E xotic

P ets S eries

ALL ABOUT AMERICA’S FAVORITE EIGHT-LEGGED PETS May 2012

Basic Care

Inner View— Rick C. West

$4.00 US/$5.99 CAN Tarantula Importing and Commerce INNER VIEW: RICK C. WEST

Michael Jacobi: Thanks for agreeing to do this, Rick. I know many arachnid hobbyists, particularly those interested in theraphosid , are very interested in learning more about you and your work. You are considered to be one of the worldÍs leading authorities on and you have been involved in film productions, scientific consultation for researchers and wildlife law enforcement, educational lectures, field work and ecotravel. You have authored many papers and articles about theraphosid spiders and are an photography, forging new friendships, Contents accomplished photographer. In addition, conservation and enforcement issues, the you are also an arachnoculturist; notoriety, and much more. keeping and breeding tarantulas in INNER VIEW: RICK C. WEST 3 captivity for many years. Is there one MJ: Your field work has taken you all specific endeavor that you have found over the world. I am sure many readers dream of going to just one of the places Basic Tarantula Care 8 particularly satisfying? you have been fortunate enough to visit. Rick C. West: Thank you for inviting If one of them could choose just one trip Tarantula Importing and me. Your question is not an easy one to Arachnid Commerce 16 for observing and collecting tarantulas in answer but I will try by saying there is his or her lifetime, what would be your no single endeavor about my work that I recommended destination?

in the find particularly satisfying. In reality, all Spotlight 21 aspects surrounding my association with RCW: . This small country, tarantulas over the past forty years have a department of France bordering , Captive Care and Breeding of blended into one enormously satisfying is relatively safe and is easy to drive and Holothele incei 22 and giant interwoven endeavor; the get around in. In my opinion, French tarantulas, travel to exotic places, the Guiana is one of the least populated little Dirt is Dirt history and geography of the countries, countries still with a large percentage except when it’s Mud 24 the natural history of the fauna and of primary rainforest and diversity of flora encountered, the cultures, the interesting fauna, flora and tarantulas. 2 continued on 4 3 continued from 3

MJ: Will you be working with who took me through the ‘ayahuasca experience in the field came in April 2004, GreenTracks or another company on any [a powerful hallucinogenic drink] when my best friend, Nick Gordon, and ecotours in the near future? healing ceremony’ and told me tarantula I were just starting on a new tarantula documentary. Nick suddenly collapsed RCW: I’m presently working out the myths was also a rare and interesting and died in my arms of an apparent ground logistics and pricing with individual. I’ve come in contact with massive heart attack; he was two years GreenTracks for future trips to French many other indigenous cultures over younger than me! CPR attempts to revive Guiana; we will see if trips ever tarantula spiders but the previous two him failed. When a colleague dies in materialize as there are so many things encounters, next to the Piaroa Indians of the field, you don’t abandon him. With to consider and work out on the business southern that most readers are emotions on the back burner, I spent the side of ecotourism. more familiar with, are two encounters that stand above all the others. better part of a week taking care of his body and making sure that both he and MJ: You also have traveled to some areas his belongings got home safely to his where there is civil unrest and more than grieving family and friends. It will be a a slight element of danger. Will you share long while before I get over that ordeal. with us a story about travel in a hostile environment? MJ: What was the first wild tarantula you collected and do you still remember the immediately scooped it up in the bucket RCW: British Wildlife cameraman, Nick experience? then proceeded to bug the heck out of Gordon, and I were confined by warring my parents to let me keep it and take it Yanomami Indians in southern Venezuela RCW: As a small child, I always dragged home; they did. The more I looked for in 1992. After some negotiation, we home creepy crawly creatures with an reliable information on how to care for were released. In 1996, our film crew innate curiosity for them. When I was tarantulas, the less I found, so, I began to and I were in the middle of an Indian thirteen years old, I went to visit my keep my own notes (found out years later blockade and an advancing army sent to relatives in Poway, San Diego County, it was Aphonopelma eutylenum). I’m not break them up in a remote Ecuadorian USA. My cousin told me they had ashamed to admit, here and now, that for MJ: Your travels have also exposed you mountain pass; luckily, no shots were ‘tarantulas’ living in their orange orchard. the first few months of handling it, I wore to many cultures and peoples. Your fired and we were eventually allowed to “Tarantulas”!!! no way, I thought. Those a heavy leather glove. That’s the truth. interactions with the Piaroa Indians of pass. On occasion, I’ve encountered local couldn’t be the very same giant hairy spiders I’d only seen in horror films? Venezuela have been documented. Is ‘hunters’ in the forest; some of which MJ: Where is the oddest place you have Armed with a bucket and trowel, off we there another native people that you have make the hairs on your neck stand up ever found a tarantula in the wild? found especially interesting or friendly? when your gut instinct tells you they’re went on the ‘big tarantula hunt’. A two inch silk-lipped burrow was pointed RCW: I found a small Ephebopus RCW: Again, not an easy single-answer sizing you up for robbery, or worse. out to me. I admit that my first thought murinus, in the French Guiana city of question. The Mambila ‘ Sorcerer’ I’m not ashamed to admit that I always was, “That’s all?”, I had expected a huge Cayenne, living in the spout of an old who demonstrated spider divination to carry a weapon in the field and, on hole. While digging, the dirt caved in gas can. Another time, I found a female me in Cameroon, and correctly predicted some occasions, my guide has carried a and I thought I’d lost the burrow so I Pterinochilus chordatus right at the edge my unborn grandchild’s gender, was firearm. You have to be constantly aware gave up. All of a sudden (to me) the of a plane runway at the Masai Mara very pleasant and extremely interesting. of your surroundings and of the things ‘earth shook’ and out popped my first Game Reserve, Kenya. As my plane The Ese Eje shaman in southern Peru that can harm you in the field. My worst tarantula, it was an electrifying thrill. I landed and taxied in, I refused to move 4 continued on 6 5 continued from 5

while I was digging it up, the plane’s natural habitat, but others were taken of or portions of the body are not all subtrate used for tarantulas. I will say, wing went right over my head while the captive tarantulas using dioramas. What in the picture, the angle is bad, and for one last time, that tarantulas do not engine drowned out the frantic shouting special challenges do each present to the some images are made on hands or live in a sterile environment. I have used of my wife and travel companions. photographer? on unnatural or garishly contrasting regular soil from the garden for forty backgrounds. I’m not trying to years and have no more mortalities than MJ: Are there any genera or species of RCW: When photographing tarantulas discourage anyone from making arachnid anyone else tarantulas that you have yet to observe in the field, you have little to no control images as I know what I’m talking about who go to in the wild that you are particularly of your subject or it’s setting and here — all my earlier arachnid images huge lengths interested in seeking? limited time to make your images. In were as bad as or worse than what I just to make their addition to lunging a lot of expensive RCW: Yes, but I won’t say what or where mentioned. tarantula’s camera equipment around, you have it is as it would divulge an extremely rare terrarium to contend with the risk of theft or MJ: I remember a couple dozen years species and we all know there are people as sterile as damage and annoying factors like heat, ago when tarantula keeping was not as out there that will destroy sensitive possible — I humidity, dust, water, mold, biting widespread or popular and the people I tarantula populations and habitats won’t even get bugs and leeches, venomous snakes, learned from directly or indirectly were (legally or illegally) just for the almighty on the subject curious or suspicious people, etc. When people like yourself, Ralph Henning, dollar. What squeezes my nards is these of humid photographing tarantulas in dioramas, Al McKee and Stanley Schultz. When people use the age old argument that it’s versus dry — or ‘basement setups’, although you have you first started keeping tarantulas in for ‘the betterment of the species’ to have this interview would be long enough! more control and time over a wider range captivity were there other pioneers that them survive in captivity. In my forty of a tarantula’s life stages, you have the helped you along? MJ: If you could keep only one species year association with tarantula spiders, problem of your images not looking of tarantula in captivity what would it be I’ve yet to see a single species sustained RCW: As I mentioned earlier, I started as natural. I have to carefully study and why? in captivity without the infusion of more keeping tarantulas in the summer of tarantula habitats in the field then try taken wild stock. 1964. At that time, my key tarantula RCW: One I’ve never had before — for to recreate bark/lichen/moss patterns, mentors were Dr. Beatrice Vogel (USA), me, it’s as simple as that! This is what MJ: Other than , what soil types and microhabitat conditions in Mr. Robert Mackin (USA) and the now drives me on my quests — the search that you observe during your travels do my diorama it’s not as easy as it sounds late Mr. Vincent Roth (USA), Dr. William for the little known/undescribed you have a special interest in or fondness when you try to make a marketable Baerg (USA), Dr. Luis Pena (Chile), Mr. theraphosid species. for? image; However, practice makes perfect. Ramon Mascord (Australia) and Dr. MJ: Last question: You are a husband, RCW: Free-living tortoises, free-flying MJ: You have been asked to judge Cliford Carl (Victoria, Canada). Without father, and grandfather so I am sure you macaws, any of the wild cat family, hobbyist photographs for several these people’s time and kind support, I try to spend as much free time as you venomous snakes, chameleons, oof, that’s projects. What are the biggest mistakes would have given up tarantulas long ago. can with family, but what other pursuits not an easy question to answer either. I you see made and what are your MJ: Are there any misconceptions about completely unrelated to your professional love and enjoy all things encountered on suggestions for improving the quality tarantula husbandry that you would like work do you enjoy if and when you find my field walks. of arachnid photos taken by the casual to comment on? the time? photographer? MJ: Many hobbyists are very familiar RCW: The number one topic that drives RCW: I enjoy fly fishing, hiking, nature with your incredible photo archive at RCW: The mistakes I commonly see me wild, and I refuse to keep repeating photography and the pursuit of enjoying birdspiders.com. I know that many in casual arachnid photography are: myself on forums, is choice of terrarium every day as if it were my last! images were captured of spiders in their the arachnid is out of focus, the limbs

6 7 New keepers often use too large of Clear, plastic storage containers, which enclosures. Tarantulas naturally live in are sold as shoe boxes, sweater boxes, burrows or other small confined spaces and etc. and manufactured by companies like need the security of a small space. A small Rubbermaid™ and Sterilite™ are very cage also allows you to easily monitor its popular with tarantula breeders and others feeding so you can promptly remove uneaten housing large numbers of tarantulas. They food. As a rule of thumb, an enclosure should don’t make for very attractive displays, but be two or three times the legspan of the with the addition of ventilation holes drilled tarantula in both width and length. It is also in the sides and top they make very functional highly recommended that the distance from tarantula enclosures. the top of the substrate to the top of the cage be no more than the legspan for terrestrial Tarantulas do not require plants or [ground-dwelling] species. This is to prevent decorations, but they can be used if you want injury from a fall. In the unnatural situation to make your pet’s home more attractive. Silk of captivity, some heavy-bodied tarantulas or plastic plants are much more durable than that would normally not climb in the wild live plants, and they eliminate the possibility will explore the tops of their cages. This can of the substrate and cage becoming too wet be a dangerous situation that can easily be due to watering. Of course, fake plants also avoided by using shorter enclosures and deep do not require light and tarantulas prefer dark substrate. cages. Cork bark, hollow logs and driftwood Basic Tarantula Care are attractive items to decorate with and Introduction Housing You can keep your tarantula in a very can provide your tarantula with a welcome This article provides basic guidelines that Tarantulas should be housed in small simple and inexpensive plastic container with hiding place. Avoid any items that have sharp will help new tarantula keepers successfully enclosures that are safe and secure. Care numerous air holes in the sides and lid, or edges or are excessively rough in texture. maintain their pets. It is a concise overview of should be exercised to ensure that the a more expensive glass terrarium container Also avoid any decor from outdoors that may good tarantula husbandry practices. It is not enclosure is safe from other pets such as dogs with a screen lid. Perhaps the most popular harbor pest or carnivorous insects or may meant to provide all information essential to and cats and placed out of reach of children. tarantula cage is the plastic Kritter Keeper™ have been exposed to pesticides, fertilizers or tarantula keeping. We recommend that you Locate it in an area out of direct sunlight and or Herp Haven™. These small terrariums other hazardous materials. When designing also read at least one of the following books: drafts and where there is little disturbance have a snap-on well-ventilated lid with an your enclosure remember that terrestrial Tarantulas and Other Arachnids and The from vibration such as heavy foot traffic and access door. They can be found at most pet (ground-dwelling) tarantulas like more Tarantula Keeper’s Guide. It is also important loud music. It is also important to remember shops and some superstores, and there are ground space and a deeper substrate, whereas to research the specific needs of the species that nicotine is a powerful insecticide and some new models that are shorter in height arboreal (tree-dwelling) tarantulas need you have chosen, especially with regards to tarantulas are best kept far away from tobacco and excellent for terrestrial tarantulas. These taller enclosures with a piece of cork bark or temperature and humidity. smoke. low-profile models are marketed with names similar item to climb and attach silk nests. like “Lizard Lounge” or “Breeder Box”.

8 continued on 10 9 continued from 9

v Tarantulas Substrate more difficult to provide a water dish to require a regular diet small tarantulas, but a spider with a legspan Any sort of clean and natural dirt free of consisting of crickets of a 50-cent piece or so is large enough for a and small critters in pesticides and fertilizers is good. Chemical- order to remain healthy. simple tiny water receptacle such as a 2-liter free top or potting soil, peat moss and coconut soda bottle cap. Provide clean tap water— coir [popular as a reptile substrate and sold do not use “ gel” or sponges, which in compressed bricks as Eco-Earth™, Forest just get dirty and funky with bacteria and Bed™, Bed-A-Beast™, etc.] are excellent mold and do not provide sufficient moisture. tarantula substrates. Horticultural vermiculite Water can also be provided by lightly misting can also be used with great success, but the substrate and/or sides of the enclosure. it is unnatural in appearance, dusty and Never spray the spider directly and take care some products may contain asbestos-like to not create overly damp conditions. Most substances. Do not use sand [except as a pet tarantulas are grassland or desert species small part of a mixture containing mostly soil that should have a mostly dry cage, although or peat], gravel, perlite or corn cob or any having a small, damp area near the water dish other type of small bedding, especially can be helpful [see Substrate above]. Tropical cedar shavings. The substrate should be as species require elevated humidity. Research deep as the container allows, at least a couple your pet’s needs and provide accordingly. of inches whenever possible. This will allow to you. If heat is required it is best to use a you to pour some water down the side and Climate very small reptile heat pad placed near the have the bottom depth damp while the surface Most tarantulas can be kept in the range of enclosure or on the side of a larger tank, but in contact with the spider is dry. Ideally, it is 70-75 degrees Fahrenheit, which is room not beneath or in direct contact as you would good to have a slightly damp corner—usually temperature in a warm home. In other words, use it for a reptile. The use of lights for heat where the water dish is—at one end while the most tarantulas do not require supplemental should be avoided as tarantulas prefer dark other end of the tank is dry. Over time this heat in all but the coolest households. Some conditions and radiant heat sources such water will evaporate and provide beneficial tropical species may require temperature as bulbs create overly dry conditions, but a humidity. Replenish as needed taking care to in the upper 70s during the day, but no black or red incandescent bulb placed several requires moderate to high humidity, you can not saturate the substrate. tarantula should be kept much above 80 for feet away from the cage can be an effective provide this by keeping the substrate partially heat source if used carefully. Keep in mind or mostly moist. If you use a light for heat Drinking Water any extended periods of time. A fluctuating temperature is best, with nights cooler than that the warmer you keep your tarantula, the and display, be sure to monitor the humidity Although tarantulas acquire most of their days. higher its metabolic rate will be. It will want levels closely. Turn the light off at night water from their food, it is a good idea to to eat more often and will grow more quickly. unless it gets below 65 degrees in your house. provide a small, shallow dish of fresh water When kept cooler than optimum It will also dehydrate quicker so you must It is advisable to let the temperature decrease to adult tarantulas. The natural evaporation tarantulas will become inactive, but should be very observant of the environment and as much as 10 degrees at night, especially for will also provide beneficial humidity. It is be in no danger at temperatures comfortable diligent with care. If your tarantula species desert tarantulas.

10 continued on 12 11 continued from 11

ood every day. However, offering food every 4-7 metallica is one of the most saught after tarantulas in the hobby. Many refer to F days for young spiders and every 10-14 for them as the “gem” of tarantulas. They are absolutely gorgeous displaying blue, white and yellow Tarantulas will eat crickets, grasshoppers, markings. They are fast growers, good eaters and can grow to a good size. Poecilotheria metallica larger specimens is a reasonable regimen. Do katydids, moths, beetle larvae (e.g., is not a beginner species. They are fast, they can be aggressive and their is potent. not feed freshly molted tarantulas for several mealworms or superworms), houseflies days [young] to two weeks [adults]. Spiders, and cockroaches. Some tropical tarantulas in general, will keep eating until they are readily accept earthworms, and some larger full, approaching a molt, or ready to lay an tarantulas will accept live baby rodents, egg sac. In a sense, you can’t really overfeed lizards, and snakes. When feeding, a good young tarantulas, but this isn’t the case with rule of thumb is to offer prey items that are adults. An adult tarantula might only eat once about half the spider’s legspan or just slightly a month or even as little as a few times a year smaller than the length of its body. For in the wild. A tarantulas abdomen should not example, a 2-inch legspan juvenile tarantula be overly large and impede its ability to move with a body length just under an inch can be about with ease. offered a half to three-quarter-inch cricket [3-4 week-old]. However, some tarantulas are It is extremely important to remove aggressive eaters and will eat prey as large as any uneaten prey items whether live or dead themselves. As a rule, live prey is required, within 24 hours or so. I recommend offering however, some tarantulas will scavenge on food late at night and removing it first thing in dead animals. This is especially true of young the morning if not accepted. Uneaten insects tarantulas, and it is often possible to rear tiny or other prey items can be stressful for the spiderlings by cutting an adult cricket into tarantula, and have been known to damage two or three pieces and offering one section. and even kill tarantulas if not eaten. Food For young tarantulas, one prey item of remains like the bolus will attract pests and suitable size is appropriate. If you are feeding mold. It is advisable to remove the remains comparatively small prey to a large tarantula, of any prey items from your tarantula’s such as adult crickets to an adult “Rose hair”, enclosure so that they do not cause unhealthy you can offer 4-6 at one time. The spider conditions for your pet. will attack them in succession and ball them up into one tidy meal. This ball of food and Molting silk that a spider ingests over time is called a Tarantulas are invertebrate animals that need bolus. to shed their complete exoskeleton in order to grow. This is the time when the tarantula How often you feed your tarantula is up is its most vulnerable. Molting may occur as to you. Some people want their spider to grow often as once a month in young “spiderlings” as fast as possible and will offer food almost 12 continued on 14 13 continued from 13

or only once every year or two in adults. As fingers out of a glove. The cast exoskeleton a molt approaches, the tarantula may refuse (or exuvium) looks much like a hollowed- food, sometimes for several weeks or even out complete tarantula. Once the process is months prior to the process. If your tarantula completed the pale-colored tarantula will refuses several offered meals in a row it may rest for as much of a day and then spend the be about to molt. Further evidence of an course of the next week or so with its legs impending molt is reduced activity, increased outstretched as its short growing process use of silk as it creates a web “molting occurs and its new exoskeleton hardens. Do mat” and dull coloration. Species that flick not disturb or feed your tarantula for at least urticating hairs and have a “bald spot” on a week after molting. A young tarantulas Do not their abdomens are easy to assess. may fully harden in three or four days, but an Tarantulas are extremely The light bald spot will become adult may require two weeks. It is extremely fragile creatures that can increasingly dark until it is almost delicate at this time and can even be injured let your easily be injured from a black. If you believe your tarantula by attempting to flick urticating hairs off its will soon molt it is extra important soft abdomen. Leave it alone. fall or other mishap. to make sure you remove uneaten exotic pet andling food [you should always be doing this!] H and pay close attention to temperature and Some species of tarantula are known for humidity levels. A slight increase in humidity their docile nature and are handled by some go hungry— is recommended [add water to substrate at keepers. Others have defensive dispositions one end of cage and keep water dish full]. and are quick to bite. We do not recommend Leave the tarantula undisturbed, certainly do handling any tarantulas, primarily for the not touch or handle. safety of the spider. Tarantulas are extremely fragile creatures that can easily be injured When a terrestrial tarantula molts it from a fall or other mishap. In addition, will turn onto its “back” (arboreal tarantulas all tarantulas are venomous and have the molt on their backs or sides, often in a silken ability to bite. Their venom may not be retreat above the ground where they may be life-threatening, but it can cause severe vertical). Don’t be alarmed. It is not dead. pain and several days of muscle spasms and Dead tarantulas usually are ‘right side up’ and cramps. Tarantulas are untamed animals and have their legs curled beneath their bodies. unpredictable. They are terrarium pets Pressure changes within the molting tarantula like tropical fish or frogs and are best will cause its old exoskeleton to separate at enjoyed through observation and care, © the carapace and abdomen. It will pull its legs not interaction. out of its old skin much like you pull your ricket arm 14 C F 15 such as Brachypelma species. To date, I would details will have to be worked out, not the estimate that I have imported around 150 least of which is payment. It is customary arachnid species into the US. Many were for 50% of the total order price to be paid first-time species, most recently Poecilotheria up front, but some dealers or breeders may metallica, P. miranda, P. striata and Euathlus require full payment in advance of shipping. Tarantula Importing vulpinus [aka Pachypelma oculatum]. As Either way you will be trusting a considerable the hobby has exploded there has been an amount of money to someone thousands of and increased demand for something new, but miles away that you probably won’t be able to most hobbyists don’t realize what obtaining pursue legally should your payment be stolen. these species takes. I’d like to take you Exchange rates need to be calculated; most through the steps required and illustrate why I Europeans will quote prices in Euro dollars. Arachnid Commerce sometimes think I am crazy for doing it at all. It is important to remember that if you paid 10 Euros for a certain species on a previous Tarantula Importing order and the price remains the same on Introduction a subsequent order your cost may change The first step required to become an importer considerably depending on the current the realities of legally obtaining arachnids Many tarantula keepers seek the next holy is to apply to the U.S. Department of Interior exchange rate. Payment is usually sent by wire from overseas sources. The person who grail species. Some breeders look for rare Fish and Wildlife Service [USFW] for an transfer from account to account and your brought those blue “Poecs” to the US was species that might bring a good return on import/export license. The license costs $100 bank will charge a fee for this. All aspects of me and I’d like to share with you just how investment if successfully bred. Other keepers and must be renewed each year [http://www. the transaction need to be discussed including involved importing is. enjoy the excitement of acquiring a rare fws.gov/permits/importexport/importexport. any guarantees or dead-on-arrival refunds or I have been seriously involved in the species, possibly one that has never been in html]. credits. the country before. Just in the past year alone, hobby for over twenty years. I have been Next, you will need to establish a After details of the transaction American tarantula enthusiasts have had fortunate to breed about 40 different species relationship with a reliable and honest dealer are worked out the exporter will need to reason to be enthused about some amazing of tarantulas and have kept close to 300 or breeder. Although many Europeans speak schedule an international flight for shipment species bred in Europe, the most prominent different invertebrate species. Somewhere and write English to some degree”many of your order. The average shipping cost of which was Poecilotheria metallica. Many along my arachnocultural path I became even perfectly, there is a chance that a of my imports is $300, typically paid to the exotic species first become available in Europe involved in importing language barrier will cause some difficulties exporter in advance. After a flight has been for a number of reasons including less strict captive bred spiders from communicating. It is best to develop a scheduled you must notify USFW 48 hours in import regulations, the comparative ease European breeders or partnership through a number of contacts by advance and complete Form 3177, the import of travel for European trader/collectors dealers. I do not import email, but to ensure that you are comfortable declaration. There is a $55 fee for this and to Africa and Asia, and the great success any wild-caught animals with the dealer and any arrangements you will need to specify quantities, scientific of many European breeders. The idea of or CITES (Convention in international phone calls may be necessary. names, common names, prices, country of circumventing middle men and importing the International Trade of These calls may be expensive and due to origin and other details of the order. If the arachnids directly from sources overseas Endangered time zone differences a bit tricky to arrange. total price of your animals exceeds $2000 crosses every American arachnoculturist’s Species) Finding overseas dealers or breeders can US you will need to use a customs broker to mind at some point. This article will reveal protected be very difficult. Many have an exclusive handle your shipment upon arrival, which will arachnids arrangement with other importers or cost between $200 and $500. excessive minimum order amounts. Others may be scam artists. Most require that you Port of Entry take everything they offer, not just the species you are interested in. Live animal imports must enter the US at a Once a exporter has been found many designated port of entry where they require

16 continued on 18 17 continued from 17 continued on 20 clearance by U.S. Customs and USFW. the wholesale level is the lowest percentage. longer, which further increase the risks of is no species worth the risk of prosecution. If These limited cities include Miami, Atlanta, Retailers who have greater overhead and will losses and the costs of care. you are caught you will be solely responsible; v The most exotic and New York, New Orleans and Los Angeles. have to house and care for the spiderlings the U.S. government can’t go after your Hopefully these examples show you more visually pleasing If you are not close to a designated entry for some time, experience some losses, that nobody is getting rich selling arachnids. overseas source and the entire burden of tarantulas are not native port city and wish the shipment to travel on advertise, and ship them individually have a Many aren’t even covering all the time, effort the illegal transaction will fall upon you. to North America and to another airport, a customs broker will be understandably higher markup. Let’s throw and expense involved. When it comes down The US has stringent regulations regarding must be imported. required regardless of the value of the order. some imaginary numbers around. We’ll to it the person who is getting the best deal This person will handle the clearance at the pretend that with the other costs split among is probably the consumer—the hobbyist. port of entry airport and then ensure that the total live spiders received the cost of one Competition keeps prices reasonable and the the package is routed to its final destination specimen of Species X is $100. Let’s say you educated buyer will consider other factors airport. have decided you need to make $30 profit on such as dealer experience, customer service each spider. So you offer them to the retailers and reputation before making a purchase and Considerable Expense such as Internet arachnid dealers for $130 as experience few risks. Remember that deals long as they take at least ten Species X and that seem too good to be true usually are just As you have no doubt realized by now, twenty each of the other species you were that. It’s best to develop a relationship with importing is very expensive and involves a forced to buy. After the retailer adds his or a reputable well-known dealer/breeder who considerable amount of “red tape”. Let’s her shipping costs the cost per Species X will contributes to the hobby and will accurately assume you are well-funded and use an be slightly more than $130, but here we will answer questions about husbandry and example to further illustrate the point. Let’s overlook that. So now the retail dealer has breeding—not just with a purchase—than say that you have become friendly with a $1300 invested in ten tiny spiderlings. Let’s just look for the cheapest prices from an European dealer who has just successfully say that the professional retailer who pays inexperienced hobbyist reseller. hatched an egg sac from Species X. This rent for a facility, utilities, website hosting spider is blue with neon green stripes, huge and design, taxes, attorney and accountant Breaking the Law and docile and will be a sure hit in North fees, etc. has to double the cost and the retail America. The dealer will sell the entire sac price becomes $260. Is that fair? Well, let’s A discussion of importing would not of 100 to you as long as you take them all at look at the reality. One of the spiderlings may be complete without mentioning the $90 US each. That’s $9000 just for the one die before it is sold and one may die en route temptation of illegally importing animals. species. However, he isn’t going to let you to the customer and have to be replaced. The procedures detailed above are the buy just his most desirable offspring. You will That leaves 8 spiders that actually cost about only way to legally have arachnids shipped also have to take 300 irminia, $165 sold for a gross profit of $760—and from overseas into the United States. If you 200 Ornithoctonus andersoni, 100 Lasiodora that’s with good luck and doesn’t include purchase animals from outside the U.S. and striatipes, 100 Poecilotheria pederseni and a the aforementioned costs of doing business. have them shipped to your door via EMS number of other spiders. Before you know it Plus, the retailer also has to keep alive and Speedpost [international express mail] you the total price of your spiders is over $20,000. sell the other species that aren’t in such great commit two federal offenses, both punishable Add the Form 3177 fee ($55), shipping ($300), demand. But the previous scenario isn’t by fines and imprisonment. You would not broker fee ($500) and the other costs and you exactly realistic in yet another way. Not all only be smuggling livestock by not declaring could buy a new SUV (sports utility vehicle)! retailers are “legitimate”. Those who have it to USFW, but also violating federal postal “day jobs”, perhaps don’t claim their income regulations. Furthermore, if you were caught, Arachnid Commerce and certainly don’t have the overhead of the you would cast a dark cloud over the hobby professional dealer may place a forum ad as well as the honest dealers who put great So is it worth it? Will you be able to recover selling Species X to the hobbyist for $200 or effort and expense into bringing exciting your investment and hopefully make a less. Now the “legitimate dealer” will have species to the hobby. In short, your actions profit? Maybe, maybe not. The markup at to lower the price or hold on to the spiders would give the rest of us a bad name. There

18 19 continued from 19 livestock coming into country. Whereas many Conclusion European hobbyists can freely post boxes of arachnids to another country in Europe, I hope this article has given you a better in the and even Canada, it is very difficult to legally understanding of what goes into acquiring import livestock to the US. that fancy spider you love so much. I also Although I do not import any CITES hope you now realize why Species X would Spotlight listed species, I will close with a brief mention be more expensive here in the U.S. than of this. Special permits and their associated in Europe and understand that American fees will be required, usually at both the dealers are not ripping you off. There is no exporting country and here in the U.S., and a correlation between overseas retail prices and Brachypelma smithi Grammostola rosea customs broker will be necessary to assist with those found in the American hobby. As with (Mexican redknee) (Chilean rose) v arachnoculture USFW verification. There is the possibility anything, much of pricing comes down to is a growing business that paperwork produced by some countries supply and demand, as well as the costs and in American territory, will not be valid, and you will be in a heap of risks of conducting business. Hopefully as however there are many laws and policies trouble for receiving the protected animals. the hobby continues to grow more and more which make acquisition The exporter or the country of origin would desirable species will be bred in the U.S. and of finer species a not be affected—the responsibility would be become more affordable to the American troublesome issue. completely yours. arachnoculturist.

This is the quintessential, docile spider of all time. Often referred to as the rose-haired tarantula, this is Usually very “sweet” in disposition. From “Raiders possibly the best beginner spider, depending on one’s of the Lost Arc” to Elvira, this is the most seen and personal taste. By this we mean: young tarantulas are saught after tarantula of all time -- part of the reason often more skiddish than older, handled ones. G. rosea it became so rare. Over-hunted & illegal to catch and quickly becomes acclimated to being handled, if that’s sell in numerous countries, rest assured your specimen really what you’re looking for. Keep in mind handling any was born in captivity. Only recently has this species arachnid is forever a controversial subject. For example, become more affordable, thanks to enthusiasts. Though we’ve never had a B. smithi (Mexican red-kneed) ever all spiders are capable of biting, we’ve yet to hear of B. bite, though young ones run away even a bit more than G. smithi doing so to any of our personal friends. Though rosea, in our opinion. On the other hand, many more bite B. smithi “kicks hair” sometimes, it’s not generally reports are purportedly in existence for G. rosea! known to do so as fiercely as others, and though they’re The consensus, still, that this is rare, and bite reports catagorized as type 3 hairs, they have not seemed as usually only tell of a needle-feeling, minor puncture, bad as B. boehmei or nearly as bad as B. blondi to us, lightly, either involving no subsequent feelings or but everyone is different, so please see our Cautionary sometimes a minor buzzing or tingling which quickly Page. A desert species used to dry climate, he/she dissipates. Due to the older ones’ tendency to be couldn’t be easier to care for. Very long lived and not docile, we’ve handled this spider even more than the dependent upon frequent feeding (relative to some Mexican red-knee, due to its tolerance of us and also other species), it is usually eager to eat and grow. The its relative less tendency to kick urticating abdominal best “starter” there is -- even over Chilean Rose, in our “hairs”, be they either less irritating to us than other opinion. Get in while the “bumper crop” is good! Not species, or less kicked & thus *fluffed* onto us in shown here, they grow very larger & develop beautiful, particular. A quintessential starter tarantula, females yellow leg bands in older age, just like in the movies. live many years and grow to an impressive size!

20 21 Captive Care and Breeding of Holothele incei [Holothele incei] On average, females only reach 60 mm [2 Index Holothele incei (F.O.P.-Cambridge, 1898) is a small in] in legspan. They are copious web-spinners, filling species originating from scrub and tropical rainforest their containers with thick silken tubes tunneling areas of Trinidad where it is relatively common. Often through the substrate. Housing is a simple affair and called the “Trinidad Olive”, it is a fascinating species any medium to large container will suffice. A deep to rear. I have had specimens in my collection for substrate (peat or peat/vermiculite mix) will allow the spider to burrow but it will do equally well with B nearly ten years and have been lucky enough to breed them on several occasions. Similar in colouration to less, constructing its retreat around the sides of the Brachypelma smithi 21 another Trinidad species, , container. Kept at average temperatures of around H. incei is clothed in olive green and brown hairs and 75°F [24°C] with 65-70% relative humidity, I have the carapace takes on a beautiful golden tinge as the found them easy to rear, with females living around females mature. The abdomen is similarly patterned eight years in captivity. with chevrons. Males are around half the size of the Easily bred in captivity, courtship for this G female when mature and lack the chevron pattern species is long and involves much leg drumming Grammostola rose 21 on the abdomen. The carapace takes on a silvery from the responsive female. Fresh males are under appearance and the legs are grey/brown with the no threat but it is noted that the female may kill the tarsi almost black. Surprisingly large as spiderlings, male instantly on a second introduction. Eggsacs are they have a voracious appetite from day one and laid some three weeks after mating. Approximately grow relatively quickly, attacking prey from the safety four weeks later the fully formed spiderlings emerge, H of their burrows. totaling around 100. Holothele incei 22 The following notes were from a diary on Holothele incei over an 18 month period:

15 Oct 1999: Laid infertile egg sac. 21 Oct 1999: Mated (male from same eggsac). Calm pairing with multiple palp insertions over a long period (10 minutes). The male shows no fear towards the female and began courtship on introduction. Female responded eagerly and emerged P from her burrow to mate. 01 Dec 1999: Eggsac produced. A deep burrow was excavated and the spider sealed itself Poecilotheria metallica 12 inside. The mobile eggsac measures approx. 15 mm in diameter and can be All content within Arachnizine clearly seen through the silk inside the container. courtesy of www.exoticfauna.com 01 Feb 2000: Spiderlings separated (77 in total). 22 Feb 2000: Mated (same male as previous), courtship and pairing similar to the first time. 25 Mar 2001: Moulted. 06 Jul 2001: Mated again. Long courtship, brief palp insertion and female attacked male but he escaped unharmed. 08 Jul 2001: Killed second male on introduction. This time, instead of beginning to court the female on introduction, the male began to groom himself on the edges of the female’s web. Sensing his presence, the female moved slowly towards his position and attacked almost immediately. 25 Jul 2001: Laid eggsac. 16 Aug 2001: Eggs hatched. Found a spiderling with double abdomen (this specimen managed to go through its first moult successfully but died soon after). Separated spiderlings—108 in total. 01 Jan 2002: Moulted. 30 Apr 2002: Mated. 03 Aug 2002: Moulted.

22 23 of dirt in the oven to your spouse. Ever see any Dirt is Dirt scorpions in line at the pet store waiting to buy a small bag of dirt for $5 or chunks of fir bark for except when it’s Mud $10? No matter what you want to call it, it’s just dirt. Flash news report just in ... arachnids don’t That stuff lining the bottom of your arachnid live in sterile hospital clinics. In fact, many live cages, the stuff we like to call substrate, the stuff amongst leaf litter teeming with alien life forms that keepers have strong preferences for and rigid that are hard at work, thanklessly breaking down feelings about, the stuff that fuels contentious organic matter, humbly participating in nature’s debate and time-wasting polls, the stuff that woundrous cycle. So, why this obsession, mostly evokes odd desires for sterility and purity, it ain’t in America, with a substrate that contains no life. that complex . What do you have against those cool fluorescent I have been on numerous collecting trips to yellow mushrooms that grow out of your peat the southwest US and I have yet to find one mix from time to time? Why the paranoia tarantula burrow in heat expanded mica, better that the garden soil in your backyard contains known as vermiculite. Maybe it’s the rest of arachnid-host-specific mites? Come on. Grab a the world’s tarantulas that live in it? Are there shovel. You’re surrounded in dirt. If you’re lucky v Oftentimes, any tarantulas living in Canadian peat bogs? Or it will contain beneficial organisms like wood lice regular backyard maybe other tarantulas put their soil in ovens and isopods and some bacteria that just might soil is perfectly meant for pizzas and turkeys and pies in an clean up the waste you forgot to remove and is suitable for your attempt to sterilize it. Ah, nothing like baked attracting unwanted terrarium pests. If not, make eight-legged buddy! dirt for dinner or explaining the casserole pan sure you add some! I do. Call me old school, but I’ve had little trouble using the dirt the earth provides instead of the product the marketers sell. Sure, I make sure there aren’t any little centipedes or ants or anything that might eat a spiderling in the dirt. I also make sure that dirt is collected where no fertilizers or pesticides of any sort have been used. There’s clean dirt and there’s ... well ... er ... dirty dirt. Dirt is good but mud is bad. If only people worried as much about how stagnantly saturated their substrate is as they do how lifeless it is. Ventilate. Ventilate. Ventilate some more. I don’t know about yours, but my arachnids get hydrated by being fed well and having access to fresh water. None of my arachnids drink dirt. I mean, mud. Dirt is great. Dirt is free. I confess. My rant is a tad hypocritical. Sometimes I use fake dirt, especially for the numerous tarantula spiderlings I have for sale that are confined in the micro micro-environment of a vial. And since some dirt hater is going to email me saying that dirt is obviously full of cooties and ask what I would use if not nature’s earth, I’ll whisper it: 75/25 coconut coir/ vermiculite with just enough water to make it barely, almost, kinda sorta clump. But if it’s a terrarium bigger than a vial or deli cup, I still put wood lice and isopods and such in it! Maybe even a live plant. 24