Disturbing Article I found

[Canadian Tired]

I am guessing that the genus of tarantula in question is Lasiodora Parahybana. I do not know what the weather is like in Derbyshire but I am thankful that good ol canadian winters should prevent this sort of thing where I am at.

From the description in the article it sounds like someone was purposefully trying to release them into the wild with high probability of actually taking hold in a similar way to the Florida situation...

This is my first post here and all, btw. Nice to meet you all.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...issing-rspca-spiders-derbyshire-a8447406.html

 

[Nightstalker47]

The spiders got the worse end of that deal. Nothing more deplorable then someone dumping their animals off cause they don't want them anymore...at least find them a home.

 

[Canadian Tired]

I love the articles "Spider Panic" slant, if had been stray kittens left in a box how would the article be tilted eh?

(despite the damage cats do to environments).

 

[Theneil]

Yeah, sounds like to only purpose of the article was to cause panic.

They take it to a "specialist" who BELIEVES they are "bird eating spiders" (basically like a common name for tarantulas in general). So they must be one of the biggest species in the world!

Also whatever was in the 'bigger' pots MUST have been a breeding pair. What else could they possibly be....

The lack of even an ATTEMPT to put logical or factual information is why i generally hate anything attempting to be 'news'.

Sorry, rant over...

 

[lostbrane]

Overreaction for sure. Didn’t this happen a few months ago? If I’m not mistaken they were all LPs

 

[Vanessa]

That's what happens when you indiscriminately breed a species who has hundreds of spiderlings that you can't even give away and you didn't bother knowing your market beforehand.
I'm sure it's happened before and we never heard about it, because they died in inappropriate climates.
I'm more shocked that this is the first time it's made the news and not that some idiot pulled this stunt.

 

[Theneil]

Overreaction for sure. Didn’t this happen a few months ago? If I’m not mistaken they were all LPs

i feel like i read a VERY similar article a while back.

 

[AnObeseHippo]

Overreaction for sure. Didn’t this happen a few months ago? If I’m not mistaken they were all LPs

Pretty sure I remember seeing this story here a few times

 

[Nightstalker47]

Think about the story for a second, "Bird eating spiders on the loose in Derbyshire" perfect way to make things look as bad as possible, but also incite interest in reading the article. Typical news ploy lol.

The media loves stories like this, people are either panicking or naturally curious and want to know more...ending in them reading the article and then telling their friends/family.

 

[nicodimus22]

Fearmongering must sell papers/clicks.

 

[PidderPeets]

For all those thinking you read that article a couple months back, it's because you did. The article is from July. I don't remember if any other articles specified that they were LPs, but based on the description and scenario, I'd put money on it being an LP that was bred by an inexperienced keeper who either just wanted to breed his spider because he thought it'd be neat or he was only thinking about the potential money (or both). Then when the breeder was in over his head because of the sheer volume of spiders and the fact that they don't sell like other species, he did the only thing he could think of to get them out of his possession.

I don't know the laws there, but part of why he may have just let them loose instead of surrendering them to a pet store or shelter is because they may be illegal to keep where he was. Not that that makes it right.

Regardless, I have a hard time believing they'd survive too long in the wild there. And even if the adult male and female were let loose too (I could imagine the male being let loose, but not the female), the male only has a few months anyway and the female probably won't be interested in him again in that time.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

i feel like i read a VERY similar article a while back.

You did, it's been shared on here a few times since July, I think it was a slow news week and the papers had run out of stuff to try to smear Jeremy Corbyn with so they went with pointless scare-mongering instead.

I don't know the laws there, but part of why he may have just let them loose instead of surrendering them to a pet store or shelter is because they may be illegal to keep where he was. Not that that makes it right.

It's not illegal to keep them anywhere in the UK AFAIK, someone probably thought they'd make a ton of gwop from breeding them, realised that the slings are worthless (they sell for as little as £1 each here and are frequently given away as surprise freebies) and nobody wants them and just dumped them like an idiot.

Regardless, I have a hard time believing they'd survive too long in the wild there. And even if the adult male and female were let loose too (I could imagine the male being let loose, but not the female), the male only has a few months anyway and the female probably won't be interested in him again in that time.

They won't make it through winter (if they even survive that long, England is notorious for its shit weather, especially up north).

 

[PidderPeets]

It's not illegal to keep them anywhere in the UK AFAIK, someone probably thought they'd make a ton of gwop from breeding them, realised that the slings are worthless (they sell for as little as £1 each here and are frequently given away as surprise freebies) and nobody wants them and just dumped them like an idiot.

I figured they were probably fine to keep, but I live in the states, so I'm used to technicalities about any and all pets, especially inverts. You lucky jerks get all the cool things because they wouldn't survive your weather.

 

[Minty]

Old news. The spider immigrants have now stolen the jobs of the locals.

 

[SonsofArachne]

I'm surprised this wasn't in Florida, every other released exotic is in Florida.

 

[Theneil]

Did i miss something? Was there actually any evidence of breeding? i would think that there would be mention of THOUSANDS of "pots" if that was the case.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Think about the story for a second, "Bird eating spiders on the loose in Derbyshire" perfect way to make things look as bad as possible, but also incite interest in reading the article. Typical news ploy lol.

The media loves stories like this, people are either panicking or naturally curious and want to know more...ending in them reading the article and then telling their friends/family.

I am guessing that the genus of tarantula in question is Lasiodora Parahybana. I do not know what the weather is like in Derbyshire but I am thankful that good ol canadian winters should prevent this sort of thing where I am at.

From the description in the article it sounds like someone was purposefully trying to release them into the wild with high probability of actually taking hold in a similar way to the Florida situation...

This is my first post here and all, btw. Nice to meet you all.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...issing-rspca-spiders-derbyshire-a8447406.html

They would not survive and being found is there only chance , I’d imagine if a lp got 10” it would have to be eating some huge prey in the wild. Nothing over 9” in captivity has been seen probably.

 

[Russette]

The only thing good I found in the article is the RSPCA's advice to the public:

“The RSPCA would always ask people who are struggling to cope to let us know.

“We would also recommend that anyone interested in keeping a tarantula as a pet thoroughly researches the particular species’ needs carefully first before deciding to get one, so they know what is involved.”

Which I believe is good advice for any pet.

 

[Andrea82]

Did i miss something? Was there actually any evidence of breeding? i would think that there would be mention of THOUSANDS of "pots" if that was the case.

While L.parahybana create large eggsacks, it is not 'thousands'. Maybe 1200, but not much more

 

[Theneil]

While L.parahybana create large eggsacks, it is not 'thousands'. Maybe 1200, but not much more

But "Thousands" would make a much more ecxiting article.