Reddit mentions: The best pet insects & spider books

I can't imagine why she would publish false information, but I guess maybe-possibly-potentially she did this to further an agenda of some sort? I haven't read much of her work as I'm not Wiccan, but it's enough to know she and people like Koetting (A grim-dark edgy emo occult author who charges like 800$ for his books) are to be avoided like the plague.

Any other books I could suggest?

• Call of the Horned Piper by Nigel A. Jackson Is a great read if you're interested in "traditional craft". He details the making of several important witching tools, from the stave (A staff of sorts, usually forked at the top) to the besom (a broom) to the athame (A Ritual Knife) and a bunch of other things.
  
  
• Treading the Mill I have not yet gotten my hands on this, but I see it often enough in trad. circles and even other authors recommend it so much for beginners, it's worth including.
  
  
• The Devil's Dozen: 13 Craft Rites of the Old One by Gemma Gary Gemma Gary is a highly respected author in the field of trad craft and Ye Olde British/Celtic traditions. Her books are eloquent, delightful, and historically sound, and honestly I consider her fairly unmatched in the field of British craft. I don't know if I would necessarily suggest her as the first author you should read, but she's definitely good and you should check out her works if you have the chance.
  
  
• Animal Speak by Ted Andrews A book on animals and the spirits of animals, it's a good solid read especially for beginning work with animal spirits and familiars. Once again, if you're into that.
  
  
• Sarah Anne Lawless's Blog - If you want to do some reading on the subject of Trad Craft, Sarah Lawless's blog is a good source. I believe her blog also has a list of recommended books for beginners too, if you want to check that out. :)
  
  I have other suggestions as well, but they're much more specified to trad craft, like Liber Nox, The Visions of Isobel Gowdie, Cunning Folk and Familiar Spirits, or New World Witchery's Blog, but I think you've got a good handle so far!
  
  Good luck on your path. :)
  
  
  

Hmm well I'll see what I can answer since I actually have an A. avic. As for as getting one, if you can't find one at a pet store you can order online. Avics are more common so you shouldn't have any trouble. The list in sidebar, under Popular Threads, of Tarantula Suppliers is still good. If you still feel ill at ease about any of the suppliers listed go check out their facebook pages. Many of them do have them and update them regularly. See most suppliers didn't get into selling Ts for money. You aren't going to make much. They sell them because they just love tarantulas so you don't run across many bad stories about suppliers. Not saying they aren't out they just I don't see or hear anything really other than good things about them.

Now the question is should you get an Avic. Rose Hairs are more common for a reason. They are the beginner's beginner tarantula. They are easier to keep and handle if you're going to do that. Avics while not super hard to care for are harder and they can be flighty. I don't know how you plan to have your students interact with it but that's a big point to consider especially considering whatever level of experience you have with tarantulas.

As for webbing, that's up to the tarantula. If they're in a good environment I think they are more likely to web. Mine was perviously owned and never webbed for them. She was in a set up for a terrestrial enclosure though. It wasn't long after she was in a proper arboreal set up she webbed a lot. Stress also can affect them so you'll have to make sure the kids know what they can and cannot do. They are partly responsible for the life of another living creature and it's their job to give it them best possible life. As as far as interesting to watch, sure my girl moves but only at certain times during the day. The rest of the day she's dead still. That's still more than a Rose Hair but just wanted to let you know it's not going to be moving all the time or anything. The most interest is when their fed.

Now, in the mean time I recommend getting the Tarantula Keeper's Guide. It's considered pretty much the tarantula bible by enthusiasts. Read it and teach your kids about it before you make the step to actually get a Tarantula. There's nothing like seeing and learning about something in person but it will help greatly when you do make that step. Maybe even make a few lessons about them from information in the book. Or games. That way your future T will be that much happier and healthier for it and your kids will get the most out of it too. I hope that helps! I do hope you are able to get one and love that your even willing to do this. I'm sure this entire subreddit, myself included, would be willing to answer any more questions you may have or just help in whatever way we can with teaching your kids more about our favorite arachnids :)

P.S. you should also consider how long any T you want to get will live. Females will naturally live many years long than males. 10 years or more is not an uncommon lifespan for a female tarantula. Just something to keep in mind since it's longterm care will ultimately fall on you.

Kritter keepers aren't ideal, but they also aren't bad, 5 of my Ts are in them. They won't kill your T, but there are better options.

The three I always recommend are the A. avicularia, the G. rosea, and the B. smithi. All three have great characteristics. The price point is good, they're fairly docile, and they're fairly hardy.

The avic is more finicky about its environment, the smithi is prone to kicking hairs, and some rosies can be temperament, but that's really each one's only flaw. All three look great, are readily available, and are pretty easy to care for. I have all three, they're still some of my favorite Ts.

I also always recommend picking up the tarantula keepers guide. Read through it, is super interesting and has everything you'll need to know to care for your new spider friend

I'm no shaman but I do have this book the whole first half is pretty much how to become in touch with your spirit animal, so that's a pretty involved question. But I'll review what it says about the heron if you're curious!
>Heron
>
>Keynote: Aggressive Self-Determination and Self-Reliance
>
>Cycle of power:Spring
>
>Herons are part of a group of birds called "waders." It is a bird of the marshlands and shallow waters. All waders have similar physical characteristics-long, thin legs, long necks, and sharp bills. These characteristics are important to understand for those who have a heron as a totem.
>
>Legs enable animals and people to move about on the earth. They are the symbols of balance, and they represent an ability to progress and evolve.....The long thin legs of the heron reflect that you don't need great massive pillars to remain stable, but you must be able to stand on your own. This is especially significant for those with a totem of the great blue heron, as it is a lone hunter.
>
>...It is important for for anyone with a heron totem to explore various activities and dimensions on earth life. On the surface, this may seem a form of dabbling, but those with heron totems are wonderfully successful at being the traditional "jack of all trades."
>
>This ability enables them to follow their own path...The way you live is not a structured way, and does not seem to have a stability and security to it. It is though, just a matter of perspective....If one way doesn't work, then another will. This heron people seem to inherently know.
>
>Heron do not seem to need a lot of people in their life, nor do they feel pressure to "keep up withe the Joneses" or be traditional in their life roles.
>
>The great blue heron is considered the king of the marsh, although the short-eared owl has been known to readjust a heron's viewpoint....innate wisdom of being able to maneuver through life and control its life circumstances...a need for those with this totem to follow their own innate wisdom and path of self-determination. You know what is best for you and should follow it, rather than the promptings of others.
>
>The irises of the eyes will turn from yellowish to bright orange, as will the legs. Meditation on this color will provide a lot of insight as to its role in your life

If this resonates with you I suggest getting that book I linked. It's got tons more info.

-There are many great beginner species. Most popular and the cheapest is a Grammostola rosea, or chilean rose hair. Brachypelma species are some of my favorites, and Brachypelma smithi are one of the most well known. They are your iconic Mexican red knee that you think of when someone brings up tarantulas. With this being your first T, you I'd recommend either of those, and you'd be just fine.

-You can check local pet stores and that would be fastest, but stay away from big chain stores such as petsmart or petco since they usually don't care for their animals properly. Try to find the smaller unique shops that really specialize in their exotic section.

-Bedding and housing is very simple. Both of the species I listed above are very hardy and don't need much. A proper amount of substrate (coconut fiber would work great for you), a good water dish, and a hide i s all they need to be happy. The rest of the setup is up to you for aesthetics, as long as you keep their home safe for the T. Check out the links on the sidebar for more information

They are very easy pets to maintain, and you won't regret buying them. They are fascinating to watch them grow as you learn more about them. A great source of knowledge that can answer just about any question you have is The Tarantula Keeper's Guide. This is a must have for any hobbyist, beginner or experienced, and I highly recommend picking up a copy. If you have the time and patience, buy it before you get a spider and read through it all the way. You'll learn so many things to help you in the future. Good luck!

You might also want to ask r/mantids , but a quick amazon search turned this up. Assuming your friend has an interest in raising them, it seems like a great choice. I've raised a few myself, and they're really a lot of fun and pretty easy to take care of. This store sells them, and r/invertpets can always answer his questions.

As for more general insect ecology, A Buzz in the Meadow is a great read. The Forest Unseen covers more than just insects, but is very engaging and well written.

OK. So...first the basics.

You don't need a heating pad. A heating pad/light isn't necessary and could even be harmful to your tarantula. Just get rid of it. They will do just fine in anything from 60 degrees F to almost 100 degrees F. Warmer is generally better than cooler, but anything in the 70 - 80 range should be fine.

Don't worry about humidity with these guys. If it has a full water dish (which should be about the same size as the tarantulas leg span, AND NO SPONGE, adding a rock that overhangs the water level isn't a bad idea either), it's fine on humidity.

Tarantulas are the "Ron Popeil Set and Forget It Oven" of pets practically. All you need to do is set it up with some substrate (I prefer cocofiber, but vermiculite or untreated potting soil is also OK), put something for a hide in there, a water dish, and check up on it every once in awhile to feed it and see what weird "spider things" its doing, and they're fine.

Here is some information for a beginner and more specifically on G. Roseas. From one of the best sources you can find.


Stan's Newbie Introduction

Stan's Rant

Care And Husbandry of the Chilean Rose Tarantula

Also, as an added bonus (In true Ron Popeil fashion) HERE is a great book to get you up to speed (authored by the person that authored all of those links I just sent).

One thing I'll add about the book however, is that it is a few years old, and therefor, some of the information in it is a bit out of date. Tarantula keeping is still pretty much in its infancy and we're all still learning/debating on what the "best" ways to keep these guys are. Take EVERYTHING you read, learn, hear, believe with a grain of salt. Always ask questions, and take the experiences of others to heart, but always be skeptical.

One thing I always like to mention because as new keepers, we get anxious over the little things:

If your tarantula is doing something "weird" and doesn't seem to be hurting itself, just take a deep breath and repeat "The spider knows how to be a spider better than I do" over and over.

Good luck, and welcome to the club! =P

I would get a sling, but with that species it doesn't matter as much just my preference. I like seeing them grow and I get much more attached. If you do get a sling, don't use a critter keeper as small spiders can fit through the grading. I think B. emilia is a great first choice, great small spider (only about 3.75 " if I remember correctly) and very quirky and they live FOREVER (also means that it will grow very slow). Stan Shultz (author of The Tarantula Keepers Guide) had a female that passed that was at least 34 years old (he thinks it was probably close to 40!). Please buy that book as well, it is sooooooo helpful.

You do not need a heat pad or light for your tarantula so don't worry about that. As a sling I would wet down one corner for humidity and gradually move to a bowl over time, but no need to mist. They also are burrowers especially as slings, so make sure it can dig if it wants. Good luck, you will enjoy your little sling!

I'd like to think snow leopard... but I don't know. I have too many "relatable animals" to make it official I suppose. I try to read up on them and their spirit guidance-ness from my two books and I would say snow leopards most of the time, sometimes others like raven/crow, magpie or otter or some other random animal.

I like these books 1, 2. They're pretty good books from what I've read, lots of animals in them and not just North American wildlife or strictly mammals. Foxloft has some good mini descriptions.

Sensitivity, camouflage, agility. Snow leopard people tend to be introverted, quiet, observant, and independent. They tend to live partly in their own world, calmly perched above the small things that can easily consume day to day life. Snow leopard as a totem can teach us to overcome obstacles and navigate our lives with an agile, flexible step. (Foxloft)

It's pretty much me, spot on. I'm the quiet, 100% introverted one. I tend to keep to myself and just watch everything/one else do their thing.

Then of course raven, raccoon, kangaroo, red panda, wolverine, crow... bunch of other animals. Not always the whole thing like snow leopard though. I don't feel like digging out my books and reading snow mew parts right now... it is past midnight and I have work in the morning haha

To add to what ellipsoptera said:

Widows (and other members of the cobweb spider family, Theridiidae) do have a tendency to build webs near the top of the jar, which often means that the web will be torn if you need to open it (for giving food or water). Sometimes it can be helpful to turn their containers upside-down, so the lid is at the bottom.

When spiderlings emerge, they will eventually start eating each other if they are not separated. I usually release most of my spiderlings, as I rarely want to raise more than a few at a time.

Another fun species to keep, if you have them in your area, is Kukulcania hibernalis. (In the west, there are other species of Kukulcania.) They are very easy to keep, as they can go a long time between meals and water if necessary (although I give mine a weekly watering between meals anyway). They are very timid, and they don't do much but sit in their webs when they are not eating, but they are fun to feed.

Lastly, depending on how interested you are in spiders, you may want to consider a tarantula. Other than my true spiders, tarantulas are the lowest-maintenance pets that I've ever kept (a lot less work than rodents or birds). Most of the New World species are docile and easy to keep. Pet stores usually just carry Chilean rose tarantulas (Grammostola rosea) and pinktoe tarantulas (Avicularia avicularia) for $15-$25, but you can get other options from breeders. (Depending on whom you ask, many would recommend against buying from big box pet stores.) Female tarantulas live for many years, so you can use them in your classroom for a long time.

If you're interested in tarantulas, some good reading material: Spiders, Calgary Web site, especially:

• Stan's Newbie Introduction
  
• Stan's Rant
  
• Myths, Misconceptions, Mistakes
  
• Care And Husbandry of the Chilean Rose Tarantula: This is a good species for beginners, but they have a few quirks.
  
  Afterwards, The Tarantula Keeper's Guide (same author as the above Web site) is an invaluable resource for new and experienced keepers alike.
  

Animals Wise by Virginia Morrel

> Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a fish? Or a parrot, dolphin, or an elephant? Do they experience thoughts that are similar to ours, or have feelings of grief and love? These are tough questions, but scientists are answering them. They know that ants teach and rats love to be tickled. They’ve discovered that dogs have thousand-word vocabularies and that birds practice their songs in their sleep. But how do scientists know these things?
> Animal Wise takes us on a dazzling odyssey into the inner world of animals and among the pioneering researchers who are leading the way into once-forbidden territory: the animal mind. Morell uses her formidable gifts as a storyteller to transport us to field sites and laboratories around the world, introducing us to animal-cognition scientists and their surprisingly intelligent and sensitive subjects. She explores how this rapidly evolving, controversial field has only recently overturned old notions about why animals behave as they do. In this surprising and moving book, Morell brings the world of nature brilliantly alive in a nuanced, deeply felt appreciation of the human-animal bond.

> what literature is there on the structure or form of animals' thoughts? (i.e. in what ways they are similar to/different from human thoughts)

There's lots! The complexity varies a lot though. For a highly accessible and very entertaining (but also scientifically informative) book on animal cognition, I can recommend Virginia Morell's Animal Wise.

At the slightly more challenging end, the two books I mentioned in my original post - Thinking Without Language and the Philosophy of Animal Minds - are both excellent, and contain a mix of philosophical and scientific debate concerning, for example, whether chimps have beliefs about other people's minds and whether bees have concepts.

If you really want to get heavy, a particularly influential framework for thinking about both human and animal cognition has been provided by Tyler Burge in his incredibly dense but very rewarding book the Origins of Objectivity. It basically set the terms of a lot of the major debates in these areas. Burge, for his part, think it's a reasonable hypothesis that apes think in the human sense of the term. More strikingly, however, he compelling argues that even very simple animals such as spiders and bees perceive, where this is a genuine psychological state and not just a matter of simply undergoing sensory stimulation. For example, he thinks that simple animals can represent properties like 'predator', 'food', 'shelter', and so on. However, he doesn't think perception is necessarily conscious. He also lays out formal structures for distinguishing between the kind of psychological states found in humans and probably apes from those found in bees and spiders.

There's also some interesting debate as to how much animal thought is thought-like, and how much it's picture- or map-like. Temple Grandin has some interesting and accessible reflections on this, but there's also very serious scientific and philosophical work being done on 'cognitive maps', which very roughly, are mental models of a creature's environment. Michael Rescorla has a really interesting but very math-heavy paper on how we might be able to explain apparent cases of full blown animal cognition in terms of cognitive maps (still thinking, but a different kind of thinking).

> when you train a puppy, it is clear when they understand a trick you are trying to teach them

Lovely case. You might be interested in the Wolfgang Kohler's famous observations about 'insight' in chimps. Essentially, he observed and documented how chimps confronted with a complex task might suddenly 'click' and immediately be able to perform it.


> Is the general consensus that animals do not have thoughts?

Insofar as there's a general consensus about anything this contentious, I'd suggest that most people working in this area (at least that I've read) would agree that apes have full blown propositional attitudes - thoughts, desires, intentions, and so on. That's based on sophistication of behavior and forms of social cognition. What's far more contentious is whether (i) creatures besides chimps really think, (ii) whether there are different kinds of thinking, and whether concepts are required for thinking, (iii) what creatures might possess concepts, and (iv), whether any animals can engage in 'mindreading', that is, understanding the mental states of others. Opinions on these issues vary wildly. I tend to go for extreme liberalism, and I've been impressed by Peter Carruthers' arguments that honeybees have concepts.

There's also, obviously, a lot of literature on animal consciousness (Note that a lot of the animal cognition literature remains neutral on whether animals are conscious - it aims to describe what animals do with their minds, not whether their minds are conscious). Again, opinions vary wildly. Peter Carruthers, for example, thinks that no animals besides human and apes are conscious, whereas a recent philosophy/cogsci paper by Barron & Klein in PNAS offered some very serious arguments for thinking that insects are conscious. That said, I think the animal consciousness literature is a LOT more speculative and messy than the animal cognition literature, as usually seems to happen when consciousness enters the discussion!

It depends! Have you thought about which species?

You'll need an appropriately-sized container, some substrate, a water dish, and some kind of hide, probably.

You can use repurposed plastic containers or buy something special, but an enclosure should be secure enough to keep your spider safe (nothing it can get caught in, holes small enough to prevent escape, but allow adequate ventilation) and it may be taller for arboreal or burrowing tarantulas or shorter for your standard terrestrial beginner Ts. If you're going with an adult, Kritter Keepers work pretty well, but for a spiderling or juvenile, you'll want to start out small and move it into something larger later.

Arboreals don't generally need much in terms of substrate, but terrestrials will require enough to prevent injury from a fall. I use either cocofiber (sold as Eco Earth in expandable bricks or loose) or 100% peat (sold in any Lowe's/Home Depot/garden supply store), or a mix of the two. You don't want anything with any additives (e.g., soil with fertilizers or pesticides), so be sure to read the labels before you buy. Some people also just use regular dirt from outdoors (this seems to be more of a European thing), but the risk of it being contaminated with pesticides makes that impractical for some keepers.

A water dish can be a fancy rock-like thing or a repurposed drink lid or anything else that'll hold water and allow the spider access. I use plastic petri dishes for most of my tarantulas.

A hide can be simple/cheap or fancier too. I generally use cork bark, which seems to resist mold and other nastiness and gives a natural look to things. Pet stores generally have a variety of stuff to choose from in the reptile section. Other people make their own, from PVC pipes or other plastics. The important thing is that it shouldn't have any particularly sharp edges or spiky bits that could cause a spider harm.

Burrowing species (and many terrestrial juveniles) may not need or use hides, and may just require a little "starter hole" to begin a burrow. Arboreals may not need a hide either, but they'll need some structure to attach their webbing to--plastic vines near the top of the container work pretty well.

Don't worry about extra heating, lighting, or humidity at this point. Relatively few species require more care than can be given in normal room-temperature conditions.

I'd highly recommend a copy of The Tarantula Keeper's Guide, by Stan and Marguerite Schultz. It'll get you up to speed on the basics, and while it isn't perfect, it's an excellent resource, especially for beginners. I'd also recommend looking through posts both on here and on Arachnoboards to get ideas and a feel for what's in store.

First of all:

Check out the Tarantula Keepers Guide. It will give you the basic / advanced information you will need. Things like what to expect from a molting tarantula.

Please take the time to read it, as keeping a tarantula healthy and happy is very different from that of more traditional pets.

Now:

What are you concerned about? Your post is pretty vague.

>when I came home she looked like that

the photo shows a tarantula, nice colors, but nothing out of the ordinary?

>there was a patch of hair on the bottom of the molt

When tarantulas molt, the exuvia (cast off outer shell) has hair bristles on it, just like the tarantula did. They grow new bristles under their exo before they molt. The abdomen is the only part which is not "hardened" so that as they eat they can have their abdomen grow larger. The exuvia is literally their hard outer shell, so it makes sense that the old abdomen will be skin-like. Think about a balloon when you blow it up with air. The balloon "skin" expands to make room for the new stuff inside (air) much like a tarantulas abdomen will. When all the air is let out, the balloon looks all shriveled up. That's why the old abdomen may look like a shriveled ball of hair.

I hope this helps. And please please please do your research BEFORE buying a pet. Animals have feelings too.

Please visit www.arachnoboards.com - It is the best source for tarantula husbandry info out there. You will probably need to use the search function to find answers to specific questions, but if you have a question, with any likelihood it has been asked before. Definitely do some more research and get your enclosure setup before buying you spider. Other great sources of info are The Tarantula Keeper's Guide or This book or this one I would highly recommend reading at least one of these before bringing your spider home! Good luck, you're in for a fun time!

Sort of, not really, is the best answer? I love doing readings for people as a party trick rarely, I have a general fascination with the occult and symbology and reading into things. But I’m not very spiritual as a person and it holds no real significance for me other than being something I love the aesthetics of, if that makes sense? So I’d hate to say that I am, when I’m not much of a practicer.

If you’re into exploring your spirituality though, and are open to all sorts of influences, I high recommend this book: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

It’s about the symbology of all animals and what nature might be saying to you through it’s wild. I really love the book. Especially for self-reflection. Like, say I see a bluebird out of season. This book would tell me what that might mean based on what the bird represents, and you interpret meaning through it, it can really guide my mind at times.

Definitely just stay patient. I feel you’ll find the most meaning in tarot doing readings on yourself and learning to interpret that way. Thanks for humoring me!

> Can they climb glass? If so, I'd think they'd get hurt if they fell from near the top - could I fill the tank with substrate up to the point it would be safe for the spider?

Yes they can; ground spiders are more susceptible to falls. That will be A LOT of substrate. If you get an arboreal spider, it will be less of an issue.
> Also, what are the best types for a beginner? I've hear the chilean rose mentioned, and I had a friend in high school with a mexican redknee that was really really docile.

Those are good, ground spiders, but there's also A. avicularia - pink toe, which is a good docile spider.

> I live in North Idaho, so I'll have to get a tank heater. Would a pad be best? I can't imagine a spider liking a heat lamp - wouldn't it want to hide all the time? Also, besides crickets bought at a pet store, a very shallow water dish, and something for the spider to hide under, what else might I need?

Heat lamps are bad - too dry. Spot heated pad is good, but make sure there are non-heated parts so they can escape. Also, cricket food and water, and long forceps or tongs - crickets are obnoxious and tricky.

Get a spray bottle, coconut husk substrate, water dish, and I personally like a temperature and humidity sensor (analog dial ones - pretty cheap).

Also, pick up The Tarantula Keeper's Guide.

Good luck! Here's my setup.

Handling isn't recommended for many reasons. Any tarantula should be considered unpredictable, because they are ultimately wild animals and their mood can change in an instant. For example: I recently saw pictures from a guy who was adjusting the water dish in his G. pulchripes' enclosure. Now, G. pulchripes are like the old beagle of the T world; they're mellow, slow, and never bite people. However, the T felt vibrations and, acting on a feeding response, bit this guy on the hand. Luckily this was a T that has very low venom, but this can happen with any tarantula, and is more likely to happen with more defensive species (i.e. the one pictured hanging off of your shirt).

The other reason that handling is not recommended: You could hurt or kill your T. This is especially true for tarantulas that are not arboreal, which E. murinus is definitely not (they're a burrowing species, pretty much the opposite). If they drop from any significant height, they are at great risk of splitting their abdomen and "bleeding" to death. If she's hanging off of your shirt, she was at a very high risk of falling and dieing-- please do not do that again if you want to avoid a split abdomen and dead T.

I hope I'm not coming off as preachy or like I'm jumping on your back-- I just want you to understand the risk to you and your tarantula that is involved when you handle it. They don't enjoy being handled, and they can never get used to it or learn to like it; they literally don't have the capacity to. Every time you handle them, it's new stimulus and they will react to it different every time.

Edit: I'm seeing that you only have experience with G. rosea. After only experiencing that species, it's not recommended that you jump immediately to such a defensive species but she's yours now so there's no going back. If you haven't, do some research on the care of this species. They're burrowers and will need a decent amount of substrate to burrow and be happy. Also, if you haven't bought it already, buy the Tarantula Keeper's Guide, everyone who keeps tarantulas should own one. Also, make yourself a profile over at Arachnoboards. It's a great (large) community of very experienced tarantula hobbyists who can answer any and all questions that you have. The man who literally wrote the book on tarantulas, Stan Schultz, frequents the forum and answers questions, and there are men and women there who have been in the hobby since the 60's or 70's. It's a really great place with a lot of information :)

There's some good advice in this thread, but if you're interested in learning more, I'd point you to the most excellent Tarantula Keeper's Guide . It has the answer to pretty much any question you can imagine and more. It's a favorite among people in the hobby.

You've gotten some good advice here - just a couple things I'd like to add:

I would strongly suggest you order a copy of The Tarantula Keeper's Guide ASAP. IMHO any new hobbyist needs this book, but with this particular spider I think it's even more important than with one of the usual beginner species.

You might also check out the Arachnoboards.com forums. There is a lot of good information available there as well. Good luck!

Yes, tarantulas are very easy to care for. They are the most low maintenance pet that I know of.

As far as where to buy them...

Local pet stores are actually one of the worst places to buy them if you're concerned about ethical treatment or the quality of living at all. The staff generally has no idea how to properly care for a tarantula, the specimens are often mislabeled, the prices are way too high ($150 vs $15, literally), the selection is usually pretty bad, and they will almost always give you misinformation about that specimen and usually all tarantulas.

The best place to buy a tarantula, as a beginner, is either from an exotic pet shop that has at least 50 specimens or from a hobbyist (you can save money this way).

In the case of tarantulas "docile" generally means "boring". Tarantulas certainly don't have the capacity for any kind of socializing or domestication. They are entirely for observation, just like fish. (Keeping that in mind, I recommend you forget about ever handling them because it's not worth the risk. I'll go into that more if you want.)

As far as the particular species... Yes, it's widely claimed that the G. rosea is the ultimate starter tarantula because of its so-called docile nature and ease of care. However, it is also the most commonly available and likely the least expensive. But that doesn't make it a good starter! There are many disadvantages to this being your first tarantula...

1. They are VERY inactive for most of the time. Sometimes going months without moving more than an inch, and certainly not showing interest in food.
   
   
2. They grow slowly. If you are interested in watching it grow quickly, forget this one. They are well below average in terms of molt frequency and growth and they can take months of "pre-molt" before they will finally go through with it.
   
   
3. They don't eat a lot (See 1 and 2). I don't know about you, but to most people, feeding a tarantula is the most exciting part of ownership and generally the most activity you get to witness. A low appetite makes for a boring tarantula, in other words.
   
   
4. They are just plain boring to look at. Dull, brown and average sized...
   
   
5. You might not care about this, but the G. rosea population in Chile has been nearly wiped out due to export of this species.
   
   If you want a recommendation on something else, I will happily give you some ideas.
   
   Above all, before you make ANY purchase, you MUST buy and read a copy of The Tarantula Keeper's Guide. You will save yourself a lot of trial and error and I assure you that you will not find a more thorough and comprehensive source of published information on tarantula keeping.

Most T's will tolerate the average room temp, you never need an exact temperature. No heat mats, no matter what you're thinking don't get one and don't use that light either. I feed most of my adults 2 crickets twice a week although they would happily eat more than that. The substrate is important, I tend to mix the coco fibre with a more soil like stuff designed for T's. If its a T that likes it moist then its just the soil stuff and no coco but as yours is a desert dweller dryer is probably better. The temps I can see say 24C - 27C and 65-70 on the humidity so a weekly overflow of the water bowl and just a nice room temp should be fine. Also, this book https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0764138855/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 is the best book you will own

The Tarantula Keeper's Guide is probably the best book out there , especially to those new to the hobby.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive/dp/0764138855
Other good options are coco fiber , can't ever have too much extra substrate around , cork rounds as they are the best hides and can be a little pricey based on size. A new cage would always be nice too, critter keepers or small 5 gal aquariums work well. If they don't have one , a red led lamp can be nice for observing your t's at night

Yeah Wicca isn't for everyone. If animism is what you're most interested in so far, that's a great start. You could look into Native American tribal cultures.

My favorite book in this field is Animal Speak by Ted Andrews. My dad had it in his collection and it was one of the most fascinating reads when I was a kid.

If you're a beginner, and are interested in becoming more interested, so to speak, the Smithsonian Handbook of Insects and Other Arthropods has extensive information in addition to full-color photography of specimens on almost every page. It's not a field guide, but being able to see just how wonderfully varied and colorful every different family of insect there are can really pique your interest.

I picked up the book on a whim in the library one day and it really sparked my interest in entomology so you should give it a try too!

The Tarantula Keeper's Guide is a fantastic resource to have for a new owner. Definitely a must-have, in my opinion.

I feed my red-knee about 5 large crickets a week. You should feed them at least once a week. If the crickets stay alive overnight, take them out because your new friend may be preparing to molt.

She may have no interest in food for a few weeks prior to her molt, and when she has finished molting, she should not be offered food for another week at least. She needs time for her body and fangs to become strong again, and the crickets can injure her during that time.

As the other guy stated, there is quite a lot wrong with this setup.

Tarantulas don't like a lot of space. They are typically most happy in an enclosure that has the floor space of about 3 times their diagonal leg span(DLS).

Personally, I would scrap the whole enclosure and save it for when you get a large terrestrial T. Instead, I would recommend buying something like this.

Your Avic Avic is an arboreal species, so they will like to web close to the top of the enclosure. Not webbing for 4 days isn't a cause to panic (although the delay could be exacerbated by the size of this enclosure). My Avic. Versicolor, another arboreal species, is in an enclosure similar to the one I linked for you and she webbed within 24 hours. However, not webbing for a while is normal after a rehousing.

I made the exact same mistake when I was a beginner to the hobby. Definitely do your research and I would always recommend picking up a copy of The Tarantula Keepers Guide.

Don't be worried about stressing her out, 10 minutes of stress for the T during rehousing is a lot better than a T not suited to its environment. She'll be much happier in an enclosure that is suitable for her.

You should check out this book, it's considered the bible of keeping t's and will answer any questions you can think of. I think every T owner should own a copy if anything just to reference in a time of need.

>Is doing this okay?

Yes it's ok to pre-kill.

>Or maybe feeding him/her too much?

There are a variety of things to understand when it comes to feeding frequency so it's difficult to give you a straight answer, but this article might help clarify that. When I first got my T's I was feeding them often out of excitement too :)

Absolutely! As far as fun and educational videos, I recommend browsing Tom Moran’s channel Tom’s Big Spiders (he also has a blog) as well as The Dark Den. Tom actually has a blog post (here) giving a run-down of the Avicularia revision, as well!

Quality books on tarantulas are, unfortunately, few and far between. However, Stanley & Marguerite Schultz’s book The Tarantula Keeper’s Guide has long been considered a bible for hobbyists. It focuses mainly on tarantulas in captivity, but it does delve into some of the biology and physiology of Theraphosids. There is some outdated infomation in terms of husbandry and taxonomy since the latest edition was published in 2009, but it’s still an excellent book!

I'm new to the hobby, so I don't have a ton of advice. But I just recently bought this guide and it's very thorough! The Tarantula Keeper's Guide . I have 2 juvie new world Ts and two tiny slings I just got. The little guys are a blast to take care of. Do your research and best of luck!

For a comprehensive guide on rose hair tarantula keeping that isn't bullshit consult this webpage. There's also www.arachnoboards.com and /r/tarantulas if you have any questions, and I'd highly recommend picking up The Tarantula Keeper's Guide which like that webpage was written by Stan Schultz who can pretty accurately be called the tarantula Jesus. It's a good read and very thorough too. Be warned though, it's hard to keep just one tarantula!

Here are some links for the product in the above comment for different countries:

Amazon Smile Link: Tarantula Keeper's Guide


|Country|Link|
|:-----------|:------------|
|UK|amazon.co.uk|
|Spain|amazon.es|
|France|amazon.fr|
|Germany|amazon.de|
|Japan|amazon.co.jp|
|Canada|amazon.ca|
|Italy|amazon.it|
|China|amazon.cn|




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There's nothing odd about having multiple power animals.

If you're interested in learning more, I would recommend books by the late great Ted Andrews.

Animal-Speak: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

Animal-Wise: https://www.amazon.com/Animal-wise-Understanding-Messengers-Companions-Anniversary/dp/1888767634

Don't take this the wrong way OP, but you need to do more research on your (presumably new) fuzzy friend. I reccommend you pick up the Tarantula Keeper's Guide, it's a very good resource for almost anything you'd want to know about tarantulas.

They are interesting and tarantulas live a long time(2 years to 20+) and once you know how to keep them its easy and not much work so they are interesting to pets to watch when you want but don't require a lot of time and need no direct interaction at all. Fill water dishes once a week and feed every week or two. The cheapest way to get specimens is to buy spiderlings(slings) and raise them. Slings are about the size of your pinky fingernail and will grow to have leg spans of 3" to 9" depending on species. I just like spiders.

This is considered the "Bible" for keeping tarantulas as pets: Tarantula Keepers Guide . The only book you "need" .

The most popular forum would be http://arachnoboards.com/

Tarantulas have been known to fast for multiple months. I only feed my Ts once a week or so, and the adults maybe every other week. Three days is nothing. As we say around here, spider's gonna spider.

Leave the roach in for 24 hours, if she doesn't eat it, take it out and try again next week. Make sure she has a water dish to stay hydrated, she won't starve to death that easily.

Welcome to the hobby! Grab yourself a copy of The Tarantula Keeper's Guide, it has all the information you could ask for.

Welcome! First of all, check the sidebar. There's a ton of information.

I highly recommend getting a copy of The Tarantula Keeper's Guide. That alone will answer pretty much all your questions.

http://www.amazon.com/Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive-Information/dp/0764138855

Give this book a read, you'll be glad you did.

They can go weeks without eating. The missing hairs may be either from stress during shipping or it may be preparing to molt. Just do your homework a bit and they're very easy to care for.

If you want to put a lot of significance into your 'sona, maybe go pick up a book similar to this one- I think it's the same one I used a long time ago.

https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

these kind of books go really in-depth about what characteristics are attributed to a given species, and you can use that to either pick one that matches your current personality, OR go for an animal with lots of qualities that you don't have, but want to develop.

As others said, you don't need to have just one or stay with the same 'sona forever. Whatever suits you. I've had about half a dozen fursonas over the last fifteen years.

And if you mostly are into it for the drawing, it's ok to just pick something you WANT to draw! Don't be a gryphon centaur with 3 sets of wings and 5 tails if that is going to be too frustrating to recreate on paper.

Have fun!

The A is short for Avicularia. A. avicularias and Grammostola rosea are both good starter Ts. the rosea is terrestrial(lives on the ground) while the avic is arboreal(lives in branches). I suggest you buy or rent The Tarantula Keeper's Guide by the Schultzs its a great resource and has helped me out a lot.

Is there a specific one that this community recommends? I also am looking at getting a tarantula in the next few months, and I've seen several different guides.

One that I have heard is quite good is The Tarantula Keepers Guide by Schultz & Schultz. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

You should leave her alone for at least a day or so. If she hasn't tried to eat the molt by then it's safe to take it. Just make sure you don't try to handle or feed her for at lease a couple weeks (her fangs will turn black when she's fully hardened). Also I'd recommend buying this book http://www.amazon.com/The-Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive/dp/0764138855/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398715950&sr=8-1&keywords=tarantula+keeper%27s+guide if you don't have it. It's the most concise and complete source of tarantula husbandry and information I've found.

The answer relies upon personal belief.

Many, myself included, don't believe the animal kingdom is making the same journey that humans are. They are our teachers not our students, and don't need our guidance getting home. It's not they who left, not they who are confused.

To consider otherwise can be seen as a huge miscalculation, or arrogance.

Please consider reading up on the animal symbology of the world's shamanic traditions. The book Animal Speaks by Ted Andrews is a good place to start. On-line resources (so far) all lack the depth the books have. EDIT: They're holding back some knowledge to help encourage people to go deeper, buy books, study.

YMMV.

First, get this book: http://www.amazon.com/Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Stanley-Schultz/dp/0764100769

Question 1: I have been keeping spiders since I was about 15 (35 years ago!). I currently keep 7 or 8 species. In the last 10 years, I have held or touched tarantulas less than 10 times. They don't enjoy human contact, and it is actually a little dangerous for both parties. For example, new world tarantulas have hairs on their abdomens (urticating hairs) that some people are really sensitive to (including me). I am so sensitive that I have to clean their cages while wearing thick rubber gloves. Another example: if you drop your tarantula (or she/he falls) from a considerable height, there is a really good chance it will rupture its abdomen. Even the slightest wound is going to kill it. It is just best to have them remain terrarium pets.

Question 2: I use long handled tweezers to pick up dead insects and body parts. When I have to clean the entire enclosure (roughly every six months), I use a soft-bristled paint brush to nudge the spider into a smaller container with a lid (I use one of those cheap plastic cages they give you when you buy a mouse at a pet store). I also use a good pair of tongs to pick up their water dish for cleaning. I sterilize it once a week (soaking it in hot water with some chlorine bleach) and keep it filled with fresh water (inexplicably, crickets like to drown themselves in it, so fish them out whenever you see one).

That pet store, frankly, is full of shit. As are the majority of pet stores that carry tarantulas. They've given you a lot of misinformation regarding this tarantula. They need a shallow water dish, one this size would be fine with a gatorade lid sized dish. Not only will they drink from it, it provides atmospheric humidity.

What you need to do is get a good book on keeping tarantulas: http://www.amazon.com/The-Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive/dp/0764138855/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394418312&sr=8-1&keywords=tarantula+keepers+guide This one may as well be the Tarantula Keeper's Bible. It's good, informative, and most of all RELIABLE information that you absolutely need to keep your tarantula healthy. If you don't want to buy a book, check out the information available for Grammostola rosea (the species it appears you have) on arachnoboards.com.

On another note, this is a community of (mostly) experienced collectors offering advice to help you correct the mistakes being made with this tarantula. It's ok to be inexperienced, but this animal is already in your care, you're responsible for its life. Please consider taking some of this advice as soon as possible. If you continue to abide by the crap the pet store told you, this T is going to die :/.

Pretty much everything you asked is covered in here:

http://www.amazon.com/Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive-Information/dp/0764138855

There are some errors in this book but it's accurate enough to start off.

As far as cost, the bulk of the cost will be the spider itself. Substrate isn't too expensive, tanks aren't too expensive, and the decor is up to you if you want to spend a lot or a little. I started off with a G. pulchra 10 years ago that ran me around $130. They go for much less than that now. Consider yourself lucky...

Check out KenTheBugGuy or Jamie's Tarantulas if you wanna order online.

Also join arachnoboards if you haven't already.

No problem! There is much to learn and this sub is a great place to do it. If you haven't look into getting The Tarantula Keepers Guild :)

My White Shitlord Grandmother got me this book for the Patriarchal Holiday of Christmas one year because I am Native American.

Maybe she is Grandmotherkin!

I have no idea.. but for animal totems I like this book..

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

Thank you, I'm thinking of getting this book before I get another T

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0764138855/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1462319921&sr=8-1&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=the+tarantulas+keepers+guide&dpPl=1&dpID=51tsHWv2PcL&ref=plSrch

Fantastic! Also I went away and came back and realized I'd said the wrong book - I meant to suggest the Smithsonian Handbook of Insects (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0789493926/?coliid=I3CYLCZJO1VXU&colid=1V8VOEPLL0OQ7&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it) - I don't think it's specific to North America (which, maybe erroneously, I have assumed you are) but it's laid out really accessibly, I think.

Source (page 191 - Amazon lets you search for it when you "Look Inside")

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Speak-Spiritual-Magical-Powers-Creatures/dp/0875420281

https://www.amazon.com/Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive-Information/dp/0764138855/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Please no heat mats.

http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Wise-Know-Animals-Think/dp/0307461459

Includes a chapter on fish and how they feel pain

They don't. That guy is talking out of his asshole.

Meet your new bible:

https://www.amazon.com/Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive-Information/dp/0764138855

http://www.amazon.com/The-Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive/dp/0764138855

Here is the mobile version of your link

I agree with /u/Feriat. Almost everything listed is flat out wrong. We are definitely willing to give all the advice you need and answer all of your questions but you're going to need to trust us. The two biggest problems that absolutely need to be fixed before you get your tarantula are as follows:

• That's the wrong kind of enclosure. Terrestrial tarantulas are very vulnerable to falls and it's really important to make sure that the tarantula cannot fall from great heights in it's own enclosure. You want one that's about 3 times as long/wide as the spider and enough substrate in there for it to burrow and so that the distance between the top of the substrate and the lid is equal to between 1 and 2 spider lengths. Having an enclosure that tall with that much open space is going to kill your tarantula someday. Maybe not right away, but eventually.
  
• Never, ever, ever use a sponge in a water bowl. Like /u/Feriat said, sponges are really bad because they harbor bacteria and can make your tarantula really sick.
  
  I highly recommend that you, as well as the people that work in your arachnid department buy the Tarantula Keeper's Guide, 2nd Edition by Schultz. It's like $10 or less and has all of the information you need to keep your tarantula alive and happy. If you guys continue with the way things are apparently going all you'll ever have is unhealthy and/or dying tarantulas and nobody wants that.