Old world for 7 year old

siege617

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 10, 2024
Messages
0
Yea, don’t rail at me. But my 7 year old granddaughter loves the T’s. There are 30 in my home but four of them are hers. They are all the docile ones, versacolour, flame leg, pink bloom, jumping spider. She does the feeding and watering with me over her shoulder. She never puts her hands in the tanks. She knows about urticating hairs and significant venom, defensive, bolty, threat pose etc. she has announced today she wants her first old world. I’m ok with this because they live in my house (her mother is not keen on them). She never messes with them in a manner she shouldn’t.
but what’s a good first old world? She loves color!
 

Ultum4Spiderz

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
6,014
I don’t think it’s a good idea p irminia is a better choice . Even that might be a bit risky . I wouldn’t call your granddaughters
Ts docile they can switch personalities after any molt . No reason to try harder species yet.
 

siege617

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 10, 2024
Messages
0
We have one. Her name is Mad Sweeney and Penelope loves her. Maybe I didn’t do a great job explaining (I’m infamous for that). We Never EVER handle our spiders. She Never EVER puts her hands in the tanks. She Never EVER is left alone to feed or whatnot. For her safety and the spiders. When I say it’s her spider it’s like… it’s his hamster but mom does all the work 😂 as she gets older she will take on more responsibility but for now a few basics is all I allow.
 

Ultum4Spiderz

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
6,014
We have one. Her name is Mad Sweeney and Penelope loves her. Maybe I didn’t do a great job explaining (I’m infamous for that). We Never EVER handle our spiders. She Never EVER puts her hands in the tanks. She Never EVER is left alone to feed or whatnot. For her safety and the spiders. When I say it’s her spider it’s like… it’s his hamster but mom does all the work 😂 as she gets older she will take on more responsibility but for now a few basics is all I allow.
slower species are my favorites, I don’t have a dedicated t room .
Search the ladder system Psalmopoeus before ow 🤕.. for a reason . I got my first ow at 16 or so .watch videos these and ow can bolt or teleport they run that fast .
 

FatBadBay

Arachnosquire
Joined
Aug 3, 2023
Messages
80
So essentially it's an OW for you that you're just gonna say it's hers? If that's the case I would recommend h. Pulchripes. They're beautiful little guys, good eaters and mine hasn't been too defensive, yet.
Like all OWs, they do demand respect and I would not recommend letting her do any maintenance in the enclosure.
 

Hardus nameous

Yes, but only on Tuesdays!
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Feb 24, 2018
Messages
291
Pelinobius muticus.
Just put the sling in a 60# ten gallon tank of topsoil and let it go to town.
 

Brewser

AraneaeRebel
Arachnosupporter
Joined
Nov 28, 2023
Messages
931
Definitely too young to care for O W or N W Ts or any other animal for that matter, on Her own.
That being stated, an interested Child being taught to Respect and Understand the Real Potentia Danger to both Keeper and Kept Specimen, involved in the Care of Animals and being Supervised 100 %
A HANDS OFF educational approach to teach the inquisitive young NO HANDLING whatsoever.
Parental Concern not taken lightly.
 
Last edited:

goonius

Arachnoknight
Joined
Aug 6, 2020
Messages
199
As a mom, I can say that with 7 year olds mistakes happen, no matter how mindful they are trying to be. They are kids; mistakes are literally how they learn. That is, mistakes that don't leave them with side effects potentially for years. That's a steep cost for a kid who can't conceptualize of this risk. You, as the adult, however can. It seems like an unnecessary risk with no discernible benefit. What I'm struggling with is why an OW? Especially in a scenario where you don't even know what species you would want. Is it just for the edginess of the venom risk factor? Because that's not actually a good reason.
 

Ultum4Spiderz

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
6,014
As a mom, I can say that with 7 year olds mistakes happen, no matter how mindful they are trying to be. They are kids; mistakes are literally how they learn. That is, mistakes that don't leave them with side effects potentially for years. That's a steep cost for a kid who can't conceptualize of this risk. You, as the adult, however can. It seems like an unnecessary risk with no discernible benefit. What I'm struggling with is why an OW? Especially in a scenario where you don't even know what species you would want. Is it just for the edginess of the venom risk factor? Because that's not actually a good reason.
your right venom risk factor?
Isn’t worth the risk.🫠
Roaches would be a more entertaining pet for a kid … hissers or a slow new world tarantula . Get another avic or c
versacolour. Those are my favorites beside pokies , psalmous.
 

siege617

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 10, 2024
Messages
0
Mmm… again, not explaining well enough. Fatbadboy hit the nail on the head. She won’t be responsible for it, I will be. I already have roughly 10 OW. She is extremely interested and loves learning about them. Why does she want an OW? She is fascinated by them. She doesn’t live with me. When she is over, She is literally never left alone with them as they are in my living room. She does not want to handle them. When they molt, she points it out to me and I get the molt out. When we feed, she picks out the food item, and I put it in. We have a Dubia colony. She does hands on feed the Dubia but not the crickets because they crawl on her hands and she doesn’t like it. Please stop assuming I’m some flighty irresponsible person that’s going to hand a 7 yr old a OW (or any spider) in a critter keeper and say ‘there ya go! Have fun!’. This is an extremely intelligent knowledgeable girl who respects the natural world in all its flavors. I was simply looking for a suggestion on a colorful OW to add to our collection. I do appreciate the concern and realize it is coming from a good place. But questions go further than chastising me.
 

Mustafa67

Arachnoknight
Active Member
Joined
Jun 29, 2021
Messages
229
Yea, don’t rail at me. But my 7 year old granddaughter loves the T’s. There are 30 in my home but four of them are hers. They are all the docile ones, versacolour, flame leg, pink bloom, jumping spider. She does the feeding and watering with me over her shoulder. She never puts her hands in the tanks. She knows about urticating hairs and significant venom, defensive, bolty, threat pose etc. she has announced today she wants her first old world. I’m ok with this because they live in my house (her mother is not keen on them). She never messes with them in a manner she shouldn’t.
but what’s a good first old world? She loves color!
No
 

siege617

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 10, 2024
Messages
0
So essentially it's an OW for you that you're just gonna say it's hers? If that's the case I would recommend h. Pulchripes. They're beautiful little guys, good eaters and mine hasn't been too defensive, yet.

exactly what you said. And I have a pulchripes😂 I have 30 total, picking up 3 more this weekend. so it’s why I was looking for suggestions, to try and find something we don’t have yet. She wants a Gooty but my local shop doesn’t have any at the moment. I might have to order one. I appreciate that you understood what I was saying!
 

goonius

Arachnoknight
Joined
Aug 6, 2020
Messages
199
Mmm… again, not explaining well enough. Fatbadboy hit the nail on the head. She won’t be responsible for it, I will be. I already have roughly 10 OW. She is extremely interested and loves learning about them. Why does she want an OW? She is fascinated by them. She doesn’t live with me. When she is over, She is literally never left alone with them as they are in my living room. She does not want to handle them. When they molt, she points it out to me and I get the molt out. When we feed, she picks out the food item, and I put it in. We have a Dubia colony. She does hands on feed the Dubia but not the crickets because they crawl on her hands and she doesn’t like it. Please stop assuming I’m some flighty irresponsible person that’s going to hand a 7 yr old a OW (or any spider) in a critter keeper and say ‘there ya go! Have fun!’. This is an extremely intelligent knowledgeable girl who respects the natural world in all its flavors. I was simply looking for a suggestion on a colorful OW to add to our collection. I do appreciate the concern and realize it is coming from a good place. But questions go further than chastising me.
I think next time not having the title "Old World for 7 year old" would probably clear up a lot of the confusion. For what its worth, my daughter is the one who introduced me to the hobby, so I don't doubt a 7 year old can be intelligent and respectful. I think it's wonderful to foster a love for all creatures. I would not personally take the risk with strong venom and a child, even with great care, just because -- again, I don't think even the brightest kid can conceptualize of years worth of side effects, and mistakes happen. Even for adults. But I suppose that is a personal decision. I'm still not clear on why an OW over a NW, or something that carries no risk, but is an interesting add to a collection -- like Giganteus masticoproctus.
 

Tbone192

Arachnobaron
Active Member
Joined
May 28, 2020
Messages
442
I got OWTs early, in terms of collection progression. I actually started with a Chilobrachys species as well as an OBT, the rest were NW. The only reason I decided to go for OWs is because I have dealt with plenty of crazy creatures in my life, living in SE Asia and I only started keeping when I was 21. I think it is a good idea to educate your granddaughter first, but being responsible for and observing a spider are very different things. I respect all the thought and care you have already put into this. My biggest problem is, what happens if the T escapes or bites someone, under your grandkids care? Keeping in mind that this can happen for any number of reasons and to experienced keepers.

If you are caring for the spider, get a Pokie, Pternochilus, Ceratogyrus, or Harpactira. Good colour and generally good attitudes, so long as you set up the enclosures correctly for the exact species.
 
Last edited:

Ultum4Spiderz

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 13, 2011
Messages
6,014

siege617

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 10, 2024
Messages
0
I think it is a good idea to educate your granddaughter first, but being responsible for and observing a spider are very different things.

I agree, and that is the case. She is not responsible for them.


I respect all the thought and care you have already put into this.

and I appreciate both your comment and understanding.


My biggest problem is, what happens if the T escapes or bites someone, under your grandkids care?

they are not under her care. They are under mine. She doesn’t live with me. She visits me. I have all 30 of the critters at my house, not hers. This was my lifestyle that she has over the last 4 years become very interested in. I’m not going to shut her down from this intetest, but I’m not giving her free reign either. She has picked out a Gooty, and I think it is what we are going with. I also really appreciate you not being an asshole to me 😉
No I don't because you know how it was mean't.
I think it’s a great analogy, answered in an equally great way.

Definitely too young to care for O W or N W Ts or any other animal for that matter, on Her own.
That being stated, an interested Child being taught to Respect and Understand the Real Potentia Danger to both Keeper and Kept Specimen, involved in the Care of Animals and being Supervised 100 %
A HANDS OFF educational approach to teach the inquisitive young NO HANDLING whatsoever.
Parental Concern not taken lightly.
oh hell. *I* don’t handle my critters.
 
Top