Arachnids Input Please

I have been doing Arachnid presentation this week in the media center. I either read a Non-Fiction book about arachnids or show a power point presentation I have made up. I also show video clips from a Magic School Bus and Jeff Corwin. Then I show my Rose Hair. If I were stupid enough to get another arachnid what would be a good kind. I will be housing it in a sterlite container. Matt remember it has to be simple enough for a dummy like me to take care of and to handle for demos.

Like I told you before...I Love the Cobalt Blue Spiders....or maybe a nice emperor scorpion???? They usually are a great conversation piece....

aren't cobalt blues big?!?!?! i'm not a spider fan... maybe scorp's but that'd be it. go with a goliath bird eater.

DO NOT get a cobalt blue for htem to handle, its a pet hole, and mean. Stay away from P. minurs too. For a good easy spider, Avics, Bracies. Thats all i can think off. Bracies are hair flickers and is very common happening.

don't know alot about spiders... but what would happen if it bit you? and how big are they?

Originally Posted by MoogleBass

Stay away from P. minurs too.

Aww come on man, Pterinochilus murinus isn't all THAT bad

See? Friendly as a puppy

Dan, what species are you referring to? If you're referring to the cobalt blues, they're about the same size as most tarantulas (4-5 inches with the legs) and not regarded as an unusually large species. Regaredless, it doesn't matter much. Tarantulas are not deadly. Most bites are about as dangerous as a bee sting, but like a bee sting, they can be dangerous if you're allergic. How do you tell if you're allergic to tarantula venom? Get bit and if you react, you're allergic (I don't advise this testing method, hehe). In any case, the fangs are huge though, so it would hurt A LOT, and some species may make you a little ill (P. murinus is supposedly one of those species). And unfortunately, though cobalt blues make poor beginner species, goliath birdeaters are not exactly a recomended first-timer's tarantula either

And to address the main point of this thread (I didn't forget you Colleen!), since you're already showing a rose-haired, it might be preferable to get a scorpion rather than another tarantula (for variety). The general public is usually under the impression that 'arachnid' is synonymous with 'spider', and don't realize that other creatures are included.

As far as good beginner scorpions go, I recommend emperors (Pandinus imperator), flatrock scorpions (Hadogenes sp.), forest scorpions (Heterometrus sp.), or hairy scorpions (Hadrurus sp.).

- Emperors are very "standard", which can be good for availability, but bad if you want something they haven't already seen (they're to scorpions what rose-hairs are to tarantulas). They also require a very hot and humid environment (80 degrees F and 80% humidity). If you can easily maintain that, then go for it.

- Forest scorpions look almost identical to emperors, and so is their care, but like the majority of arachnid pets they're hard to find in pet stores but easier online.

- Flatrocks are huge. Though not quite as stocky as emperors (which are often regarded as the largest scorpions), males are definitely longer. They're inexpensive, rather harmless, and unlike emps they prefer an easy to maintain dry environment. The downside is they can fast for months at a time.

- Hairy scorpions (Hadrurus spadix and Hadrurus arizonensis) are fairly cheap, hardy eaters, energetic, non-lethal, and easy to care for. They're desert species, which makes the environment easy to maintain. Though they won't kill you, the sting is slightly more potent than an emperor, but the main thing is they are not good for handling. They are smaller than the above species also, though they're the largest scorpions in North America.

Now if you want another tarantula most species in the genus Grammostola, Aphonopelma, and Brachypelma are relatively docile and easy to come by (online that is). Aphonopelmas can be skittish though, but Brachypelmas are very popular and generally easy going. Avicularia species are arboreal, but generally not too aggressive and very pretty.

I don't promote the handling of arachnids though. Not that I don't occasionally handle my own (especially when I'm doing talks, such as yours), but handling them has no benefit to the handler or the animal, and only poses risk. It's not that it will necessarily do harm, but I'm inclined to advise against it anyway Oh yeah, but a good way to pick out a good beginner (or good handling) species is to find out where it's native to. Old World species are NOT good tempered at all.

If you wanted something a bit more unusual, Mastigoproctus giganteus is a readily available and easy to keep species of uropygid which is an arachnid, but unlike anything those children (or you!) have likely seen

I have a striped knee tarantula and ive held him a few times.There not totally un handable but there fast and if there not in the mood they give you a fare warning by rearing up.The rear up means take your hand out of his cage.

Ive had mine for a year and im yet to be bettin or even close there nice to look at aswell.

Seems Matt is the one to turn to for more info than what i offer.

Originally Posted by MoogleBass

Seems Matt is the one to turn to for more info than what i offer.

Nah, I just had nothing else to do

Shhhh, not supposed to stay that lol.

Poce bites are the worst i think. Atleast from what ive read anyway.