My Pets

[chonabot]

Well I'm proud of them. Whenever anyone says ...and they do you know....

" Why would anyone want to keep them as pets?"

Well, you can imagine the ripostes I could parry the oblique <deleted> with.

But here are my pets, I grew up in a family of Dogs, and I also think they are cool.

ps I also have a wife and 2 kids who also love the insight to the natural world that they are able to observe..etc.....

I ope you liked the 2 pics.

[November Rain]

What was the spider? Red-kneed tarantula? I've heard they can be really affectionate. Are they difficult to keep? Not sure about the scorpion, I see the appeal of the spider more. Very unusual! Bet it's a real ice-breaker when you have visitors to your house!

[Nignoy]

Well I'm proud of them. Whenever anyone says ...and they do you know....

" Why would anyone want to keep them as pets?"

Well, you can imagine the ripostes I could parry the oblique <deleted> with.

But here are my pets, I grew up in a family of Dogs, and I also think they are cool.

ps I also have a wife and 2 kids who also love the insight to the natural world that they are able to observe..etc.....

I ope you liked the 2 pics.

Great Pics , but really dont need them as pets, got enough of the buggers in the yard, even the canetoads wont touch them Nignoy

[chonabot]

Thanks guys ! The Spider is a Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula , the worlds largest spider.

Found in South America and can reach a span of 13 inches! Mine is only 8 at the moment.

Funnily enough the scorpions are more entertaining and are happy to be handled, they are Emperor scorps found in West Africa. I have another Bird Eater, a King Baboon and a Pokie Ornata.

[Wolfie]

I used to have a Californian King Snake, really pretty snake.

I dont think i'd be able to keep a spider though, it would freak me out!

[bkkmadness]

I was lucky back in the UK, my friend opened a great herptile shop with loads of spiders and whatever else as well and I got everything at dirt cheap prices.

I kept Starbust Baboons, Red Rumps, Indian Ornamentals, African Trapdoors (now theres a crowd pleaser, an empty tank until the base is touch by a pen and then a vicious hairless spider leaps out and attacks the biro). I had some pink toes as well , 4 in one tank set up with a moonlight bulb so they were active during the day but I lost them all I think because the humidity wasn't kept as high as it should have.

I had a few small scorpions as well, preying mantis, a kingsnake that had free range of my room and was usually found in the morning in the sock drawer, an Argentine Horned frog called Ice cube which was as inactive as myself during those hazy days of my youth, day geckos, anoles, Thai golden tree frogs, and a great group of Whites tree frogs that I set up in a tank with an artificial rain system for breeding, only to have them start breeding one night and cause such a racket that my Mum had me remove them from the house the next day on pain of death.

I also kept a few of the smaller frogs, Mantellas and Poison Arrows. Add to this fish tanks, and I almost had an octopus once which I would love to try and get in the future.

When the family or friends brought the kids round, they would be straight up to my room to see my zoo!

Love to get another snake now, great pets. I see some beautiful Rainbow Boas at JJ, pricey though!

Edited December 6, 2006 by bkkmadness

[chonabot]

I was lucky back in the UK, my friend opened a great herptile shop with loads of spiders and whatever else as well and I got everything at dirt cheap prices.

I kept Starbust Baboons, Red Rumps, Indian Ornamentals, African Trapdoors (now theres a crowd pleaser, an empty tank until the base is touch by a pen and then a vicious hairless spider leaps out and attacks the biro). I had some pink toes as well , 4 in one tank set up with a moonlight bulb so they were active during the day but I lost them all I think because the humidity wasn't kept as high as it should have.

I had a few small scorpions as well, preying mantis, a kingsnake that had free range of my room and was usually found in the morning in the sock drawer, an Argentine Horned frog called Ice cube which was as inactive as myself during those hazy days of my youth, day geckos, anoles, Thai golden tree frogs, and a great group of Whites tree frogs that I set up in a tank with an artificial rain system for breeding, only to have them start breeding one night and cause such a racket that my Mum had me remove them from the house the next day on pain of death.

I also kept a few of the smaller frogs, Mantellas and Poison Arrows. Add to this fish tanks, and I almost had an octopus once which I would love to try and get in the future.

When the family or friends brought the kids round, they would be straight up to my room to see my zoo!

Love to get another snake now, great pets. I see some beautiful Rainbow Boas at JJ, pricey though!

Sounds Awesome !

[Nignoy]

I was lucky back in the UK, my friend opened a great herptile shop with loads of spiders and whatever else as well and I got everything at dirt cheap prices.

I kept Starbust Baboons, Red Rumps, Indian Ornamentals, African Trapdoors (now theres a crowd pleaser, an empty tank until the base is touch by a pen and then a vicious hairless spider leaps out and attacks the biro). I had some pink toes as well , 4 in one tank set up with a moonlight bulb so they were active during the day but I lost them all I think because the humidity wasn't kept as high as it should have.

I had a few small scorpions as well, preying mantis, a kingsnake that had free range of my room and was usually found in the morning in the sock drawer, an Argentine Horned frog called Ice cube which was as inactive as myself during those hazy days of my youth, day geckos, anoles, Thai golden tree frogs, and a great group of Whites tree frogs that I set up in a tank with an artificial rain system for breeding, only to have them start breeding one night and cause such a racket that my Mum had me remove them from the house the next day on pain of death.

I also kept a few of the smaller frogs, Mantellas and Poison Arrows. Add to this fish tanks, and I almost had an octopus once which I would love to try and get in the future.

When the family or friends brought the kids round, they would be straight up to my room to see my zoo!

Love to get another snake now, great pets. I see some beautiful Rainbow Boas at JJ, pricey though!

looking at all these exotics, the tigers orangs, chimps and gorillas we hand raised at home , over the years dont sound like much, my favourite was a brown bear cub called Alois and a siberian Lynx cub called Franz Josef, they both hated my second wife and they used to torment her every chance they got, I never taught them anything Honest!! Nignoy

[chonabot]

Here's my other 3 monsters...

King Baboon

Pokie ornata

Baby of the bunch - 3 month old Theraposa Blondi [ Goliath Birdeater ]

[bkkmadness]

I was lucky back in the UK, my friend opened a great herptile shop with loads of spiders and whatever else as well and I got everything at dirt cheap prices.

I kept Starbust Baboons, Red Rumps, Indian Ornamentals, African Trapdoors (now theres a crowd pleaser, an empty tank until the base is touch by a pen and then a vicious hairless spider leaps out and attacks the biro). I had some pink toes as well , 4 in one tank set up with a moonlight bulb so they were active during the day but I lost them all I think because the humidity wasn't kept as high as it should have.

I had a few small scorpions as well, preying mantis, a kingsnake that had free range of my room and was usually found in the morning in the sock drawer, an Argentine Horned frog called Ice cube which was as inactive as myself during those hazy days of my youth, day geckos, anoles, Thai golden tree frogs, and a great group of Whites tree frogs that I set up in a tank with an artificial rain system for breeding, only to have them start breeding one night and cause such a racket that my Mum had me remove them from the house the next day on pain of death.

I also kept a few of the smaller frogs, Mantellas and Poison Arrows. Add to this fish tanks, and I almost had an octopus once which I would love to try and get in the future.

When the family or friends brought the kids round, they would be straight up to my room to see my zoo!

Love to get another snake now, great pets. I see some beautiful Rainbow Boas at JJ, pricey though!

looking at all these exotics, the tigers orangs, chimps and gorillas we hand raised at home , over the years dont sound like much, my favourite was a brown bear cub called Alois and a siberian Lynx cub called Franz Josef, they both hated my second wife and they used to torment her every chance they got, I never taught them anything Honest!! Nignoy

Yeah yeah yeah, ok you win!

Your Ornata is beautiful Chon, how much that cost you if you don't mind me asking? I've seen a few around but only adults, I'd like to get some spiderlings of those. I think like the Pink Toes you can keep them in a group. Cobalt Blues are native to Thailand, surprised you haven't added one of those to your collection. I nicked a tarantula from a shop once, but that's another story.

BTW, some fish can be petted, like the Red Tail Catfish, get three foot long and recognise their owner and seem to enjoy the interaction as well, a true 'pet' fish.

[Nignoy]

I was lucky back in the UK, my friend opened a great herptile shop with loads of spiders and whatever else as well and I got everything at dirt cheap prices.

I kept Starbust Baboons, Red Rumps, Indian Ornamentals, African Trapdoors (now theres a crowd pleaser, an empty tank until the base is touch by a pen and then a vicious hairless spider leaps out and attacks the biro). I had some pink toes as well , 4 in one tank set up with a moonlight bulb so they were active during the day but I lost them all I think because the humidity wasn't kept as high as it should have.

I had a few small scorpions as well, preying mantis, a kingsnake that had free range of my room and was usually found in the morning in the sock drawer, an Argentine Horned frog called Ice cube which was as inactive as myself during those hazy days of my youth, day geckos, anoles, Thai golden tree frogs, and a great group of Whites tree frogs that I set up in a tank with an artificial rain system for breeding, only to have them start breeding one night and cause such a racket that my Mum had me remove them from the house the next day on pain of death.

I also kept a few of the smaller frogs, Mantellas and Poison Arrows. Add to this fish tanks, and I almost had an octopus once which I would love to try and get in the future.

When the family or friends brought the kids round, they would be straight up to my room to see my zoo!

Love to get another snake now, great pets. I see some beautiful Rainbow Boas at JJ, pricey though!

looking at all these exotics, the tigers orangs, chimps and gorillas we hand raised at home , over the years dont sound like much, my favourite was a brown bear cub called Alois and a siberian Lynx cub called Franz Josef, they both hated my second wife and they used to torment her every chance they got, I never taught them anything Honest!! Nignoy

Yeah yeah yeah, ok you win! It was my job for 30 years mate but so what, the point I was trying to make was that I,m scared of spiders always had keepers to look after them for me, I woudnt touch em wiv yours mate Nignoy

Your Ornata is beautiful Chon, how much that cost you if you don't mind me asking? I've seen a few around but only adults, I'd like to get some spiderlings of those. I think like the Pink Toes you can keep them in a group. Cobalt Blues are native to Thailand, surprised you haven't added one of those to your collection. I nicked a tarantula from a shop once, but that's another story.

BTW, some fish can be petted, like the Red Tail Catfish, get three foot long and recognise their owner and seem to enjoy the interaction as well, a true 'pet' fish.

[chonabot]

Yeah yeah yeah, ok you win!

Your Ornata is beautiful Chon, how much that cost you if you don't mind me asking? I've seen a few around but only adults, I'd like to get some spiderlings of those. I think like the Pink Toes you can keep them in a group. Cobalt Blues are native to Thailand, surprised you haven't added one of those to your collection. I nicked a tarantula from a shop once, but that's another story.

BTW, some fish can be petted, like the Red Tail Catfish, get three foot long and recognise their owner and seem to enjoy the interaction as well, a true 'pet' fish.

I bought it a a juvenile about a year ago for £25. It's nearly as big as the Goliath now !

Yes I would like a Cobalt Blue but have some space issues... Having said that I just recently bought a couple of spiderlings [pokie regalis and a GreenBottle] cheap as chips £10 for the pair.

Buying them from breeders is the beat way to go, the Petshops rarely have a clue about them as you will know. I will be relocating to Los in about 4 or 5 years so God knows what I will do with these fellows then, the Baboon should live for another 20 years alledgedly. I will have to sell them I suppose but will try and start the hobby up again over there.

Have you seen any Tarantulas of interest at JJ or elsewhere?

[bkkmadness]

Theres quite a few places that sell Tarantulas in JJ but you tend to see a lot of the same thing, Thai bird eaters, red knees, zebras, cobalt blues and such like. There are a few more specialist places now though, I know of one great shop in particular that mainly deals in some very nice snakes and he has a good selection of spiders in, Chevrons, Ornamentals etc. and I bet he can order a lot more in.

I find the herptiles out here just like the fish, the shops tend to have a lot of the same stock, and this often changes by season, partly I think because they are being bred outside in the countryside somewhere, and in the case of spiders because there is a small community of breeders that all supply the same shops. So you need to keep popping up there on a regular basis, see whats around, find all the little places and chat to the hobbyists if you really want to find the best shops and spiders.

It's not like the UK where animals are imported from all over the world, I guess the cost is just too high and there's not enough demand here yet especially given the prices.

At the moment you will never find the same selection of species that you would find in a good shop in the UK, but it is a growing hobby in Thailand and even in the last couple of years I see JJ has improved for herptiles, there must be 3-4 times as many shops selling them now. Certainly enough for you to keep your hobby alive over here.

What part of the UK are you in Chon, perhaps you know my friends shop? I think it's pretty well known now and they do a lot of shows in Europe. It's called 'Cold Blooded' in Rainham Essex.

Edited December 7, 2006 by bkkmadness

[chonabot]

I'm in Oxfordshire Bkk but I have heard lots about Cold Blooded it has a very good rep, doesn't seem to have a website which is a shame. A lot of exotic animal shops seem to be chasing the £ that's why I usually buy off online dealers like The Tarantula shop. But Cold Blooded seems to get rave reviews so your mate must be doing things right!

Out of interest what is the average price for Tarantulas at JJ?

[bkkmadness]

Yeah the lads there done really well for themselves and if you knew the way the place first started out when they didn't have much cash.

Pricewise, I couldn't tell you for sure because it's been a while since I enquired. I do remember being offered some adult Thai Bird Eaters (Haplopelma minax) for 300 baht a few years back, but now I see them at JJ and the price seems to have gone right up (1-2000 baht). This might be because of the legality with collecting them though, JJ doesn't have as many illegal animals as it used too.

Red Knees might be costing you around 3-4000 baht for adults but sometimes they don't look too nice. I know they are reputed for being heavy hair kickers but it seems everyone up in JJ has a bare abdomen. Spiders like Indian Ornamentals and such may again cost you 3-4000 upwards. I see on that tarantula shop site the prices seem pretty good, certainly lower than out here.

Again I'm not sure on all these prices but I generally go up JJ a couple of times a month to walk around the fish so next time I will make some enquiries and if I remember post back on here. You've got me thinking I should invest in a new pet myself soon. I kinda prefer the arboreal tarantulas these days, love to set up some kind of community with them again.

[bkkmadness]

This is the same kind of Trapdoor spider I used to have. Never did see him much because he was always in the trapdoor. People used to ask what was in the tank, so I'd tap on the floor and the lil bastard would fly out and attack the pen and people would be jumping back away from the tank. It was pretty much hairless, and really aggressive.

Edited December 7, 2006 by bkkmadness

[chonabot]

Cool ! I love trapdoor spiders, my King Baboon is a bit like that, the sod has more tunnels than the VC used to have... I would love to build an invert room when I get to los with loads of arboreals, breed some Cobalt blues and start an export business to the Uk, ahhh <deleted> I'll just teach instead...

My Brother takes pics of animals for a living, lucky sod, he's managed to sell a few pics of my Baboon and pokie to most of the online sites. I've took loads of pics and they come out crap.

ps I liked your comment about the catfish being petted.

[Nikkijah]

I'm absolutely petrified of these things! I'm getting shudders all over just looking at the pics!

I can appreciate their beauty for sure but I'll let you lot keep them as pets ta very much

I would be paranoid that somehow the tank would mysteriously rupture in the night and I would wake up to find an empty spiders home I guess I'm an out and out arachnophobic!

Nikkijah

[chonabot]

I'm absolutely petrified of these things! I'm getting shudders all over just looking at the pics!

I can appreciate their beauty for sure but I'll let you lot keep them as pets ta very much

I would be paranoid that somehow the tank would mysteriously rupture in the night and I would wake up to find an empty spiders home I guess I'm an out and out arachnophobic!

Nikkijah

It's not for everyone, but once you have a T or Lizard or snake, as I'm sure Bkk would agree, every wild one you see - you have an empathy for them as you never felt before.

I'm sorry if Cyberstar has an issue withh this.

ps Love the Avatar !

[Nignoy]

I'm absolutely petrified of these things! I'm getting shudders all over just looking at the pics!

I can appreciate their beauty for sure but I'll let you lot keep them as pets ta very much

I would be paranoid that somehow the tank would mysteriously rupture in the night and I would wake up to find an empty spiders home I guess I'm an out and out arachnophobic!

Nikkijah

It's not for everyone, but once you have a T or Lizard or snake, as I'm sure Bkk would agree, every wild one you see - you have an empathy for them as you never felt before.

I'm sorry if Cyberstar has an issue withh this.

ps Love the Avatar !

Dont mind the reptiles, when I left Thailand first time in 1966, I took home to UK 2 pythons and 4 tree snakes always been a herp fan, but not your spiders they give me nightmares Nignoy

[Nikkijah]

I'm absolutely petrified of these things! I'm getting shudders all over just looking at the pics!

I can appreciate their beauty for sure but I'll let you lot keep them as pets ta very much

I would be paranoid that somehow the tank would mysteriously rupture in the night and I would wake up to find an empty spiders home I guess I'm an out and out arachnophobic!

Nikkijah

It's not for everyone, but once you have a T or Lizard or snake, as I'm sure Bkk would agree, every wild one you see - you have an empathy for them as you never felt before.

I'm sorry if Cyberstar has an issue withh this.

ps Love the Avatar !

I'm with Nignoy on this one, love the snakes, check out my previous topics to see a couple of snakes I've found in my garden, but the spiders, they just seem so unpredictable and fast :D and those hairs or even the ones with no hairs! I can't put my finger on it, physically!

Oh and I'm a West Ham fan chonabot

[Nikkijah]

That trapdoor spider looks evil! 8 legs is enough on anything but this one looks like it's got 10!!

[chonabot]

I'm absolutely petrified of these things! I'm getting shudders all over just looking at the pics!

I can appreciate their beauty for sure but I'll let you lot keep them as pets ta very much

I would be paranoid that somehow the tank would mysteriously rupture in the night and I would wake up to find an empty spiders home I guess I'm an out and out arachnophobic!

Nikkijah

It's not for everyone, but once you have a T or Lizard or snake, as I'm sure Bkk would agree, every wild one you see - you have an empathy for them as you never felt before.

I'm sorry if Cyberstar has an issue withh this.

ps Love the Avatar !

I'm with Nignoy on this one, love the snakes, check out my previous topics to see a couple of snakes I've found in my garden, but the spiders, they just seem so unpredictable and fast :D and those hairs or even the ones with no hairs! I can't put my finger on it, physically!

Oh and I'm a West Ham fan chonabot

Nevermind , as this is the pets forum I will let you off !

[Mossfinn]

That trapdoor spider looks evil! 8 legs is enough on anything but this one looks like it's got 10!!

My thoughts entirely.

Chon, I am beginning to get very worried about you.

Just how close do you live to Oxford city Center, I really, really hope it is several miles!

Nothing personal, just the friends you keep.

Good Luck

Moss

[November Rain]

I think they're amazing. Love snakes, too, but in both cases I think feeding time would put me off. If you feed the spiders what I imagine, I think I'm too squeamish!!

[chonabot]

I think they're amazing. Love snakes, too, but in both cases I think feeding time would put me off. If you feed the spiders what I imagine, I think I'm too squeamish!!

They eat crickets and locusts mainly. Some people feed mice to their spiders but the wife would kill me if I tried that.....

[November Rain]

Oh, that's not too bad. I was imagining chicks & mice.

[bkkmadness]

I only ever fed crickets and locusts. Even though I know it's nature I have to admit I'm not sure I like the idea of feeding mice, something a bit freaky about a spider eating a mammal, you can see them watching you thinking 'Yeah buddy, just think if I was the size of a dog, you'd be on the menu too."

[Nikkijah]

Can any of you herpetoculturists help me, I saw my cats playing with a snake, its a snake I've seen before - the exact same one, I think I know where it lives

It was about 40-50cms long, black with an orange speckled tail which it folds so it looks like its head, I'm sure I've seen a pic somewhere but can't find it now, any ideas??

My cats obviously found it quite amusing but I didn't, I was scared it would bite and kill them so I scared the aggressive little thing away.

Nikkijah