What is something you dislike about the hobby?

[executivebexley]

I do want to buy an adult for variety. I have slings and juvies, but I like variety. I do have one MM, but he is almost 2 years past ultimate so his days are numbered. When he passes, I will likely buy another adult to replace him.

2 years after last molt!! Wooow a venerable old gentleman! I didn't know that they could soldier on that long, awesome

 

[Chroma Trigger]

I'm also going with "Ts turning out to be males". Sounds pretty cruel to be disappointed by the gender of your "baby", but as someone who is not a breeder, I want the biggest lifespan possible out of a sling I've raised. Might be alright for an A. geniculata, but with Grammostola or Brachypelma species, I'm sweating just thinking about it. I still love the scrawny dudes I've raised, but a fat, healthy female is just an all around better deal.

 

[Almadabes]

I hate that sometimes I feel scared to share "what I think" about tarantula behavior in fear of someone criticizing me for anthropomorphizing them.

for example:

"I think they may dig up plants searching for prey."
"I think sticking their feet out the den means they're waiting for prey."
"I think my Lp likes the moisture cause she's always on the damp side of the enclosure."
"I think my A. avic dislikes worms cause it won't eat them."
"I think my A. seemanni is a male cause he's kind of a jerk."

I am never trying to pass these off as facts - just unscientific guesses based on my experiences or even straight-up jokes.

Whenever I type something like this I'm always spending time trying to format it in such a way that conveys:

"Look I understand they are simple creatures without feelings and that there isn't enough data to really explain a lot of their behaviors. please don't gang up on me."

I'm also going with "Ts turning out to be males". Sounds pretty cruel to be disappointed by the gender of your "baby"

For me it just kinda sucks. Not because it turned out to be male. I don't really care if its M or F.
It's more so that I know he will die within a year or two and I will miss having him around.

Definitely "disappointing" for me.

 

[Kitara]

I hate that sometimes I feel scared to share "what I think" about tarantula behavior in fear of someone criticizing me for anthropomorphizing them.

Whenever I type something like this I'm always spending time trying to format it in such a way that conveys:

"Look I understand they are simple creatures without feelings and that there isn't enough data to really explain a lot of their behaviors. please don't gang up on me."

Ha. I don't even care. I called mine unappreciative jerks the other day because some didn't want the Christmas hornworms I bought them. I talk about how they judge me for wrong sized enclosures or wrong dampness substrate. They give me side eyes for my baby talk. I put them in time out when they fill their water dish with dirt. It's just all in fun. I know the reality, but sometimes the reality is just boring so if someone wants to judge, they can suck it. Doesn't bother me in the slightest.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I hate that sometimes I feel scared to share "what I think" about tarantula behavior in fear of someone criticizing me for anthropomorphizing them.

for example:

"I think they may dig up plants searching for prey."
"I think sticking their feet out the den means they're waiting for prey."
"I think my Lp likes the moisture cause she's always on the damp side of the enclosure."
"I think my A. avic dislikes worms cause it won't eat them."
"I think my A. seemanni is a male cause he's kind of a jerk."

I am never trying to pass these off as facts - just unscientific guesses based on my experiences or even straight-up jokes.

Whenever I type something like this I'm always spending time trying to format it in such a way that conveys:

"Look I understand they are simple creatures without feelings and that there isn't enough data to really explain a lot of their behaviors. please don't gang up on me."




For me it just kinda sucks. Not because it turned out to be male. I don't really care if its M or F.
It's more so that I know he will die within a year or two and I will miss having him around.

Definitely "disappointing" for me.

It sucks that you feel this way and I can understand how you feel. It's hard because some folks on the forums tend to be critical sometimes. I think it's important not to anthropomorphize excessively when you're trying to understand these creatures, but at the same time they're your pets! As long as you're properly caring for them then who cares what anyone else thinks. At least that's my opinion.

 

[executivebexley]

Im fairly new to Ts still, so I can't say in 15, 20+ years be doing this or in a position to be doing this. So I'm not fussed about having males! They give faster results and 4-5 years is still a long time to have a small pet in my books. Most typical smaller pets like hamsters, rats, Guineas etc don't last more than 5 years, maybe for a beginner males are a good option!?

 

[Kitara]

Im fairly new to Ts still, so I can't say in 15, 20+ years be doing this or in a position to be doing this. So I'm not fussed about having males! They give faster results and 4-5 years is still a long time to have a small pet in my books. Most typical smaller pets like hamsters, rats, Guineas etc don't last more than 5 years, maybe for a beginner males are a good option!?

I agree. I don't care for the most part. I don't actually know the sex of any of mine except for one of them. Oh wait, no I have a MM and one "suspect" female so two. They rest I haven't tried to figure out. I do have one in my collection that I am really hoping is a female just because I really like it and it's too expensive to buy another, but I haven't bothered to check yet.

 

[CradilyKing]

I definitely think the worst part of the hobby is the media around it especially in my experience the subreddit and YouTube.

YouTube has so many people focused on entertainment not the animals so you get channels like “exotics lair” who clearly just uses these animals for views and promotes poor care. This then leads to his viewers thinking his care is the gold standard even though it’s not.

Additionally social media around tarantulas and in my experience the subreddit are too laid back with poor care just being kinda allowed and any criticisms of poor care to be downvoted to hell. In the subreddit there is a rule about debating handling that says about enough about the whole situation imo.

 

[executivebexley]

I agree!! I'm not keen on a few of the YouTube channels, I won't say many names cos I'm sure they come here, but either it doesn't look to me like they show great care like the one handed wonder, or their cringy smugness and flexing of another famous European channel I wouldnt like to name is just unbearable! Who I thought had been around forever, but i find out later they've not been doing it much longer than I have, they just have £££££ and know how to edit videos. I do like some tho! Tom Moran and the t collective for go od information and t kat for entertainment I like that she's just a normal keeper showing her pets, not showing off too hard.
The bad channels are the ones you are more likely to encounter first, so as the previous comment said beginners like me can take away bad information

Soz to bitch.... That's me!

 

[8 legged]

I definitely think the worst part of the hobby is the media around it especially in my experience the subreddit and YouTube.

YouTube has so many people focused on entertainment not the animals so you get channels like “exotics lair” who clearly just uses these animals for views and promotes poor care. This then leads to his viewers thinking his care is the gold standard even though it’s not.

Additionally social media around tarantulas and in my experience the subreddit are too laid back with poor care just being kinda allowed and any criticisms of poor care to be downvoted to hell. In the subreddit there is a rule about debating handling that says about enough about the whole situation imo.

... because it's too easy to point your finger at others!

 

[executivebexley]

... because it's too easy to point your finger at others!

It's fun too

 

[ErikElvis]

I hate dumping red runners in a bowl and trying to pick one and catch one just the right size with tweezers.

 

[trinity2029]

The anxiety when you first start the hobby. Lol. I recently got a tarantula on November 28th and I get pretty nervous over some stuff that turns out to be more common than I thought. That's why I joined this group. So helpful

 

[MrGhostMantis]

I'm also going with "Ts turning out to be males". Sounds pretty cruel to be disappointed by the gender of your "baby", but as someone who is not a breeder, I want the biggest lifespan possible out of a sling I've raised. Might be alright for an A. geniculata, but with Grammostola or Brachypelma species, I'm sweating just thinking about it. I still love the scrawny dudes I've raised, but a fat, healthy female is just an all around better deal.

I was only disappointed that my first T was male because I wanted to have it for a long time to come.

 

[CradilyKing]

I agree!! I'm not keen on a few of the YouTube channels, I won't say many names cos I'm sure they come here, but either it doesn't look to me like they show great care like the one handed wonder, or their cringy smugness and flexing of another famous European channel I wouldnt like to name is just unbearable! Who I thought had been around forever, but i find out later they've not been doing it much longer than I have, they just have £££££ and know how to edit videos. I do like some tho! Tom Moran and the t collective for go od information and t kat for entertainment I like that she's just a normal keeper showing her pets, not showing off too hard.
The bad channels are the ones you are more likely to encounter first, so as the previous comment said beginners like me can take away bad information

Soz to bitch.... That's me!

Yeah that’s the main reason I heavily dislike these YouTube videos as I too was lured into the trap and watched them when I was a new keeper thinking that their care was the best of the best and I made some pretty silly mistakes I now know better but there are definitely a few exceptions and Tom Moran is one of them he seems to be mainly about education which I like and found quite useful as a beginner.