re. collecting from the wild: not sure if this belongs in the forum

[Hairyspider]

When you go collecting in local areas, do you do it to get a fresh pair for breeding, if so do you let then go afterwards, and is this possible, to be able to set them free after thier work is done?

I don't want to be preachy or anything, but I can't see collecting wild stock just for adding to a collection. I know at one point all T's were wild caught and all, I guess its the preserving nature or the Animal control worker side of me talking, just would like to know what people think..

I don't want to offend anyone. but just would like to know

Thank You

William

 

[deifiler]

Yeah I understand what you mean... If I had wild tarantulas in my garden I doubt that I'd collect them inside. I'd still have other species, but not ones I can see in the wild.

It's like having a huge aviary and collecting birds, but having some starlings, robins and the occasional seagull in their for good measures.

Plus the whoel concern of 'wild caught specimens'...

To each his own I guess

 

[FelixA9]

Originally posted by Hairyspider
When you go collecting in local areas, do you do it to get a fresh pair for breeding, if so do you let then go afterwards, and is this possible, to be able to set them free after thier work is done?

I don't want to be preachy or anything, but I can't see collecting wild stock just for adding to a collection. I know at one point all T's were wild caught and all, I guess its the preserving nature or the Animal control worker side of me talking, just would like to know what people think..

I don't want to offend anyone. but just would like to know

Thank You

William

I think it depends on the situation. For instance I posted a photo of a locally caught specimen that I have and it came from a friend of my brother. Most people don't know Ts live around here (wasatch front UT) and to make a long story short I could have kept it or take it up to the foot hills and let it go. I've always *thought* I wanted a T and I figured this was the perfect way to find out. If I decided I didn't like it I could let it go and it would be fine. Most popular Ts would probably die if I let them go around here or at least would probably be miserable.

 

[Steve Nunn]

Re: Re: re. collecting from the wild: not sure if this belongs in the forum

Well, this is a double edged sword for sure. Every T kept came from wild caught spiders, many in the hobby are still wild caught, just not in your own backyard (and I hope you don't see it differently because it's so close to home). This is an issue on many, many levels and something I take great interest in. Have a read of this http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/stories/s667225.htm . This gives you a little insight as to what's happening re: wild collection here in Oz. The same problems apply worldwide.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Wade]

I'm not sure I understand the question. Are you talking about wild collected tarantulas in general, or specifically hobbyists collecting their own? If the argument is that we shouldn't collect native tarantulas but it's OK to buy exotic ones, it makes no sense whatsoever. If anything, the hobbyist collecting for him/herself will have very little, if any, impact on wild populations, because that person will only collect a few. The argument could be made that buying tarantulas from a dealer is much worse, as it provides an incentive to commercial collectors to overdo it and exploit the resources and wipe out entire populations.

I personally wouldn't make either argument, however. In most cases, habitat destruction is the primary threat to any given species. The exception would be isolated poplations, especially on islands, mountaintops etc.

On the east coast, we have no native T's, but I have collected many T's in New Mexico and Arizona. 9 out of 10 times I find tarantula burrows, they are less than 20 feet from a road. I have found them adjacent to shopping center parking lots, along drainage ditches, and once in a median strip of the entrance to a housing development. I find it hard to believe that the populations aren't thriving in the less accessible areas if they're abundant even in disturbed areas.

Wade

 

[MizM]

O.K. so what should I do with all of the male a. eutylenum that my friend at work keeps bringing me? They end up in her bedroom and kitchen when they are out wandering for a mate, and she brings them to me. I now have four and they should be out reproducing. She refuses to let them go anywhere near where she lives.

So... do I circulate them in the hobby to give fresh bloodlines, or release them back into the wild?:?

 

[Steve Nunn]

I'd check for adult females in the hobby first. I'd imagine you certainly don't need four males, I'd release them near where they came from.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[MizM]

Thanks!! Advice takin!!

But, what about the poor little guy with only 1 palp? Do you think he will be as "virlie" as his peers and produce many little ones? Or should I keep him and breed him with my captive girl?

 

[Hairyspider]

MizM

In your perdicament, with your friend If it were me and we live in the same "environment" I would let them go near me. And the one which is "deformed" would probably not make it to mate, so I can justify keeping that one to help out for breeding, or let it live its short life in capitivity.

I just want to thank everyone who has posted for their open and honest replies.

Thanks Again

William

 

[Steve Nunn]

Release him and keep the biggest male in the bunch. His chances in the wild of survivng a breeding a far better then in captivity. Males in the wild don't usually get eaten, this is a captive trait only.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[MrT]

I collect T's from all over my state.
I see nothing wrong with it. I never over collect, I always repair any damage done to the site. And I never make the collection site public knowledge.
I'm currently searching a site thats going to be a housing project of about 2000 homes. It will cover about 5 sq miles of desert. 100's of T's will be killed. Including, burrowing owls, rabbits, and desert critters of all types.
Why not try to save a few of them. I bet there's 20 or more different Aphnopelma sp. in Az.. I live in the fastest growing county in the US ( Maricopa ). If someone doesn't collect some of these T's, they may never be discovered, wouldn't that be sad?

Ernie

BTW, I don't sell any of them.. I've gifted a few.