Any precutions bringing new T's into your home?

[m0lsx]

When buying T's & bringing them into my home are there any precautions I would be advised to take to help stop any infection or similar being introduced into my collection?

Or are T's largely safe to introduce with no precautions?

I was topping water up in a couple of enclosure last night & thought about a Herpetologist friend of many years ago. He was often involved in rescuing snakes & other exotics & had two rooms he used. One for his collection, another for new snake purchased from sources he was not 100% happy with & for any other rescue exotics. And gloves & hand washing were compulsory, when putting your hands any where inside a new acquisitions enclosure or if handling was required.

Saturday I brought a couple of T's off someone & as I changed the water, I just wondered if I should be washing my hands between putting them in the enclosure of any new acquisitions & longer owned T's.

What do you owners of larger collections do? Are there any rules of good practice when it comes to new acquisitions that I should know?

 

[Rs50matt]

I personally don't do anything other than just house them. But I have heard that pet shop purchases can often carry mites so with them I would personally segregate them from other Ts until your sure they are clean.

 

[Enn49]

I will agree with @Rs50matt regarding pet shop purchases and add a word of warning to those who keep snakes as well as Ts, coco fibre in Ts containers can harbour snake mites so any pet shop bought should be kept well away from snakes. WC Ts can also carry parasites so keep away from your other Ts for a few months until you are sure they're clear.

 

[m0lsx]

Thank you both.

 

[Whitelightning777]

Unlike reptiles, tarantulas should never be on any substrate with ceder. It's a natural pesticide.

Predator mites and mold can be a problem as well. Inspect the T for injuries and try to find out of it recently molted before feeding it. The best way to tell is a shedded skin or fangs that aren't black.

Let it settle in for about 5 days and supply a waterdish. Don't feed, handle or disturb the T during this time.

Basically they are pretty low maintenance for most species. If it's a moist spider like P machala, I like to use frog moss kept most drizzled with water rather then misting the substrate directly.

Be sure to provide a hide.

I'd it's a dry spider like Brachyopelma, just a hide and water dish will do. Dry spiders in many cases hate moist substrate and it will--literally--drive them up the wall of their cage and possibly upside down on the lid as well.

Research the exact genus and species. Know the most recent scientific names as well as the common names. Both can change frequently. Avics are a prime example of this.

If it's an old world species be especially careful because the bites can be nasty. It's all good provided you know recently what it is. There is no such thing as a slow tarantula but old world species have lead feet and can teleport at the slightest provocation.

Frankly I'd rather be well informed about a "difficult" tarantula instead of ignorant about one considered idiot proof.

They aren't THAT difficult as compared to marine tanks or even many reptiles.

Be especially careful not to breathe on the tarantula when the cage is open for maintenance.

Other then that relax. Life causes problems 100x worse for most people every day.

Just do your research. Get the tarantulas keepers guide & another excellent source called The Ultimate Guide to Tasteless which is a little bit more up to date. That one is an online book.

Watch lots of YouTube videos which will show you what to do and not to do.

Arachnoclown, Eerie Arachnids, Tarantula Kat, Tarantula heaven, Tarantula haven & the_tarantula_collective are just a few of my favorite channels.