Agreed to take a free tarantula. I think I'll back out of it, though.

[Tim Benzedrine]

Why? Two words. [/I]Heteroscota maculata.

The story- the petshop where I get my supplies had a lady call wanting to know if they knew anybody experienced with tarantulas. It seems that she has a friend with several different exotic critters, lizards, snakes, and an H. mac, and the friend needs to divest himself of his creatures. So she is trying to help him out. they told her they knew somebody who keeps tarantuas (yours truly) and took her name and number, and gave it to me. I called, as all the info the note provided was that it was a baboon spider. ifigured that maybe I'd get lucky and at best it would be a C. marshali or darlingii or at the very worst, and OBT. when I spoke to her, she stumbled over the scientific name, but I got enough of it to say "Is it a H. maculate?" It is. She told me rtrhat a friend of hers offered to take it, but she does not have ANY experience with tarantulas. that made me make a snap decision to take it on. She is to call me back to confirm my decision to take the thing, but since I was influenced a bit with my horror at the thought of an absolutely inexperienced keeper getting ahold of such an advanced species, and have since had time to reconsider.

She also described a snake that sounded much like a Pueblan milk-snake,(Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli,) a species I'd very much like to have, but I l am beginning to lack cage space. there are other animals available, it seems, but she didn't mention what type apart from snakes a lizards.

Given that I am a New World species keeper, I think launching off and stepping to probably one of the highest rings on "the ladder" with an H. mac would be a little ill advised. Agreed?

However, I am starting to waffle a little on the idea of the Pueblan milksnake...

 

[SmokeyMountainInverts]

I personally would not recommend that species for someone not comfortable with an aggressive old world yet.

 

[SmokeyMountainInverts]

I personally would not recommend that species for someone not comfortable with an aggressive old world yet.

For your safety and the spiders might I add. H. Mac’s can be serious business and have a reputation that fits the bill.

 

[PidderPeets]

I personally would've agreed to take it for the exact same reason you did: I'd rather take it myself as someone who has at least some experience with tarantulas, than let someone who has absolutely no experience take such an advanced species.

You could always take it, keep it until you get a feel for whether you can handle it or not, and if you decide you don't want it, put it up for sale in the classifieds section here (maybe just have them pay the cost of shipping, but have the tarantula itself be free). At least the people on here generally have a better understanding of tarantulas and you could question them before making any deals with them so you know you aren't sending it to a complete beginner

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

For your safety and the spiders might I add. H. Mac’s can be serious business and have a reputation that fits the bill.

I am inclined to agree. I made the rather snap decision when I learned that somebody with ZERO experience expressed an interest in the spider.
Another factor. I have a dog. I don't like to think about the results if it managed to escape and was later to encounter the pooch. At least I would have the sense to try to avoid being tagged by it if I saw it before it saw me. The dog-probably not so much.

You could always take it, keep it until you get a feel for whether you can handle it or not, and if you decide you don't want it, put it up for sale in the classifieds section here (maybe just have them pay the cost of shipping, but have the tarantula itself be free). At least the people on here generally have a better understanding of tarantulas and you could question them before making any deals with them so you know you aren't sending it to a complete beginner.

That isn't a terrible idea, but I'm not inclined to go to quite that much effort. I'd LOVE to transfer the spider to somebody here that has experience, but as far as packaging it and shipping it, I can't really work up that much altruism, plus I have never shipped a living creature before. I'd never offer to sell it since I never paid anything for it myself of course.
And given the temperatures my area has been under lately, I'm not even sure an experienced packer would risk shipping a spider.

Of it was an OBT or a horned baboon, I MIGHT be a little more likely to still mull it over a bit as I am at least pretty familiar with the nature of those thru osmosis from these boards, and would simply double my caution in regards to a potential escape, since I have had a couple NW species pull a getaway.

So, I think I will apologetically decline, and urge the lady to very carefully consider whomever else might. I might be a poor choice, but a total beginner would be a HORRIBLE choice.

I think I might tell her that I would gladly adopt the milksnake. I'll make room. Furniture is overrated anyway. But I'll have to mull that over a bit as well.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

You could always take it, keep it until you get a feel for whether you can handle it or not, and if you decide you don't want it, put it up for sale in the classifieds section here (maybe just have them pay the cost of shipping, but have the tarantula itself be free). At least the people on here generally have a better understanding of tarantulas and you could question them before making any deals with them so you know you aren't sending it to a complete beginner

If one has the ability to pack a species such as Heteroscodra maculata into a container for shipping, then such a person might as well just keep it for themselves. The challenge with these nasty tempered species is the speed and agility they exhibit when disturbed. So if someone can manage taking a high strung species and manage to get it into a small space like a padded deli container for shipping, they have the skill to keep it.

 

[Draketeeth]

If you're not comfortable keeping it, then don't get the tarantula. No point in having something you're always going to be worrying with your other pets about. That's stress you don't need.

 

[basin79]

Commonsense sense goes a looooooooong way with OW's (well any tarantula really).

A suitable well set up arboreal enclosure and long tongs. Once they've settled in they're far more manageable. My adult female will ALWAYS run into her hide through one of her web openings as soon as she feels me opening the door/lid.

Although that typed tarantulas are living animals and not computer programs so they can be unpredictable. Although all of my skittish tarantulas always run for their hides when disturbed.

My lass is always hidden away during the day and emerges at night. So enclosure maintenance/water dish can be done during the day. Again commonsense. Remember there is actually a tarantula in their so long tongs for remaining remains.

H.macs certainly should be respected but there's no need to be scared of them.

 

[z32upgrader]

I agree with basin. They're not that crazy so as to become unmanageable. Mine is quick to run and hide when disturbed, has never bolted out and is very much non-confrontational. H. macs are easy, given the animal is respected, and I know you would Tim. A solid, sturdy enclosure with a good latching lid is escape-proof provided you don't mess up and leave the lid off. Even S. calceatum is much the same.
Bottom line:
The spider is far better off in your hands than a complete newb.
Also, just saw a post on the Arachnoboards' bookface about some guy that gave away an H. mac but couldn't remember the species name at all. Just posted a photo. I wonder if this is just a coincidence.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

If one has the ability to pack a species such as Heteroscodra maculata into a container for shipping, then such a person might as well just keep it for themselves. The challenge with these nasty tempered species is the speed and agility they exhibit when disturbed. So if someone can manage taking a high strung species and manage to get it into a small space like a padded deli container for shipping, they have the skill to keep it.

I was thinking along those same lines myself. It would definitely be an undertaking I would not be over-eager to attempt. Another thing, though not really a huge factor is that I've never really had much interest in aboreal species for some reason. So if I were going to keep an arboreal, I think I'd at least start with a benign NW as my first, anyway.
When considering the possibility of an OW, one of the horned baboons has been the only species that I've even pondered as being an OW I would even be interested in.
So, even though I'd like to avoid the spider falling into the "wrong" hands, both literally and figuratively, I just don't think I'm the guy for it. I keep tarantulas for the pleasure of it and I don't think stress plays a part in keeping them. Also, stress can lead to neglect.
It isn't so much the toxicity of the spider as it is the speed and aggressiveness (or defensiveness, take your pick). If it were say a hotter scorpion, I MIGHT take a swing at it, given they are much less likely to zoom out of the enclosure and the real threat would be from simply putting my hand in the wrong place.

When I speak to the lady again, I think I will suggest that she come here and create an account so she might offer the spider to any interested and hopefully qualified parties.
I will add this, when I spoke to her, she seemed genuinely concerned for the well-being of the spider and seemed glad to have gotten in contact with somebody who had at least passing knowledge of tarantula keeping. when I told her I was interested, I assured her that I've had a good bit of experience with T's in general, but none with that species. and she seemed to acknowledge that that was better than somebody with no experience at all. Which would be true to a certain extent, but still does not alleviate the fact that I have no illusions that if you've kept one species, you've kept them all. Don't forget folks, I was once horribly mangled by my 3/4" A. geniculata!

 

[JoP]

@Tim Benzedrine just wanted to comment that I really admire your self-awareness and the thought you're giving this. It shows a lot of respect for the spider and for good husbandry, which is always great to see in the hobby.

 

[MantisRCool]

Too bad I live on another continent, I’d gladly take it lol. As written above my ows just go hide anytime I start messing about with the enclosure. So good hide and long tongs are the most important things for keeping these

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

@Tim Benzedrine just wanted to comment that I really admire your self-awareness and the thought you're giving this. It shows a lot of respect for the spider and for good husbandry, which is always great to see in the hobby.

Thanks. In general I try to do what I think is right. In this case it would not be right to endanger my dog (and myself) just for the opportunity to keep a spider I'm not prepared for. Nor would it be right to not try to advise the lady of the hazards of keeping the spider or giving it to somebody else even less prepared for it than I.

 

[JoP]

Thanks. In general I try to do what I think is right. In this case it would not be right to endanger my dog (and myself) just for the opportunity to keep a spider I'm not prepared for. Nor would it be right to not try to advise the lady of the hazards of keeping the spider or giving it to somebody else even less prepared for it than I.

I'm with you on that. While I love venomous species and would love to keep more, the hottest species I'll keep are Latrodectus because of my cats' and dog's presence in the house. I just love them too much to risk anything hotter, in spite of my own caution and organization in caring for my inverts. Even the best keepers can make mistakes, so the risk is just always there (and not worth it to me).

 

[miss moxie]

Geeze Timmy boy, this isn't what I meant when I said FREE SPIDERS.

Also, arboreals are great and you should totally give them a chance. Maybe not with an H. mac but get a Psalmo as a sling. By the time they're throwing threat postures you'll already know how to deal with them.

 

[PidderPeets]

I was thinking along those same lines myself. It would definitely be an undertaking I would not be over-eager to attempt. Another thing, though not really a huge factor is that I've never really had much interest in aboreal species for some reason. So if I were going to keep an arboreal, I think I'd at least start with a benign NW as my first, anyway.
When considering the possibility of an OW, one of the horned baboons has been the only species that I've even pondered as being an OW I would even be interested in.
So, even though I'd like to avoid the spider falling into the "wrong" hands, both literally and figuratively, I just don't think I'm the guy for it. I keep tarantulas for the pleasure of it and I don't think stress plays a part in keeping them. Also, stress can lead to neglect.
It isn't so much the toxicity of the spider as it is the speed and aggressiveness (or defensiveness, take your pick). If it were say a hotter scorpion, I MIGHT take a swing at it, given they are much less likely to zoom out of the enclosure and the real threat would be from simply putting my hand in the wrong place.

When I speak to the lady again, I think I will suggest that she come here and create an account so she might offer the spider to any interested and hopefully qualified parties.
I will add this, when I spoke to her, she seemed genuinely concerned for the well-being of the spider and seemed glad to have gotten in contact with somebody who had at least passing knowledge of tarantula keeping. when I told her I was interested, I assured her that I've had a good bit of experience with T's in general, but none with that species. and she seemed to acknowledge that that was better than somebody with no experience at all. Which would be true to a certain extent, but still does not alleviate the fact that I have no illusions that if you've kept one species, you've kept them all. Don't forget folks, I was once horribly mangled by my 3/4" A. geniculata!

I can at least respect that you know your limits and aren't willing to put yourself, the tarantula, or your dog at risk. Definitely suggest the woman make an account here to look for a suitable taker. Or even offer to list it here on her behalf if you're willing (she'd have to pay or become an active member for classified access, that might be a deterrent for someone just looking to give their pet away)

Hopefully for the sake of the tarantula, it goes to a new home that knows and respects the dangers of owning it

 

[Ungoliant]

When I speak to the lady again, I think I will suggest that she come here and create an account so she might offer the spider to any interested and hopefully qualified parties.

That's the best option if you're not comfortable keeping it.

Heteroscodra maculata for your first arboreal and first OW would be quite a handful.

 

[Whitelightning777]

If it's just a rehousing issue perhaps temporarily lower the temps to about 60 degrees. That and remaining calm can help smooth things over.

If you're within driving distance of Baltimore, PM me and I'll see if I can assist.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

That'a long drive, but thanks!

Anyway, it is a non-issue. The lady tried to get ahold of me but she had lost my home number and called at work and left her number. I tried to get back to her but she did not answer and her voice mail was full. Then I lost HER number. She didn't get back to me again, probably gave up or found somebody else. I'm okay with that, I just hope she found somebody with experience.

 

[mconnachan]

That'a long drive, but thanks!

Anyway, it is a non-issue. The lady tried to get ahold of me but she had lost my home number and called at work and left her number. I tried to get back to her but she did not answer and her voice mail was full. Then I lost HER number. She didn't get back to me again, probably gave up or found somebody else. I'm okay with that, I just hope she found somebody with experience.

Let's hope so for all parties - especially the H. mac....