#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.

[sysig]

So, the latest updates about this incredibly silly spider:

He's made two napping hammocks, despite there being a pre-built nest. Honestly I'm still not convinced that he understands that he can go inside it, but he has been on top of it! Very clever!

Problem being -

He's managed to make his first hammock crammed into the corner above the pre-built. Pepper, why

Here's an especially chonky view of him on top of the pre-built <3 His patterning! 💕💖💞 He's the prettiest

Gorgeous lad ♥

As for his second hammock - and I wish I was making this up because As If his first location choice wasn't silly enough

He's made himself a tightrope, no net. All those tracks I thought he was making with his belly? He was measuring the distance of the front of the enclosure and concluded, yes - a horizontal hammock across the top-front was the Perfect Place to sleep. This is his preferred place to go to bed at night! Pepper! Why!!

Anyhow, then he went into his molt-hammock for a week and scared-and-disgruntled me (out of concern), so here's his buff-skinny new look!

I also don't know why he's contorting himself like that lol, he's fine and uninjured, he just chose to pose weird pft, silly boy <3 Look at his sternum! Blurry that it is, he's Wide now. You can also see how round his pedipalps are at the ends! Pepper boy confirmed!

More eating shots under the cut!

I gave him a somewhat more sizeable worm this time since he was sure to be Hongry - I mean, just look at his abdomen! He was Very interested in this mealworm which was a big relief to me since he almost completely ignored the last one - even while this one was trying to get away, he was just patiently waiting for a chance to dip his fangs back in, no rush or fluster (apart from being spooked upon entry to the enclosure lol)

Big boy <3 I'm so glad he's doing well ahh <3

Pepper scared the shit out of me by hiding in his molt-hammock for A Literal Week and I thought for sure he’d moltstalled but no he was just in there getting swole

[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.

[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

[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

[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!