Household "things" that can be dangerous to a tarantula?

[ErikaAshleyAnne]

Hey all you cool cats & kittens!
Just kidding - I'm no husband killing, cat hoarding Carol

I'm trying to figure out which household items might be dangerous or potentially lethal to our 8-legged friends. This is my first time raising a sling and as much as I'd like to say "I know what I'm doing" (which okay, for the most part I'm good!), I'm not that naïve. EDUCATE ME.
Do you avoid certain cleaners in your spooders room?
Is it safe to burn candles?
Can regular tap water harm them? If so, what would you recommend? (ex. distilled, bottled etc.)
Why are so many people under the impression that crickets can cause DKS? I can't find any solid, scientific evidence to back this theory and I am genuinely curious.

Attached is a photo of my versicolor, Kiwi

Thanks!

 

[Liquifin]

Do you avoid certain cleaners in your spooders room?

Any type of chemicals such as sprays can be dangerous to your tarantula, which there are many thread discussing this.

Is it safe to burn candles?

I don't use candles, so I can't say, but I'm sure that someone else may know.

Can regular tap water harm them? If so, what would you recommend? (ex. distilled, bottled etc.)

Mostly no, as I use tap water and my tarantulas and spiders are all fine. Most people also use tap water as well, but it actually can also depend on where you live as big areas such as cities may use more chlorine in their water system than the water system in a rural area.

Why are so many people under the impression that crickets can cause DKS? I can't find any solid, scientific evidence to back this theory and I am genuinely curious.

People always make crickets the victim feeders for things such as parasites and DKS, but which almost 99% of the time, they're just normal feeders for pets. While they're not the most ideal to some people as feeders, they're still a hobby staple feeder nonetheless.

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

Chemical cleaners aren't awesome for anyone, let alone tiny creatures.

I would avoid heavily scented candles or candles that contain essential oils around your critters - many essential oils are used as pesticides and can even be harmful to small mammals. Regular candles should be fine.

If you live in a city, and you're concerned about chlorine in your tap water, leave a pitcher of water out on the counter overnight and use that for watering. The chlorine dissipates fairly quickly in the air.

People like to have reasons for things, and crickets are an easy target.

 

[Reezelbeezelbug]

Chemical cleaners aren't awesome for anyone, let alone tiny creatures.

I would avoid heavily scented candles or candles that contain essential oils around your critters - many essential oils are used as pesticides and can even be harmful to small mammals. Regular candles should be fine.

If you live in a city, and you're concerned about chlorine in your tap water, leave a pitcher of water out on the counter overnight and use that for watering. The chlorine dissipates fairly quickly in the air.

People like to have reasons for things, and crickets are an easy target.

Lots of municipalities are using chloramine instead of chlorine now for the exact reason that it doesn't dissipate. This will be dependent on where you get your water.

That said, I don't dechlorinate for inverts or anything that just drinks water. However anything that absorbs water through their skin like fish or amphibians definitely dechlorinate that water.

 

[Poonjab]

Cats.

 

[MaskFac3]

Never ever ever use flea treatment on your cats

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Pesticides are pretty dangerous when it comes to T's.
Flea and tick treatment for dogs and cats is the most likely to affect yours.

 

[EpicEpic]

*Cigarettes.

I quit when I started my collection.

*Have a tool kit ONLY for tarantulas.

Minimizes cross-contamination risks!

*And always wash up beforehand!

 

[Vanessa]

Smoking - cigarettes and things like pot. Nicotine is even used as a pesticide.
Incense, candles.
Any anti-parasitic medication for dogs, cats, snakes, birds. If it is meant to kill fleas, ticks, or mites, it can kill your spider.
Direct heat and direct air conditioning.
Air fresheners and Febreeze.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Potting soil since it can contain chemicals and fertilizers. Also fumes from paints, sealants, etc.

 

[viper69]

Hey all you cool cats & kittens!
Just kidding - I'm no husband killing, cat hoarding Carol

I'm trying to figure out which household items might be dangerous or potentially lethal to our 8-legged friends. This is my first time raising a sling and as much as I'd like to say "I know what I'm doing" (which okay, for the most part I'm good!), I'm not that naïve. EDUCATE ME.
Do you avoid certain cleaners in your spooders room?
Is it safe to burn candles?
Can regular tap water harm them? If so, what would you recommend? (ex. distilled, bottled etc.)
Why are so many people under the impression that crickets can cause DKS? I can't find any solid, scientific evidence to back this theory and I am genuinely curious.

Attached is a photo of my versicolor, Kiwi

Thanks!

I never using cleaning agents in the rooms my Ts are in- not worth the risk.
I don't use candles for same reason.
Tap water- no issues here.

Crix- because these people are damn idiots that SEVERELY lack critical thinking skills.

 

[Whiplash Girlchild]

definitely not aerosols or chemicals that are released into the air; hairspray, air freshener, incense!, candles, cleaners, ciggs, vape, any drugs that can be smoked. Fresh air quality is key for a healthy T. Tap water is usually safe and free.

I use vinegar to clean out the enclosures for use.

If you grab anything from outside, sticks or leaves, bake them first to rid of any parasites or mites.
The crickets are fine as long as you get them from a trusted source, not outside.

Also Tarantulas rely on lightening. Make sure that your tarantulas aren't in direct sunlight, but that they still have access to proper light during the day, and darkness at night, to regulate their circadian rhythm.

The last thing I would add is stability. Tarantulas are sensitive to vibrations. This may sound weird, but having bass speakers in your tarantula room is a big NO-NO. keep them on a stable shelf in a quiet room where they won't be bothered by other pets or bustle.

 

[Chebe6886]

Id imagine just about any product around the home could pose a risk.
my girlfriend uses “natural” oils and what not. Some of that stuff is very irritating to me as a human can imagine exposing it to Tarantulas