Reason you got into spiders POLL

[Binky/Carol]

I was rehoming a few fish that got too big for my tank. I had store credit and right at check out they had T's and some other inverts..
I handled a few and like one, due to its calmness. I had it for about 2.5 years.. then decided to get another one, I had them in separate tanks, but it seemed one was having "terrritory" issues.
I found the ATS website and with in a week, realized I had a mature male, he had never molted in my care so I had no idea how old he truly was.
Within that week that I found out he was a male, he tried to molt again.. to impress the female rose hair I got... and didn't make it...
From there it opened the door. This is about a year ago to the month.
I started researching T's, and finding ones for beginners..
I now have Pokies, slings, arboreals, and uncommon types of T's.. and now consider myself an Intermediate keeper.. LOL
Carol

 

[Poolnymph]

Thanks Christin!

My husband always wanted one....and my reply was always "over my dead body"...suffice to say I'm still alive and now I'm the one with all the T's

Well Done Peterspiderling - it is a great achievement and Good on you for educating others.

 

[TLang]

I was a six year old elfin looking child in a pet store in San Diego and my mother and I were looking at reptiles (and possibly inverts). And I said in a piping voice heard across the store "Yes Mommy, but I what I want, what I Really want is a Tarantula". I think it stemmed from seeing them at the Insect Zoo at the National Natural History Museum where they would do a tarantula feeding at a certain time each day. I didn't get a tarantula then, but twenty years later I bought my first 3 Ts from that same pet store.

 

[Sunar]

I've wanted a scorpion since I was a kid and finally broke down and got one...and that was thanks to reading from this site. I then got interested in T's from reading this site...and it's history from there.

~Fred

 

[Elaine]

My first T was left on my doorstep back in April and I got hooked :wall:

I normally rescue parrots but some kind soul must have thought I needed a spider as well. I now have 27

Elaine

 

[Seen1980]

Other.

I have a fascination and creepy somplex when it comes to spiders. For the most part, I'll watch them outside when it comes to inside; they need to be in a tank. Otherwise, I tend to kill them on sight in case its either a type of Brown Recluse or a Hobo. (My sister does a lot of traveling if it resembles a medically significant spider; I'll terminate it). I generally leave Cellar Spiders and Daddy Long Legs alone. Note, Cellar Spiders are commonly miscalled Daddy Long Legs all the time. (I think Cobweb Spiders also get miscalled Daddy Long Legs). A Daddy Long Leg is perhaps the most venomous Spider known, but it's also the most harmless. (Daddy Long Legs do not have a visible butt like most spiders).

 

[Texas Blonde]

I grew up with spiders and scorpions all over the place. Finally one day I just decided I wanted to learn more about them. I kept alot of true spiders before I got into Ts. The Ts I first got were from a new closed pet store in Colorado Springs, Co, then I discovered the internet and went nuts, lol.

 

[Venom]

I'm surprised that "Because I was interested by the creatures" wasn't an option. Most people in this hobby enter because of sheer interest in / appreciation for the animals we keep. Shock factor should NOT be why you get these.

 

[Syngyne]

Because they are fuzzy and have eight little feets.

It's like having two tiny, tiny kittens.

 

[mitchell123]

My first word was spider ....and i always loved insects....

 

[ZooRex]

I've always been known for my exotics. So when the school science fair swang around, I decieded to teach people about spiders; and thus I got Shankar my G.rosea and my first T. ~ Rex

 

[Nitibus]

I started collecting by pure accident. I had a goof as a room mate that dropped off 2 B. vagans I got stuck taking care of. I learned to love these facinating creatures, and have been hooked ever since

 

[matthias]

Other

My beautiful wife wanted one so I gave her one for an anniversary present.

 

[dalejamin]

Last year, I saw a featured article on Wikipedia about Tarantulas. I mentioned it to my girlfriend and started doing research. Luckily, I have a GREAT local petstore that carries a pretty good variety of T's. If you live in Nashville, check out the Aquatic Critter!

Anyway, I mentioned it to my dad, and he remembered that I'd talked about tarantulas years ago when I was a kid. Y'know all those things that kids say they're gonna do when they grow up? I've done several of those things

 

[cacoseraph]

i love animals and having pets but it makes me too sad when thinking and feeling pets die

so i started getting bugs. it still makes me sad when one of my favs dies, but no where near as bad as when a dog or cat dies


plus, damn they are fun.

 

[ChainsawMonkey]

Ditto to what Ricky said, plus, I didn't have too much luck with my African Dwarf Frog, so I drained his 2.5 gal and got a young G. rosea (after sanitsing muh tank first). That little girl has since grew much MUCH bigger ad is my dear Rosie. Then I stopped being afraid of spiders(but still have a terrible phobia of bees and wasps of all kinds) and soon thereafter, I got my P. imperator Roxy. I'm getting a new A. seemani sometime next month. I don't so much think of them as pets or objects of observation, but more as friends who just happen to be mildly venomous.

 

[Sharpy808]

Was into herps for about 14 years, had about 35 towards the end. Got real busy with my business and got tierd of cleaning cages in my only free time. Sold off everything... took a break for about 2 years, then started with a P.Irminia and the collection keeps on growing now

No smell....
Very little maintenance required....
Much lower electric bill then running like 25 ceramic heaters....
And there just down right cool critters

 

[jeff1962]

I was always intereted in T's but never got one till I seen a free Rosea on craigs list. After that I found this forum and started looking at all the different T's available, then I was hooked. Have 7 now and just ordered a B. Vagans female this morning !

 

[mwh9]

At this point in my life, I wanted something that was low maintenance. That makes the selection snakes or spiders. I've had snakes, so spiders it is.

 

[mekkababble]

Growing up I hated spider webs with the passion of a thousand burning suns, but never really minded spiders. The little ones build big webs, and I like that some of the big spiders barely build webs at all. On top of that... they're fuzzy.

At some point in my life, and in one of my weaker moments, I decided that when I moved away from home I'd get a tarantula, some fish, and a cat. Eight or so years after telling myself that and three bettas later, I wanted to diversify my menagerie so I did the research and through a good deal of luck (after having a very, very old Rosie) got a lovely, speedy N. Chromatus sling.

I don't even mind the slew of questions that comes after people learn of its exsistence.