Newbie questions- Aphonopelma Anax as a therapy spider

[darkness975]

I'm going to offer my strange preferences. I keep my tarantulas in slightly larger then necessary enclosures. It gives them more time between rehouses and minimizes stress on both the tarantula and me

Not strange in my opinion. I do the same thing.

 

[darkness975]

I'll keep researching breeds too

Tarantulas go by species, not "breeds"

 

[viper69]

I understand that this breed is quite docile

First off, your T is not a breed. They are not dogs or cats (same species-but different breeds). Your T is a unique species, just like humans are. Each T is its own species, NOT a breed.

-Is he a sling or a juvenile?

Subjective terminology created by owners- not based in science- Hobby wise, s/he is a sling to MOST people, but not all.

He's small and is in a 5 gallon tank with a metal screen top

Too big, put him in a 16 oz deli cup, with some cork slabs and substrate. Never use screen tops for the reasons you observed.

There's a heat pad on the bottom

Not necessary, and will ultimately cook your T.

My original plan was to keep him in the office and then bring him home on weekends.

Not advised, esp during winter. They really don't like being shuffled around any more than humans do. Would you like not only being shuffled around like books, but also having a different home every few days?? Most human animals don't like that, nor other animals as well.

What about providing exposure experiences to the spider with my clients? I don't want them to handle him, at least not until I get to know him better, because I don't want him to be injured or lose him.

Handling is exactly how Ts get injured or die. I don't even trust curious well meaning people, I'd never trust a phobic person to be even be near my animals, let alone hold one! Treat them like fish IN a fish tank.

 

[viper69]

adult Brachypelma Albopilosum

This species, almost every species in the New World, has urticating setae. Brachy's are a 50/50 crapshoot whether it will be docile enough and not flick setae at you, even when you are doing husbandry and the T is in its home. I have a lovely adult female of this species you mentioned and she's a flicker, not to be handled.

The only T that is not a flicker of urticating setae is the species that doesn't have them to be quite honest, and they are not for your purposes.

The only species that really doesn't do this and is very human tolerant is Euathlus species Red or E. sp. Yellow. They are not scientifically described yet.
The second species is G. pulchripes similar in that respect.

Just like some people are total morons and not cooperative, so are individual Ts.

That's it.

 

[Venom1080]

Okay people- here's my plan now that I have read up about so much and received great advice AFTER purchasing a spider (yikes). So I'm going to get a smaller enclosure for the sling. I will return all the crap to petco because I'd need to replace the lid, etc. I'm going to get a larger enclosure from Jamie's and also purchase an adult from Jamie's. I'm looking at an adult Brachypelma Albopilosum. I really like the red knee, but sounds like they are super fast so I'm nervous about that. The curly hair ones sound really docile and fuzzy. I'd like to order him/ her online and go from there. They'll both live in my office. Perfect for exposure- I'll have a small one and a big one.

the "red knee" better known as Brachypelma smithi, is one of the best beginner spiders out there. all Ts have the potential for bursts of speed, the smithi is no faster than a B albo. some specimens are flighty, some are super tolerant, (not docile) and some are plain defensive. all depends on the specimen.

 

[Garth Vader]

the "red knee" better known as Brachypelma smithi, is one of the best beginner spiders out there. all Ts have the potential for bursts of speed, the smithi is no faster than a B albo. some specimens are flighty, some are super tolerant, (not docile) and some are plain defensive. all depends on the specimen.

That's good to know. I think the "red knee" is really a striking looking spider so I'm glad to know it's a good beginner spider.

 

[Garth Vader]

This species, almost every species in the New World, has urticating setae. Brachy's are a 50/50 crapshoot whether it will be docile enough and not flick setae at you, even when you are doing husbandry and the T is in its home. I have a lovely adult female of this species you mentioned and she's a flicker, not to be handled.

The only T that is not a flicker of urticating setae is the species that doesn't have them to be quite honest, and they are not for your purposes.

The only species that really doesn't do this and is very human tolerant is Euathlus species Red or E. sp. Yellow. They are not scientifically described yet.
The second species is G. pulchripes similar in that respect.

Just like some people are total morons and not cooperative, so are individual Ts.

That's it.

this really made me laugh.

 

[Garth Vader]

First off, your T is not a breed. They are not dogs or cats (same species-but different breeds). Your T is a unique species, just like humans are. Each T is its own species, NOT a breed.



Subjective terminology created by owners- not based in science- Hobby wise, s/he is a sling to MOST people, but not all.



Too big, put him in a 16 oz deli cup, with some cork slabs and substrate. Never use screen tops for the reasons you observed.



Not necessary, and will ultimately cook your T.



Not advised, esp during winter. They really don't like being shuffled around any more than humans do. Would you like not only being shuffled around like books, but also having a different home every few days?? Most human animals don't like that, nor other animals as well.



Handling is exactly how Ts get injured or die. I don't even trust curious well meaning people, I'd never trust a phobic person to be even be near my animals, let alone hold one! Treat them like fish IN a fish tank.

FABULOUS information. Thank you. I got it- species not breed. Probably so obvious I'm a dog/ cat person! I'm actually quite glad to know that handling Ts is not recommended. I don't want to do that and I just would feel horrible if I dropped one and killed it, this actually has made me reluctant for quite some time to take on a T of my own.

 

[YagerManJennsen]

If you browse through the "for sale/trade/want to buy" sub-forum you might be able to find a subadult, juvenile or maybe mature beginner species and the price may be a better deal than what you find online.

 

[Andrea82]

FABULOUS information. Thank you. I got it- species not breed. Probably so obvious I'm a dog/ cat person! I'm actually quite glad to know that handling Ts is not recommended. I don't want to do that and I just would feel horrible if I dropped one and killed it, this actually has made me reluctant for quite some time to take on a T of my own.

It could be worth mentioning to your clients, about the why not to handle. I told a friend of mine who doesn't like spiders that i don't handle my tarantula because of their fragile body, and he was like 'really? Those monsters can die from a fall?' He was a little less afraid, realizing tarantula are not spawn of hell monsters but fragile beings.

 

[viper69]

That's good to know. I think the "red knee" is really a striking looking spider so I'm glad to know it's a good beginner spider.

B. smithi is a good T for a beginner, it is not a species you can rely on to not flick. My AF smithi is proof of that.

 

[Hellblazer]

I don't handle my T's anyhow, but one of my A anax attacks tongs when I'm doing maintenance. Individuals of a normally calm species can be super defensive. Just something to keep in mind if you are going to interact with it.

 

[Garth Vader]

Okay everyone. Today I went to storables and bought a small clear plastic box. I drilled a bunch of holes in the top, put down coconut fiber for substrate and gave him a little terracota pot to chill out in. I included a picture, and you can see the T in there too so you can get an idea of the size of the enclosure relative to his size. I measured him today and his legspan is 1.75 inches.

I just moved him and it went way better than trying to get him out of his tarantula hut thing yesterday.

I'm not sure how he'll settle in to the new place but I'm going to give him some time to settle after so many moves. Must be stressful!

 

[viper69]

Okay everyone. Today I went to storables and bought a small clear plastic box. I drilled a bunch of holes in the top, put down coconut fiber for substrate and gave him a little terracota pot to chill out in. I included a picture, and you can see the T in there too so you can get an idea of the size of the enclosure relative to his size. I measured him today and his legspan is 1.75 inches.

I just moved him and it went way better than trying to get him out of his tarantula hut thing yesterday. View attachment 214242

I'm not sure how he'll settle in to the new place but I'm going to give him some time to settle after so many moves. Must be stressful!

Nice box, is it this product you picked up http://www.storables.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?limit=all&q=clear+box

Nice start, needs more sub.. Recommend decreasing the sub surface to lid height, terrestrials should have about a 1.5x DLS (diagonal legspan) to prevent them from failing and suffering injury or death.

To minimize watering, give yourself a deep dish. For example, I use pill container that hold 15 mLs of water. Can get them at the dollar store at times 6 for 99cents.

 

[Garth Vader]

Nice box, what's the name /product number on that, I'd like to look it up on their site. Seems to be a company like The Container Store, tons of products.

Nice start, needs more sub.. Recommend decreasing the sub surface to lid height, terrestrials should have about a 1.5x DLS (diagonal legspan) to prevent them from failing and suffering injury or death.

To minimize watering, give yourself a deep dish. For example, I use pill container that hold 15 mLs of water. Can get them at the dollar store at times 6 for 99cents.

Do you mean a deep dish for water to put in there? Is the advantage of that so I don't have to disturb him too much when I put in more water?
Also, would you advise that I move him to put in more sub? I realize that might be a dumb question, but I am honestly worried about moving him so much since I got him yesterday, and I still need to transport the poor dude to my office on Monday. I really wish I'd known more about what I didn't know about all of this a couple of days ago!

 

[Garth Vader]

The box is from Storables which is a lot like the Container Store- an organizer's dream It is 8x4x4 and they had other sizes too, definitely some for larger Ts! It's called "Clear display box" and was in the section for accessories/ jewelry. They had some other nice clear boxes, but once where you had to jiggle the container a lot to remove the lid, which is not ideal for this purpose.

 

[viper69]

Do you mean a deep dish for water to put in there? Is the advantage of that so I don't have to disturb him too much when I put in more water?
Also, would you advise that I move him to put in more sub? I realize that might be a dumb question, but I am honestly worried about moving him so much since I got him yesterday, and I still need to transport the poor dude to my office on Monday. I really wish I'd known more about what I didn't know about all of this a couple of days ago!

It doesn't need to be a dish, we use the word "dish" loosely hah. It could be anything, like in my case, pill containers. The advantage is only so you have to do less husbandry. You only have one T, so no prob. When you have more, that task consumes the time you actually enjoy w/them IMO.

These are the pill containers I use http://www.pillthing.com/products/stackable-7-day-pill-organizers

I would remove him to put in more sub. Not a dumb question at all.

Just read a lot, and ask questions BEFORE if you get another one =)

 

[Linear]

Yeah I find when I tell my friends tarantulas are fragile and can die from short distances they seem less scared too. xD And more willing to listen, or intrigued maybe is better word. Like I guess they thought they were indestructible.

 

[Garth Vader]

By the way- is there any concern about that the T can get out of this enclosure I put together? It is an attached lid, so I just lift it up and it opens. There is no clasp or anything. I imagined the T wouldn't be nearly strong enough to move it to get out, but I'd hate to be wrong....

 

[BobBarley]

By the way- is there any concern about that the T can get out of this enclosure I put together? It is an attached lid, so I just lift it up and it opens. I imagined the T wouldn't be nearly strong enough to move it to get out, but I'd hate to be wrong....

It should be fine, though if you're worried you could always get some sort of clasp or locking device on it.

Also, might I suggest getting a smaller species of t? I usually find that people are less afraid of smaller t's in general than larger t's. Maybe a Euathlus sp. red/yellow is what you're looking for. Anyhow, good luck with your future patients!