Entering new territory. My first tarantula.

[Snagrio]

She randomly decided to sit out on the moss mound today.


Those tiny eyes are so unexpectedly cute.

[plateOfFlan]

Welcome to the wonderful world of owning a tarantula, where "my pet moved a few inches / is in a different position today!" becomes the most exciting thing to happen all week

[Bogertophis]

Welcome to the wonderful world of owning a tarantula, where "my pet moved a few inches / is in a different position today!" becomes the most exciting thing to happen all week

So true. But I think herp lovers are "observers" by nature & generally well-prepared for this. Or should be?

[plateOfFlan]

To be serious though, I think we can learn a lot from tarantulas. If they don't need anything, they don't do anything. And because of their simple brains, they can't really want anything they don't need. Since we give them just about everything they need in captivity, they end up spending most of their time just ... existing. It's a hard thing for a human to do, since we have so many thoughts and worries and wants and feelings.

[Bogertophis]

....It's a hard thing for a human to do, since we have so many thoughts and worries and wants and feelings.

And we do that to ourselves, too. It's why humans have so much trouble meditating, even though research suggests it's good for us on various levels. Switching off & being in the moment IS a challenge for us poor humans. And many pets do help us with that, to the extent we get the message & cooperate.

It probably goes all the way back to the idea of owning a piece of land- then we need a home for protection from the elements & as a place to store all of our "stuff", & we need a job to buy stuff & support all that, then lots of security to protect all that, & we no longer have time to grow or gather our own food, so we keep on working, because our vehicles wear out to go get stuff, & when we decide to relax, many of us can't wait to go somewhere else for a while, but that can be a stressful "can of worms" too.

[Snagrio]

What Boger said. Keeping snakes has gotten me long accustomed to pets that you rarely see do much of, well anything really. As I've alluded to in another thread though, that suites me just fine. I too don't like interacting with others most of the time unless food is involved.

[Bogertophis]

What Boger said. Keeping snakes has gotten me long accustomed to pets that you rarely see do much of, well anything really. As I've alluded to in another thread though, that suites me just fine. I too don't like interacting with others most of the time unless food is involved.

I see it as our pets setting a good example for us- it feels really good to hang out with animals- whether dogs or snakes or anything else you like- & just "be" in the moment, whether to relax or play, or share meals together- whatever. Our world is plenty complex & stressful- so taking the time to slow down & enjoy friends (human OR animal) is really beneficial & needed.

[YungRasputin]

Welcome to the wonderful world of owning a tarantula, where "my pet moved a few inches / is in a different position today!" becomes the most exciting thing to happen all week

lmao v true but still! a lot better than some fossorial species! i’ve gone full *years* without even *seeing* my S. crassipes and only knew they were alive because prey/water would disappear or they would occasionally chuck an old molt out of their tunnel systems

[Snagrio]

She got a free meal today. Got 3 crickets at the store and the girl at the checkout asked if that was all I was getting, and after I said yes she just gave me the bag back to go ahead and leave.

She's ravenous too. Grabbed all 3 one by one in short order. From my own observations and speaking with other T keepers she's underweight so I'm not surprised she's been quick on the uptake. With how long she was at that store they probably stopped feeding her at all...

[Bogertophis]

She's sounding like a "happy camper" to me. You're probably right that she wasn't fed much there (at the store).