PidderPeets
Arachnoprince
- Joined
- May 27, 2017
- Messages
- 1,336
DISCLAIMER: Before I even elaborate further, I need to stress that this is just a THEORY I have and would like to hear opinions on from more experienced keepers. I am by all means not telling anybody that if you have experience with the standard everyday spider, you can handle the average Old World tarantula hellbent on destruction. This topic is meant purely to trigger discussion from all levels of expertise, and hopefully provide an educational experience for all.
So anyway. I was going through various threads on here the other day, and of course, I came across thread after thread of how to make the switch from NW to OW. Often, I notice people say to start with Avics to get some understanding of a fast-ish tarantula without the inherent danger of an OW species. But for me, that always brings one thought to mind: my boyfriend's fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus) is consistently faster than my A. avic and C. versicolor have ever been. Maybe my two are just lazy, maybe I've never bothered them to the point where they felt it necessary to go top speed, but I've just never seen them go that fast. Have they bolted on me before? Absolutely! Have they moved faster than I can blink? Definitely. But only in very short bursts, and not to the point where I'm screaming expletives while in full panic mode because it's moving faster than I can even process what's going on. The fishing spider is on a WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL. That thing will bolt at even the slightest disturbances, and it will run like there's no tomorrow. It needs a catch cup on hand and it's enclosure needs to be in a bigger container just going to feed it. As far as I'm concerned, that spider has prepared me for an OW more than my Avics ever will (I don't have any OW and I assure you I won't be getting one any time soon). And most fishing spiders I've seen in the wild behave the same way. So to me, that beckons the question: is there something wrong with suggesting some of the faster true spiders (fishing spiders, nursery web spiders, wolf spiders, etc) to people prior to an OW tarantula? Sure, it's not a tarantula, but there's some big and fast true spiders that I honestly think could do a fantastic job at preparing someone for their first Old World. They provide the speed and flightiness, but without the potent venom. Exactly what people want to prepare themselves for the switch. And since there are some fishing and wolf spiders that can certainly obtain impressive sizes, so you aren't necessarily sacrificing size completely. And while I still think it would be a good idea to have experience with fast New World tarantulas as well, I don't think the idea of getting some experience with a a fast true spider is something to just brush off completely. It just seems like something worth putting legitimate thought into.
So anyway. I was going through various threads on here the other day, and of course, I came across thread after thread of how to make the switch from NW to OW. Often, I notice people say to start with Avics to get some understanding of a fast-ish tarantula without the inherent danger of an OW species. But for me, that always brings one thought to mind: my boyfriend's fishing spider (Dolomedes tenebrosus) is consistently faster than my A. avic and C. versicolor have ever been. Maybe my two are just lazy, maybe I've never bothered them to the point where they felt it necessary to go top speed, but I've just never seen them go that fast. Have they bolted on me before? Absolutely! Have they moved faster than I can blink? Definitely. But only in very short bursts, and not to the point where I'm screaming expletives while in full panic mode because it's moving faster than I can even process what's going on. The fishing spider is on a WHOLE DIFFERENT LEVEL. That thing will bolt at even the slightest disturbances, and it will run like there's no tomorrow. It needs a catch cup on hand and it's enclosure needs to be in a bigger container just going to feed it. As far as I'm concerned, that spider has prepared me for an OW more than my Avics ever will (I don't have any OW and I assure you I won't be getting one any time soon). And most fishing spiders I've seen in the wild behave the same way. So to me, that beckons the question: is there something wrong with suggesting some of the faster true spiders (fishing spiders, nursery web spiders, wolf spiders, etc) to people prior to an OW tarantula? Sure, it's not a tarantula, but there's some big and fast true spiders that I honestly think could do a fantastic job at preparing someone for their first Old World. They provide the speed and flightiness, but without the potent venom. Exactly what people want to prepare themselves for the switch. And since there are some fishing and wolf spiders that can certainly obtain impressive sizes, so you aren't necessarily sacrificing size completely. And while I still think it would be a good idea to have experience with fast New World tarantulas as well, I don't think the idea of getting some experience with a a fast true spider is something to just brush off completely. It just seems like something worth putting legitimate thought into.
