So I wanna talk my dad into a tarantula...

[MonitorLove]

And he hates tarantulas.
Actually, he just hates spiders in general. I'm the 'oh look it's a spider on the wall! I'm going to catch it and release it outside so that my dad won't squish the poor thing' type.
He's the 'O-M-G KILLITKILLITKILLIT' type.


But yeah...I absolutely love tarantulas. I love there many eyes, there many legs, the way they kinda scurry around, the whole nine yards. I saw some BEAUTIFUL pink toed's at the store the other day. Little baby ones. Cute-as-can-be. My dad even pointed out the fact that they were very pretty spiders (could he be softening?!)


Any tips on finally convincing him to allow one of these eight-legged wonders into the house?

[ride_gnu]

I dont know how to help you on this, but I always wondered, can you handle domesticated tarantula's?

[MonitorLove]

I dont know how to help you on this, but I always wondered, can you handle domesticated tarantula's?

Yes, but it does depend on the breed. Like snakes, some breeds of Tarantula tend to be more aggressive than others and may bite. Others just flick irritating hairs at you (I forgot there exact name, but they just make you itch).

It seems the more beautiful the spider, the more it will hate you and want to kill you when you try and pick it up.

[Michelle.C]

Most Tarantulas do not have medically significant venom, they are generally rather harmless.

Both Avicularia and Brachypelma are an excellent genus to start with. They have mild venom, and generally docile (except certain Avics can be flighty). Avicularia make for a more interesting display, if you ask me.

I'd do research and put together a bit of information about them, whichever species strikes your fancy. Once you reassure your father they are not dangerous, he'll come around to them.

Also, assure him that you would keep them in an escape proof enclosure.

They are called Urticating hairs, New World Tarantulas are especially kick happy with them.

[edie]

I dont know how to help you on this, but I always wondered, can you handle domesticated tarantula's?

There is no such thing as a domesticated tarantula, just as there is no domesticated snake - only ones we take into captivity or ones we breed in captivity. They are still wild, some just put up with human contact better than others.

There are a couple genus of tarantulas that are usually readily handleable - Grammostola, Brachypelma, Avicularia, and Aphonopelma. Just take him to a place around you that sells tarantulas and have him watch people handle them or have him handle one himself if he is up to it, some times if people just have one walk over their hands they kind of respect them more. Other than that you can't really force anyone into liking tarantulas or any spiders, but I have found that many people like tarantulas more than smaller spiders because they are "furry", I have even had people tell me they remind them of hamsters lol.

[_Venom_]

Get a scorpion.

[Montessa Python]

Go and join for free the ATSHQ.org, that is the american tarantula society.
They have a lot of great information about all types of T's.
And if you show you are willing to be educated, and have your dad read the posts from dr.'s in the field, people who write the books and who are finding new species.
Perhaps he can learn more about spiders and T's in general and find out how beneficial they are to humans.

He could have a true phobia against spiders, and I hate to say it, but you will probably be waiting till you move out on your own if that is the case.
A true fear of spiders is a hard thing to over come and it would be cruel of you to pressure him into letting you have one, if he truly has a deep fear of them.
Ask him and talk to him. That is a sign of maturity, get information on them, on what they need.
Avics need moisture/humidity, and are arboreal. Some are "pet holes", meaning they like and need deep substrate and you hardly ever see them.
Some brachy's are hair flingers, and you or your dad getting haird by a T is not fun.
It is like handling fiberglass insulation w/out gloves. And it lasts for hours or days.
But talk to him, and that is a good starting point.

Carol

[mischevious21]

Yea, all I have to say is good luck!! See, I was lucky with my parents- they didnt want a dog, so I brought home two. they fell in love and one even became the 'family dog' and they just love her to pices (the pit-X), then I wanted a snake. Mom said sure, why not? My step-dad I think has a little fear of them, but was too macho to admit it lol. Then my step-dad did NOT want rats, refused to have them!! So I started a breeding facility of them and he surrenderd. lmao.

Hell, the other day my mom got to finally see my new red tail girl, thats 6.5-7ft long and still growing, and what does she do? just picks it up and runs over to my step-dad saying "wow Phil, look how big she is!! Shes so pretty.. And stong!"... I have to admit, that kind of even shocked me, lol...

But anyway (sorry, I get off-track a lot), not all parents are like how mine were, and wont tolerate their child just bringing pets home. I think mine didnt have a problem with it because they were all fully my responsibilty, and they never had to so much as but a morsale of food or pay a single vet bill for any of them- aside from the family dog. But, ya never know good luck again!

[RoyalGuardian]

Yea, all I have to say is good luck!! See, I was lucky with my parents- they didnt want a dog, so I brought home two. they fell in love and one even became the 'family dog' and they just love her to pices (the pit-X), then I wanted a snake. Mom said sure, why not? My step-dad I think has a little fear of them, but was too macho to admit it lol. Then my step-dad did NOT want rats, refused to have them!! So I started a breeding facility of them and he surrenderd. lmao.

Hell, the other day my mom got to finally see my new red tail girl, thats 6.5-7ft long and still growing, and what does she do? just picks it up and runs over to my step-dad saying "wow Phil, look how big she is!! Shes so pretty.. And stong!"... I have to admit, that kind of even shocked me, lol...

But anyway (sorry, I get off-track a lot), not all parents are like how mine were, and wont tolerate their child just bringing pets home. I think mine didnt have a problem with it because they were all fully my responsibilty, and they never had to so much as but a morsale of food or pay a single vet bill for any of them- aside from the family dog. But, ya never know good luck again!

If my mom did that I the universe would collapse....

[mischevious21]

Yea, all I have to say is good luck!! See, I was lucky with my parents- they didnt want a dog, so I brought home two. they fell in love and one even became the 'family dog' and they just love her to pices (the pit-X), then I wanted a snake. Mom said sure, why not? My step-dad I think has a little fear of them, but was too macho to admit it lol. Then my step-dad did NOT want rats, refused to have them!! So I started a breeding facility of them and he surrenderd. lmao.

Hell, the other day my mom got to finally see my new red tail girl, thats 6.5-7ft long and still growing, and what does she do? just picks it up and runs over to my step-dad saying "wow Phil, look how big she is!! Shes so pretty.. And stong!"... I have to admit, that kind of even shocked me, lol...

But anyway (sorry, I get off-track a lot), not all parents are like how mine were, and wont tolerate their child just bringing pets home. I think mine didnt have a problem with it because they were all fully my responsibilty, and they never had to so much as but a morsale of food or pay a single vet bill for any of them- aside from the family dog. But, ya never know good luck again!

If my mom did that I the universe would collapse....

Yea lol, my mom was never 'afraid' of any of my snakes (I mean hell, she let me have five in her house lol), but still that was very random and completely unexspected. Especially since the biggest snake she had ever held was one of my BP's, that was about just the same length as her. My Mom: 4'11, 115-120lbs.. Tiny.. lmao..