Current Ephebopus uatuman Rescue

gabrieldezzi

Arachnosquire
Joined
Sep 21, 2023
Messages
111
Hey everyone. About 6 months ago I visited a small pet store about 30 minutes away with my father who originally came for more specific fish supplies. However, I curiously asked if they had tarantulas which they surprisingly said yes. They took me to a small back closet where they said there were and they had a few tarantulas, mostly T. albopilosums and brachypelmas, but surprisingly some more niche T's I wouldn't expect at a pet store, like two T. stirmi's. a small M. balfouri communal, but the one that really caught my eye was (according to them) a mature female E. uatuman.

They said the they were almost certain the E. uatuman was female and around 4 inches, which there was no visible pedipalps and the enclosure was way too small for her. The workers told me they were too scared to do a rehouse because the worker who usually handled the tarantulas quit a few weeks ago and they had no means of safely rehousing. The pet store had had her for over a year and still nobody had bought her, citing her reclusive nature as a reason. I told them I didn't have the money or the space/enclosures right now to purchase her, but in a few months I would come back and see if she's still available.

Yesterday I called, and when I asked the employees were confused and upon searching the closet did not see the T. The woman on the phone said it was probably bought which gave me a huge sigh of relief that she was somewhere other than a dark closet in the back of a pet store. However, after a few boxes being moved on a shelf revealed her enclosure, hidden behind them in that small warehouse-like room. I asked them for a price gauge and they said about 60-80$ they'd sell her for considering they haven't been able to sell her for years.

I'm going to the store in person on Saturday to really inspect her, if she's female or juvenile I will take her off their hands, but if he's a mature male there's little I can do considering he most likely had been mature for some time. I will update this thread as more information develops.
 

fcat

Arachnodemon
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695
I have a Brachypelma albiceps with a similar story. Store on the top shelf with all the empty enclosures, I asked them to humor me by bringing it down so we could make sure it was empty. It was not...


I have a bleeding heart so I would buy that tarantula even if only to put it on hospice in a better enclosure.

Without seeing the current setup, bearing in mind how reclusive they can be, I feel like someone still would've noticed if it were out frequently, looking for a female (before it got buried in storage of course)
 

gabrieldezzi

Arachnosquire
Joined
Sep 21, 2023
Messages
111
I have a Brachypelma albiceps with a similar story. Store on the top shelf with all the empty enclosures, I asked them to humor me by bringing it down so we could make sure it was empty. It was not...


I have a bleeding heart so I would buy that tarantula even if only to put it on hospice in a better enclosure.

Without seeing the current setup, bearing in mind how reclusive they can be, I feel like someone still would've noticed if it were out frequently, looking for a female (before it got buried in storage of course)
Agreed, colors were also pretty dull when I saw her. I most likely will buy her regardless. My friend is coming with me on Saturday to help me rescue her and then rehouse back at my place.

I hate to see animals mistreated like this however, especially at a pet store where many of the other animals (on display) are in pristine condition.
 

Brewser

AraneaeRebel
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Joined
Nov 28, 2023
Messages
931
Agreed, colors were also pretty dull when I saw her. I most likely will buy her regardless. My friend is coming with me on Saturday to help me rescue her and then rehouse back at my place.

I hate to see animals mistreated like this however, especially at a pet store where many of the other animals (on display) are in pristine condition.
If it's anything like the E. Cyanognathus I'm Keeping, You wont regret it.
Sleeps all Day... Comes out at Night to Prey.
 
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Ultum4Spiderz

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
6,014
Hey everyone. About 6 months ago I visited a small pet store about 30 minutes away with my father who originally came for more specific fish supplies. However, I curiously asked if they had tarantulas which they surprisingly said yes. They took me to a small back closet where they said there were and they had a few tarantulas, mostly T. albopilosums and brachypelmas, but surprisingly some more niche T's I wouldn't expect at a pet store, like two T. stirmi's. a small M. balfouri communal, but the one that really caught my eye was (according to them) a mature female E. uatuman.

They said the they were almost certain the E. uatuman was female and around 4 inches, which there was no visible pedipalps and the enclosure was way too small for her. The workers told me they were too scared to do a rehouse because the worker who usually handled the tarantulas quit a few weeks ago and they had no means of safely rehousing. The pet store had had her for over a year and still nobody had bought her, citing her reclusive nature as a reason. I told them I didn't have the money or the space/enclosures right now to purchase her, but in a few months I would come back and see if she's still available.

Yesterday I called, and when I asked the employees were confused and upon searching the closet did not see the T. The woman on the phone said it was probably bought which gave me a huge sigh of relief that she was somewhere other than a dark closet in the back of a pet store. However, after a few boxes being moved on a shelf revealed her enclosure, hidden behind them in that small warehouse-like room. I asked them for a price gauge and they said about 60-80$ they'd sell her for considering they haven't been able to sell her for years.

I'm going to the store in person on Saturday to really inspect her, if she's female or juvenile I will take her off their hands, but if he's a mature male there's little I can do considering he most likely had been mature for some time. I will update this thread as more information develops.
That’s a good deal I think.
Sadly half I bought from my closest pet shop died , so it wasn’t a good usage of my last money . I overpaid for a s cal that’s clearly juvenile male , and the only curly left of two is too small to sex 1.8” …
 

gabrieldezzi

Arachnosquire
Joined
Sep 21, 2023
Messages
111
That’s a good deal I think.
Sadly half I bought from my closest pet shop died , so it wasn’t a good usage of my last money . I overpaid for a s cal that’s clearly juvenile male , and the only curly left of two is too small to sex 1.8” …
The only ever T I've also bought from a pet store was a juvenile Avic I got from PetSmart which was female.
 

MariaLewisia

Arachnoknight
Joined
Aug 28, 2022
Messages
185
I think a case like this is one of the few times a pet store "rescue" is sanctioned.

An animal that has:
- caused problems for the store employees
- has been labelled as unsaleable
and
- is only sold at a price where their monetary gain is minimal at best but probably zero or in the negative,
all these factors can almost certainly guarantee that they won't list this T as profitable or be interested in buying more stock.

I see way too many people "rescuing" tarantulas (and other animals) from chain pet stores at full prize just because they felt bad for it or it was mistreated. This will only translate to the store looking at the numbers, seeing that this animal is a profitable item, and then they purchase more. They really don't care as long as they make a profit and you have inadvertently not only caused more animals the same fate, but also inadvertently supported wild catching because it's cheaper for the store to buy wild caught than raise or buy captive bred. I know myself just how frustrating it is seeing an animal suffering in a store and knowing it only takes a bit of money to bring it home and give it a better life, but unless you can convince them to give it to you for free or at a heavy discount, it's better to show your distaste by reporting the store, not shop there, and tell others not to shop there, at the very least not for the animals they mistreat.

Anyhow, I hope you get that uatuman and that it really is a female! I keep both E. murinus and E. cyanognathus and they're wonderful tarantulas, if a bit shy. But when you get a glimpse of them... wow! So worth keeping a pet hole lol. The other Ephebopus are all on my wishlist if I can find some slings. Keeping my fingers crossed for you! 🤞
 

gabrieldezzi

Arachnosquire
Joined
Sep 21, 2023
Messages
111
I think a case like this is one of the few times a pet store "rescue" is sanctioned.

An animal that has:
- caused problems for the store employees
- has been labelled as unsaleable
and
- is only sold at a price where their monetary gain is minimal at best but probably zero or in the negative,
all these factors can almost certainly guarantee that they won't list this T as profitable or be interested in buying more stock.

I see way too many people "rescuing" tarantulas (and other animals) from chain pet stores at full prize just because they felt bad for it or it was mistreated. This will only translate to the store looking at the numbers, seeing that this animal is a profitable item, and then they purchase more. They really don't care as long as they make a profit and you have inadvertently not only caused more animals the same fate, but also inadvertently supported wild catching because it's cheaper for the store to buy wild caught than raise or buy captive bred. I know myself just how frustrating it is seeing an animal suffering in a store and knowing it only takes a bit of money to bring it home and give it a better life, but unless you can convince them to give it to you for free or at a heavy discount, it's better to show your distaste by reporting the store, not shop there, and tell others not to shop there, at the very least not for the animals they mistreat.

Anyhow, I hope you get that uatuman and that it really is a female! I keep both E. murinus and E. cyanognathus and they're wonderful tarantulas, if a bit shy. But when you get a glimpse of them... wow! So worth keeping a pet hole lol. The other Ephebopus are all on my wishlist if I can find some slings. Keeping my fingers crossed for you! 🤞
Yeah, absolutely. I am going to call the place tomorrow and ask about it. I can not 100% confirm the neglect, but I know for a fact the tarantulas are difficult for the store employees to handle. I’m bringing catch cups as well as a temporary enclosure which I could hopefully coax it into for the employees before I take her home.
 

fcat

Arachnodemon
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Joined
Jan 1, 2023
Messages
695
Someone recently haggled on a G rosea, worst they will say is no.
 

Glorfindel

Arachnoknight
Active Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2024
Messages
199
Hey everyone. About 6 months ago I visited a small pet store about 30 minutes away with my father who originally came for more specific fish supplies. However, I curiously asked if they had tarantulas which they surprisingly said yes. They took me to a small back closet where they said there were and they had a few tarantulas, mostly T. albopilosums and brachypelmas, but surprisingly some more niche T's I wouldn't expect at a pet store, like two T. stirmi's. a small M. balfouri communal, but the one that really caught my eye was (according to them) a mature female E. uatuman.

They said the they were almost certain the E. uatuman was female and around 4 inches, which there was no visible pedipalps and the enclosure was way too small for her. The workers told me they were too scared to do a rehouse because the worker who usually handled the tarantulas quit a few weeks ago and they had no means of safely rehousing. The pet store had had her for over a year and still nobody had bought her, citing her reclusive nature as a reason. I told them I didn't have the money or the space/enclosures right now to purchase her, but in a few months I would come back and see if she's still available.

Yesterday I called, and when I asked the employees were confused and upon searching the closet did not see the T. The woman on the phone said it was probably bought which gave me a huge sigh of relief that she was somewhere other than a dark closet in the back of a pet store. However, after a few boxes being moved on a shelf revealed her enclosure, hidden behind them in that small warehouse-like room. I asked them for a price gauge and they said about 60-80$ they'd sell her for considering they haven't been able to sell her for years.

I'm going to the store in person on Saturday to really inspect her, if she's female or juvenile I will take her off their hands, but if he's a mature male there's little I can do considering he most likely had been mature for some time. I will update this thread as more information develops.
Go 4 It
 

gabrieldezzi

Arachnosquire
Joined
Sep 21, 2023
Messages
111
So I forgot to update yesterday but tragedy has struck.

Saturday morning I woke up early to drive to the store, and upon entering and asking for the uatuman, they informed me that they had "sold it". They couldn't tell me when the T had been sold or to even vaguely whom. They just told me it was sold and to leave. This should have been impossible because Friday I called and confirmed the spider was still there, close to closing time. Extremely suspicious in my opinion.. :anxious:
 

Ultum4Spiderz

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
6,014
So I forgot to update yesterday but tragedy has struck.

Saturday morning I woke up early to drive to the store, and upon entering and asking for the uatuman, they informed me that they had "sold it". They couldn't tell me when the T had been sold or to even vaguely whom. They just told me it was sold and to leave. This should have been impossible because Friday I called and confirmed the spider was still there, close to closing time. Extremely suspicious in my opinion.. :anxious:
That’s why I don’t ask to many questions maybe it died , escaped or the owner kept it . 🥲
I’m done supporting my lps half the Ts I got we’re sickly. I’m just getting conned
 

gabrieldezzi

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Joined
Sep 21, 2023
Messages
111
That’s why I don’t ask to many questions maybe it died , escaped or the owner kept it . 🥲
I’m done supporting my lps half the Ts I got we’re sickly. I’m just getting conned
I went to a petco near me as well just to look at T’s. There was an inch large C. Versicolor sling in a horrible enclosure for around 150 USD. Insane.
 

Glorfindel

Arachnoknight
Active Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2024
Messages
199
They said, "I'm sorry if we don't have what you're looking for you can leave."

This wasn't some like big pet store chain like PetSmart or PetCo
They don't want to deal with You? Wait a couple days and have a Friend go in and look around.
 

Brewser

AraneaeRebel
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Joined
Nov 28, 2023
Messages
931
They don't want to deal with You? Wait a couple days and have a Friend go in and look around.
$60.00 is a fair price... Probably didn't want to "Haggle" or Lower the Price Anymore?
If so it's too bad for the E. Cyanognathus... So Sad.
 
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