A Rescue Of A Different Kind! (arachnophobes: Run Away!)

Let me start off by saying that I know that spiders are not insects, but there wasn't a general "terrestrial invertebrates" section so I stuck this here.

A couple of days ago my roommate handed me the phone and said that his friend had something to ask me. Turned out that another guy in his apartment complex had tarantulas. I knew about this because this friend is morbidly afraid of them and was stuffing towels under his door for a long time just in case they escaped even though they're on the other side of the complex. He's paranoid.

Well, turns out the guy who had them didn't want them in the first place, he was only looking after them for someone else, but since he hadn't come back for them in a year and a half he'd had enough and was going to just let them starve to death! The spiders hadn't been fed in a month The friend is terrified of spiders but he's a decent guy and he couldn't let that happen so he asked me if I could help knowing that I've rescued a few critters in my time. Thing is, I'm terrified of spiders, too! But I also can't let this happen so I made a phone call and secured a place for them with knowledgeable people and went and got them.

So I took a drive with 4 tarantulas wedged into my passenger seat scrabbling to be let out

They're safe now

Oh, and for those who made it this far, I have a fish-related tarantula question. You know that old myth that says "a fish only grows to the size of its tank"? Well this guy said the same thing about the tarantulas. He said that they only grow to the size of the container they're kept in so some of the spiders were in incredibly tiny spaces. One of them was a Goliath Birdeater and it was in a container approximately 3" square

Is this still a myth or does it actually apply to spiders?

 

I believe unlike fish it doesn't! It will still get big however there are other stress factors such as no food which will slow their growth since they won't have enough protein to build.

Tarantulas aren't that bad as long as the enclosure is secured! I myself am fascinated, although never could keep one since of their long age but when I grow older I will probably get one. I guess now is the time to get rid of your fears. Although personally, as long as its in a contained and controled area I am fine! But if it gets out, well, lets find a new house to move too!

Upload pics when you get the chance

 

Sorry, I never took any pictures. I was too scared to remove the lids! One of them was known to bite but if she wasn't being fed that might explain why

 

Good luck!

 

Thanks! I expect they'll do well where they are now. There's a "spider lady" who comes in regularly and they were going to get positive ID's on them. They also intended to start feeding them right away. Good thing too!

 

They're safe now

Aquaphobia don't you mean "I'm safe now"? LOL Sorry, I just had to tease! I really think that was wonderful that you helped out those tarantulas. I'm sure they are much happier with their new owner!

 

Wow they are scary. I have heard when they are stressed they can "flick" their hairs at you and they get stuck in your skin like fiberglass and is terribly itchy. Just another terrifying thing to think of.

 

Yes, that is one of their tricks for self-defense! I'm not sure if all of them can do that or just some species. The Goliath Birdeater is definitely one that can do this! It can't protect them from humans unfortunately, either the ones that decide to let them starve or the ones that eat them. Yes, this is a thing

 

the ones that eat them

 

Wow they are scary. I have heard when they are stressed they can "flick" their hairs at you and they get stuck in your skin like fiberglass and is terribly itchy. Just another terrifying thing to think of.

Its funny when you think about it how we are scared of the animal being scared , when you think about it the tarantula is scared when it flicks its hair. When a snake rattles its tale we get scared even though the animals is probably more scared. But I guess that's the point of an animals defense which is to scare us so we don't go near them

 

So, does anyone know the answer to my question about tank size and its relation to the spider's eventual size? Do spiders get stunted just like fish?

 

I would assume so as any animal when kept in a small "habitat" would be stunted (if a human was kept in a small box imo he/she would get stunted too as there isn't anymore room to grow.)

I have never kept spooders but you have to remember, it was accepted knowledge that fish DO grow into their environment so I am just assuming spooders are the same way (yes spooders.) I know next to nothing about spooders.

Imo ANY animal kept In a small habitat WILL be stunted, imo, no animal "grows into their environment"

Sorry about the long winded response but I hope this helped

 

I would assume so as any animal when kept in a small "habitat" would be stunted (if a human was kept in a small box imo he/she would get stunted too as there isn't anymore room to grow.)

I have never kept spooders but you have to remember, it was accepted knowledge that fish DO grow into their environment so I am just assuming spooders are the same way (yes spooders.) I know next to nothing about spooders.

Imo ANY animal kept In a small habitat WILL be stunted, imo, no animal "grows into their environment"

It's different for inverts! Inverts if fed will grow to normal size making it actually worse than fish or mammals! Inverts don't have a spine and they grow by molts thus if they are fed right they will have the nutrients to keep growing.

 

It's different for inverts! Inverts if fed will grow to normal size making it actually worse than fish or mammals! Inverts don't have a spine and they grow by molts thus if they are fed right they will have the nutrients to keep growing.

Hmmm so that makes it even worse to keep them in small environments as they will just keep growing? (hey you learn something new every day)

 

Hmmm so that makes it even worse to keep them in small environments as they will just keep growing? (hey you learn something new every day)

Yep sadly that is the case...although most people who plan on keeping tarantulas and spiders do their research since average person won't even dare buying one! Although you do have people who thinks its cool to have a spider and just buy one to scare their friends or impress them. But most do their research since they buy spiders since they are fascinated with them

 

Unfortunately I think this was the case here. Someone who thought it was cool and got them off a friend who bred them (they were all locally bred by the same person) and then moved to a place that wouldn't allow them and passed them to a friend "temporarily" and then just never came back.