Help w conditions in local Pet Store

[Chris R]

Good morning,

I visited a local, small Pet Store after several complaints were received over the Store's conditions.

I found one neglected 4" red-legged tarantula? I'm sending an Order for the Store to comply with conditions I impose to improve conditions. I've thought of the following basics as they might apply;

- temp gradient, 75 low end to 90 at high end
- 3-5 inches of sand or similar substrate for burrowing activity
- hide box or similar
- small, shallow water tray, with moist sponge (humidity)
- appropriate sized food item (cricket, mealworm) introduced nightly

Any other basic suggestions would be appreciated. This Store has several other issues I'm dealing with.

Chris

 

[AussieTkeeper]

Good morning,

I visited a local, small Pet Store after several complaints were received over the Store's conditions.

I found one neglected 4" red-legged tarantula? I'm sending an Order for the Store to comply with conditions I impose to improve conditions. I've thought of the following basics as they might apply;

- temp gradient, 75 low end to 90 at high end
- 3-5 inches of sand or similar substrate for burrowing activity
- hide box or similar
- small, shallow water tray, with moist sponge (humidity)
- appropriate sized food item (cricket, mealworm) introduced nightly

Any other basic suggestions would be appreciated. This Store has several other issues I'm dealing with.

Chris

Get rid of the moist sponge as its a breeding ground for nasty bactira.
I would not suggest using sand, better using bed a beast/peat or vecumite (is that spelt right)?
feeding nighty isnt a big issue but i would suggest every second or third night

Jason

 

[Potatoemoe]

Good morning,

I visited a local, small Pet Store after several complaints were received over the Store's conditions.

I found one neglected 4" red-legged tarantula? I'm sending an Order for the Store to comply with conditions I impose to improve conditions. I've thought of the following basics as they might apply;

- temp gradient, 75 low end to 90 at high end
- 3-5 inches of sand or similar substrate for burrowing activity
- hide box or similar
- small, shallow water tray, with moist sponge (humidity)
- appropriate sized food item (cricket, mealworm) introduced nightly

Any other basic suggestions would be appreciated. This Store has several other issues I'm dealing with.

Chris

I agree that the sponge is a big no no, just keep a shallow dish filled with fresh water with a small piece of slate or pebbles om the bottom so the crickets won't drown. Also might want to lightly mist the tank once a week. Don't use sand use peat, bed a beast, or organic potting soil. Also 3-5 " of substrate just depends on the species. It would be fine for all terrestrial and burrowing species but not for aboreals who need more head room. I would suggest that you put in that atleast one employee be trained in keeping T's. As far as the temp goes that really isn't that important as long as it doesn't get below 65 it should be fine and I think 90 is a bit high. Ideal would be 70-85. And yes they should atleast have a piece oh cork bark, flower pot or something. Feeding isn't that big of a deal I would say that no more that once every three days, and the any uneaten crickets should be removed the next day. but thats about all there is with taking care of T's.

 

[chrispider]

Chris R, how can you possibly be giving the store instructions on proper husbandary, when you plainly do not know the basics yourself?

You don't even know the species of tarantula? It could be arboreal for all you know, yet you want to give it burrowing space of up to 5 inches? :?

Something just doesn't seem right here.

 

[KingJames]

Are pet store conditions a police matter in Canada? It must be pretty bad.

 

[bonesmama]

Chris R, how can you possibly be giving the store instructions on proper husbandary, when you plainly do not know the basics yourself?

You don't even know the species of tarantula? It could be arboreal for all you know, yet you want to give it burrowing space of up to 5 inches? :?

Something just doesn't seem right here.

I applaud your concern, but I have to agree with Chrispider-- you have to educate yourself before you can educate others! And while you have the best of intentions, giving the wrong advice can be worse than none at all. That being said, good luck-- we've all dealt with similar situations, Petstores in general being very ignorant of Tarantula husbandry.

 

[Windchaser]

I applaud your concern, but I have to agree with Chrispider-- you have to educate yourself before you can educate others! And while you have the best of intentions, giving the wrong advice can be worse than none at all. That being said, good luck-- we've all dealt with similar situations, Petstores in general being very ignorant of Tarantula husbandry.

I hate to sound like I am beating a dead horse, but I agree as well. Much of the advice you were proposing was not very good and potentially just as harmful.

In addition, you have to understand that pet shops cannot necessarily provide the ideal conditions for a given tarantula. For example, if they provided the proper setup for an obligate burrower, they may never sell the thing. Since customer would only see a hole in the substrate.

 

[becca81]

Does the store *have* to listen to you?

 

[Sobrino]

Just get rid of the sponge and sand and you'll be fine. See Ya! That's all for now.

 

[Jaygnar]

Erm. I'm kinda unclear as to why you're taking the hostile approach. Instead of ordering them to improve conditions, try talking sensibly to the people in charge. But before you even go that far, make sure you know what you're talking about.

 

[Niloticus]

Good morning,

I visited a local, small Pet Store after several complaints were received over the Store's conditions.

I found one neglected 4" red-legged tarantula? I'm sending an Order for the Store to comply with conditions I impose to improve conditions. I've thought of the following basics as they might apply;

- temp gradient, 75 low end to 90 at high end
- 3-5 inches of sand or similar substrate for burrowing activity
- hide box or similar
- small, shallow water tray, with moist sponge (humidity)
- appropriate sized food item (cricket, mealworm) introduced nightly

Any other basic suggestions would be appreciated. This Store has several other issues I'm dealing with.

Chris

Don't allow the temps to get above 90 degrees. Potting soil, vermiculite, or peat moss would be the best for substrate. Use a water bowl without a sponge or cotton balls - they will harbor bacteria.

Niloticus

 

[Cirith Ungol]

On a sidenote:
One pet shop I sold some corns to surprised me a bit. They had a H. lividum! Not the typical T to be found in a pet shop up here in desolate northern Sweden!

They did a good job between giving the T burrowing space but still not enough for it to never be seen. It was a tank filled with (yes) sand, but it had logs in there, a good dish and it had made it's shallow burrow under one of those logs.

I understand completely that they couldn't give it like 5 feet of substrate and, well ok, that they used sand but otherwise it seemed ok and using a flashlight you could even see the T.

Let's just hope that this strategy helped them sell the T to some good owner who knew/knows what to do.

I had a good talk with the responsible person and they knew what they were doing and said the same thing - they have to display it too, otherwise there is no point in having it in the shop.

Now I guess it's debateable if pet shops should sell obligate burrowers at all or not, but I'm not going to be the one to protest as long as the basic requirements are met, even if only to a minimum.

 

[AussieTkeeper]

Does the store *have* to listen to you?

I was thinking that same think becca lol you bet me to the punch