Avicularia at Pet Supermarket

[Jokesonmeow]

Hello friends! I hope everyone is having a good week! So ever since I read about someone finding a G. Pulchra for a steal at Petco, I’ve been trolling around looking at what I could find. I found a T at Pet Supermarket, no label. Pink toes. I asked if they knew what it was and they said “it’s a pink toe”. So I asked what kind of pink toe and she kinda looked at me like I was dumb and then was like “Guyana pink toe”. $20. I’m not incredibly knowledgeable. Is that a decent price for an Avicularia Avicularia? It wasn’t in terrible conditions but it could have been better. Large critter keeper, sponge in water bowl, little tree thing. It was hanging out on the wall behind some webbing. I thought about getting it but I don’t know if I’m ready for an arboreal. Thoughts?

And as always, thank you for bearing with my newbness. I appreciate you fine folks!

 

[ccTroi]

It wasn’t in terrible conditions but it could have been better.

nah it was in terrible conditions.

So I asked what kind of pink toe and she kinda looked at me like I was dumb and then was like “Guyana pink toe”.

Been there, done that. It looks like an A. avicularia.

I thought about getting it but I don’t know if I’m ready for an arboreal. Thoughts

That’s a decent sized specimen. It’s certainly not as fragile as it would be if it were a sling. Grabbing it for that price is great. I suggest you house it in a one-gallon Mainstay container if you’re not too concerned about aesthetics.

 

[Arachnophoric]

It wasn’t in terrible conditions but it could have been better

Can't tell without a doubt from the picture but that certainly looks like a bad setup to me, and not just for Avics! Way too much wide open space without nearly enough anchor points to web up, and if those chips are anything to go off of, awful substrate too. On top of the good old sponge? Classic pet store!

That being said, I agree with ccTroi that for what seems to be a decently sized specimen at that price, it's a pretty good deal. Especially if it turns out to be a female. But then you gotta ask yourself about the ethicalness of buying from a shop that clearly doesn't even know for sure what kind of spider they have, let alone how to take care of it - making this purchase is likely to prompt them to buy another to replace it, if not multiple, that'll sit there in poor care for who knows how long until they die or someone who knows nothing about Ts strolls along and makes an impulse purchase... talking hypotheticals, but it happens a lot.

If that thought doesn't bother you, then by all means! With the T in the KK like that, you may even get a good look ventrally and get a decent guess on whether or not it's female, if that matters to you.

 

[Jokesonmeow]

Can't tell without a doubt from the picture but that certainly looks like a bad setup to me, and not just for Avics! Way too much wide open space without nearly enough anchor points to web up, and if those chips are anything to go off of, awful substrate too. On top of the good old sponge? Classic pet store!

That being said, I agree with ccTroi that for what seems to be a decently sized specimen at that price, it's a pretty good deal. Especially if it turns out to be a female. But then you gotta ask yourself about the ethicalness of buying from a shop that clearly doesn't even know for sure what kind of spider they have, let alone how to take care of it - making this purchase is likely to prompt them to buy another to replace it, if not multiple, that'll sit there in poor care for who knows how long until they die or someone who knows nothing about Ts strolls along and makes an impulse purchase... talking hypotheticals, but it happens a lot.

If that thought doesn't bother you, then by all means! With the T in the KK like that, you may even get a good look ventrally and get a decent guess on whether or not it's female, if that matters to you.

Oi. That is hard for me, because I don’t want to be part of the cycle but I don’t want this little fella to suffer. But then more little fellas will suffer. I just hate it!

I wouldn’t even know what to look for with sexing ventrally.


Side note. Was speaking with a friend about sexing tarantulas and now she thinks I’m a freak.

 

[cold blood]

They told him Guyana pink toe...thats A. avic, so they did give accurate info and knew what it was.

Good price, even for a male....great price if its female.

 

[Arachnophoric]

Oi. That is hard for me, because I don’t want to be part of the cycle but I don’t want this little fella to suffer. But then more little fellas will suffer. I just hate it!

That's how it goes, unfortunately - save one, but there's always another to come in their place. I wouldn't think poorly of you one way or the other though honestly - if it isn't you, it could just as likely be some edgy teenager who's gonna think they're cool for having a pet spider, just to fling it against a wall the first time they try to handle it and it moves too fast.

They told him Guyana pink toe...thats A. avic, so they did give accurate info and knew what it was.

Good price, even for a male....great price if its female.

Fair point, although what I can see of that setup still makes me cringe just a little.

 

[Ungoliant]

Oi. That is hard for me, because I don't want to be part of the cycle but I don't want this little fella to suffer. But then more little fellas will suffer. I just hate it!

Personally, if it's a species you want, I'd snag it for $20. (I got a similar-sized female for the same price from PetSmart four years ago, and I love her.)

Even though I have bought one from a pet store, I generally don't go to pet stores anymore now that I have my own supply of feeder insects. (The last few times I went to the local PetSmart and Petco, there were fortunately no tarantulas for sale.)

making this purchase is likely to prompt them to buy another to replace it, if not multiple, that'll sit there in poor care for who knows how long until they die or someone who knows nothing about Ts strolls along and makes an impulse purchase...

As much as I hate beating a dead horse (ethics of pet store purchases), I sometimes wonder if they purchase these tarantulas regardless of how well they sell. They may regard a tarantula as an interesting display for their customers and not necessarily something they expect to sell. If it dies, they replace it with another low-cost spider for customers to ogle. If it sells, ditto (but then they can try to up-sell you on supplies, which is likely where their highest margins are anyway).

As hobbyists, our decision to purchase (or not to purchase) a single tarantula probably has as little impact on pet store economics as our unsolicited advice does on their setups. I suspect the majority of small animal sales are to parents looking for inexpensive, "disposable" pets for children.

That being said, I generally prefer to purchase from tarantula hobbyists, as they have more variety, and they know more about what they are selling.

 

[Arachnophoric]

Personally, if it's a species you want, I'd snag it for $20. (I got a similar-sized female for the same price from PetSmart four years ago, and I love her.)

Even though I have bought one from a pet store, I generally don't go to pet stores anymore now that I have my own supply of feeder insects. (The last few times I went to the local PetSmart and Petco, there were fortunately no tarantulas for sale.)




As much as I hate beating a dead horse (ethics of pet store purchases), I sometimes wonder if they purchase these tarantulas regardless of how well they sell. They may regard a tarantula as an interesting display for their customers and not necessarily something they expect to sell. If it dies, they replace it with another low-cost spider for customers to ogle. If it sells, ditto (but then they can try to up-sell you on supplies, which is likely where their highest margins are anyway).

As hobbyists, our decision to purchase (or not to purchase) a single tarantula probably has as little impact on pet store economics as our unsolicited advice does on their setups. I suspect the majority of small animal sales are to parents looking for inexpensive, "disposable" pets for children.

That being said, I generally prefer to purchase from tarantula hobbyists, as they have more variety, and they know more about what they are selling.

A very good point, and more than likely you're right, which why I really don't have any hard feelings about it one way or another as unfortunate as it is - pet stores will continue being pet stores with their usually less-than-stellar practices. Makes me feel lucky the little "Mom and Pop Shop" I go to for my pet supply needs is actually surprisingly good with their exotics and is willing to listen to constructive criticism on the way they keep their animals - makes me feel a little less guilty about my own pet shop purchases. Although it always feels better to pump my money back into the hobby via respectable breeders and fellow hobbyists

 

[Little Grey Spider]

So random, but I'll never forget the time I went into Petsmart and they had an Avic in a terrestrial setup and I told the manager that the enclosure was wrong and this happened....
Me: This set up is all wrong. This spider is arboreal....
Her: No, it's a pinktoe.

 

[Jokesonmeow]

(but then they can try to up-sell you on supplies, which is likely where their highest margins are anyway).

Ha! No thanks pet store guy. I have substrate for days and only use the highest quality dollar store containers!

 

[TLSizzle]

Enabler here- I think you should get it. Post lots of pics!

 

[Jokesonmeow]

Enabler here- I think you should get it. Post lots of pics!

I want to but I don’t think my husband is into the idea. We have four slings coming in tomorrow. But 3 are slow growing species.

 

[TLSizzle]

I see the dilemma!

 

[Tryinhardbutstillfailin]

I don't know, I think you should get he(r), that's a good price.

And I wouldn't worry about being ready for an arboreal species. My A. avicularia is boring, she loves her round cork bark and webs up the place like no tomorrow. She very docile and slow moving.

I've never been around an A. avicularia that was even remotely exciting. They've never bolted on me once.

As long as you're okay with a species that literally only does things at night, they are die hard nocturnals (mine won't do anything during the day), then they're solid.

The hardest part is setting up their enclosure. If you're willing to do a little research on these forums about good enclosures for avics and spend 15-30 minutes setting it up, you're good to go.

 

[Jokesonmeow]

Ok everyone. I did a thing. Everyone meet Britney, Britney this is everyone. If we need to fix something in her enclosure, please let me know. I was looking for the exo-terra nano enclosure but no where had it. But I got this at Michael’s and I think it is quite lovely for now. I burnt four, four hole ventilation sets around it and a few in the top.

Luckily, I was quite prepared and brought a cup for transport, tongs and a paint brush. The guy that was there was like “oh, cool, so you want to get it out? I’m not really ready to face that fear.”







Oh! Just got her stretched. She is about 2.5”. I’m pretty stoked!

 

[Olan]

Looks perfect! She’s going to be very happy in there

 

[Arachnophoric]

Really digging the cookie-jar looking container! That lid sit pretty tight to it?

 

[cold blood]

I would add more ventilation...but the set up looks great.

 

[Jokesonmeow]

Really digging the cookie-jar looking container! That lid sit pretty tight to it?

Yes it does! It was $14.99 at Michael’s but after coupons for the jar, some fake plants and a couple other odds and ends, I only paid $11.61 total. I love how creative you can really get in this hobby. It’s not all $100 enclosures and craziness. I’m not at all crafty, but I really dig seeing everyone’s awesome creations for their T’s.

I would add more ventilation...but the set up looks great.

Would you recommend on the sides, the top, or both?

 

[cold blood]

Would you recommend on the sides, the top, or both?

sides...ideally the top needs minimal venting, most should be at the sides.