not punching Solas when they had the chance! 😅 On a more serious note, they have daily regrets about being a Warden, especially post-game due to the nature of their purpose and the loss of Weisshaupt. Davrin and Assan help quash those doubts as they share their concerns. I imagine they couldn’t do it on their own after everything tbh…

🐉 What happened to Minrathous—especially because they chose to save their home over Treviso—is a gut-punch to Dai Lu. It all feels hopeless. Neve feels the same, but they try to look at what wins they did get and move forward toward a better tomorrow.

🐦‍⬛ On the harder days, Kestrel regrets not being able to save everyone on their journey. Despite being a crow (and a diva at times), he’s a big softie and sentimental to a fault. He sometimes meets up with Harding and sews designs into his clothes to honor his fallen friends and comrades, along with enjoying some of her “dubious” cooking, as Lucanis would put it.

🦌 Nohr has regrets for her people moreso than herself. Knowing herself now, she can’t look back and see herself as that once-suicidal, brainwashed saarebas she used to be and hopes to take those feelings and help Taash rectify those the Qun has left behind.

Thank you so much again! This was fun! [ ASK POST ]

[jvstheworld]

The Buffy Re-watch: S1E10 (part 1)

Nightmares

We are going to get spooky in here tonight.

We start this episode of people's worst fears with a premonition from Buffy going own to The Master's lair, which is really just foreshadowing for episode 12.

The mix of Buffy screaming in the dream and her mum trying to wake her up thinking that she is protesting going to school when she has no idea what is really going on in her daughter's life. Ouch. Then Buffy covers to try and not worry her mum.

Buffy's dad is visiting. The mysterious estranged father. So I don't actually know why Joyce and Hank divorced and I can't remember if they ever say why in the series or in the comics (I need to read them at some point). In season 3 'Lover's Walk' Joyce tells Spike that they both just grew apart. In season 4 'Fear Itself' Buffy thinks she was part of the reason why, but Joyce shuts that down and says she didn't. Then in season 7 'Conversations With Dead People' Buffy tells Holden that she thinks he cheated. Despite all of the possible reasons and Joyce trying to tell her otherwise, Buffy still believes she was part of the reason why her parents divorced. Especially after all she has done since she became a slayer, that could have exacerbated it. It would make sense that she would blame herself.

Can someone please explain teenage boys to me? Especially Xander remembering what type of jumper the teacher was wearing but not the lesson itself even though he took an active part in it?

Awww, cute non-threatening kid. How do I know he's non-threating? Because he is wearing light coloured clothing. Unlike the Anointed One where he is wearing dark coloured clothing.

Everyone screaming at the spiders? Tarantulas? This is one of the few times I will agree with lots of screaming, I have arachnophobia so I would be running out of that classroom not giving a fuck about my education.

The kid is sorry about what happened. See, non-threatening.

The Master and Spike are the only vampires I can remember that willing touch crosses despite all the burning the suffer.

Hank Summers adores his daughter. Oh sure he does. Yet he's barely around, ditches Buffy on her birthday in season 3, and did he do anything when Joyce was ill or when she died? Did he even go to her funeral? That's bullshit that he adores his daughter.

Giles nightmare #1: getting lost in the stacks in the library. As nightmares go, that's fairly tamed.

Buffy nightmare #1: surprise history test. That's what happens when you skip so many history classes to go train with librarian. Seriously needs to mix up which classes she skips.

I feel horrible for Wendell. He really cared for the creatures he kept and someone else's negligence killed them, but he's the one with the guilt.

Whoa, ugly dude! Lucky 19, that's definitely gonna be relevant later.

Part 2 tomorrow.

[spinnyspood]

It's VERY high pitched to our big clumsy ears, but it's like wordless a capella with little foot taps and web plucking! Jumpers especially are fond of foot tapping, and peacock spiders use their funky beats to seduce mates, so you can imagine how creative they get!

Tarantulas prefer their songs slow and steady, and Herrah in particular loves trance music!

sure am!!! Got bit by a weird spider a few years back and now I can do spider-y stuff. Mostly it just worsened my knitting addiction

[talesfromaurea]

@mistfather​​​​

She’s happy that you’re taking an interest in her fashion

Now accepting doodle requests

[cyanocoraxx]

whilst i’m here. i don’t like this growing trend of treating exotic bugs and spiders like toys or props to make “viral” videos and such. the amount of videos i see floating around showing people irresponsibly handling tarantulas (especially old worlds!!!) high off the ground, bothering jumping spiders constantly because they’re cute and not providing them with enough enrichment, etc etc. tarantulas gain nothing from being handled and you put them at risk of injury or death if they fall or if you flinch and drop them. jumping spiders are adorable, but that doesn’t mean they should be poked and prodded for videos all the time like i’ve seen some people doing. yeah, they’re really cool, fascinating and a lot of people are adverse to these animals, but it doesn’t give you the right to treat those animals like props. they’re still wild creatures, they still deserve to have peace, and most importantly they need to be safe. that’s your responsibility and they owe you nothing in return!

yes, handle at your own risk. yes, some tarantulas and trues may harmlessly walk onto your hand and allow you to hold them. that doesn’t mean you should wave them around in front of a camera for likes and comments telling you how cool and brave you are for putting your animal at risk. sorry to be the fun police or whatever but come on. advocate for your animals so that people know that they’re not monsters, but advocate for them in a way that’s fair to your animal and honest to your viewers.

the only inverts i actively handle are one of my jumping spiders and both of my mantids and i do so entirely on their terms. if they want to come onto my hand they can, if they want to go home they can. i know each of them very well and know their limits and boundaries. my peacock mantis for example seems to appreciate being held where they can observe the room around them. my L3 thistle mantis doesn't like having hands close to her or above her as she's very small, and she prefers to jump onto a finger on her terms. my phidippus regius spiderling is shy and needs plenty of time to work up to jumping onto a finger from above, but once she’s settled she seems to like the warmth of my hand. my phidippus octopunctatus jumper doesn't want to be handled or touched, that's fine and i give her plenty of space.

just respect your inverts for the wild animals they are

[crevicedwelling]

Which arachnids would you recommend to a beginner? Seeing your adorable amblypygids makes me wonder if I should get one someday

can’t go wrong with a nice plain tarantula like Aphonopelma or Tliltocatl spp. as a first arachnid pet. only get captive bred tarantulas. this may mean paying more and having to raise a baby spider, but there are essentially no reasons to buy wild caught tarantulas. be aware tarantulas, especially when raised from a spiderling, live longer than many mammal pets: 10-30 years, depending on species and sex. make sure you’re able to handle that responsibility!

a large Phidippus jumping spider is a much shorter-lived pet (1 to rarely 2 years) and they’re more “interactive” and “fun” as diurnal, visual predators. also smaller and easier to house than some tarantulas. (unlike almost everyone else, I find jumpers a bit dull to keep, which is practically heresy haha)

some of the large black scorpions (Heterometrus, Pandinus) are also fairly undemanding and mostly harmless. not always easy to find CB young though and overcollection is a threat to wild populations.

solifuges = no.

amblys and vinegaroons are somewhat more particular in their care, so it helps to have experience, but altogether are generally not too difficult to keep for a careful beginner. I still think these taxa are too often wild caught than captive bred, though. species like Damon medius are often in such poor condition as wild caught imports that they refuse food and starve to death. some people (like me!) are working on captive breeding various species, but it’s not prevalent enough that you’d be likely to find CB whips of either type.

[cutemonstercare]

3 Signs That Your Tarantula Is Getting Too Cold

If you live in a colder country or experience harsh winters, you’re probably worried about your tarantula getting too cold and maybe freezing to death. That’s why, in this article, we’ll take a look at how you know when your tarantula gets too cold and what you can do about it.

There are a few signs you can look out for that will show that your tarantula gets too cold; losing their appetite – which in turn leads to loss of condition – and staying in the warmest part of the tank and not venturing at all into the cooler part of the temperature gradient that has been put into place inside the tarantula’s tank using heat mats, etc.

It’s good to keep in mind the temperatures at which tarantulas should preferably be kept; which is roughly between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

While tarantulas may experience swings in temperatures in some of the climates in which they survive in the wild, this doesn’t mean that you can just leave your tarantula to fend for itself in its tank.

This is especially true if you have chosen one of the species that thrive in hot, humid conditions.

The main reason for this is that you may not live in a warm enough climate or the climate that is similar enough as the one to which your breed of tarantula is adapted to live in. In fact, it is important to keep an eye on the temperature (and humidity) inside your tarantula’s tank.

What Happens To Tarantulas When They Get Too Cold?

When tarantulas get too cold, the first thing that happens is that their metabolisms slow down. This, in turn, makes them eat a lot less or they can even stop eating altogether.

1. Losing Weight And Condition

Because your tarantula stops feeding, they could lose weight and their overall condition can be impacted negatively. This could take some time to correct, so rather keep your tarantula nice and comfy from the beginning.

Remember that they get a lot of their fluids from the food that they consume

2. Staying In The Warmest Part Of The Tank

You may also notice that your tarantula stays in the warmest part of its tank. This is usually the spot where the tank’s heat mat (if you use one) is attached to the outside of the glass.

Your tarantula may even sit in that spot when the heat mat is turned off because it knows that within the temperature gradient in their tank that is usually the warmest spot.

Be sure to keep a close eye on them for strange behavior that you’re not used to and signs that your tarantula is stressed.

When tarantulas are stressed they will often draw their legs close to them, curling them inward so as to keep it’s body safe and keeping their human away from them as they do not want to be picked up or be bothered at all at this stage.

3. The “Death Curl” And Low Temperatures

However, you shouldn’t confuse the “death curl” that tarantulas do when they’re molting with them being too cold and even mere minutes from death. When you see them on their backs in the death curl position, don’t touch them, poke at them, pick them up, etc.

You should also not make excessive temperature changes during this time.

You may also find that, if the temperatures are too severe, your tarantula will not only lose its appetite or stay in one spot in the tank, but they will almost certainly freeze to death unless you step in and heat up their environment!

Next, we’ll look at the safe ways (for both you and your tarantula) to heat your tarantula’s tank.

How To Safely Adjust Your Tarantula Tank’s Temperature

The manner in which your tarantula’s tank temperature should be adjusted depends on the temperature measured inside the tank. The colder the temperature, the more gradual the temperature increase should be so as not to give your tarantula a shock.

It’s good to keep in mind that, even when tarantulas in the wild can live through temperature swings, the temperature doesn’t change immediately from one minute to the next, but rather gradually over a few hours.

Try, therefore, to stay as close to nature when it comes to adjusting your tarantula tank’s temperature.

Using A Space Heater

If you’ve been walking around in a few layers of jumpers, jackets, etc. And if you haven’t checked in on your tarantula, now is the time to do it!

If you find the room’s temperature is below 60 degrees Fahrenheit, either switch on your central heating in that room or get out your trusty space heater. This will ensure that the room heats up gradually, thereby also gradually heating your tarantula’s tank.

By heating your tarantula’s tank too quickly, you may do more harm than good as your tarantula may get stressed from the sudden change in temperature.

Installing A Heat Pad

A heat pad for your tarantula tank is a good idea if you find that you need to raise the tank’s temperature by quite a few degrees. When you do install the heat pad, keep in mind that you need to create a temperature gradient.

This means that one side of the tank needs to be warmer than the other side. In this way, your tarantula will be able to regulate its body temperature easily.

There are a few things to remember when using a heating pad:

Buy the smallest heat pad suitable for your size of tarantula tank. This will make it easier to regulate the temperature in the long run as well as help you create a

Make sure that the heat pad is affixed to the outside of the tank and that the tank doesn’t stand on the heating pad as the substrate and your tarantula’s burrow could heat up to dangerous levels.

Covering Your Tarantula’s Tank

This is the most low-tech of your options and can be used when your electricity goes out (for example during a storm). All you need for this is a light blanket, a sheet, or even a large towel will do.

Simply drape the fabric over the tarantula tank (much like you’d do for birds) and resist peeking in too often to see if your tarantula has moved from its “warm�� spot.

However, as soon as you are able to replace the fabric with a proper heat mat and thermostat or space heater; do so.

Note! Do not put your tarantula’s tank in the sun to heat it! Putting your tarantula’s tank in the sun is basically as good as giving your tarantula tank a heat lamp. Not only will this overheat your tarantula, but it may also even kill it.

This is because temperatures inside your tarantula’s tank may rise a lot faster than you imagine (much like temperatures inside a car that is parked in the sun can turn deadly).

Now you know exactly how to tell if your tarantula is cold and how to go about safely heating your tarantula tank to keep your eight-legged friend happy and healthy for many years to come!