Unexpected Houseguest

[Rampant Lion]

Makes me glad we have cold winters here. My wife would have a heart attack if she saw that in our living room. I wouldn't be too pleased either. Yikes!

[Panache]

With most new world tarantulas, you have to worry about urticating (irritating) hairs more than you have to worry about their bite.

Also, only the females make good pets. The males live for one thing- breeding. They reach maturity, go looking for a mate, breed, and die.
As the females rarely stray more than a few feet from their burrows, and you found it in your living room, I'd wager it's a male, and was looking for some loving.

At one point I was the floor manager of a large pet department and had to assist a customer who wanted some information on tarantulas.

Customer: Is there a difference in having a male tarantual vs. a female tarantula as a pet?

Panache: Good question, there is one actually. The males only live 3-4 years then die. The females if well cared for can live for up to 20 years.

Customer: (looking at spider in display case) How do I know if that one is a male or female?

Panache: Well if you purchase it and make sure to take take of it right and it drops dead in 2-3 years, it's a male.



Cheers

Jamie

[Tattoo Bradley]

At one point I was the floor manager of a large pet department and had to assist a customer who wanted some information on tarantulas.

Customer: Is there a difference in having a male tarantual vs. a female tarantula as a pet?

Panache: Good question, there is one actually. The males only live 3-4 years then die. The females if well cared for can live for up to 20 years.

Customer: (looking at spider in display case) How do I know if that one is a male or female?

Panache: Well if you purchase it and make sure to take take of it right and it drops dead in 2-3 years, it's a male.



Cheers

Jamie

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

[Canuck]

If it's wearing a kilt it's a lad (mini leather it's a lass)

[demobud]

If you ever want to see a very large man scream like a little girl, just drop one of those if front of me! I have an irrational fear of all things crawly...

[Retro Red]

Aye, that's a fine speciman. I'd have been tempted to keep it as a pet.

Arizona tarantulas are pretty laid-back, docile & shy. You have to really work at getting them PO'd before they'll bite you.

The only problem I have with Arizona tarantulas is the company they keep - the Tarantula Hawk!

This is the wasp from Hell & let me tell you, it looks the part. First, for a wasp it's big, about 2-inches (50 mm) long & has this sinister, irridecent metallic blue-black body, with reddish antennae & bright orange wings, with long legs with hooks at the end - just evil looking! And their stinger is about 1/3-inch (7 mm) long & it's considered among the most painful of any insect! It's listed near the top of the list in Schmidt Sting Pain Index.

They're called Tarantula Hawks because the female stuns a tarantula, lays her eggs on its back & when the young-uns hatch, they eat the tarantula. Lovely critters!

We've got plenty of tarantulas in Arizona & therefore, unfortunately, plenty of Tarantula Hawks!

You don't want to come across one of these!

[Retro Red]

Note to self: Never move to Arizona...

I only wish more people felt like that... Unfortunately, we have WA-A-AY too many people moving to this fragile environment. Arizona is being loved to death...

Remember folks, Arizona has a lot of plants with thorns & critters that sting or are poisonous & the heat can kill you. Don't move here! Come visit our Grand Canyon & other scenic wonders & then return to your green, gentle lands...

From a native Zonie...

[Monkey@Arms]

Back when I was volunteer at the Smithsonian Institute's Insect Zoo, I had a pet Mexican Red-Kneed Tarantula, name Rosie. (Her water bottle was an empty half-pint of tequila.) Their poison (and the poison of other tarantulas) is no worse than a bee or wasp, so its not a problem unless you are allergic. The real issue is their fangs are like the prongs of a very large fork VV Ouch.

The mature male out on its final prowl for a mate can be identified by small hook like appendages that it grows under its front legs. They use these to hook the females fangs to keep her from biting them.

Best regards,

Jake

[starbkjrus]

Note to self: Never move to Arizona...

My thoughts exactly.

Well not something I'd want in my living room, oh and doesn't rarely mean sometimes?

My thoughts exactly.

Aye, that's a fine speciman. I'd have been tempted to keep it as a pet.

Arizona tarantulas are pretty laid-back, docile & shy. You have to really work at getting them PO'd before they'll bite you.

The only problem I have with Arizona tarantulas is the company they keep - the Tarantula Hawk!

This is the wasp from Hell & let me tell you, it looks the part. First, for a wasp it's big, about 2-inches (50 mm) long & has this sinister, irridecent metallic blue-black body, with reddish antennae & bright orange wings, with long legs with hooks at the end - just evil looking! And their stinger is about 1/3-inch (7 mm) long & it's considered among the most painful of any insect! It's listed near the top of the list in Schmidt Sting Pain Index.

We've got plenty of tarantulas in Arizona & therefore, unfortunately, plenty of Tarantula Hawks!

You don't want to come across one of these!

Note to self: ANOTHER reason not to move to Arizona.

[Archangel]

History would be different if Bruce saw that one.