8 legged rescue!

:O Some people!!!!


I was hanging out with my friend today and we decided to check out the local pet store. In the reptile section they had a young texas tan tarantula (2" I suppose? Maybe a bit smaller) but the manager and one of the employees came out with a group of leopard geckos that were going to be put on display. We were awwing over the geckos and all as they were complaining there was no room to put the geckos. The manager suggested they just kill the spider since no one had bought it and it was an 'ugly brown thing' :O

After a bit of a rant to the manager the tarantula is now in my possession(free of charge btw! Since he was going to just kill it anyway)


So.. looks like I got my tarantula after all. At least temporarily! Nathan doesn't know yet.

I'm not sure how to sex it. I'll put some pictures up later tonight when I get a chance. It's SO cute. I also got a couple small roaches after my little argument with the owners(they were in the cage with the tarantula), so I have food for a little bit, or at least a snack for the frog if they end up growing too big for the spider.

Only cell phone pics for now, but here you go.

First image shows his size
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_4685.jpg

This is just a clearer body shot
http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_5243.jpg

Nice! Glad you saved the little fella (or gal) from that guy's shoe.

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk

Kudos to you for saving what most people wouldn't give a second thought towards. Since it's not an adult your best bet for sexing would be by spermathecae(look for these inside the abdomen of a molt - present in females, absent in males) or epiandrous fusillae(bottom of the abdomen on the actual tarantula). Here are a couple links you may find useful, the second being part of a forum that is loaded with great information. They even have designated areas for posting pictures of your spider so other members can help you determine the sex.

http://www.tarantulas.com/sexing.html
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/gall...images.php?c=2


I wouldn't suggest offering roaches that have been in with the spider to other animals since they could have picked up some urticating hairs, I imagine these may be especially irritating to an amphibian.

Okay, that's a good point about the hairs and the roaches! I hadn't thought about that. Thanks for the links! At least for a while this guy will be in my care. I think we will end up finding a good home for him or her with a friend. LOL Nathan is not amused. He only wants one T and he wants it to be a colorful one. I know these guys are said to be pretty dang docile, so I feel okay about finding a good home for him where he will be taken care of. :D

http://gifs.gifbin.com/1233928590_ci...20clapping.gif

Awww!! He's cute! :aww: Congrats for saving the poor critter!! :gj:

Okay, one last picture for the night. Funny, Nathan was soooo mad about it last night(not mad that I saved it, just mad that I was going to keep it) and now that he's met the spider in person, he's torn if we should keep it or not! (REALLY cute spider in person!!)

But if the spider does find a new home, it's with one of our best friends, so we feel okay about that. If we do keep the spider, his/her name is now Humbug. My christmas miracle bug! :D

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k2...n/IMG_0765.jpg

Nice looking specimen you got there

Awww!

Humbug, I love it!

I am so very glad you were able to save him or her. It's really a shame, they would kill it. How is that any different than killing a snake or lizard or any other unconventional pet ?

Gale