Programmer Denis Ivashov has several thousand spiders in his apartment. Having bought his first tarantula 23 years ago, our hero did not imagine that he had acquired the main hobby of life.
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“In 1998, my grandmother gave me money for my birthday, and I bought my first tarantula,” says Denis. “One day a spider escaped and climbed into my father’s shoe. But the parents were not against animals. I studied in a circle of young naturalists and since childhood I carried ants and beetles in my pockets. Many people lived with us: fish, reptiles, cats, hamsters. What attracted me to the spiders was the exoticism. It’s the tarantulas that I like—I love the big ones. Maybe I remember my childhood experiences when I was reading Jules Verne and watching the movie “Alien.”
Several thousand spiders live with me. Of these, 300 - 500 individuals are breeding stock. The rest are their offspring. At first I kept everyone in the apartment, but now I rent a separate room - about 20 m². Everything is lined with shelves, with a terrarium on each shelf. Collecting is very developed in our hobby; people collect entire genera of arthropods.
In 20 years I don’t remember a single bite. But I'm very careful. When I mate or clean up, I always use tweezers and a net. If the spider jumps back sharply, I immediately remove my hands: let it run about its business, I will catch it later.
Even arachnophobes tolerate big-eyed little horses (no more than 15 mm). Photo legion-media.ru
Recently, I have been suffering from an allergy to stinging hairs that tarantulas comb from their abdomens. Hands break out in hives. That’s why I work in a chemical protective suit.
Spiders have no character. You take care of him, feed him, but he still tries to bite. There are aggressive species, and calmer ones. The ones that hit the head the most are arboreal ones. They are very nimble, while ground-based ones are heavy and slow, so it’s easier with them. A spider is not a cat or a hamster. This is a “hydraulic machine” with a bundle of nerves, older than dinosaurs.
Thanks to spiders, I made many friends. Directors, businessmen, biologists, workers of the Moscow Zoo. We, collectors, exchange and buy individuals from each other. In the 2000s, the tree spider Poecilotheria metallica was considered unattainable. And so I bought this. And then he got divorced. If a species is difficult to breed in captivity, you feel your own coolness.
It’s difficult now because few people have what I’m interested in. Probably my collection is the largest in Russia. I dream about Pamphobeteus solaris. I have a Solaris car, and I want a spider just like it.
About the spider
The tarantula spider is a large insect of the arthropod type, the order of arachnids. Adults can reach 27 centimeters or more in leg span. The limbs are long and hairy. The color is bright. The tarantula spider lives about 20-30 years .
It is important to remember that all species of tarantulas are poisonous, but their toxicity varies . The bite can cause fever, hallucinations, severe pain, and convulsions. However, such spiders are often bought and kept as pets. They are also bought for participation in exhibitions.
Brachypelma boehmei
Mexican red-knee tarantula Brachypelma smithi
- Life expectancy: more than 20 years - females up to 5 years - males
- Feature: weak poison
- Calm
- It gets brighter with every moult
- The paw span is 13 - 17 cm. The number and location of the eyes depends on the habitat. Most have eight eyes. The nimble arboreal ones have their heads literally covered in dust—you have to look in all directions. Terrestrial tarantulas look forward. There may be no eyes if the spider lives underground.
Tarantulas are predators. They attack the victim from an ambush. Diet: insects, spiders, worms, frogs, rodents. Contrary to the name, birds are not the main thing in the diet. Meat is too heavy food. Having grabbed the victim with chelicerae - limbs with poisonous claws next to the mouth - they inject poison, and then saliva - an enzyme that digests animal tissue. And they suck out the resulting puree. Fried tarantula spiders are sold in Cambodia as a delicacy for tourists. The locals themselves will prefer chicken.
Sergey Korneev
#20/2021 spider collector
What affects the cost
The cost of a tarantula spider varies widely. This is explained by the influence on the price level of the following factors:
- View.
- Age.
- Color.
- A rare insect.
- Adult size.
- Place of purchase.
- Gender of the insect.
- Flexibility of the seller's price policy.
Chilean rose tarantula
Food and hunting
Goliath spiders practice secretive hunting. He sits inside his hole and, thanks to his hairs, detects any movements around him.
At the right moment, he suddenly jumps out of the hole and attacks his prey. Like all spiders, he injects his poison into it, which kills the victim and dissolves its insides, and then sucks them out of it.
On this topic, you may be interested in: Types of scorpions, what they are, which are the most dangerous
The spider's diet consists of various insects, other arthropods, worms and small vertebrates.
It can easily catch and eat amphibians, rodents, lizards and some snakes. Sometimes it can catch a bird, but this happens quite rarely.
Varieties
All species of tarantulas are grouped into 30 subfamilies . Each of them has about a dozen breeds.
Depending on the type of life and habitat, these insects are:
- Ground . They live on the ground. They dig holes and reinforce them with cobwebs. Among them, the most impressive are the following species: Brachypelma, Grammostola, Lasiodora.
- Woody . They live in trees. They look brighter and more beautiful than terrestrial species. Known subspecies: Avicularia, Poecilotheria, Tapinauchenius, Stromatopelma.
Popular breeds of tarantulas:
- Goliath . These spiders weigh 170 grams. The length of adult individuals is 28 cm. They have a brown color with red or light shades. They are very calm in nature.
- Mexican Redknee . Spiders grow up to 17 cm in size. The color can be from dark brown to black. There are red-orange or yellowish inserts. The hairs are light pink.
- Aphonopelma seemanni . This species lives in burrows. It has a leg span of up to 15 cm. The breed is non-aggressive. It grows slowly. It is black and white or brown and beige in color. Such spiders behave non-aggressively.
- Black and white Brazilian . Individuals grow up to 23 cm. They grow very quickly. The body and limbs are black and white. The character is complex. Spiders behave aggressively and unpredictably.
- Metal . Adults are small in size - up to 21 cm. They have bright colors, a metallic sheen, and beautiful patterns.
- Brachypelma boehmei . The size of such spiders reaches 18 cm. The color is bright orange-black. The character is calm. They are distinguished by their unpretentiousness to living conditions.
- Chilean pink . Ideal as a pet. This is a small subspecies. Adults are about 15-16 cm in size. The body and paws are brown with pink splashes.
According to size, breeds are divided into:
- Small ones.
- Average.
- Large ones.
You can buy a spider in the following places:
- Pet Shop.
- Private advertisements posted on the Internet or in newspapers.
- Specialized market.
- Online store.
How to care
- Do your research on who you're dating—basic information is available on the Internet. Spiders are dangerous animals.
- Squeeze less. While the spider is small, you are a greater threat to it than it is to you.
- Create the right conditions. Desert species do not need a lot of moisture. And those who love water run the risk of drying out.
In Asia, naive tourists are fed fried spiders, passing them off as a local delicacy. Photo legion-media.ru
Conditions of detention
The tarantula spider does not require large financial expenditures or the purchase of exotic unique devices.
The main thing is to create conditions for the arthropod that are close to its natural habitat, and to make its home comfortable and safe both for the spider itself and for itself and other family members.
Dwelling dimensions
To keep your tarantula indoors, you will need a plastic container or terrarium. The container is suitable for young spiders, and as they grow it will be necessary to periodically change the container to a larger one.
For an adult spider, it is best to equip a terrarium. It will become an interesting element in the interior, and in addition, it will be more convenient to monitor the pet.
The size of the home directly depends on the size of the tarantula. Both too spacious and too narrow terrariums are unacceptable. In the case of a small spider, the container should be 3-4 times larger than that of the spider.
For adults, the design is selected based on the appearance. Tree species prefer a vertical terrarium 40 cm high, 30 cm wide and 30 cm deep.
For burrowing and terrestrial species, cubic terrariums with a side of 30 cm or more elongated horizontally are suitable.
These are approximate figures. A consultant in a specialized store will help you choose the optimal size and shape, focusing on a specific spider.
Lighting, temperature, humidity
The vast majority of tarantulas are nocturnal, but the terrarium should be positioned so that the arthropods are comfortable at any time of the day.
The tarantula prefers semi-darkness, so you should not place the terrarium in a well-lit room or in a place where sunlight falls most of the day.
It is very important to keep arthropods at a temperature not lower than + 24… 26⁰С, since all members of the family are thermophilic.
Some species require higher temperatures up to + 32⁰С. In winter, an infrared lamp will help maintain the desired temperature.
The required humidity level also depends on the type of animal. Optimal values can range from 50 to 80%.
It is usually sufficient to moisten the soil by periodically spraying it with a spray bottle.
Arrangement of the terrarium
An empty terrarium is not enough to keep a tarantula indoors. The arthropod needs to create comfortable conditions, and for this you will need:
- layer of soil below - coconut substrate, expanded vermiculite, peat (for burrowing species the layer should be thicker);
- branches, twigs, driftwood - for weaving webs and making shelter;
- drinker
In addition to the necessary accessories, you can add artificial plants and stones, but do not overload the terrarium.
What does the tarantula spider eat?
The domestic tarantula spider does not know how to hunt, as in natural conditions. Caring for its nutrition is entirely the responsibility of the owner.
It was not worth mastering such an exotic activity as catching flies or cockroaches. It is best to purchase special food for your pet at a pet store.
So, what to feed the tarantula:
- Zophoba larvae;
- the Beatles;
- crickets;
- mealworms.
The frequency of feeding spiders depends on their age. Young animals need food every 2–3 days, and adult tarantulas need food every 7–10 days.
Reproduction of tarantulas
To breed house spiders in a terrarium, you need to slightly increase the temperature and humidity, and then add a male to a female.
Immediately after mating, the arthropods are again resettled in different terrariums. Eggs develop in the female’s body in approximately 1.5 - 2 months. During this time, he manages to weave a strong cocoon in which he lays eggs.
After about 30–40 days, the cocoon is removed from the female and placed in an incubator. At this time, there are no longer eggs in the cocoon, but only nymphs.
But in general, it is best for experienced breeders to breed tarantulas at home, since there are too many subtle points in this process for beginners.
Diseases treatment and prevention
Diseases of tarantula spiders have not been studied enough. Most often, health problems with a furry pet are caused by inappropriate living conditions, for example, low temperature or insufficient humidity.
A tarantula can be injured if it falls from a height, so you should not choose a terrarium that is too tall for your pet.
Another problem is mites that parasitize the spider’s body or infect its lungs, as well as roundworms. To prevent the appearance of parasites, it is necessary to keep the substrate and the terrarium itself clean.
How dangerous is a banana spider bite?
Banana spider venom contains very dangerous toxins that cause paralysis of the victim. The bite of a soldier spider poses a serious threat not only to health, but also to human life, and can lead to the following consequences:
- severe pain and swelling;
Spider in bananas.
- breathing problems;
- dizziness and loss of consciousness;
- tachycardia and pressure surges;
- numbness of the limbs;
- seizures and hallucinations.
An adult, healthy person with a strong immune system can be saved if you promptly seek medical help and administer an antidote. But, for people prone to allergic reactions and small children, the bite of a soldier spider can be fatal.
What age should I take a spider?
Having decided on the type of spider, it is necessary to resolve the equally important issue of the age of the future pet. There are no indications or contraindications. You can take both a small spider and an adult. But each option has its pros and cons.
Thus, a young spider is cheaper, but requires more serious care. It is more interesting to observe the growth and development of an arthropod from an early age, but once you buy it, it will be impossible to determine its gender.
As for adult spiders, they are much more expensive, but they are easier to care for, and you can choose the arthropod of the desired sex.
True, there are some pitfalls here: unscrupulous sellers may offer an old specimen, since it is impossible to determine the age of an adult spider by its appearance.
Experts recommend adult tarantula spiders to beginners, and in order not to make a mistake in choosing, you should only contact trusted sellers with a good reputation.
Advantages and disadvantages of keeping a spider
Many people keep spiders for the purpose of shocking. Like, look at the scarecrow that lives with me, is it impressive? But such people are in the minority. There are, of course, individuals who are obsessed with spiders, who admire their habits and opportunistic features. But, basically, spiders are owned by those who consider them to be very beautiful pets.
And from this judgment follows the main, in my opinion, advantage of spiders - their appearance. Now you can buy spiders of a wide variety of colors, there are pink, red, pitch black and even bright blue. These are incredibly beautiful animals that are a pleasure to look at.
This type of spider has very interesting, curled hairs.
The main reason why I got myself a spider is its unpretentiousness. Such a pet can be left for a week or more with a clear conscience. If you need to go somewhere, then rest assured that the spider will wait for you and will not die of hunger, since it can go without food for a very long time.
This is an ideal option if you have a small living space. It does not take up much space and does not create noise. If you remove leftover food, there will be no unpleasant smell either. He doesn't shed his fur in the usual sense and you don't need to walk with him - a miracle, not a pet.
One of the main disadvantages is that spiders are quite secretive people. Most likely, your pet will hide in a shelter most of the time.
You can't pet a spider in the usual sense of the word. Even picking him up is not recommended, as this is very stressful for the animal.
A particular disadvantage is the presence of food animals in your home. For example, if you decide to keep a colony of cockroaches yourself, then you won’t leave them for a month.
Well, despite their terrifying appearance, spiders are quite fragile. Even a fall from several tens of centimeters threatens the spider with death. The animals are quite nervous. Factors such as transportation, changing the terrarium, and an abundance of insects can cause stress. Spider stress is bad. The pet may comb its hairs, refuse to feed and, in especially severe cases, even die.
It doesn’t bark, doesn’t bite, doesn’t rush at passers-by... Just kidding, of course, a spider can bite, it has everything for that. But such cases are extremely rare. Of course, the venom of all tarantulas is toxic to one degree or another. But an adult should not have any serious problems.
