Why so scared of old worlds?

[DomGom TheFather]

They're just spiders. Some people don't like big dogs but if you treat everything the same, they're just dogs. The outcome is usually positive with a competent owner. To each their own.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

The problem is that all of this OW T's "fear" went, under a certain extent, out of proportion during years. And remained that way. But, at the same time, we need always to remember that certain OW T's species really have a bad, strong venom, even for the average OW's venom potency standards.

I'm talking about 'Pokies', the likes of S. calceatum, H. hainanum, C. fimbriatus etc so, this fact, combined with the fact that spiders-as pets isn't nowhere near a passion appreciated by the average man (and politician/s) require caution, from everyone (especially from beginners or not enough experienced ones).

A bite in the wrong body area, in the wrong nation or wrong municipality may lead to media sensationalism and bans, restrictions. This may seem absurd for someone, I know, but isn't. Various restrictions are already established (Italy; Germany, in certain Länder with 'Pokies', etc).

With that said, there's hundreds of everyday accepted and "normal" activities which are by far, more dangerous, than keeping an 'OBT'.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

It's a good idea to have a healthy amount of caution, for sure. Bites from some OW tarantulas can have serious effects. I think that someone should at least be aware of this, and read a few bite reports before they consider getting certain species. I think that these concerns are emphasized on this forum because it's very difficult to tell online who you're talking to, how much experience they have, etc. It's probably not a good idea for someone to get a Cyriopagopus species as their first tarantula, for example. There are a lot of misconceptions out there about how venomous some of these species are. There are some real risks involved even if the chance of a bite is slim if proper husbandry procedures are followed. If someone doesn't want to take that risk, then that's fine. People should do what they feel comfortable with, and for some that includes never keeping OW tarantulas. We shouldn't judge or criticize people for that. Do some species have undeserved negative reputations? I'd say of course. But I think it's probably better to be overly cautious instead of getting complacent.

 

[joossa]

Yeah, I'm the guy that has 0 intention to get OWs even after almost 12 years of keeping Pet Rock Ts without incident. Even though the risk of a bite is low, there's also the higher likelihood of a bolt during a rehouse. I just don't want to deal with that and I don't need to find out if I'm one of these sensitive people via a bite the hard way. In fact, even the majority of NWs I would shy away from. Nhandu, Pamphobeteus, Phormictopus, Xenesthis, Theraphosa, Ephebopus, etc... No thanks. Avicularia/Caribena/Psalmopoeus ? Not feeling the need to have those either, sorry.

I know I can have a nice collection comprising mostly of Aphonopelma, Brachypelma, Grammostola and Tliltocatl. There is Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens and Acanthoscurria geniculata that I plan on acquiring as well because I really like the look of those two.

Yes! Totally agree.
I like a lot of the species some people would consider slow growing and boring.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Yes! Totally agree.
I like a lot of the species some people would consider slow growing and boring.

To each their own! I have a variety of NW and OW tarantulas but to be honest my favorite is probably my G. porteri. There's a reason a lot of these species are 'hobby classics' - they're awesome!

 

[Craig73]

As a relatively new keeper at my one year mark I have both nw/ow. I’m far beyond having anything to prove, I go for looks and characteristics that appeal to me.

I have one ow I regret, but the others I find as enjoyable as my nw’s. It’s about finding what works for you; sometimes you know, other times it’s live and learn.

As for the dog analogy, dogs are breed for different purposes (lap dogs, hunting, guarding, etc). Someone wanting a specific characteristic typically isn’t going to have much interest in one that falls outside of what they are looking for.

 

[Ian14]

I find the entire OW/NW thing a little odd.
OW tarantula species are generally viewed as fast, highly defensive and with potent venom.
So keeping a slow moving, more laid back NW species that would rather kick irritating hairs than bite frankly has no relevance to keeping an OW.
There is a similar thing in snake keeping but in that hobby, there is a much more pragmatic view.
People often ask about suitable "trainer" species to prepare for keeping viper/elapid species. Often, the old favourites are trotted out like false water cobras and mangrove snakes.
However the simple fact is, you cannot learn how to work with a highly strung highly venomous species such as a cobra by keeping a rear fanged colubrid. They simply do not behave the same.
So why is there any difference between old world and new world tarantulas?????
There isn't- if you want to keep old worlds then you need to understand the risk they pose and ensure that you build that into your methods of husbandry.
Keeping an Aphonopelma or Brachypelma is not going to help you to keep an H mac, OBT, or S cal. Why? Because they behave so differently.

 

[KeGathings17]

As the title states why are so many keepers on here scared to keep old world tarantulas? I get the venom is worse than new world tarantulas and all. My point is most of us drive cars and a crap ton of people die in car crashes every day and some also get seriously injured and have to be amputated. Never heard of anyone dying or getting amputated from a bite of an old world tarantula. Some of you smoke cigarettes as well, lying in a hospital bed hooked to a breathing machine with lungs black as night sounds worse than any old world bite as well.

Dogs kill and hurt a fair amount of people each year and almost everyone I know keeps a dog as a pet.
Point I am trying to make is there is a crap ton of things out there that kill people everyday or send to the hospital for surgery that we use or do everyday, old world tarantulas are not part of this so why so scared of them?

I read a post the other day someone has been keeping for over 13 years and and has no interest in keeping old worlds, to each his or her own but I find this to be odd and see this type of attitude on the boards daily yet most of you drive cars every day and other drivers are as predictable as any tarantula.

Also hear that it's a cool factor for some to keep old worlds, well let me say that zero and I mean a big fat fricken ZERO people in my family or friends even like my tarantulas old or new. You guys are the only ones I talk to about tarantulas, I have never even had a conversation outside of this forum where I use scientific names to anybody when talking about tarantulas.

I started this hobby in 2007 with an old world tarantula and 90+% of collection is old world and i haven't had any issues at all and never even have come close to being bitten, they ALL disappear to burrows when disturbed.

So let's hear it why so scared of old worlds????
There is nothing to be ashamed of for not keeping old worlds and I am not trying to be rude or think less of you for not keeping one to each his or her own just curious as to why most on here don't keep or want one in there collection. Thanks for your replies in advance.

For me, personally, I would love to keep some, but I still live at home with parents, a little brother, and other small pets, and just couldn't forgive myself if something happened to someone other than me. Once I am out on my own, I'm sure I'll probably progress, as there are a lot of OW that peek my interest. I also think the other side of the story is advanced keepers worrying about inexperienced people causing media backlash against the community as whole. It only takes one poor sap to get bit, or have a child get bit, to cause an entire community to question whether people should be allowed to keep such a "dangerous" animal. I think this logic is flawed, but as I said, it only takes one person to talk to a local news station, and that could instantly blow up in the face of responsible, advanced keepers. It's almost like when a Burmese python "escapes" its enclosure and suffocates some poor kid, the blame will placed onto the snake, the idea of snake keeping, and snake keepers as a whole, not the individuals who were responsible in keeping such a large animal incorrectly. Luckily for us, a tarantula has never killed anyone, and I don't think people could try to ban keeping inverts as easily as they are doing to the reptile community.

 

[VermillionFox]

People I've run across that avoid them either are scared to death of the venom, or more commonly they want animals they can see. If you even offer a NW fossorial, they'd turn it down in an instant.

They don't understand the Christmas-like joy of seeing a cyriopagopus out in the open that has doubled in size and only been the mystery hole you drop a feeder into for the past year. Or they do and just hate Christmas. Grinches.

 

[Scp682]

They're just spiders. Some people don't like big dogs but if you treat everything the same, they're just dogs. The outcome is usually positive with a competent owner. To each their own.

Have you ever faced off with a little dog though? They're monsters

 

[KeGathings17]

Have you ever faced off with a little dog though? They're monsters

Yep they'll leave biological landmines right where your eyes won't see, but your foot will land, everytime!

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Have you ever faced off with a little dog though? They're monsters

That's because owners treat them like little dogs. Lol

 

[Scp682]

That because owners treat them like little dogs. Lol

Not always, you can give a chihuahua the best and it'll still bite the crap out of you.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Not always, you can give a chihuahua the best and it'll still bite the crap out of you.

They get a pass where big dogs don't. Owners tend to pick them up, walk them less and fear for their safety. They teach them to be insecure and end up with ankle biters. Even when they do bite, correcting them seems to entail picking them up.
All dogs are unique but if they're taught where their place is by someone with patience, they fall in line and follow direction. Bad dogs are few and far between. People ruin them and the dog pays the price.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

They get a pass where big dogs don't. Owners tend to pick them up, walk them less and fear for their safety. They teach them to be insecure and end up with ankle biters. Even when they do bite, correcting them seems to entail picking them up.
All dogs are unique but if they're taught where their place is by someone with patience, they fall in line and follow direction. Bad dogs are few and far between. People ruin them and the dog pays the price.

As a vet tech I agree with this completely. Little dogs turn into angry little beasts (mostly) because their owners think it's 'cute' or don't see it as a problem and don't discipline/ train them. The same behavior would not be tolerated with large dogs like German Shepherds or Rottweilers. And little dogs absolutely can hurt someone with a bite. I know someone that had her finger permanently damaged after a chihuahua mix bit her. Biting shouldn't be acceptable behavior no matter how big the dog is!

 

[Metallattorney]

I have determined that I actually prefer OWs. Particularly the African baboon species. Now I have a few that I rarely see, such as my c. darlingi, but most of them are at least out reasonably often. I have had a couple that were a little bolty when I rehoused them, but not to a degree that they were out of control. My p. murinus was one of my easiest rehouses, and even somewhat feisty species when I got them (c. meridionalis and p. lugardi) were not difficult to rehouse.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I have determined that I actually prefer OWs. Particularly the African baboon species. Now I have a few that I rarely see, such as my c. darlingi, but most of them are at least out reasonably often. I have had a couple that were a little bolty when I rehoused them, but not to a degree that they were out of control. My p. murinus was one of my easiest rehouses, and even somewhat feisty species when I got them (c. meridionalis and p. lugardi) were not difficult to rehouse.

I think everyone has certain characteristics/ certain genera that appeal to them more. Baboons are pretty cool but not exactly my thing personally, although I know others who are practically obsessed with them! There are certainly a lot of 'baboon' species out there to investigate, so that's cool.

 

[Timc]

I have two OWs in my collection presently (P. rufilata and P. murinus) and when they pass, they won’t be getting replaced. I’ve enjoyed keeping them, they’re beautiful animals and I really love them, they’re my babies after all. However, both have bolted on me in the past, the OBT multiple times, and to be quite honest, it’s gotten old and I don’t feel like dealing with it anymore. And I don’t have to. I can care for them properly the rest of their lives and be happy knowing I tried with two species I really wanted and really adore, but that’s it. I tried and I’m done. It’s not as fun for me, and having fun is the point of a hobby. I’m not afraid of them, I just don’t feel like having a 10+ inch rufilata run halfway to the ceiling before I can roll my eyes anymore.

To touch on the side topics:
I have an 11 month old pit bull who is the sweetest friendliest creature I’ve ever met. He’s totally annoying, but only wants to make friends with EVERYONE. He’s not a killing machine because he’s not raised that way. Love breeds love, however he’s definitely made people nervous just because of his breed. People will cross the street because they know he’s a pit. Their reputation is a shame.

Much likeI won’t own another OW, if I didn’t HAVE to drive my car everyday, I wouldn’t. But alas, I have bills, responsibilities, and 27 mouths to feed in my house. It’s not something I do for fun so to me it’s not a good comparison to keeping OWs. But that’s just me. Some people like driving. I do not.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Their reputation is a shame.

It really is. Unfortunately, a lot of unsavory characters are attracted to the breed. They fill up the shelters and people really don't want a used pit. Most of them are perfectly sweet and end up getting put down. It's sad.
My brothers dog used to belong to a drug dealer. He ended up at the shelter and now he plays with kids. Nice dog but even i have to admit he is a little intimidating. huuuge black pit. Head like a cinder block.

Also... baboons!

 

[Kibosh]

To me a tarantula is a tarantula, regardless of what part of the world it's from. Far better to think of their behavior species to species then individual to individual.

Human beings do love generalizations.

I have had some NW's that were far more defensive then some of my OW's.

I am honestly glad for the caution though. Unprepared and irresponsible keepers owning T's that are too fast and too venomous for them will be what kills this hobby... If over harvesting of wild specimens doesn't kill it first.

Enough people end up in the hospital for trying handle their Poecilotheria like they saw on the youtubes and no more T's.

Point being staying in your comfort level and different strokes for different folks is great for the hobby.