Getting my first OW, but serious questions.

[pouchedrat]

I'm considering getting my first OW T's, I've narrowed it down to either a P. regalis sling or P. metallica sling (lol if they're ever available that is) for valentine's day for myself. I still consider myself a newbie, since I only keep new worlds and I only started last year with a G. pulchripes sling, but I do have experience with other exotics and inverts, and do read constantly about what I keep. Currently the feistiest T's I have would be my blue fang girl, and the new baby Theraphosa sp. Everything else are Grammostola or Brachys or Cyriocosmus sp (with a few other oddballs here and there) and everything's a sling or juvie except some Cyrio species and my Lasiodora parahybana.

If I start with an OW it'd be a sling. However here's my concern. I'm the only one who cares for the tarantulas, as my guy is scared to death of them. Even if he did take an interest, I don't think I'd want him to deal with them because he's completely inexperienced with any type of pet outside of dogs (and even then, his family was horrible with dogs and never kept them right, they always were given away or sent to a shelter. he was a kid so he wasn't really at fault, but I am definitely not like that at all). Well, we have a 4 year old son with ADHD and ASD. I'd be keeping the sling under lock and key because of that. HOWEVER, we're currently trying for our second child. I'm concerned about possible bites. I've yet to be tagged, but I know it's always only a matter of time. Whether it happens now, or a week from now, or 20 years from now, it's something we can all expect at some point no matter how careful we are. What I'm partially worried about is the venom effects of an OW on an unborn child. I'm not pregnant yet, but we just started trying.

I suppose one answer would be to wait until after any potential babies are born and I'm done breastfeeding before getting my first OW, but that'd be what, 1 1/2 years maybe IF we were even successful right away? Depending on all kinds of factors. I guess I just would like advice on the subject.

 

[Salamanderhead]

If you get bitten, then the venom is in your body as you breast feed your child, the child's DNA has a 50% chance of mutating into something like spiderman.

 

[pouchedrat]

If you get bitten, then the venom is in your body as you breast feed your child, the child's DNA has a 50% chance of mutating into something like spiderman.

that would actually be pretty cool.

 

[Mack&Cass]

If you are concerned about a bite, you should look into Psalmopoeus sp. They are new world Ts but they have an old world character, they are very fast, but lack the potency. They would be a good way IMO to work your way up to Poecilotheria. I don't think that a bite is inevitable, as long as you respect the T and understand its speed there is no reason you will be bit. My second T was an old world and the only bite I have ever taken from any of our Ts was intentional.
Mackenzie

 

[TarantulaFanBoy]

I'm considering getting my first OW T's, I've narrowed it down to either a P. regalis sling or P. metallica sling (lol if they're ever available that is) for valentine's day for myself. I still consider myself a newbie, since I only keep new worlds and I only started last year with a G. pulchripes sling, but I do have experience with other exotics and inverts, and do read constantly about what I keep. Currently the feistiest T's I have would be my blue fang girl, and the new baby Theraphosa sp. Everything else are Grammostola or Brachys or Cyriocosmus sp (with a few other oddballs here and there) and everything's a sling or juvie except some Cyrio species and my Lasiodora parahybana.

If I start with an OW it'd be a sling. However here's my concern. I'm the only one who cares for the tarantulas, as my guy is scared to death of them. Even if he did take an interest, I don't think I'd want him to deal with them because he's completely inexperienced with any type of pet outside of dogs (and even then, his family was horrible with dogs and never kept them right, they always were given away or sent to a shelter. he was a kid so he wasn't really at fault, but I am definitely not like that at all). Well, we have a 4 year old son with ADHD and ASD. I'd be keeping the sling under lock and key because of that. HOWEVER, we're currently trying for our second child. I'm concerned about possible bites. I've yet to be tagged, but I know it's always only a matter of time. Whether it happens now, or a week from now, or 20 years from now, it's something we can all expect at some point no matter how careful we are. What I'm partially worried about is the venom effects of an OW on an unborn child. I'm not pregnant yet, but we just started trying.

I suppose one answer would be to wait until after any potential babies are born and I'm done breastfeeding before getting my first OW, but that'd be what, 1 1/2 years maybe IF we were even successful right away? Depending on all kinds of factors. I guess I just would like advice on the subject.

Its very interesting indeed. But i highly doubt tarantula venom has ever been studied in depth enough to know what effects it would have on an unborn fetus. Tarantula's as a whole really haven't been studied that much. Now im not sure what would happen if you were bitten by an Old world species and you were pregnant. And my guess is it wouldn't be good. But here is an article i found you may be interested in.

http://www.wemjournal.org/wmsonline...&issn=1080-6032&volume=015&issue=03&page=0207

On another note. here is a thread about beginning old world t's.

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=37583

 

[Salamanderhead]

Is it possible the child could develop some form of immunity to that type of venom?

 

[TarantulaFanBoy]

Is it possible the child could develop some form of immunity to that type of venom?

Sure its possible. But it could also develop an Allergy to the same venom.

 

[jayefbe]

Given your experience with T's, I'd be pretty confident in your abilities to handle any old world tarantula without a bite. I gotta disagree with your belief that it's just a matter of time before one is bitten. There are dealers with thousands of tarantulas that have never or very seldomly been bitten. A hobbyist with a collection a fraction of that size should be able to avoid bites completely, as long as they remain constantly aware when working with them and avoiding silly mistakes.

That being said, given the potentially tragic results of a bite if you were pregnant, it's probably too big of a risk to take. Granted, keeping a pokie when pregnant is probably safer than sitting in a car, but it may be worth avoiding any risks if at all possible. I second the idea of getting a Psalmopoeus instead. They're fast, have some attitude, are beautiful, and while their venom is worse than most NWs it doesn't come close to what a Pokie has.

 

[Tapahtyn]

wow that's an interesting article. Regardless of your choice, just weighing the pros and cons may not be enough. Being a mother myself, I don't think I'd risk something adverse happening. It's one thing to choose it for yourself, but I'd hate to hear about someone having a miscarriage because of something out of the ordinary. Good luck

 

[pouchedrat]

I suppose i have that frame of mind that accidents happen, so always expect the worst and always be prepared just in case something does occur. That's sort of where I was going with the bite issue.

I had looked at OBT's, as it seems everyone and their mother has one, and if it were a sling, I can sort of grow into it and get used to it as it ages. Regardless of the decision, it'd have to be a sling since I don't want to jump into an adult super-defensive T right away.

P. irminia's are beautiful T's. Plus they're arboreal, and I only have a couple Avics currently as far as arboreals go, and I do enjoy them quite a bit.

It's something to think about. I was talking with my man about getting my first OW long before we started very seriously talking about a second kid. I've put it off for quite a while because it's not a decision I want to take lightly, with our other child especially. And now that we're expanding our family, it's even more a reason to think things through before jumping into getting one.

Thanks for the advice so far. A spider-baby would be pretty cool, too

 

[ArachnidSentinl]

If you get bitten, then the venom is in your body as you breast feed your child, the child's DNA has a 50% chance of mutating into something like spiderman.

Okay, I'll admit it. I laughed

...But here is an article i found you may be interested in.

http://www.wemjournal.org/wmsonline...&issn=1080-6032&volume=015&issue=03&page=0207...

Very interesting find. Thanks for sharing this.

 

[Helix]

I had a similar dilemma a month ago..But the difference is that I was afraid for my family if the T got out of the enclosure and bit someone(nomatter how small the chance for it to happen was)..In the end I got P. Metallica as I wanted it in the first place..
Im still extra careful around it when i feed it, and I still will be, specially when I ll have to rehouse it.
I m happy I got it, and i dont regret getting it, atleast not for now.

In conclusion, I doubt that anyone can tell you how can Poecilotherias venom affect your unborn child..
Also, bite can happen..but you can take extra safety precautions so theres even less chance for it to happen.
I wouldnt advise you to get Psalmopeus..specially if its not the spider you want...
It is less toxic then Poecilotheria, but then again, its venom is more toxic then of any other NW T and shouldnt be taken lightly.. And offcourse noone can tell you if it would also have affect on your child..
So if you decide to get the T, get the regalis or metallica.. atleast thats my opinion.. also people say that metallica and miranda should be a bit calmer pokies.
As noone could guarantee me that my Poecilotheria wont bite someone of my family, noone can say that you wont get bitten.

So you got 3 choices..
1. get the T once your baby is born
2. get the T now..and be extra careful around it
3. dont get the T

 

[Mack&Cass]

If you are concerned about a bite, you should look into Psalmopoeus sp. They are new world Ts but they have an old world character, they are very fast, but lack the potency. They would be a good way IMO to work your way up to Poecilotheria. I don't think that a bite is inevitable, as long as you respect the T and understand its speed there is no reason you will be bit. My second T was an old world and the only bite I have ever taken from any of our Ts was intentional.
Mackenzie

I'm going to back Mackenzie up on the Psalmopoeus idea.

I wouldnt advise you to get Psalmopeus..specially if its not the spider you want...
It is less toxic then Poecilotheria, but then again, its venom is more toxic then of any other NW T and shouldnt be taken lightly.. And offcourse noone can tell you if it would also have affect on your child..

It may not be the T that the OP wants, however it would be a good step up, and she would be able to get use to the speed and a more defensive demeanor without worrying as much about getting bit or the potency of venom if she did. And it would also satisfy her need for a more challenging T until after she had the baby and was able to get a Pokie.

Honestly, there are tons of people out there who have tons of T's who have been in the hobby for a long time who haven't been bitten. The good thing about Pokies in my opinion is that they're predictable. Slings aren't as much as adults, but I am WAY more comfortable doing maintenance in our Pokie enclosures than our Pampho, or Acanthoscurria enclosures. I'm not saying that you won't get bit, but if you have a good idea of the behaviour of your T and how it's going to react to certain situations, and you're responsible and don't get complacent (Mackenzie's complacency led to us chasing our P. ornata around our bedroom) then your chances decrease. Plus if you're pregnant then that's just going to make you extra careful and extra aware of where the T is when you're feeding/doing maintenance.

The key is confidence. If you're not confident then I would hold off on any OW (or even a Psalmo) until after you've had the baby and you're ready. If you want to get use to the speed first, you could even try a Tapinauchenius sp. They're arboreal, fast as lightning, but their venom isn't as bad as a Psalmo, and best of all - they don't have urticating hairs.

Also, congrats on deciding to try to have another baby!

Cassandra

 

[JackWaites]

Only go for it if you are willign too, if you are having any doubts then just wait, you can always get one in the future. When you have no doubts you will be ready.

 

[matthias]

There is no way to know if some component of the venom would pass to a child the is breast feeding, probably nothing. But if you were to be bit I would suggest not feeding while you recover. Maybe have some in reserve just in case.
But If you get a sling it's fangs will not be be able to pierce your skin for at least a year if not 2 years.

 

[paul fleming]

Psalmopoeus irminia are real sweeties......my one is.
These are quite fast too.
I would wait if I were you before getting one of these or any OW species

 

[ksac3]

Would you ever consider getting a Lampropelma Violaceopes (Singapore blue) Sling?
they are arboreal old world that grow very nice.
Look at mine in my picture thread.
HERE

 

[pouchedrat]

Thanks for the replies so far! I really did want outsiders' opinions before we came to a conclusion.

What first made me interested in tarantulas were the Haplopelma lividums I would see in pet stores all the time as a kid. They were blue, beautiful, and being cared for completely wrong (but hey i was a kid). My parents never would allow me to have a T, or any invert at that (until my parents divorced, then my mom let me get exotic roaches and millipedes, but nothing that could bite or sting. It was my father who even to this day thinks I'm risking my family's life by keeping inverts). I forgot about T's, although I had care books I bought as a kid in our library, until I started looking into millipedes again. That led me to discovering pokies, and how beautiful they were.

I, of course, did research and decided I shouldn't jump into OW's, and went with a chaco as my first T. I still look at pokies in the gallery every so often and show them off to Colin, who then cringes and looks away, lol. It's the size, the striking patterns, their arboreal nature and how amazing their enclosures can look. I am also interested in the speed and attitude OW's can pop at you.

I think in the end, I'm going to wait until after the baby is born and I'm done nursing. The last thing I want is to risk the baby's life, and I'm not sure how I could handle mentally a miscarriage or deformity due to my own decision of bringing a pokie into the house. Plus, while this isn't at the top of my priority list, it IS something to think about: if something DID happen, and news media somehow got wind of it, you KNOW it would risk the rest of the hobby. Exotics are always big news stories, and it always leads to potential bans. It's a worst case scenario, but I can see it happening quite easily.

I think I'll stick to NW T's for now. I did have my eye on a Holothele incei communal setup someday, and there are other arboreals besides just pokies and avics out there to look into, as you guys have pointed out. Pokies can always wait, and perhaps P. metallicas will go down in price even moreso in a couple years, lol. I'll satisfy the craving by making more enclosures and looking at pics online.

 

[Steve Calceatum]

Well, the decision is ultimately yours. The question of experience only comes in as far as your own confidence level. I went through the same confidence debauchle when I got my first OW (at 6 or 7 months into the hobby), and I do apreciate where you are coming from. Trust me when I say that there is nothing to worry about....especially regarding Pokies.

As a parent and an OW keeper, I've had no problems thus far. I would refrain from freehandling your T's while pregnant due to the lack of knowledge regarding venom effects on the unborn fetus. Although, a bite during freehandling from a Pokie, H. mac, or OBT sling is the least of my worries, IME.

In this case, the good news is that the sling will need some time to grow out before you start freehandling it. Pokies are not like Avic slings that you can handle from second one with minimal risk involved......they are fast, easily spooked, and could run off and be lost forever. I cannot recommend freehandling an OW until it has about a 2.5" - 3" DLS, and their personalities are starting to form.

My recommendations would be to go ahead and do it. If you can find / afford a P. metallica, P. subfusca, or a P. miranda, those would be your best bet for a calm specimen. Otherwise a P. regalis is a very nice starter OW. Though they are technically NW, Psalmos are comparative to Pokies. I treat both of mine like I would any of my OWs. They are just as fast, and possess a less potent venom......however, both of my Psalmos are much more tempermental than my P. regalis, or my former P. striata (RIP). My P. cambridgei is psychotic, so I don't have a good version of what that species is truly like, but the P. irminia is one of the most beautiful, and worth while species to be keeping in the hobby, IMHO.

 

[Moltar]

FYI: psalmopoeus venom is not that weak. It's quite potent as NW spiders go. Also, whoever said P. irminia was docile is pulling your chain.

It sounds to me like you have enough experience to try a Pokie/Lampro/Psalmo sling. They're pretty easy to deal with when they're tiny and you will "grow" as they do.