Post Pictures of Your Not-So-Furry Friends!

[Nomi]

Dogs and Cats get a lot of love on here, but what about our scaled, feathered, finned, eight-legged friends and companions? Be they Goldfish or Gila Monsters, Snakes or Scorpions, Parrots or Piranhas, Tarantulas or Tadpoles.

Post and Share your pictures, chat about your loveably furless buddies, and have some fun!

 

[firefox2]

I have about 20 tarantulas, here are a few....

 

[autumnpalm]

OMG. I think I just nearly had a heart attack.

I am curious though, how long do Tarantulas live? Are they very expensive? Do you find they have "personalities"? Do you handle them often?

I've never actually met someone who owned them and I'm fascinated!

 

[Nomi]

Amazing tarantulas! I'm afraid I don't recognize all of the species (apart from the red knee there) Who's the handsome devil in the second picture?

And though I've never owned a tarantula myself (I dare-say my mother would disown me on the spot XD ), I find they do have a wide variety of personalities from the ones I've worked for. There's always the difference between species (like the bratty and aggressive baboons, and the calm and downright cuddly rose-hairs), but even among individuals there is a difference in personality. I'm sure firefox can answer your questions much better than I though.

 

[firefox2]

In common terms, the pictures are as follows.....

Mexican Fire Leg
Brazilian Black
Chaco Golden Knee
Rosehair
Mexican RedKnee

Of all tarantulas, the Brazilian Black is the friendliest (calmest), Rosehairs are tempermental. Most people think they are the calmest, but really, they are just the most popular because they are the cheapest and easiest to find. Out of 3 rosehairs that we have, only the one pictured is somewhat calm.

I wouldn't say that they have personalities so much, more like behaviours, certain species behave differently than others. The meanest one we have is an Indian Ornamental, they are fast and agressive. Otherwise, tarantulas do not like to be handled, they have no awarenss of their owners, so are best left alone, but they key to handling a tarantula without getting bitten is to pretend you are the dirt they are walking on.

They can be expensive to purchase unless one goes through a breeder/importer, as most of ours arrived, and we got them as spiderlings. The Brazilian Black costs about $50 through a breeder for a 1" spiderling, probably abut $150-200 for a full grown adult. A female lives up to 25 years, whereas a male will live up to 3-7 years (they cannot moult as an adult, as it will kill them). Upkeep is simple, they need to eat once a week/2 weeks, and can live in a decent sized kritter keeper. Habitats only need a thorough cleaning once every 6 months, with a light cleanup with tweezers after they have eaten.

 

[autumnpalm]

Wow, that is really interesting in the difference between a male/female lifespan. I had no idea they could live that long!

Thanks for answering all my questions! I have a fear of spiders so I don't think I could ever own a Tarantula but they seem like really interesting creatures.

 

[coolbeans]

OMG. I think I just nearly had a heart attack.

mee tooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

[luvsmickeymouse]

 

[Nomi]

In common terms, the pictures are as follows.....

Mexican Fire Leg
Brazilian Black
Chaco Golden Knee
Rosehair
Mexican RedKnee

Of all tarantulas, the Brazilian Black is the friendliest (calmest), Rosehairs are tempermental. Most people think they are the calmest, but really, they are just the most popular because they are the cheapest and easiest to find. Out of 3 rosehairs that we have, only the one pictured is somewhat calm.

I wouldn't say that they have personalities so much, more like behaviours, certain species behave differently than others. The meanest one we have is an Indian Ornamental, they are fast and agressive. Otherwise, tarantulas do not like to be handled, they have no awarenss of their owners, so are best left alone, but they key to handling a tarantula without getting bitten is to pretend you are the dirt they are walking on.

They can be expensive to purchase unless one goes through a breeder/importer, as most of ours arrived, and we got them as spiderlings. The Brazilian Black costs about $50 through a breeder for a 1" spiderling, probably abut $150-200 for a full grown adult. A female lives up to 25 years, whereas a male will live up to 3-7 years (they cannot moult as an adult, as it will kill them). Upkeep is simple, they need to eat once a week/2 weeks, and can live in a decent sized kritter keeper. Habitats only need a thorough cleaning once every 6 months, with a light cleanup with tweezers after they have eaten.

Opps. I guess I just got lucky with all the rosehairs at work being sweethearts. My mistake.

And very cute parakeets luvsmickeymouse! Are they talkers?

 

[Nomi]

Just a quick bump with some pictures of my shrimp and new butterfly goldfish. Keep those pictures coming!

They're tiny and hard to take pictures of, these guys. They are red crystal shrimp, and I have three of them. Unfortunately, they're not breeding.

And my new butterfly dude! Named Charlie, but I'll have to wait to see what gender it is (no breeding stars or other secondary characteristics yet)

 

[firefox2]

Charlie is cute

 

[maelstrom]

This is my green 'keet baby, Petri. I also have a blue 'keet named Winkie (he's periwinkle coloured).

 

[JessicaR]

but they key to handling a tarantula without getting bitten is to pretend you are the dirt they are walking on.
.

How do you pretend to be dirt?

Thanks for sharing your pets, fish, birds and spiders!

 

[Nomi]

How do you pretend to be dirt?

Thanks for sharing your pets, fish, birds and spiders!

I would suppose she means to just be calm and still, and just let them crawl on you. Sudden movements and the like can startle them a bit.

 

[firefox2]

How do you pretend to be dirt?

Thanks for sharing your pets, fish, birds and spiders!

Exactly what Nomi said, any movement, they may assume you are food!

 

[firefox2]

By the way, all of the parakeets areadorable, I love the colors on them.