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Fun Stuff => CHATTER => Topic started by: Insectile on 20 Aug 2008, 16:54

Title: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Insectile on 20 Aug 2008, 16:54
Well on WCT someone mentioned someone should start this thread and i thought it was a good idea

My first tarantula was a chilean rose hair (Shelob) and after having her for a 1 1/2 years i went to this bug fair whitch had a guy selling tarantulas  and i bought my second spider a sunburst baboon ( Emperor )

Shelob in the has been fasting for 7 months now and i think she might shed soon
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: sean on 20 Aug 2008, 16:58
While this isn't a bad thread, it is worth noting that this area of the forum has almost nothing to do with WCT. The people who are probably interested in discussing up in WCT are probably not going to see it.

Anyway, I remember a while back my friend had a pet tarantula. It was pretty cool but its dead now. They die too fast for me to be interested in having one.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Tehz on 20 Aug 2008, 17:01
I used to have one, but then it died. So I got another, but that one died also.

They only live for a couple of years, but they're pretty cool while they last. I'd recommend them as pets.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: bbqrocks on 20 Aug 2008, 17:16
Man, spiders scare the hell out of me. If I conquer my fear, then sure, it'd be a bitching pet, but y'know...
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: hipster jesus on 20 Aug 2008, 17:26
Tarantulas are about the only thing that are completely off-limits in terms of pets for me, for I am very arachnophobic.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: tania on 20 Aug 2008, 17:26
i am usually pretty okay with spiders but tarantulas give me the willies. i tried looking up some videos of them once to see if i could maybe be less creeped out by them and found a bunch, you know, tarantulas just walking around and i thought "oh, hey, they move pretty slow don't they, that isn't so bad at all." then a friend who used to own a tarantula confirmed that nah, that's just what they do when they're hanging out and walking around, and they can actually move really fucking fast when they want to.
so i think i still don't like tarantulas.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: bbqrocks on 20 Aug 2008, 17:29
Ah man..I don't even need to see a tarantula to have me freaking out. I just picture one moving around, and suddenly I'm jumping up, throwing about cushions, looking under stuff, pulling the sheets off my bed, putting all the lights on...

Spiders is where I fail, man.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Jposh on 20 Aug 2008, 18:11
My buddy's got one, it's kind of neat. I can hold it, and it never bites or anything else that would prevent me from getting one, except that it never really does much. It kind of sits under a rock, comes out to eat it's crickets, and goes back.

I'd much rather have a few more rats. There smart, don't bite if you handle them enough, they'll eat anything, and they're extremely cute.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Patatat on 20 Aug 2008, 18:14
Thats like having Death as my spotter.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: clockworkjames on 20 Aug 2008, 18:25
I am poor. I have not got much money but I did want a tarantula.

I ended up getting stick insects instead :)

Good times.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: tania on 20 Aug 2008, 18:28
japan is also where asian giant hornets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet) live. they are the length of your thumb and they attack you by:

- spraying flesh-eating acid
- into your eyes
- which contains a pheromone that causes other giant hornets to come over and sting you to death.

take a look at that description, and how it gets worse and worse as you read it even though it was already pretty horrific to begin with. it could be that maybe japan is just a freaky place but i kind of like the idea of a god that really hates tommy better.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Nettle on 20 Aug 2008, 18:39
What do you like about keeping a pet spider? (curious)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: bbqrocks on 20 Aug 2008, 18:48
If I liked the way spiders moved, then I too would love them as pets. Hell...Their fast predators that you can keep in a box.

Do you guys have to buy live bait for them, or what? Cos I used to have nightmares about the local pet store bait...They had all the insects and stuff up on the top shelf, and I could just imagine me standing there and suddenly, everything slides off and I get covered in beetles.

It's the way spiders and some beetle type thing's work that scare me. I'm not very squeamish (couldn't care less about blood or nasty injuries, apart from to the testicular region), it's just the way their legs...Uhhh.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: KvP on 20 Aug 2008, 18:58
japan is also where asian giant hornets (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_giant_hornet) live.
Man, I fucking hate wasps. If anybody gets between me and escape from these things they best be prepared to die.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: est on 20 Aug 2008, 19:32
Quote
Although a handful of Asian giant hornets can easily defeat the defenses of many individual honey bees, whose small stings cannot inflict much damage against such a large predator, the Japanese honey bee possesses a collective defense against them.  When a hornet scout locates and approaches a Japanese honey bee hive it will emit specific pheromonal hunting signals. When the honey bees detect these pheromones, a hundred or so will gather near the entrance of the nest and keep it open, apparently to draw the hornet further into the hive or allow it to enter on its own. As the hornet enters the nest, a large mob of about five hundred honey bees surrounds it, completely covering it and preventing it from moving, and begin quickly vibrating their flight muscles. This has the effect of raising the temperature of the honey bee mass to 47 °C (117 °F). The honey bees can just about tolerate this temperature, but the hornet cannot survive more than 45 °C (113 °F), so it dies. Often several bees perish along with the intruder, but the death of the hornet scout prevents it from summoning reinforcements which would wipe out the colony

awesome
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Blue Kitty on 20 Aug 2008, 19:32
Asian Giant Hornets

Holy fuck, those things take on Mantises and win.

Quote
Between 20 and 40 people die each year in Japan after being stung by giant hornets

I know it really isn't all that much compared to other things, but now I am a little scared to go to Japan
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Leinad on 20 Aug 2008, 19:33
I read that article and had to show it to my dad, who, for once, was actually surprised at something in the animal kingdom. I am actually totally wanting a video game of this now.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: bbqrocks on 20 Aug 2008, 19:40
The guy on that article is holding it in his hand. His goddamned hand.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: RobbieOC on 20 Aug 2008, 19:55
Japanese Spider Crab.

I saw some of these in an aquarium once and it was the first time I can ever remember being terrified of an animal in a cage. Just so big and scary.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Leinad on 20 Aug 2008, 19:56
I am fairly certain that is a dead and dried/preserved specimen.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: tania on 20 Aug 2008, 20:07
here is a video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4wRIERp6Vs) showing some 50 or so giant asian hornets somehow taking on and killing an entire nest of honey bees, just in case you have somehow made it this far without thinking they are completely horrific in every way. you can probably skip to about 1:30.
even though they are just insects it is still kind of nauseating and upsetting to watch. fair warning.

edit: oh hey i forgot this video ends with a different colony of bees doing that thing est mentioned. kind of awesome and not completely depressing after all
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: ViolentDove on 20 Aug 2008, 20:08
If you thought the Japanese Spider Crab was scary, you'll love the coconut crab.

Quote
The world's biggest crab can climb a coconut palm to look for food. Sometimes, it can even attack humans.

Also,

Quote
Should a coconut crab pinch a person, this is not only painful but the frightened crab will usually hold fast. Thomas Hale Streets reports the following trick, used by Micronesians of the Line Islands, to get a coconut crab to loosen its grip:

   "it may be interesting to know that in such a dilemma a gentle titillation of the under soft parts of the body with any light material will cause the crab to loose his hold."
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: hipster jesus on 20 Aug 2008, 20:08
There are only two things in the entire animal kingdom that I am afraid of, and this thread has both of them.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Cartilage Head on 20 Aug 2008, 20:28
I prefer kitties.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: RedLion on 20 Aug 2008, 20:40
I have no problem with bugs or worms or caterpillars or any of that shit, but spiders scare the shit out of me. Always have. I honestly think I have a mild case of arachnophobia. I seriously have like an irrational "HOLY FUCK GET THE FUCKING THING AWAY" reaction.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Liz on 20 Aug 2008, 20:56
I have no problem with spiders or snakes or the things that typically creep people out. Sure, they'll startle me if one comes out of nowhere, but I'm not going to hyperventilate and die. I was the kid that picked up little garter snakes to chase people with. Also, I apparently let a tarantula climb all over me at a zoo when I was three! Naturally I don't remember this occurring, but my mom swears it happened.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: RedLion on 20 Aug 2008, 21:01
Ah, yes, now snakes, that is something that I have no problem with, and that I like. I can't see why people are afraid of them.

But spiders--fuck.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: tania on 20 Aug 2008, 21:08
no animal needs more than four legs. that isn't right.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: KvP on 20 Aug 2008, 21:16
We used to have lots of daddy longlegs around here. Having eight legs is bad enough, but when they're all long and spindly... icky.

That having been said, spiders don't really bother me. Hell, back in eighth grade I took a spider biology course over at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and I would build traps out of coffee cans filled with antifreeze and put them in the ground. The spiders would just fall right in. Even the little ones have pretty impressive fangs when you look at them under the right magnification. I think having a tarantula as a pet is certainly novel, but I'd imagine it's just like owning a snake (which I had, at one point) once the novelty wears off you're left with a creature whose relationship with you pretty much begins and ends with feeding.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Edith on 20 Aug 2008, 21:40
I ate a daddy longlegs once, on a dare. It was crunchy and tasted like peppermint. I almost threw up after.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: KvP on 20 Aug 2008, 21:56
 :-(
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Alex C on 20 Aug 2008, 23:11
Reading this thread because I couldn't get sleep was the worst idea ever. Years from now I will still be awake. I can see myself already, curled upon my bed, pale and drawn. A broken man, clutching a crowbar and contemplating how much longer until evolution results in coconut crabs scurrying around and latching onto people's heads.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Boro_Bandito on 20 Aug 2008, 23:47
We used to have lots of daddy longlegs around here. Having eight legs is bad enough, but when they're all long and spindly... icky.

That having been said, spiders don't really bother me. Hell, back in eighth grade I took a spider biology course over at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science and I would build traps out of coffee cans filled with antifreeze and put them in the ground. The spiders would just fall right in. Even the little ones have pretty impressive fangs when you look at them under the right magnification. I think having a tarantula as a pet is certainly novel, but I'd imagine it's just like owning a snake (which I had, at one point) once the novelty wears off you're left with a creature whose relationship with you pretty much begins and ends with feeding.

I own a ball python, and yeah, pretty much. I'm not particularly afraid of tarantulas, in fact they are the spiders I'm least afraid of because they're big enough so I can keep an eye on them, if you know what I mean. Most of them aren't very poisonous and if they bit you it wouldn't mean death, like with a lot of smaller spider species. Not to mention they're furry. I had a friend who had one as a kid, but it really wasn't all that interesting. Plus my snake is chill and I'm way more comfortable handling it then i would be a tarantula any day, and can hang out around my neck or on my shoulders, I wouldn't put a spider there. ever.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: HellStorm on 21 Aug 2008, 06:20
I ate a daddy longlegs once, on a dare. It was crunchy and tasted like peppermint. I almost threw up after.

I thought that they were meant to be like the most poisonous spider or something, but they didn't have fangs big enough to pierce human skin.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Eli on 21 Aug 2008, 06:56
I thought that, too, but I just looked it up and it's not true.

I'm really afraid of spiders, snakes, and rats. Mice don't bother me, but ever since 1984, I've been terrified of rats. Tarantulas are better than smaller spiders because you can watch them, but I'm sure I'd freak out more if I didn't know one was around and it suddenly appeared. Pet snakes are okay, but after living in Georgia and seeing rattlesnakes and water moccasins all the time, I hate wild snakes.

The rest of the horror movie animals people have mentioned I hope never to see.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: HellStorm on 21 Aug 2008, 07:30
I've never really had a problem with tarantulas.
When I was small I lived in Indonesia, and one day my dad came home from work with this picture of a tarantula that they found in the toilets at work. My mum then told him that she'd been shooing that same spider from the boot of the car with a broom everyday.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Oli on 21 Aug 2008, 08:40
I ate a daddy longlegs once, on a dare. It was crunchy and tasted like peppermint.

That is some excellent trivia.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Katherine on 21 Aug 2008, 11:24
I'm pretty sure if I saw a tarantula on its own, not in a cage or anything, just you know, hanging out - my head would cave in. 

If you don't like spiders, do not Google banana spiders.  Trust me.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: bbqrocks on 21 Aug 2008, 12:42
I wouldn't google 'brown widow spider', 'camel spider', or 'goliath bird eating spider'- or at least I won't, not now..
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Oli on 21 Aug 2008, 12:45
If you don't like spiders, do not Google banana spiders.  Trust me.

(http://www.worth1000.com/entries/199500/199850pvXT_w.jpg)??
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Katherine on 21 Aug 2008, 13:43
They are big, and yellow and scary as fuck.  Don't do it.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: hipster jesus on 21 Aug 2008, 13:47
Do it. You know you wanna.
I'm just saying this because I don't want to be the only person who was dumb enough to actually do that.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: JediBendu on 21 Aug 2008, 14:35
I'm really afraid of spiders, snakes, and rats. Mice don't bother me, but ever since 1984, I've been terrified of rats.

I am unreasonably terrified of rodent infestations. But other than that I don't really have animal phobias.

Anytime an insect or pest surprises me while indoors I get pretty shaken though. I've had a roach fall on my face while laying down once and I've also been stung by a wasp while sleeping in bed once as well.

I'll probably flip shit if I ever have to spend time in a house with mice or rats though.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: BankHoldUp on 21 Aug 2008, 16:35
Japanese Spider Crab.

Apparently, these things are omnivorous as well...and are big enough that, if one really wanted to, it could fucking eat you.

On topic: I have a mexican red knee tarantula named Charlotte. I have since stopped trying to keep the lid on her cage since she always seems to figure out how to escape..so for the most part she just roams around my apartment. She goes back into the cage when shes hungry as that is only place I'll put live crickets but then gets back out to go hang out on the back of the couch or something.

It's really strange, she behaves like almost like a  cat...an eight-legged, cricket-eating, guest-scaring cat.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: ViolentDove on 21 Aug 2008, 17:29
On the topic of unusual pets, I desperately want a pet Quoll (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quoll). Seriously, they are so awesome. Cute, furry, carnivorous, and the only guy I know who has looked after one claims they combine the best aspects of a dog and a cat into one animal. And they're nocturnal, so they sleep while you're at work and wake up when you get home.

People in this country make a big deal about how feral cats and dogs cause hideous amounts of damage to native species, and yet the government doesn't allow the public any decent alternatives. Quolls are the alternative! Also, they're endangered so domesticating them would save another species from extinction. Here are some pictures of Quolls, to make up for scaring people with coconut crabs.

(http://www.home.acenet.net.au/rhysparry/images/Quoll%20on%20rock.jpg)

(http://www.flamungo.de/wp-content/themes/glossyblue-1-4/images/Quoll-Yawn.jpg)

(http://www.ozanimals.com/image/albums/australia/Mammal/normal_W-TigerQuoll_SeanMcClean.jpg)

Baby Quoll (awwww):

(http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/images/about_the_epa/epa-bulletin/12-quoll.jpg)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Liz on 21 Aug 2008, 17:31
Sharp pointy teeth, but somehow adorable.

I want one.

EDIT: Ah, c'mon, pagebreak.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Oli on 21 Aug 2008, 17:40
I don't think domesticating is really the best way to save a species. I mean sure it's will keep it from being extinct in the sense that there are none left, but it could still end up extinct in the wild.

On the other hand OMG CUTE! If they are as low maintenence as kitties and purrrr I am sold.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: ViolentDove on 21 Aug 2008, 17:49
It's definitely not the best way. But it might be the only way, in this case. The main threats are from feral animals and habitat loss. Unfortunately neither of these problems are likely to go away any time soon. I'd rather see these guys exist in a domestic context than not exist at all.

And it's also part and parcel of the whole attitude shift that really needs to happen in Australia. Rather than imposing a euro-centric view of introduced animals as pets and feed stock, high water-use crops, etc. we should be shifting towards practices that better suit the country we're in.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Jimmy the Squid on 21 Aug 2008, 18:01
One would hope that over the last two hundred years we'd have realised that european farming methods won't work outside of a temperate zone.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Insectile on 21 Aug 2008, 18:03
Quolls are cute but ill stick with giant spiders or one of those awesome coconut crabs

Someone said thier tarantulas kept dieing, maybe Humidity was to low or the tempature was to extreme for the species
                                                        
 Also in most species males die quickly but female tarantulas can live up to 20 years
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Vendetagainst on 21 Aug 2008, 18:08
I want a pet red panda, they are cuter than the cutest of buttons.

Also, oh hey, look at this cute little guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net-casting_spider)!

Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: ViolentDove on 21 Aug 2008, 18:53
Roxie, can you please post a picture of your glider sometime?

We're not even allowed sugar gliders as pets in NSW.  :-(
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Inlander on 21 Aug 2008, 19:02
Quolls are cute and all, but if we ever get to a stage in Australia where we're allowed to keep native animals as pets, I'm going straight for the Striped Possum:

(http://cms.jcu.edu.au/idc/groups/public/documents/presentation/jcudev_009635~3.3.jpg)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Edith on 21 Aug 2008, 19:02
Oh my god, it's a skunk in a tree! (CUUUUUUTE)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Inlander on 21 Aug 2008, 19:10
Things that make the Striped Possum cuter than a skunk:

1) It doesn't spray stinky stuff at you;
2) It's only around 25 centimetres long (that's less than a foot for the Americans in the audience).

Oh, and:

3) It's a marsupial (so it gets points for oddness).
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Vendetagainst on 21 Aug 2008, 19:15
awwwwwww.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Inlander on 21 Aug 2008, 19:18
Wait, so are we making this another just pet thread?
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Liz on 21 Aug 2008, 19:38
Screw cute little pets, I want an attack animal. Something mean that will strike fear into the hearts of men.

(http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/mainpics/4108753.jpg)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: HellStorm on 22 Aug 2008, 01:01
I tend to have a habit of owning disfigured pets. My hamster has 3 feet, and my cat has 1.5 ears.
My old cat came to us after someone found him in the middle of the road waiting to be killed. He had about 12 abscesses(sp?) under his chin and down his throat. He also had a constant cold/flu, had a broken tail that hung off the healthy bit all dangly, and was the thinnest cat that I have ever seen alivBut we nursed him back to health, and he lived with us for about 6 years, I think he was about 13ish when he came to us, so that would make him about 19, which isn't bad considering.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Katherine on 22 Aug 2008, 08:00
I had a pet crayfish that only had one claw.  His name was Craystopher and he ate hot dogs.

I would really like a pet Thirteen-Striped Ground Squirrel.  http://encarta.msn.com/media_481500338_761552980_-1_1/thirteen-striped_ground_squirrel.html (http://encarta.msn.com/media_481500338_761552980_-1_1/thirteen-striped_ground_squirrel.html)

Cute as heck!

(http://images.encarta.msn.com/xrefmedia/sharemed/targets/images/pho/t049/T049798A.jpg)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Hairy Joe Bob on 22 Aug 2008, 08:21
I want a BEAR.

(http://lolbears.com/angry-bears.jpg)

RARGH
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Scrambled Egg Machine on 22 Aug 2008, 08:52
I have wanted a Malaysian Coconut Crab for a long time. Maybe when I go to college.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Eli on 22 Aug 2008, 09:10
I really want a sugar glider, but I'm worried that my puppy (http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a10/funkigurl/l_5f8841eb8105e4b2069e352bddf391f4.jpg) would eat it. For some reason, Australian shepherds like to snap at things that fly through the air.

As for wild animals I'd want as pets: DROP BEAR (http://med-legend.com/mt/archives/images/2006/10/dropbear.jpg). (But a koala will suffice since drop bears aren't real.)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: jhocking on 22 Aug 2008, 09:47
just spotted on another forum:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqlBruE8C7U&feature=related
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Liz on 22 Aug 2008, 10:05
Oh that was cute. Now I want a Roomba and a kitty so they can keep me entertained for a while.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 22 Aug 2008, 12:49
i've always wanted one of these (http://www.ingolfwetrust.com/golf-central/content/binary/giant-bat.jpg), except friendly and you know...disease-free.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Dissy on 22 Aug 2008, 15:46
So, apparantly, if a Japanese Spider Crab were to kill and eat you, it would  shit on you first (http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_does_a_Japanese_spider_crab_eat_its_food)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Jimmy the Squid on 22 Aug 2008, 18:02
Australian shepherds

Eh? Is that like a Blue Heeler (http://www.nextdaypets.com/directory/breeds/images/1100018.jpg) or something?
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Eli on 22 Aug 2008, 18:54
Nope (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Shepherd). My boyfriend's family has 4 (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dogbert32/P1000581.jpg) of (http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/Dogbert32/P1010034.jpg) them (http://a799.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/109/l_d209a31ab9058c92be56cebf2a4a0f86.jpg). (I don't have a picture of the last one.)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Jimmy the Squid on 22 Aug 2008, 19:20
That dog is a lie. It's not Australian which explains why I've never heard of one nor seen a dog that looks like that.

I want one of these little guys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongoose) but they are apparently illegal. Maybe I can settle for one of these guys (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meerkat)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Vendetagainst on 22 Aug 2008, 19:30
I want a mongoose too! Ever since I read Rikki-Tikki-Tavi when I was little. Though I'd also like a largely snake, and I don't think they'd get along.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Inlander on 22 Aug 2008, 20:21
That dog is a lie.

Jimmy speaks the truth. I guess the Wikipedia page explains the origin of the name, but it needs reiterating: "Australian shepherd" is a term that I have never, ever, EVER heard used in Australia. What a silly name for a dog! Especially when Australia actually has a genuine and excellent sheep-dog breed that is used here extensively. It's called a Kelpie (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Kelpie).
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Scandanavian War Machine on 22 Aug 2008, 20:45
huh.

i did not know that. i have an australian shepherd and i always assumed they originated Australia. imagine that.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Eris on 23 Aug 2008, 17:43
I, like Jimmy, assumed an Australian Shephard was a Blue Heeler. I kind of related with the "bite anything flying through the air" thing, because my dog would go nuts over leaves when they would be blown about. But then again, most dogs have that deal, that's why there's all the people who play frisbee with dogs. I have seen those dogs around here before, but I just thought they were short-haired Lassie Dogs or soemthing. Generic colour-with-white-chest-and-feet dog.

I want pretty boring pets compared to you guys. I either want a big scary dawg (German Shepherd or Rottweiler) because a) they are pretty cool dogs and b) it would look hilarious with a smll woman walking a big fuck-off dog; or a Russian Blue cat, so I can name him Alexander, after Tsar Aleksander of Russia and have my too cats be Willow and Xander (they are also beautiful cats and have wanted one since I was 12 and not allowed a cat at all).

I will probably get neither of these pets, because of the cost of getting them, and the fact that I am too lazy to properly exercise a big fuck-off dog. But I can dream, right?
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Drill King on 23 Aug 2008, 22:28
The sheer amount of awesome animals on this page(and the end of the last page) make up for the fear that I have of coconut crabs. The spider crabs? I'm okay.

Coconut crabs are like fucking dogs
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Social Bacon on 23 Aug 2008, 22:39
A newfie is my dream dog. They make coconut crabs look tiny. Or perhaps I'll get another elkhound, I loved my old elkhound to death. But I'll likely do what I've always done with dogs and go to the pound and take home whatever dog is about to be put down. It always makes me sad that I can't take all the dogs home :-(
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: tania on 24 Aug 2008, 08:31
my sister and her husband have an australian shepherd. i think he's pretty rad but the feeling does not appear to be mutual.

since this is apparantly the pet thread now, here is xenu -

(http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2382/xenu1qx8.jpg)

he is hard to photograph. also i did not name him and i kind of think xenu is a stupid name.

my other housemate has a rabbit that is enormous and looks like a lion and growls at everybody. i am sort of terrified of him so maybe i'll get pictures another day.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: jhocking on 24 Aug 2008, 18:07
You are scared of a rabbit. A rabbit.

I realize you are perfectly aware of this fact, but I feel it needs to be emphasized.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: tania on 24 Aug 2008, 18:17
he has a mane, like what lions have. and he growls! and scratches! and stomps so hard it shakes the entire house!

i'm not crazy!
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: KvP on 24 Aug 2008, 19:17
Rabbits are assholes
(http://files.nintendic.com/nintendic/sam-and-max.jpg)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Jimmy the Squid on 24 Aug 2008, 19:37
When my brother used to live with the drummer in his band they found a rabbit in the back yard one day. They ended up keeping him and naming him Kit. Kit played the drums by running and jumping onto the kick pedal of the bass drum over and over again when they let him run around inside the house. It was pretty adorable.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Edith on 24 Aug 2008, 19:42
Rabbits freak me out. When I was at Tania's, I let the rat crawl around inside my shirt but I wouldn't even go look at the rabbit. Rats > Rabbits.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Liz on 24 Aug 2008, 21:06
Guys I thought we could all find this article useful: http://www.wikihow.com/Pick-a-Pet-Tarantula
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Boro_Bandito on 24 Aug 2008, 22:32
You know, I don't really want a tarantula, but if I got one it'd be a mexican red knee. Unfortunately it may not be compatible with the pet i really want. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coati)

Also, Bennet Wallaby.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: David_Dovey on 25 Aug 2008, 02:10
My girlfriend knows that the only thing in the world I'm really phobic of is spiders, and yet she still insists on getting a pet tarantula, and possibly a big spider tattoo.

I just want a puppy  :-(

EDIT:

Quote
The coati... also known as the... snookum bear

AWWWWWWW HAW
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: mooface on 25 Aug 2008, 04:08
(http://photos-d.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v264/55/6/1402230136/n1402230136_30358691_1939.jpg)

mussolini does not approve of the rabbit hating.  mussolini says "YOU MUST LOVE ME OR I WILL LASER YOU"
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Inlander on 25 Aug 2008, 04:12
Calling your rabbit "Mussolini" is not going to help with the hating, I fear.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Eris on 25 Aug 2008, 04:13
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v663/Lapuz/bubbles2.jpg)

Bubbles wants to know what's going on here, guys.

(seriously, he is probably the sweetest rabbit I have owned. Not all rabbits are scary growling creepies)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: jhocking on 25 Aug 2008, 18:20
Not all rabbits are scary growling creepies

Not all? not any!

tania is just a fucking pansy
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Alex C on 25 Aug 2008, 18:36
Actually, I had a friend whose rabbit got infected with rabies. That thing was definitely creepy. It's an extremely uncommon occurrencea lot of places don't even require them to be vaccinated for anything since pet rabbits and other such pets are typically never exposed or are just outright killed in the initial attack attack anyway. In this case they never really did find out exactly how the rabbit was infected to begin with.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Inlander on 25 Aug 2008, 19:44
Sorry roxie, but that's kind of weird and a bit creepy.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: WriterofAllWrongs on 25 Aug 2008, 20:22
I don't know why, but it seems like being naked with a bird in close proximity should be a misdemeanor in certain states. 
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: jhocking on 25 Aug 2008, 20:36
man I wouldn't so much be concerned about impropriety as the physical danger. Parrots would just as soon bite your finger off as look at you, no way I'd go anywhere near one with exposed tackle.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: tuna ketchup x on 26 Aug 2008, 10:19
I'd like to get a pair of rats but I think my four cats would have something to say about that. Probably just "thanks for the snack, hooman!" However I am deathly afraid of spiders and wouldn't go into the pet shop when I was a kid because there were spiders there. However, I am going to get a hermit crab because I don't think my cats will eat it (and it'd be in a sealed room during the day) and I can set up its habitat as a post-apocalyptic zombie world. They're pretty boring though. I love my cats like kids but they sort of preclude owning other animals, super-predators that they are.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Fenriswolf on 26 Aug 2008, 21:58
The showering bird is awesome.  :laugh:

 Rats + cats is OK, you just need to supervise. Rats aren't traumatised by being sized up like birds, they tend to be more like "come here then, I bite you!" You need to make sure the cage is not one that the rat can get out of or cats can get into of course. I have cats and dogs and just got a rat (I'm a sucker) - the dogs are more keen on the rat than the cats. I have bird-eating cats. I just have him out when there are no predators around and tell the dogs off if they get too starey
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Oli on 27 Aug 2008, 10:49
Now Get This! We feed the rats to the cats and the cats to the rats and get the cat skins for nothing!
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Alex C on 27 Aug 2008, 16:50
Depends on the breed. My rat terrier chihuahua mix is a classic feist, despite her runty size (she's all of 11 pounds). She's built like a little greyhound with really long legs and basically she spends all her free time stalking and killing anything unlucky enough to be born smaller than her. By contrast, our old bernese mountain dog basically didn't even move if he could avoid it.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Fenriswolf on 27 Aug 2008, 23:16
Yeah depends on the cats really. No way a bird wouldn't get eaten in our house, but the cats just aren't as excited by the rat. Our dogs OTOH like to try and get the feral rats along the coast where we walk sometimes so are quite excited. Not impossible to break their concentration though so not too bad.

I never knew there were short-haired St Bernards. Are they uncommon?
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: RedLion on 28 Aug 2008, 10:09
Man, I want a husky puppy

(http://www.gotpetsonline.com/pictures-gallery/dog-pictures-breeders-puppies-rescue/siberian-husky-pictures-breeders-puppies-rescue/pictures/siberian-husky-0372.jpg)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: WriterofAllWrongs on 28 Aug 2008, 12:18
That thing is painfully cute.  I just want to feed it and take out for a walk and scold it for making number 2 on my new oriental rug, but of course I can't stay mad at it, so I just rub his/her nose in it and take him out for a walk.  I'd name it Edmund, regardless of gender.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Fenriswolf on 28 Aug 2008, 19:19
Yeah when I first saw the picture I was like "what?" then realised you said you had St Bernards so there must be short-haired versions. It seriously changes their face.

Personally I kind of disapprove of Huskies for most people. I know, lets get a really high-drive dog with lots of fur! Yay! That needs ideally two decent runs a day - but only early morning or late evening because they overheat! And need lots of brushing! But, but, they have blue eyes and are cuuute *sigh*
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: clockworkjames on 29 Aug 2008, 11:59
I caught a spider a few days ago, I keep him in a coffee jar with some grass and a little box of wool in it, he gets fed flies.

Does that count?

Oh and offtopic-
Cute puppys?
You asked for it.
My akita.
(http://cdn-www.dailypuppy.com/media/dogs/anonymous/kisu_akita_04.jpg_w450.jpg)
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Alex C on 29 Aug 2008, 12:17
I love how exceptionally sturdy breed puppies always look so tired. I imagine it's from lugging around the head and paws that don't quite fit their tiny, fuzzy li'l bodies yet.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Boro_Bandito on 29 Aug 2008, 23:13
Isn't that an old picture of your Akita?
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: WriterofAllWrongs on 30 Aug 2008, 10:37
Puppies in general are usually painfully adorable, but I don't think many of them can reach this level (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bebLZfd1Ulc).

oh my god
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: clockworkjames on 30 Aug 2008, 10:38
Yeah that pic is almost 2 years old now, she lives with my dad so I hardly get to see her.

She is similar but fat and big now.

I also got a new spider this morning, he was in the kitchen.

[EDIT] Corgis are cute, but annoying as hell man.

Seriously.

I like little big dogs :D
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGJxUuKmJ5k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wO2WQCygGNA
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: HellStorm on 31 Aug 2008, 11:16
Alsation puppies are amazingly cute
 
(http://vomstaabkennels.com/images/puppy_in_hat.jpg)

My sister used to live at a horse yard where they had a load and 2 grown up ones
I got to help with the baby ones  :lol:

When I have a cat that isn't likely to try to chew its nose off whilst its sleeping, I'm definitly getting one  :laugh:
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: clockworkjames on 01 Sep 2008, 15:19
Alsations stay amazingly cute, mine is 8 and AWESOME.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: BrilliantEraser on 12 Sep 2008, 11:35
Tarantulas actually make really good pets. If you take care of them, they can live way longer than just a few years. Females get up to 20 years of age, while males only make it to 7 or 8. One of my teachers had a Mexican Red Knee female, and she was really cool.

And... the pet I really would like to own is an axolotl.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolotl

Too bad they are, you know, almost endangered.  :-(
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: clockworkjames on 15 Sep 2008, 07:07
I saw a picture of one of them as a wooper pokemon card. Turns out from that page you linked they are sold in japan under the name of wooper rooper as pets.

Consider me enlightened.
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: HellStorm on 24 Sep 2008, 11:06
One of my best friends used to have 2 axolotls called Brad and Janet
Dunno what happened to 'em though
Also, I'm getting 2 chinchillas soon :D
Title: Re: Tarantulas as pets
Post by: Inlander on 25 Sep 2008, 05:41
Axolotls are pretty damn boring pets, actually. Once the novelty wears off - and it will - you're left with an amphibian that does pretty much nothing at all for about 23 hours out of every day. (The other hour it eats whatever you drop into the tank.)