 |
 |
 |
           |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
Need a Low-Maintenance Pet? Try a Tarantula!
If you're like me, then you don't really have the luxury of keeping a high-maintenance pet such as a dog. Even a less demanding pet such as a cat might be beyond your time constraints. Fish tanks can be difficult too, since it's easy to under-estimate the time and effort involved in keeping them clean. So what options do you have? Well, you could try a snake or one of the hardier lizard varieties. My personal favorites, however, are tarantulas. That's right-those big, hairy, eight-legged freaks. Contrary to popular belief, tarantulas are really not deadly; in fact, there are no known instances of anyone dying from a tarantula bite. In addition, most of the pet store specimens that you'll encounter are exceedingly docile, and will generally not bite unless they are severely provoked. The most common variety available is the Chilean rose hair tarantula (Grammastola rosea), which is notoriously gentle and easy to handle. It is also known to have fairly mild venom, and almost never bites. Other docile and readily available species include the Honduran curly hair tarantula (Brachypelma albopilosum) and the Guyana pinktoe tarantula (Avicularia avicularia). Unlike a dog or a cat, these animals do not require much care. They can go for weeks without food or water, although regular care is still recommended. They do not generate much waste either, and so cleaning their cages is easy as well. Some species do have rather specific humidity requirements, but the most common pet store varieties are not so demanding. They also require very little space, and most of them can be kept in plastic shoebox-sized containers. Make sure that their lids fit tightly though, since these animals can be quite good at escaping. I do recommend reading up on tarantula care, so as to learn the proper care requirements for the specimen that you choose. Be aware that some species can be quite aggressive, and are not recommended for beginners. These species are less commonly available though, and are generally obtained via mail order. If in doubt, start with a Chilean rose hair, as this is an excellent beginner species. Owners should be aware that even within docile species, there can be some individuals that are more aggressive than others. In addition, there is always the possibility of an allergic reaction if you are bitten. In theory, this could result in a potentially fatal anaphylactic shock, although I am not aware of any circumstances in which this has actually happened. For these reasons, new owners should learn how to read a tarantula's body language, and should stay away from species that have a reputation for biting without provocation. Also, do remember that you never have to actually hold the tarantulas-just as you never have to actually hold your aquarium fish. I recommend reading up on handling techniques, so that you can move the animals around without having to touch them. This can be helpful for those who are squeamish, or who simply wish to be cautious. When in doubt, err on the side of safety. If you're not intimidated by the prospect of keeping one of these wondrous creatures, then I recommend them highly. They can be quite addictive, and they never fail to entertain. About The Author V. Berba Velasco Jr., Ph.D. is a senior electrical and software engineer at Cellular Technology Ltd (http://www.immunospot.com, http://www.elispot-analyzers.de, http://www.elispot.cn). The neighborhood children have referred to him as the "Crocodile Hunter" though, due to his impressive menagerie of magnificent arachnids.
MORE RESOURCES:
Pets - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
The Power of Dogs Well first of all I was always a cat owner, till my husband bought our first Chihuahua (Stitch) in 2002, Stitch was about 6 weeks old and was generally purchased for our children and it stud that was till he was about 5 months or so. Then I started to notice that he was starting to favor me and follow me around more and more everyday, one day I hid from him and watched him run up and down the hallway from the crack in the bedroom door, until he found me and it just melted my heart, my cats never did that and after that he became ALL MINE Stitch stole my heart. Training Your Dog For A Happy Healthy Life Adopting a dog is a lot of fun, but it can also add a lot of responsibilities to your life. When you become a dog owner, you take on the responsibility to make sure your pet has everything he needs, a safe environment to live in, proper care, and everything he needs for a happy and healthy life! It's a big step to care for a dog, but you'll be rewarded with a loving companion. How To Stop Your Cat Spraying The cat backs up to the door, lifts the tail and releases a fine spray of urine. Yes, your cat is spraying. Preparing For Your New Dog - What You Need to Know Before He Comes Home Preparing yourself and your household before, during, and after your pet comes home is an essential step to successfully integrating your new puppy or dog into its new environment. Give the new puppy or dog plenty of time to adjust; most experts recommend at least ten days. BARF Diet For Dogs - Not As Gross As It Sounds! Are you just starting to research the BARF diet for dogs - also known as "bones and raw food" or the RAW diet? It can be confusing - I remember asking TONS of questions when I first started. How do you know how much to feed? WHAT do you feed? Can you mix the BARF diet with processed food? How long does it take to prepare the raw food? How much does it cost to buy all the BARF products necessary? Should you feed raw meat and vegetables? Well, on the last question, only you can decide what's right for your dog, but I'll answer the rest of your questions as best I can. How to become Top Dog - A Dog Owners Guide to Sanity Peeing on the carpet, knocking you down, or stealing dinner off the counter are all signs that your dog doesn't respect your rules. In other words, you are not the Alpha Dog. 7 Puppy Naming Tips You've picked out the perfect puppy. You spent hours on the internet, researching the right breed for you and your family. Picking Up A Horses Hoof The idea of picking up a horse's hooves can intimidate some owners since a well-placed horse kick would really hurt! Such caution is good, but in reality if you pick up a horse's hoof properly you provide him with no leverage or ability to kick you. This is a situation where a person's worst fears can cause him to imagine an incident that is highly unlikely to occur with careful handling. Crate Training for Puppies and Dogs Wondering how to begin crate training your puppy or dog, or even whether you should?Crate training gets a dog so used to being closed into a crate that he or she can safely be left in it for hours at a time, though only when necessary. The method has its pros and cons. Hamsters and their quest for world domination "Hamsters?!" I hear you say. "Who cares about some fury little rodents. A German Shepherd Puppy May Be Just What Your Family Needs! A German Shepherd puppy can become a very welcome member of your household. German Shepherd puppies bond with the family, and you will never have a truer friend. Boston Terrier - Special Concerns For This Adorable Breed Beautiful as they are, Boston Terriers have some genetic traits and defects that you must always be mindful of. In order to keep your dogs' health in tip-top condition and ensure that he leads a healthy and happy life, you must ensure that you are aware of the breeds special requirements and of potential dangers. A Guide to Successful Obedience Training Showing off your dog in front of friends and family is something that I personally love to do. Having an obedient, happy slab of lab is like having an obedient happy child. Good Dog Health and Happiness For Charlie Our Charlie's dog health was a very important issue to us in our family. It all started when he was a puppy of course. Do You Know What You Are REALLY Feeding Your Pet? When looking for the best dog food - consider Life's Abundance. The "best food for dogs" are not all created equal. Why the Heck Would You Have a Pet Snake (or lizard, crocodile, monitor, frog, turtle etc)? This is a question that has been asked of me and a thousand (million?) other herp keepers. I think it's almost a case of once bitten, twice as determined. Weaning Puppies Is Only Natural Weaning puppies is a perfectly natural process. Mamma dogs have been doing it successfully for ages, so how hard can it be, right?But humans, not being dogs, can sometimes forget the natural part, and get confused about it. Materials for Snake and other Reptile Cages What kind of materials should you use when constructing a reptile cage? This question was posed to me once by someone wishing to build their own reptile cage. They were particularly asking about pine and cedar as they had heard these were no good. Ears Stand Corrected: Cosmetic Surgery and Pets Are you irritated by your dog's drooping ears or your kitty's tail which is capable of sweaping off a coffee table in a mere second? Is your puppy being too loud and your Calico scratching a bit too much? In our society, there are so many cosmetic procedures that have the capability of transforming our pets into the best citizens of their kind, into members of other breeds or into denizens of imaginary breeds.Some could even say that these cosmetic surgeries enhance the overall quality of a pet's life while others could possibly state that these procedures are mean-spirited, ego driven and more for the benefit of the pet owners than for the pets well being. Why Does My Dog Have Bad Breath? "Doggy breath" - that unpleasant odor emanating from the mouths of Rover and Boomer - can be a signal of serious health problems.A dog's mouth is his primary means of contact with the world around him.
|
 |