If you could change anything about the hobby...

[Johjie]

What would you change in the hobby? Are there aspects of the hobby that you do not participate in? What would you get rid of? What would you like to see more of?

One thing I wish would change is gatekeeping.

 

[nicodimus22]

The elimination of common names. They are pointless, useless, and can actually be harmful. When people don't know exactly what animal they have, they may provide incorrect husbandry and/or create hybrids.

 

[Johjie]

The elimination of common names. They are pointless, useless, and can actually be harmful. When people don't know exactly what animal they have, they may provide incorrect husbandry and/or create hybrids.

Agreed. I didn't understand the harm in common names until I started realizing just how many different tarantulas there are in the world. Very difficult to navigate the hobby at times.

 

[FrDoc]

Names for spiders. Yep, I said it. But alas, just as common names, they're not going anywhere...(deep sigh).

 

[Mini8leggedfreak]

High prices just bc people are greedy.
I understand supply and demand but it’s just awful to have to wait for a beautiful spider bc it’s like 300$ per sling.

 

[Paul1126]

People that complain about people that like to name their spiders. Literally not harming anyone.
Also getting rid of common names would be a +.
However people not into tarantulas aren't going to use scientific names.

 

[nicodimus22]

People that complain about people that like to name their spiders. Literally not harming anyone.
Also getting rid of common names would be a +.
However people not into tarantulas aren't going to use scientific names.

They totally WOULD, if pet stores only used those names.

Instead we get "Ecudaorian Giant Stripe-Legged Blonde Birdeater"

 

[Hoxter]

The elimination of common names. They are pointless, useless, and can actually be harmful. When people don't know exactly what animal they have, they may provide incorrect husbandry and/or create hybrids.

I was thinking about lowering the prices, however this is a result of the availability and other stuff which is more complex. Living in China these few years has given me another perspective on naming. People really seem to dislike using any other language than their own and every common name they translate into Chinese and use them as official name of the tarantula which is very confusing. For some rare tarantulas they would suddenly use latin names and sometimes you don't even know how to look for specific Ts on the market. (not to mention trying to find some husbandry information etc).

While looking for some Ts it's difficult to say if you're supposed to find Chinese name of it, latin name or maybe some abbreviation..

Oh, have I mentioned that they often shorten those translated names so in the end you can consider yourself lucky if you find what you need.

 

[PanzoN88]

Only thing I would do is eliminate common names. Seriously, it is so hard trying to remember and use common names when talking to non hobbyists.

 

[jrh3]

What would you change in the hobby? Are there aspects of the hobby that you do not participate in? What would you get rid of? What would you like to see more of?

One thing I wish would change is gatekeeping.

I would like to see more breeders in the US, i think this has alot of influence on pricing in the US vs. European countries because we are importing alot more.

 

[Ungoliant]

One thing I wish would change is gatekeeping.

What do you mean by "gatekeeping"?

 

[Paul1126]

They totally WOULD, if pet stores only used those names.

Instead we get "Ecudaorian Giant Stripe-Legged Blonde Birdeater"

There is no way you can expect Joe Bloggs to use scientific names.
He would just say "Hey mom look at that tarantula!"

 

[nicodimus22]

There is no way you can expect Joe Bloggs to use scientific names.
He would just say "Hey mom look at that tarantula!"

I sometimes forget how dumb and lazy the average person is...and that half of them are dumber and lazier than that.

 

[Paul1126]

I sometimes forget how dumb and lazy the average person is...and that half of them are dumber and lazier than that.

Well then you are also calling me dumb and lazy because I have no clue of all scientific names of tarantulas.
And expecting people who don't care enough to use scientific names is very unreasonable.

 

[nicodimus22]

Well then you are also calling me dumb and lazy because I have no clue of all scientific names of tarantulas.

I don't know all scientific names of tarantulas either, but the ones in my care? 100% of them, forwards and backwards, in my sleep. I research a lot before buying any animal.

expecting people who don't care enough to use scientific names is very unreasonable.

I also feel that using turn signals and not driving 5 feet behind another car at 65 mph is reasonable, but it's clear through their actions that many people find those things to be very unreasonable. We're back to there being lots of dumb and lazy people out there.

 

[Paul1126]

I don't know all scientific names of tarantulas either, but the ones in my care? 100% of them, forwards and backwards, in my sleep. I research a lot before buying any animal.

Good for you.

I also feel that using turn signals and not driving 5 feet behind another car at 65 mph is reasonable, but it's clear that many people out there disagree. We're back to lots of dumb and lazy people out there.

I can just imagine it now, a lovely young blonde woman walking up to you with a big smile on her face, asking if you have a Mexican Red Knee. Only for you to give her a look of pure disgust, because she didn't use the scientific name (Brachypelma hamorii)
Instead of just smiling back and saying that you do and asking if she would like to see a picture.

 

[Vanisher]

I would change things so newbees makes lots of research before gettin a tarantula. I dont know why honestly? People here has said that many are lazy snd get a tarantula and then ask on forum and AB. Well maybe, but i can just go to myself. If i want to get into something that is new for me i dive into information in this area! Not just for to have some knollage about the thing i have a new intrest in, but also that i dont want to be in a situation where i have no clue and have to ask lots of questions, not that it is wrong to ask questions, but i want to ask as few questions as possible!. Before i got into the hobby and bought my first tarantula i read about tarantula keeping for month and made sure i made as few misstakes as possible. And this where 1999, when we had books in the subject and ONE forum on line! Nowdays, one can get all questions answered within an hour! Lots of the misstakes i read about new keeper makes, can very easy be avoided by take some time and do 30 minutes of research! Tarantulas escaping by using to large ventilation holes or not leaving it alone while moulting can easily result in death for tarantula or a bite in a child by a loose tarantula! Now, i dont want to sound like a smartass or something, but.
That is what i want to change. That new keepers do proper research!

 

[Johjie]

What do you mean by "gatekeeping"?

I may have the wrong impression but it seems like there are people in the hobby who want to keep others out of certain parts or all of it together. There can be valid reasons for why this occurs however, I don't always trust that people trying to exclude others do it only for valid reasons.

Examples included but not limited to: discouraging keepers from getting into breeding/selling, discouraging keepers from certain species, discouraging growth/popularity of the hobby, discouraging content creators etc. (I really don't know a compromise to that last one.) There's just no fix for YouTube tag/react/vlog videos. But the discouragement bums me out all the same.

 

[Paul1126]

I would change things so newbees makes lots of research before gettin a tarantula. I dont know why honestly? People here has said that many are lazy snd get a tarantula and then ask on forum and AB.

I agree to a degree, I was mislead and asked for help on my enclosure on here. There is a ton of misleading info.

 

[nicodimus22]

I can just imagine it now, a lovely young blonde woman walking up to you with a big smile on her face, asking if you have a Mexican Red Knee. Only for you to give her a look of pure disgust, because she didn't use the scientific name (Brachypelma hamorii)
Instead of just smiling back and saying that you do and asking if she would like to see a picture.

I wouldn't know what tarantula she's referring to, honestly. The only common name I know at all is GBB, and that's only because Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is such a mouthful.

I'm not sure what the lovely young blondeness has to do with anything. I wouldn't know regardless of who asked me.