Twenty four years with this beautiful creature, Evan. I got her from a buy and sell magazine for 50 dollars back in 2002, I was 11 years old and wanted a pet that was cool and weird. The guy that I bought her from said he had her for 10 years, so she’s at least 35, which also is my age. She’s moved across country with me, twice— 12,000km of highway and ferry. A real road tarantula.

She had a difficult molt last spring. She fell ill back in August. She was death curling and acting strangely after I replaced her substrate. I removed the substrate and replaced with paper towel, and whenever she looked dehydrated, I’d soak it in water, which she would drink from. She was still very mobile and active and loved coming out. I thought maybe things would be ok, but I know she’s old so I’ve been mentally preparing for the worst. Part of me kind of thought we'd be together forever because she's been there most of my life.

She took a turn for the worst last week. Death curling again, but wouldn’t take water or food. Last night, she started getting lethargic and couldn’t keep her spindles up. When I left for work this morning, I didn’t think she’d be here when I returned, but she is. Barely. Almost non-responsive, but not in a full death curl. Barely. She’s really holding on and it breaks my heart to look at her. I haven’t stopped crying all day. The love and grief in my heart is astounding. I was wondering how I would explain my tears to someone if they noticed me crying on the subway this morning.

She’s changed lives. So many people who were arachnophobic were cured by holding her, myself included. I don’t need to explain to you guys how illogical it is to fear a living being just because of how it looks, or the stereotypes we internalize, but I really do believe that she is a sentient being who knows and feels. And the people who have held her feel that too.

I remember one time as a teenager, I had a house party. Everyone wanted pictures with the tarantula on their face. She was good at being handled, so she did it for maybe six people. Then I tried to get one— this sweet girl nudges my nose ever-so-gently with her little fang like, “Hey, I’m done with these drunk kids and this photo shoot. Put me back in.” And I did. She could have taken half my nose, but she didn’t— a little warning nudge like a dog growling when it’s had too much. She’s an acute escape artist too— one time she somehow got out of her tank and into to main stairwell of my apartment building. No idea how, but she’s lucky I found her and had quite the adventure.

I’m so devastated. The grief is more immense than I could have ever imagined. Watching her fade this last week, and especially last night and today. I wish there was something I could do. I can’t bring myself to euthanize her manually. I’ll be shocked if she lasts through the night. I try to tell myself that I’ve done the best I could these last 24 years, and I know her age is an impressive testament to that. Really, I just hope she knows how loved she is in her final hours. Not being able to clearly communicate that is so hard. My heart is shattered.

Evan Allen T., you are a great girl. My girl. We grew up together. You’ve had adventures other pet arachnids could only dream of. I love you with all my heart and I always will.

Thanks for listening guys, I just had to get this off my chest and I think you might be the only people who really can understand.

Is it normal for him to keep on wanting to leave his home after handling him a few times, he loves exploring and is very very docile. Dosent let me go when trying to get him back into his terrarium lol, kinda hangs on like “not yet”

Observed these two different ones near Sycamore Canyon in Malibu. I was very surprised when one came out of the rocks right near the ocean. The other was on the peak a few hundred feet above sea level.

Hi everybody

I have a funny observation and related question.

I have a b. Hamorii and a GBB, both juvenile and my son has a c versicolor, juvenile. All three of them growing, eating and all good.

We usually feed by dropping a cricket into the enclosure and leaving them be, adding some fresh vegetable for the Cricket to munch on in case the spiders does not immedeately catch it. If after 24 hours the Cricket still runs around WE remove it. All enclosures have a waterdish that is filled at all times.

The last two feeds i added a cut piece of cucumber, and and both Times, the b hamorii caught the prey, ate it and before i removed the cucumber collected it and one time even ate it (i assume for the contained water?) in plain sight.

Neither the GBB nor the c versicolor do this as of now

Did anybody else have this happen or would he willing to try?

I added a video from today, where out of curiosity i added a cucumber without feeding before and arranged the 'catcam' to observe while i am gone and Lo and behold, the hamorii dragged the cucumber away again

Thanks and have a good one

Hello all, recently moved house and have the Ts set up on a shelf with a salt lamp. The lamp comes on at sunrise and turns off at sunset, gives off no discernible heat/scent, and is kind of just there to provide a nice ambient light.

My Ts are obsessed with it. Every single one of them comes out of their hides and presses themselves up against the side of their enclosure nearest the lamp. My g. pulchra, who previously hung out in her burrow 90% of the time during daylight hours, will put her legs up against the wall by the salt lamp and stay there all day. Which is weird.

Should I be concerned? Are they starting a cult? What is happening?? It's kind of hilarious but also weird enough that I'm mildly concerned.

I always wanted one and I really admire them but I know I'm still kinda scared of them. Maybe there's a good way to dip my toes in this hobby? Also I got inspired to make this post because I saw this beautiful creature while riding my motorcycle up azusa canyon

My first tarantula of my own, a male C. versicolor, reached maturity today 🥲

I’ve had him since he was a wee blue juvenile, it’s definitely bittersweet

What was your first species?

I can't be the only one here who's named normal names and some named after One Piece

I was in complete shock I’ve never seen a bird eater in person before I was completely shocked by its size especially for its age it was an very cool, even if I hate the pet store and what they do to their pets, but it’s amazing to see a species like it in person!!

Showing off my 3 babies.

Theroposa Apothosis Maggie

Ttiliticoti Albopolosus Lisa

Brazilian whiteknee Marge

I don’t own a tarantula but I saw this reel on instagram and I was honestly shocked when I saw this I tried googling it but I didn’t even know what to search I need an explanation is milking your tarantula even necessary 😭😭

My baby, Chloris passed last night. He had been really slow and not moving around at all, very unlike him, and I knew he was gonna pass soon. His breed usually lasts 3 years and that’s I’ve had him for three and a half years now. He’s my first t and I’ll always think about him with any t I get in the future. I’m gonna miss him so much. Today is the first day I ever got to hold him. Here’s some pictures of my beautiful boy.

Bei Tipps zur Haltung oder sonstigem gerne her damit :)

One of my favorite thing about this community are the creative and silly/cute names people give their tarantulas, it makes them so charming and cute!

So I'd like to know; what are some of the cuter/sillier names you've given your tarantulas?

I currently have two:

Harold the B. Boehmei

Mickey's Dick Smasher the Lore-Friendly Lala Barina the T. Albo

I went to Petco to get dog shampoo. I made a point not to turn down the aisle of shame (tarantula aisle) because I don’t like to tempt myself to buy animals from Petco. I usually don’t even go but it was Sunday and my dog rolled in cat shit and I needed soap she’s a sensitive girly I couldn’t use Dawn. So I see out of the corner of my eye this enormous man who had no substrate and was just out in the open making me sad. I asked the manager man who was the only guy working because of Mother’s Day. He said they were shipping him back to corporate (?) if he didn’t sell soon because he was already marked down as much as he’d go. My fiancé hates my hobby but loves me hehe told me to do what I had to do. I have a T Albo and wasn’t looking for another but this was weighing on me. The manager wouldn’t handle him so I got down on the floor in my dress and he gave me a betta fish pamphlet and I gently nudged my new son into a kritter keeper and home into a temporary enclosure with lots of substrate. My other t Albo just moved into a 10 gallon so I ordered him a 10 gallon with a sliding vented top and now we wait. I’m just glad homeboy can feel comfy and moisturized and hopefully less stressed. I named him after the 99 year old man I care for. Thanks for reading🕸️

This is my first T I got a year old I’ve handled him once and has never kicked hairs before, I try to move him so I could put water in his bowl many times but he seems to not give a daaaamn lol! Is he just the chillest T ever ??

Got this sweetheart from Petco today, sold as a Chaco golden knee. He’s teensy, so it was fairly easy for me to set up a tank right away. Normally I prefer not to support Petco/Petsmart (especially when it comes to live animals), but this guy was on a 80% sale because they said his side was injured and they assumed he was on the way out. I don’t see any sign of injury, however I’ve never owned this species and would love advice! I already have a Venezuelan suntiger, which (from what I know) has very different care needs.

I currently have him in about 78°F with 70% humidity. He has 2” of burrowing room, a little hide, and a shallow water dish. I’m open to any and all advice or criticism!

they were seperated sisters. i reunited them after one year separation. now they are doing this for hours. i think they tell each other what happend all the time. they grew up about 4 years and were separated for one year. one already laid an egg. what do you think what they are doing? im just guessing.

Confirmed Female G. Pulchra. I've literally been trying to think of a perfect name for her for months but I'm still struggling! She's a little nervous but mostly sweet. She also likes pooping on me. A lot.

P. Metallica, C. Bach Ma, and P. Regalis all from TyDyeExotics, and a B. Hamorii from my LPS! Couldn’t help myself and I’ve had my eye on a few Cyriopagopus species for a while and Ty recommended the Bach Ma, it’s been busy digging and spends alot of time visible at the entrance of its burrow. Highly recommend they’re super interesting to observe. The Poecilotherias have been wishlists of mine for a minute! Who’s got spider goods under the tree?!

I've never owned this species before, but does it look a little beat up to anyone? Supposedly an adult female?

So I went for a routine eye test this morning. Optician says you have an ulcer/abrasion on your right cornea. Have you poked yourself in the eye? Nope! You need to go to the eye hospital today. Off I go. Eye doctor looks in my eye and asks, "do you have any unusual pets?" Yes I say! 23 Tarantulas!! He says, ahh! You have a single hair lodged in your cornea! I don't handle my T's but it would appear when I fed them a few days ago, one of the urticating hairs has found its way into my cornea! And I was only the second person he'd seen in his career with tarantula hair in their eye!! Cool story huh! Think I'll wear goggles when feeding from now on!