Should I get a giant centipede or a tarantula after I get a few scorpions?

[ScorpionEvo687]

I want scorpions to be the main invert I collect but after getting a few scorpions I might wanna get myself either a centipede or a tarantula. I was leaning more towards centipedes and just foregoing tarantulas altogether, but I live w/ my parents (though I am an adult who's over the age of 18) and they really do not like the idea of me owning a giant centipede (they find them revolting) though they're okay w/ the idea of me owning scorpions or tarantulas (even though my mom and sister are moderately arachnophobic). Also, I realize that many of the Scolopendra genus centipedes can have a nasty temper w/ a bite to match (though so do most Old World T's, which is why I intend to stick w/ New World T's if I get a tarantula). If I got a centipede I'd probably get an S. polymorpha or S. heros and steer clear of the Asian pedes since they seem to have the worst tempers and bites. Probably polymorpha. Seems as though heros still have a pretty bad bite even if it isn't as bad as the Asian pedes. I watched the video where Coyote Peterson got bit by one and it didn't look like much fun. Some say he was probably overreacting to some degree for the cameras but he said it hurt worse than a bullet ant sting. Tarantulas on the other hand I guess would probably be more docile w/ a fairly mild bite (most New World species anyways which is what I'd get) w/ the down side being that, whereas with both scorpions and centipedes being fairly easy to find and cheap as sub adults and adults, most tarantulas seem to be available as slings and some take a LONG time to grow and if you buy a sub adult or adult female it can be pretty pricy + some New World T's can have pretty nasty urticating hairs. If I were to go w/ a tarantula there's lots of options I have in mind though probably either A. geniculata or C. cyaneopubescens. Both very attractive & hardy New World T's that are moderately fast growing compared to many in the Brachypelma & Grammostola genus. So, with all that being said, do you guys think I'd be better off getting a centipede or a tarantula after getting a few scorpions and why? Also, the very last thing I'd like to add is that the reason I am posting this in the Scorpion forums instead of the Tarantula forums or Myriapod forums when it has more to do with centipedes and tarantulas than it does scorpions is 1. I still intend to get a few scorpions before getting either a centipede or a tarantula. 2. If I post this in either the Tarantula forums or Myriapod forums I worry I will get a massive bias in favor of one or the other, whereas w/ the Scorpion forums whom I reckon are populated mainly w/ people who own mostly scorpions I reckon I won't face such a huge bias in favor of one or the other.

 

[darkness975]

Centipedes are better escape artists than almost every other larger sized invertebrate. Important to keep in mind.

 

[ScorpionEvo687]

Centipedes are better escape artists than almost every other larger sized invertebrate. Important to keep in mind.

That's something I'll definitely keep in mind.

Hm, seems tarantula is winning. 3 votes for tarantula so far. No one has voted for the other options yet. I'm now leaning more towards a tarantula. Probably either an A. geniculata or a C. cyaneopubescens. If I were to get a centipede it would probably be either an S. polymorpha or an S. heros.

 

[ForTW]

Centipedes are, if kept correctly, far less likely to escape.
I understand the females living in your house, therefor start with a relaxed T and get the pede ones you got rid of the females.

 

[Gilligan]

Centipedes are, if kept correctly, far less likely to escape.
I understand the females living in your house, therefor start with a relaxed T and get the pede ones you got rid of the females.

They said their parents didn't want the centipede, not both women. "Got rid of the females" sounds rude and sexist.

OP I would suggest getting whatever you are able to in your circumstance. If that is a T right now, and you are able to care for it long term, then sure I would go with a T.

 

[ForTW]

They said their parents didn't want the centipede, not both women. "Got rid of the females" sounds rude and sexist.

"(even though my mom and sister are moderately arachnophobic)."

Nice joke, i like it .
The only thing that i know, based on the Info i have, are their gender. Reasonable to summarize it based on their biological sex.

 

[Gilligan]

"(even though my mom and sister are moderately arachnophobic)."

Nice joke, i like it .
The only thing that i know, based on the Info i have, are their gender. Reasonable to summarize it based on their biological sex.

but I live w/ my parents (though I am an adult who's over the age of 18) and they really do not like the idea of me owning a giant centipede

Centipedes and spiders are not the same thing, two different phobias. And the sister is not the other parent saying no to a centipede. Biology doesn't work that way. Post never said if she was against a centipede. Suming it up based on their gender is not reasonable, it's stereotypical. Why didn't you say ditch the parents, who are against the centipede.

 

[ForTW]

Centipedes and spiders are not the same thing, two different phobias. And the sister is not the other parent saying no to a centipede. Biology doesn't work that way. Post never said if she was against a centipede. Suming it up based on their gender is not reasonable, it's stereotypical. Why didn't you say ditch the parents, who are against the centipede.

Good, then i made a mistake myself! Thank you, for the kind words.

However, i own T's, Centipedes and Scorpions. Maybe, with education and a premade, secure Setup for the centipede, you can Change their mind.

Because i would never fully open the enclosure of my geniculata. That thing attacks grass, if it moves.
When you compare this to an ethmostigmus sp. or alipes sp., that runs in it's hide, when scared off, we really ended up where we didn't want to, by not wanting it.

 

[ScorpionEvo687]

Centipedes and spiders are not the same thing, two different phobias. And the sister is not the other parent saying no to a centipede. Biology doesn't work that way. Post never said if she was against a centipede. Suming it up based on their gender is not reasonable, it's stereotypical. Why didn't you say ditch the parents, who are against the centipede.

My mom and sister are moderately arachnophobic though. That's the truth. They do get a good bit creeped out by spiders, but not to the point they will absolutely panic if they see one. That's why I said moderately and not severely. My dad isn't really afraid. However, everyone in the household absolutely HATES the idea of me owning a centipede. So I guess they're all Chilopodophobic. No reason to go 4th wave rad fem for no real reason trying to start something here. Now is gender sensitivity training class over, and do you actually have anything to add to the conversation?

 

[Isopods others]

Centipedes are not a good idea,living with your parents, what happens if you are away from home for a holiday or such ? Would you be comfortable with your mother or father looking after such a creature and risking a nasty bite, wheras Tarantulas are 'relatively ' safe and even the cagier specimens are docile compared to the pede

 

[ScorpionEvo687]

Centipedes are not a good idea,living with your parents, what happens if you are away from home for a holiday or such ? Would you be comfortable with your mother or father looking after such a creature and risking a nasty bite, wheras Tarantulas are 'relatively ' safe and even the cagier specimens are docile compared to the pede

That's not entirely accurate. Where's your evidence that "T's are 'relatively' safe and even the cagier specimens are docile compared to the pede"? I might not actually own any inverts yet but I know my stuff. A bite from a Pokie or an H. mac could easily be just as bad as the bite from an Asian pede. And specimens of H. maculata, S. calceatum and P. murinus are notoriously bad tempered. Probably just as bad if not worse than a pede. And I'd take an S. polymorpha or S. heros, which sounds like decent (or half way decent anyways) beginner centipedes, over the OW T's I just mentioned any day of the week.

 

[Isopods others]

That's not entirely accurate. Where's your evidence that "T's are 'relatively' safe and even the cagier specimens are docile compared to the pede"? I might not actually own any inverts yet but I know my stuff. A bite from a Pokie or an H. mac could easily be just as bad as the bite from an Asian pede. And specimens of H. maculata, S. calceatum and P. murinus are notoriously bad tempered. Probably just as bad if not worse than a pede. And I'd take an S. polymorpha or S. heros, which sounds like decent (or half way decent anyways) beginner centipedes, over the OW T's I just mentioned any day of the week.

Your right a bite from either would be bad yes,

 

[Royal Rover]

That's not entirely accurate. Where's your evidence that "T's are 'relatively' safe and even the cagier specimens are docile compared to the pede"? I might not actually own any inverts yet but I know my stuff. A bite from a Pokie or an H. mac could easily be just as bad as the bite from an Asian pede. And specimens of H. maculata, S. calceatum and P. murinus are notoriously bad tempered. Probably just as bad if not worse than a pede. And I'd take an S. polymorpha or S. heros, which sounds like decent (or half way decent anyways) beginner centipedes, over the OW T's I just mentioned any day of the week.

No tarantula I've kept comes near to the aggression or sensitivity of a S. dehaani, let alone some South American giants (I know some are calm given their sizes but the others are just as bad-tempered). The tarantula closest to the Vietnamese giant centipede in terms of temperament is the Asian earth tiger, which is more sensitive than an orange baboon (which is more sensitive than a king baboon).
The difference is that when an earth tiger gets agitated, it stands on its ground hissing, occasionally charging a bit; when a giant centipede gets pissed however, it shoots around crawling with great agility. He's right that tarantulas are, generally speaking, easier to control than a giant centipede. Perhaps, this is the major reason why there are less arthropod enthusiasts go for centipedes, far less than tarantulas or scorpions.
P.S. S. heros is not half-decent. I think the giant desert is indeed on my list of the most aggressive predatory arthropods I've owned. Besides, it's true that centipedes vanish in seconds given any space. Tarantulas, in my experience, make less nervousness on this matter.

Your right a bite from either would be bad yes,

I've been bitten by the earth tiger, orange baboon & Vietnamese giant. I can ensure that the centipede is worse in terms of pain. It's an ordeal with serial waves of pain, like putting a hotpot on your arm that cannot be taken away. I think similar symptoms are also reported among the giant desert centipede victims in North America.
It is agreed that Scolependra's venom, despite not normally fatal, is more painful to bare, given their cytotoxic effects. Spiders & scorpions are more on the neurotoxic side, causing numbness.

 

[ScorpionEvo687]

No tarantula I've kept comes near to the aggression or sensitivity of a S. dehaani, let alone some South American giants (I know some are calm given their sizes but the others are just as bad-tempered). The tarantula closest to the Vietnamese giant centipede in terms of temperament is the Asian earth tiger, which is more sensitive than an orange baboon (which is more sensitive than a king baboon).
The difference is that when an earth tiger gets agitated, it stands on its ground hissing, occasionally charging a bit; when a giant centipede gets pissed however, it shoots around crawling with great agility. He's right that tarantulas are, generally speaking, easier to control than a giant centipede. Perhaps, this is the major reason why there are less arthropod enthusiasts go for centipedes, far less than tarantulas or scorpions.
P.S. S. heros is not half-decent. I think the giant desert is indeed on my list of the most aggressive predatory arthropods I've owned. Besides, it's true that centipedes vanish in seconds given any space. Tarantulas, in my experience, make less nervousness on this matter.

Yeah I decided I probably won't get a centipede any time soon. Just a few scorps & a tarantula or 2. Though, if/when I do get one it'll probably be an S. polymorpha.

 

[Isopods others]

No tarantula I've kept comes near to the aggression or sensitivity of a S. dehaani, let alone some South American giants (I know some are calm given their sizes but the others are just as bad-tempered). The tarantula closest to the Vietnamese giant centipede in terms of temperament is the Asian earth tiger, which is more sensitive than an orange baboon (which is more sensitive than a king baboon).
The difference is that when an earth tiger gets agitated, it stands on its ground hissing, occasionally charging a bit; when a giant centipede gets pissed however, it shoots around crawling with great agility. He's right that tarantulas are, generally speaking, easier to control than a giant centipede. Perhaps, this is the major reason why there are less arthropod enthusiasts go for centipedes, far less than tarantulas or scorpions.
P.S. S. heros is not half-decent. I think the giant desert is indeed on my list of the most aggressive predatory arthropods I've owned. Besides, it's true that centipedes vanish in seconds given any space. Tarantulas, in my experience, make less nervousness on this matter.



I've been bitten by the earth tiger, orange baboon & Vietnamese giant. I can ensure that the centipede is worse in terms of pain. It's an ordeal with serial waves of pain, like putting a hotpot on your arm that cannot be taken away. I think similar symptoms are also reported among the giant desert centipede victims in North America.
It is agreed that Scolependra's venom, despite not normally fatal, is more painful to bare, given their cytotoxic effects. Spiders & scorpions are more on the neurotoxic side, causing numbness.

Glad to hear from an experienced view point on this matter

 

[curtisgiganteus]

They said their parents didn't want the centipede, not both women. "Got rid of the females" sounds rude and sexist. We should keep things like this off of AB

OP I would suggest getting whatever you are able to in your circumstance. If that is a T right now, and you are able to care for it long term, then sure I would go with a T.

Sexism requires a qualitative judgement to be made. I don’t see any qualitative judgments being made. Female is their biological identity and doesn’t imply anything about their quality or worth.

That being said, Op, if you want a pede, get A grandidieri if you want a pede. They are awesome! Don’t get too big, rarely bite, not highly venomous. They are awesome!

 

[Raptorr]

As long as you always use tongs to do anything inside the enclosure and you get an airtight bin or tote, there's no risk of escape and you won't get bitten. If you want to be really safe, you can go with polymorpha instead of heros. Polymorpha aren't as aggressive, and it takes a lot more to get them to bite on top of their much milder venom. So if you really want a centipede, I'd say go for it.