Violins77
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2018
- Messages
- 6
I was kind of always scared of spiders, but not to the point of not being able to see one without panicking. This is probably due to the fact that about 20 years ago, while cruising on a mattress on a lake in the north of Quebec, and while going under a dock, I noticed about 5+ spiders called Dolomese Scriptus, and I had absolutely no idea there were spiders that big in my country. From then, I kind of got scared of walking barefoot on docks, and would always look for spiders near lakes and river.
However, I consider myself a really scientific person (I do astronomy, work in programming, and like to learn about everything). So despite me being kind of scared of spiders, I always read a lot about them as I find them fascinating. I go to the caribbean about two times a year, and I always read about the presence of tarantulas in the specific country I go as I wish I could see one in the wild. Well, last summer, my wish was granted! I saw a tarantula on a wall (about 3-4 inches, not super huge) and was delighted! I looked at it and took pictures (I could try to find it if you guys are interested, maybe we could have an idea of the genus). I wasn't scared, I kept my distance, but I was more curious then scared.
Fast forward to last month, I was in Dominican Republic, and talked to locals there about where I could see tarantulas. The most prominent species there is phormictopus cancerides, which they locally call "Cacata". So me and my girlfriend went off the resort at dusk in the hope to catch the sight of one near the road where we were told they are sometimes, especially after rain. When coming back from this expedition, I realized I was maybe not as arachnophobe as I thought (and my friends thought) I was. I mean, I was literally searching for wild tarantulas... Not sure a real arachnophobe would do that!
Anyway, fast forward last week. I attend the reptile show in Montreal with some of my family (I love reptiles as well), and there is a tarantula in demonstration there, a Grammostola rosea.
I started chatting with the owner, explaining my weird fear and at the same time fascination with tarantulas. The guy says he couldn't understand more, as he was in this exact situation a few years before, while his roommate was looking to get a tarantula. He was scared so started reading about it, and long story short, he told me he now owns 30+ tarantulas. At the time, I thought he was a little nuts, as I had no idea how such an apartment could hold 30 plus gigantic cages and big monsters like that. But my thoughts were interrupted when he propose me to take her out of the cage himself so I could have a look. I said yes, but told him to go slowly. He was super understanding and didn't want to scare me, so he gently took her in his hands. He proposed me and my girlfriend to put her in our hand. My girlfriend agreed (!!). So the rosea started gently walking in her hands. I was like "great, now I have no choice but to do it". But when came my turn, I kind of flinched. He told me to maybe start by touching her abdomen gently, which I did. He then proposed that she put only one leg on me, and I agreed. Seeing it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought, I opened my hand and the rosea walked in my palm. I couldn't believe it, me, the arachnophobe, was holding a tarantula. As she was in my hand, it was really strange, I couldn't understand myself, I wasn't panicking at all, in fact, I kind of liked it. It seemed like my brain lied to me all this time in my life... My girlfriend took some pictured, and the guy put the rosea in the cage.
When I came back home, I started reading about what it entitles to own a tarantula. And I read, and watched video, and read, and watched videos... My girlfriend walk to me and said, "you're gonna get one aren't you?". There was no point in denying it anymore, I was gonna get a tarantula.
I searched online for the best starter species, and a place to get Ts. I was delighted to see that Tarantula Canada is just here in Montreal! So yesterday, I took my car and drove there, having a couple species in mind. I talked for a while with the owner Martin (awesome guy), and finally left the store, with not one but TWO slings (frankly I am surprised how cheap this hobby is to get started, so I thought might as well get two).
So there, I am now the happy father of:
Cindy : Brachypelma albopilosum 0.75 inch / 5 centimeters
Meredith : Lasiodora parahybana. 0.25 inch / 1.2 centimetes
The Albopilosum seems like a great first tarantula and I find her quite cute!
On the other hand, the parahybana will grow to be quite big! I saw an adult in the enclosure there and really really liked it!
The only thing I regret is that I hear the two species actually look alike during the sling / juvenile phase. I think I will consider adding a different one as well, thinking of Brachypelma albiceps!
Also, I decided to be on the side of not handling my tarantulas. I got them out of scientific curiosity and pleasure of observing. Just before someone asks if I plan to handle any, the response for all is no!
So there you go, I hope to have entertained you a little and bring some new blood on this forum! Happy saturday!
However, I consider myself a really scientific person (I do astronomy, work in programming, and like to learn about everything). So despite me being kind of scared of spiders, I always read a lot about them as I find them fascinating. I go to the caribbean about two times a year, and I always read about the presence of tarantulas in the specific country I go as I wish I could see one in the wild. Well, last summer, my wish was granted! I saw a tarantula on a wall (about 3-4 inches, not super huge) and was delighted! I looked at it and took pictures (I could try to find it if you guys are interested, maybe we could have an idea of the genus). I wasn't scared, I kept my distance, but I was more curious then scared.
Fast forward to last month, I was in Dominican Republic, and talked to locals there about where I could see tarantulas. The most prominent species there is phormictopus cancerides, which they locally call "Cacata". So me and my girlfriend went off the resort at dusk in the hope to catch the sight of one near the road where we were told they are sometimes, especially after rain. When coming back from this expedition, I realized I was maybe not as arachnophobe as I thought (and my friends thought) I was. I mean, I was literally searching for wild tarantulas... Not sure a real arachnophobe would do that!
Anyway, fast forward last week. I attend the reptile show in Montreal with some of my family (I love reptiles as well), and there is a tarantula in demonstration there, a Grammostola rosea.
I started chatting with the owner, explaining my weird fear and at the same time fascination with tarantulas. The guy says he couldn't understand more, as he was in this exact situation a few years before, while his roommate was looking to get a tarantula. He was scared so started reading about it, and long story short, he told me he now owns 30+ tarantulas. At the time, I thought he was a little nuts, as I had no idea how such an apartment could hold 30 plus gigantic cages and big monsters like that. But my thoughts were interrupted when he propose me to take her out of the cage himself so I could have a look. I said yes, but told him to go slowly. He was super understanding and didn't want to scare me, so he gently took her in his hands. He proposed me and my girlfriend to put her in our hand. My girlfriend agreed (!!). So the rosea started gently walking in her hands. I was like "great, now I have no choice but to do it". But when came my turn, I kind of flinched. He told me to maybe start by touching her abdomen gently, which I did. He then proposed that she put only one leg on me, and I agreed. Seeing it wasn't nearly as bad as I thought, I opened my hand and the rosea walked in my palm. I couldn't believe it, me, the arachnophobe, was holding a tarantula. As she was in my hand, it was really strange, I couldn't understand myself, I wasn't panicking at all, in fact, I kind of liked it. It seemed like my brain lied to me all this time in my life... My girlfriend took some pictured, and the guy put the rosea in the cage.
When I came back home, I started reading about what it entitles to own a tarantula. And I read, and watched video, and read, and watched videos... My girlfriend walk to me and said, "you're gonna get one aren't you?". There was no point in denying it anymore, I was gonna get a tarantula.
I searched online for the best starter species, and a place to get Ts. I was delighted to see that Tarantula Canada is just here in Montreal! So yesterday, I took my car and drove there, having a couple species in mind. I talked for a while with the owner Martin (awesome guy), and finally left the store, with not one but TWO slings (frankly I am surprised how cheap this hobby is to get started, so I thought might as well get two).
So there, I am now the happy father of:
Cindy : Brachypelma albopilosum 0.75 inch / 5 centimeters
Meredith : Lasiodora parahybana. 0.25 inch / 1.2 centimetes
The Albopilosum seems like a great first tarantula and I find her quite cute!
On the other hand, the parahybana will grow to be quite big! I saw an adult in the enclosure there and really really liked it!
The only thing I regret is that I hear the two species actually look alike during the sling / juvenile phase. I think I will consider adding a different one as well, thinking of Brachypelma albiceps!
Also, I decided to be on the side of not handling my tarantulas. I got them out of scientific curiosity and pleasure of observing. Just before someone asks if I plan to handle any, the response for all is no!
So there you go, I hope to have entertained you a little and bring some new blood on this forum! Happy saturday!
Last edited:
