Aphonopelma moderatum

[hamfoto]

Hello everyone,

I am writing this in hopes of planting a seed in everyone's mind about NOT buying these spiders.
I have seen a number of these spiders for sale recently...Please, please, do not buy any specimens of this species from any list that has 3" females or other juveniles (in large quantities) available. These spiders have been taken out of wild in Texas at absolutely alarming numbers! I know this because I actually carry out biological research on this species and have seen the damage personally. I also know who the person that is doing this and the company that is selling them/distributing them. These are nefarious individuals who are looking to make a quick buck, with no regard to what is happening to this species that has a relatively small range in Texas (as compared to some of the other species).

I am not saying we shouldn't have this species in captivity...but let's be responsible human beings here and NOT destroy native populations just because it would be cool to have one at our house.
I will also say that slings are o.k. to buy as that means someone has bred them, most likely.

Please be responsible and think before you buy/act.


Cheers,
Chris

 

[jayefbe]

That's a very important message that everyone needs to hear. I hope we eventually reach the point that wild caught speciemens are kept to the bare minimum. Thanks for the post, Chris.

 

[Mad Hatter]

I will also say that slings are o.k. to buy as that means someone has bred them, most likely.

Please be responsible and think before you buy/act.

Good to know.

Thank you for the heads up, I was not aware of this.

I certainly do not want to contribute to the loss of native populations.

 

[Kirk]

Chris,

Given that you're an expert on the group, maybe working with someone in the TX Parks & Wildlife Dept to push for legislation controlling bulk collecting for the pet trade?

 

[JC]

Chris,

Given that you're an expert on the group, maybe working with someone in the TX Parks & Wildlife Dept to push for legislation controlling bulk collecting for the pet trade?

I thought the same thing.

 

[josh_r]

Chris,

Given that you're an expert on the group, maybe working with someone in the TX Parks & Wildlife Dept to push for legislation controlling bulk collecting for the pet trade?

how would you control it?? people will just do it anyways. F&W cant even control gila monsters and mountain rattlesnakes. people are poaching these animals all the time and they have been protected for a looooong time. it comes down to education and passing messages like the one chris just made. and even then, many will still ignore it. i dont think individuals like these will realize what they are doing until there are no more tarantulas left to collect.... and then... they will just move on to the next available market

 

[hamfoto]

Chris,

Given that you're an expert on the group, maybe working with someone in the TX Parks & Wildlife Dept to push for legislation controlling bulk collecting for the pet trade?

I'm trying...

Ideally I'd like to get this species listed as "The State Spider of Texas" and get some protection that way. We'll see.

Chris

 

[Kirk]

how would you control it?? people will just do it anyways. F&W cant even control gila monsters and mountain rattlesnakes. people are poaching these animals all the time and they have been protected for a looooong time. it comes down to education and passing messages like the one chris just made. and even then, many will still ignore it. i dont think individuals like these will realize what they are doing until there are no more tarantulas left to collect.... and then... they will just move on to the next available market

Your outlook might very well be correct. But, part of the process of educating the broader public is to make them aware of threats to biological populations. Giving the species the status of a state spider certainly goes a long way toward that goal, with the possibility of giving people a greater appreciation of the fragility of population structures, the relevance of such animals to ecosystems, etc.

 

[Exo]

Your outlook might very well be correct. But, part of the process of educating the broader public is to make them aware of threats to biological populations. Giving the species the status of a state spider certainly goes a long way toward that goal, with the possibility of giving people a greater appreciation of the fragility of population structures, the relevance of such animals to ecosystems, etc.

Your assuming that most people actually care....

 

[Kirk]

Your assuming that most people actually care....

The care people have about an issue is often related to the degree to which they're knowledgeable about it. Can't hurt to raise awareness.

 

[jayefbe]

Your assuming that most people actually care....

Hopefully the people in the T community care, and will follow Chris' advice. The people doing to collecting may not care, but they certainly will care if nobody buys them.

 

[Mad Hatter]

Your outlook might very well be correct. But, part of the process of educating the broader public is to make them aware of threats to biological populations. Giving the species the status of a state spider certainly goes a long way toward that goal, with the possibility of giving people a greater appreciation of the fragility of population structures, the relevance of such animals to ecosystems, etc.

First of all, WELL SAID!!!

Your assuming that most people actually care....

To assume that they "don't care" is a good way to keep the status quo... which is over-collecting with no regard to native populations.

And Kirk's comment about educating people - lots of folks don't know about these kinds of issues, so they may care and just have no idea it's going on.

So, the people that *do* care, like us here on AB should be more outspoken about it.

... but I hate to say Exo, even with education about over-collecting, a lot of people can't understand preserving wild Tarantula populations as well as they can understand the need to preserve the "cute-fuzzy-wuzzy-panda-bears."

EDIT:

The care people have about an issue is often related to the degree to which they're knowledgeable about it. Can't hurt to raise awareness.

Darn you Kirk, you beat me to my post... and were more concise about your wording than I...



<--- MH fails again to get a post up in time.

 

[stonemantis]

Now this is a post of a true conservationist. I have stressed this point with many people but, few listen.

I personally have collected WC individuals (1-2 tops) in the past in hopes to breed them and return a large portion of them to the place collected. I have successfully reintroduced quite a few species in this fashion.

I always looked at it as, "I am not doing this for me. I am doing this for future generations so, that they can enjoy seeing them in the wild as I have."

 

[Mad Hatter]

I always looked at it as, "I am not doing this for me. I am doing this for future generations so, that they can enjoy seeing them in the wild as I have."

But not everyone is as conscientious about collecting as you are...

... unfortunately.

 

[Exo]

Now this is a post of a true conservationist. I have stressed this point with many people but, few listen.

I personally have collected WC individuals (1-2 tops) in the past in hopes to breed them and return a large portion of them to the place collected. I have successfully reintroduced quite a few species in this fashion.

I always looked at it as, "I am not doing this for me. I am doing this for future generations so, that they can enjoy seeing them in the wild as I have."

Yeah, I feel that if someone is going to collect them, they shouldn't just sell them to make a quick buck, they should breed them. Unfortunately, greed is more powerful than reason.

 

[stonemantis]

But not everyone is as conscientious about collecting as you are...

... unfortunately.

That is why I keep trying to educate people the best I can.

Yeah, I feel that if someone is going to collect them, they shouldn't just sell them to make a quick buck, they should breed them. Unfortunately, greed is more powerful than reason.

Conservation is very important for preserving wildlife. People who want to profit from the land (inhabitants included) can do so without destroying it.

If people only understood that concept then threads like this would not be necessary.

 

[Noexcuse4you]

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against commercial collecting, but unless they're being collected from protected areas, I say collect all you want. Who's to say that area won't be a parking lot or shopping center 50 years from now?

 

[Mad Hatter]

Don't get me wrong, I'm totally against commercial collecting, but unless they're being collected from protected areas, I say collect all you want.

These spiders (Aphonopelma moderatum) have been taken out of wild in Texas at absolutely alarming numbers!

I don't think anyone here is arguing against collecting period.

In fact, stonemantis would propitiate & perpetuate wild populations with his collecting method, 'tis positive when perceived from that perspective.



But the situation hamfoto has pointed out here is one that I believe is causing more dire problems than just a few folks going collecting in their spare time. This sounds like an example of commercial collecting (as mentioned in the quote above) and severe detriment to natural areas/populations as a result of that.

 

[Noexcuse4you]

But the situation hamfoto has pointed out here is one that I believe is causing more dire problems than just a few folks going collecting in their spare time. This sounds like an example of commercial collecting (as mentioned in the quote above) and severe detriment to natural areas/populations as a result of that.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think that many more animals have died by the blade of a bulldozer than have ever been removed by collectors. I hate to play devil's advocate here, but its a fact. Unless someone can figure out a way for humans to stop reproducing, there won't be anything left on this planet. At least when they're in captivity, they're not at risk of being destroyed.

Conservationists and commercial collectors are both selfish in their own ways. Conservationists want the earth to stay exactly how it is because that's what they know and are resistant to change. I'm sure the dinosaurs didn't want that giant asteroid to destroy them, but it happened anyway. We can prolong the demise of the planet, but it will inevitably be destroyed. Humans are just accelerating the process.

 

[What]

Who's to say that area won't be a parking lot or shopping center 50 years from now?

It may be, but that does not mean collecting them *now* is a good idea.

And having been to a locality where they are found... I know that the habitat they are in is in a few desolate areas of W. Texas, so unless that area starts booming with people your point is irrelevant and pointless. Stop detracting from the thread that is meant as a warning to people to keep them from contributing to over collection(people should just be not buying WC crap anyways!).