How to Save a Life, or: I rescued three Ts from Petsmart today.

[annanlove19]

After brunch and before my haircut, Su and I went to Petsmart to look at cute and fuzzy small animals.

We found torture instead.

They had three tarantulas, two G. roseas (Chilean Rosehair) and one A. avic (Pinktoe). They're juvies, maybe about two or three inches tops, kept in TINY containers. Instead of water, they had sponges, which breed mold and death. There were dead crickets as well as live ones. Boluses littered the terrariums.
I bought them all.

We went to Jabberwock straight from Petsmart because Su had the brilliant idea of bringing them inside and being like SHFJHDFSJDHF DIAGNOSE?? They were floored at the conditions but said that they weren't dying or in immediate danger of death. I knew everything to get, but they reaffirmed what I needed. I had to run out to my car to get my wallet, and when I got back in, they had done this to make traveling easier:



All three tarantulas, in their terrariums that they were living in and sold in, fit in one of the terrariums I got for one of them.

We got home, and the rehousing process began.

This is one of the G. roseas, named James-or-Oliver, in his tiny terrarium. No hide, sponge in the water bowl, bolus (promise), glued to the wall so he wouldn't have to touch his substrate.



His new terrarium I set up:



I rehoused in a big bin that I used to keep yarn in. I had a catch tupperware and piece of cardboard in case as well, but since these guys are bigger than my two most recent Ts, I wanted to be super safe. The comparison again between the old home and the new one.



Successfully installed!! Despite what I've heard about G. roseas, there was no flicking or anything. James-or-Oliver moved pretty easily with minimal prodding with a small, soft paintbrush. I used a plastic cup to move him with no troubles.

 

[annanlove19]

The second rosea, also James-or-Oliver. You can see the cup and the brush in the first pic, and happily rehomed in the second. This guy was a little more feisty and did a lot of threat posturing, but still no flicking or biting or anything.





Then Matthew, the A. avic! He's my first arboreal and thus my first arboreal terrarium setup, and despite freaking out at Jabberwock, it was super easy and really quite gorgeous.



I put packing tape along the inside of the lid because it's a screen but left it open in the middle for ventilation.



Getting ready for transit with bad perspective because I swear his old terrarium is not bigger than the new one:

 

[annanlove19]

I was nervous about how fast I've heard they are but he was an absolute doll, walked right into the cup, and while he wasn't super keen on leaving it--and I learned that arboreals have stickier feet than terrestrials, surprise surprise--he did, and without any fuss at me. I forgot to take a picture of him inside his new home before I closed the door, so pardon the reflection.



Look at his little ballet slippers aaaaaaaa

What the floor looks like after rehoming three Ts:



Another shot of the now-empty cells they had been kept in:



Final results:



The lighting in my room is horrible, and I had to throw a bunch of books on the floor so it's a giant mess, but they look fantastic. James-or-Oliver and James-or-Oliver are stacked, as you can see. The one on top is on his hide because why not; the other two are hanging out on the substrate.



And that is how I saved three lives today.

 

[problemchildx]

Thank you for the wonderful collage. While you may get flamed by a couple people here for supporting petsmart in continuing to buy these spiders and they will still house them like that. My petsmart always has exactly this amount and species of tarantulas. 2 roseas and 1 avic. Must be a corporatw thing.

I have rescued Ts before so I know how you felt seeing them this way but nowadays I just have to turn away. These guys now have a great home because of you.

I am also quite impressed by your Stephen King collection

 

[cold blood]

Good save, but I've seen significantly worse conditions. Glad they're healthy.

Don't know what exactly you "heard" about roseas, but they are one of the more reluctant hair flickers out there.

I'd move that avics enclosure to a more open place. Its not going to get the proper airflow positioned tightly...only the front vents are really clear and open. Cross ventilation is supremely important with avics.

Enjoy the new t's.

 

[Poec54]

I'd move that avics enclosure to a more open place. Its not going to get the proper airflow positioned tightly...only the front vents are really clear and open. Cross ventilation is supremely important with avics.

+1. The Avic cag has got be moved so there's airflow.

Great save, BTW!

 

[Spaceblues]

I'm a noob so it may not be a big deal, but I'd watch that A/C window unit as well so that it doesn't create too much of a cold draft.

Congrats on the new T's!


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[Poec54]

I'm a noob so it may not be a big deal, but I'd watch that A/C window unit as well so that it doesn't create too much of a cold draft.

Good point. I just noticed that too. Something may have to change for summer.

 

[Spaceblues]

Good point. I just noticed that too. Something may have to change for summer.

Even in winter the one we had in our first apartment would let cold air blow in, but that was ages ago. They may be more well built these days.


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[cold blood]

I'm a noob so it may not be a big deal, but I'd watch that A/C window unit as well so that it doesn't create too much of a cold draft.

Congrats on the new T's!


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op is in Boston...that ac unit won't be turned on for at least 5 months I'd bet.

 

[telepatella]

I don't see any Frank Herbert...

 

[DVMT]

Petco and Petsmart both are on my naughty list to put it lightly. While I do appreciate rescuing T's from the horrid conditions in which they are kept in these establishments (thank you for that), it only fuels them to buy more and replace the ones that were rescued with brand new victims of the blistering ignorance that is corporate retail. I went in right after xmas to a local Petco and found a G. rosea clinging to the top metal screen mesh trying to avoid the overly dampened substrate with every ounce of strength it could muster. To my horror, it fell right before my eyes, over 12" and landed on a decorative rock. Angry? Yes. About to lose my cool? Absolutely. Just wait, it gets better........then to my wandering eyes I see what is labeled as a T. stirmi....but who could tell? Know why you couldn't tell? The dimwitted employee had actually just got done misting all of the T's and had misted this poor stirmi directly so badly that it was covered in water droplets. My phone was at home, so I couldn't get a pic, unfortunately. I rushed to find an employee and asked them what is going on with the care of these tarantulas. I was met with a look like "...oh, not this again...." (Well, what do they expect?). I explained that rose hairs don't need misting....ever, and a tarantula.....no matter what species, is never to be misted directly. These two guys explained to me that the care sheets they are provided says to mist daily and that is what they have to do. They apologized for the direct misting of the stirmi(?) and said that was not the policy. I have contacted corporate about changing the care sheets and they couldn't appear to care any less.........so, my point is......please, please, please.....do not purchase a single thing, even dog food, from these 2 places. I know the heart is in the right place (again I commend you on your rescue OP), but we simply can't condone or support this kind of treatment any longer.

Damon

 

[jigalojey]

Not buying tarantulas isn't going to stop them from stocking it.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

There are cynics who would suggest that you rescued three, but three more will replace them, but I think you did good. Because, since shops use unique animals to generate foot traffic in order to help increase sales, they would probably replace the three anyway when those three succumbed to the conditions.

And way off topic, but whenever I see a fellow Stephen King collector, I have to show off. Most of my collection is in another room, these rate top-shelf display status and are kept separate. I was only able to snag Dark Tower 3 through 7 in signed limited first editions, and there is also a signed limited first edition of "Desperation" there. Plus a full set of the comic-book adaption of "The Stand" and a signed Fantasy and Science Fiction magazine" in which the first excerpt from "Dark Tower III: The Wasteland" appeared.

 

[DVMT]

Not buying tarantulas isn't going to stop them from stocking it.

Maybe....maybe not. But the ONLY way it can be stopped is to not buy them. If you eventually remove the demand, then the supply becomes an overabundant burden. I'm not saying it will happen overnight. It will take the efforts of many and much time. Regardless, these places have no business selling animals they can't properly take care of. I don't know how it is in Australia with these types of places, but here retail places have inventory turn calculations and when inventory does not turn.....guess what? They pull the items from inventory and no longer carry them......usually attempting to replace this item (and they view it as an item.....don't kid yourself) with something that WILL sell.


And Tim, I said she did a good thing.....twice. I am not negating that fact nor am I a cynic. I'm looking at the big picture. I mean, hey, if you guys wanna run right out and support these places then by all means help yourselves. I won't be and I will encourage others to do the same. I have rescued a few myself just to go back and see the new ones in the same dire situation.

 

[Sydney A]

I used to work at petsmart and we had a binder. You can yell at the workers all you want but everything has to be done by that binder. Down to the angle of dishes. If you want results, save the lives and write corporate. Continue to write them and hope for results. It's not the workers fault other then choosing to work there. That's why I quit. You made a difference in the lives of three creatures. Good for you. The only way to make a difference is to call corporate. Good luck.

 

[Spaceblues]

I was only able to snag Dark Tower 3 through 7 in signed limited first editions

Sooooo jealous! I love that series so much.


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[DVMT]

I used to work at petsmart and we had a binder. You can yell at the workers all you want but everything has to be done by that binder. Down to the angle of dishes. If you want results, save the lives and write corporate. Continue to write them and hope for results. It's not the workers fault other then choosing to work there. That's why I quit. You made a difference in the lives of three creatures. Good for you. The only way to make a difference is to call corporate. Good luck.

This is why I didn't get too upset with the employees...I understand the error is at corporate level. I called and e-mailed corporate.....even volunteered to create a proper care sheet for them and I was basically ignored through one venture (e-mail) and pushed off by the other (phone call). I always commend the ones who rescue because the heart is in the right place, but I want people to understand the long term effects of supporting this kind of care by corporate retailers.

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

And Tim, I said she did a good thing.....twice. I am not negating that fact nor am I a cynic. I'm looking at the big picture. I mean, hey, if you guys wanna run right out and support these places then by all means help yourselves. I won't be and I will encourage others to do the same. I have rescued a few myself just to go back and see the new ones in the same dire situation.

Heh. I was composing my post as you were putting yours up, apparently. Your comment wasn't up when I entered the thread. When I finished, and had submitted, I saw your post and thought "Doh! he's going to think I was pointing at him specifically!" I was speaking in the generic sense, not in reaction to anybody's comments currently in the thread.

 

[DVMT]

Heh. I was composing my post as you were putting yours up, apparently. Your comment wasn't up when I entered the thread. When I finished, and had submitted, I saw your post and thought "Doh! he's going to think I was pointing at him specifically!" I was speaking in the generic sense, not in reaction to anybody's comments currently in the thread.

That's cool man. It happens! I made an assumption there myself with my retort. I also assumed I might be met with some opinions that differ from my own, which is fine. I think I know what you are referring to with some of these previous threads being handled not so nicely. I try my best to be a nice person here and in person. These pet store chains strike a chord with me and I often get upset quickly about it. I've seen you around and know you are pretty cool, so no worries man!