Reptiles, arachnids, and other creepy critters thread - Because I know I'm not the only Kiwi into that shit

[Cheerlead-in-Chief]

Since I have two red-eared sliders, I'm still astounded that they both learned my name when I was gone. then again, they are very observant.
The female is even cunning, going so far as to swim below to prevent the male from reaching a piece of dried shrimp lol.
Oh, and since they're juveniles...the male always does his mating dance and I observed he starts it earlier by two hours.

 

[Android raptor]

Since I have two red-eared sliders, I'm still astounded that they both learned my name when I was gone. then again, they are very observant.
The female is even cunning, going so far as to swim below to prevent the male from reaching a piece of dried shrimp lol.
Oh, and since they're juveniles...the male always does his mating dance and I observed he starts it earlier by two hours.

Turtles are very intelligent. A lot of people don't realize how smart reptiles are. Turtles and tortoises are also constantly horny, my friends torts are always humping everything.

Just make sure you are able to build a huge enclose for them as they get bigger, sliders need 10 gallons per inch of shell and get up to 12 inches.

 

[Cheerlead-in-Chief]

Turtles are very intelligent. A lot of people don't realize how smart reptiles are. Turtles and tortoises are also constantly horny, my friends torts are always humping everything.

Just make sure you are able to build a huge enclose for them as they get bigger, sliders need 10 gallons per inch of shell and get up to 12 inches.

We are planning on giving them a tank with two heaters once we move to an apartment.

 

[Android raptor]

So the friends I'm staying with have a bit of a German roach problem in the kitchen. They've put down the gel and bait things because we're all worried about anything that could harm our animals. I've moved my guys upstairs and so far everything seems ok, but I'm still a bit nervous in the back of my mind.

What they put down seems to be doing a good job of killing the pests but not spreading to the rest of the house. I'm making sure to wash my hands before touching my animals especially after being in the kitchen, and I'm trying to avoid going near the areas where the bait and gel are.

Pet inverts and other exotics (especially amphibians) are so delicate, and you have to be very careful about any chemicals you bring in the house. Pest control especially is tricky and I've had bad experiences with having my animals die after accidental exposure to pesticides (years ago I almost lost my entire hisser colony because my sisters cat would sit on the tank and drop hair in it after he had flea drops).

Idk tl;dr, pest control is happening in the house and so far my guys have been ok but I'm still paranoid

Also, a christmas pic of my friends tegu

 

[Cheerlead-in-Chief]

That lizard is a cutie patootie, not gonna lie!

 

[A Grey Cat]

tip: if you ever see a tiny centipede like creature in your house do NOT kill it. I forget the exact name but these guys do not harm food in any way, don't bite, and don't carry disease or germs, and instead they hunt cockroaches and silverfish and keep them from entering your home.

 

[Tard Repository]

I've actually been considering getting a tarantula to help kick my autistic fear of spiders. Didn't realize how docile they actually are until I started watching tarantula keepers on the 'net.

Snakes are fucking cool also and I'm planning on getting a Hognose when I'm financially able to.

 

[Cheerlead-in-Chief]

Anyone else have a bearded dragon? I love mine, she's my buddy.

My therapist has one and she showed me her picture.
The bearded dragon 'pancakes' (similar to basking) and seems to love watching TV, especially cartoons.

 

[Android raptor]

tip: if you ever see a tiny centipede like creature in your house do NOT kill it. I forget the exact name but these guys do not harm food in any way, don't bite, and don't carry disease or germs, and instead they hunt cockroaches and silverfish and keep them from entering your home.

House centipedes! They're very helpful and I think they're cute. I wish you could buy them like you can with ladybugs to use as natural pest control.

Plus they look like walking eyebrows, which is fun.

I love the regular centipedes as well, used to have 2 vietnamese pedes. One died of old age but the other was a baby who died unexpectedly and that fucked me the hell up. I was crying nonstop the whole day afterwards.

I've actually been considering getting a tarantula to help kick my autistic fear of spiders. Didn't realize how docile they actually are until I started watching tarantula keepers on the 'net.

Snakes are fucking cool also and I'm planning on getting a Hognose when I'm financially able to.

I always recommend getting into the spider life. I'd recommend a curly hair, Arizona blonde, Chaco golden knee, Mexican red knee, or rose hair. Those are all hardy species that tend to be docile (tho my red knee is a butthead that likes kicking hairs), and even if they were to bite the venom isn't very potent (like a bee sting). Rose hairs can be picky about food though, they're like ball pythons where they sometimes randomly don't want to eat. Mine once went 9 months without eating.

Just make sure to do research and be very careful if you decide to handle the spider. They're very delicate and a fall can kill them. Also be very careful about keeping pesticides and other chemicals away from them.

This is my rose hair, #nastybitch (Hashtag for short). She used to be very skittish, but she's gotten a lot better and braver. She was my first tarantula and I love her to death.

 

[Cryptojew]

I got into herps this summer after meeting a beatiful Florida Kingsnake at a pet shop. He's by far the friendliest snake I've ever met, a total bro. After I brought him home I found out he's actually a fairly expensive morph, was a bit of a shock considering how little he was being sold for.


I also have this baby childrens python, who's a bit of a drip. She is very cute though.

 

[Fanatical Pragmatist]

2020 has been kind to my herping game.
Got my lifer Eastern Coralsnake, Pinewoods Snake, Glossy Crayfish snake, and I've been blowing up the GADNR & FFWCC emails with new Southern Dusky locales

My most recent noteworthy find was this GORGEOUS subadult Canebrake rattlesnake from southeast Georgia. I'm assuming its a she because the tail seemed really short, and females do have smaller tails (&subcaudal scales) than do males.
Either way freaking beautiful individual the day after Thanksgiving, and really happy I got to see her before cold December rains came in and ruined all the fun.

--- IMAGES REDACTED ---

 

[Android raptor]

Ah man, that's an awesome snake! I love the native venomous snakes but unfortunately haven't seen them much. Corals are also a lifer for me, I have friends that have seen them though.

One of my favorite memories is seeing my first wild timber on July 4th 2017. He was a big, calm guy living underneath an old foundation. Had a massive, intact rattle too. We tried to get him out with a snake hook for a better look but he was just like nah and crawled further back where we couldn't see him. Never rattled once or anything. Fantastic snake, I hope he's still out there doing well.

Unfortunately the extreme persecution venomous species get is really hurting their numbers. I do everything I can to try and educate people but some people just refuse to listen. I think some people are just sick fucks that get off on killing animals and know snakes are an acceptable target.

Have an old-ass captive Eastern pic for a less depressing note.

 

[Nick Gars]

Reptiles are cool.


Arachnids?
Fire is the only answer. Humans developed the ability to spot a spider instantly even in their peripheral vision for a reason.



Edit:Neg rate me all you want, If you like Spiders you got serious fucking problems.

 

[Android raptor]

A vast majority of spiders are not dangerous to humans, and even the species that are are often docile and not aggressive (like widows). Fear of them is actually something that tends to be learned, typically from parents.

They also are very important as both predators and prey.

Have a pic of my handsome, pissy boy. I love all my spiders even if they're brats that throw hairs.

 

[Coldgrip]

Spoiler: Reptiles?

I'd say it's kinda sad that reptiles aren't as popular as pets as cats or dogs, but the flip side of that means less scaly critters abandoned once the charm of owning one wears off.

 

[Android raptor]

Spoiler: Reptiles?

View attachment 1800535

I'd say it's kinda sad that reptiles aren't as popular as pets as cats or dogs, but the flip side of that means less scaly critters abandoned once the charm of owning one wears off.

Unfortunately there are still plenty of reptiles that get mistreated and abandoned. Where I'm at beardies and ball pythons especially tend to get ditched, and some reptiles we've helped were found just roaming around outside. They often have injuries, infections, or are malnourished.

Even if reptiles aren't as common as cats or dogs, there are still sadly a lot out there being harmed and neglected. It tends to get taken way less seriously than abuse to mammals too.

Some of the worst me and my friends have experienced include a bunch of ball pythons that were abandoned in a storage unit that we had to break into to rescue, in November no less. The snakes miraculously were ok despite being in the cold with no water for weeks (one of my balls id one of them).

There was also a boa that was found in the middle of downtown in a dumpster that had a severe infection that took a long time to treat. As well as a carpet python that was found outside on Christmas eve last year. We named him Noel and I thought he was a goner because he had such a bad respiratory infection. It's a real Christmas miracle we got him when we did and he recovered from the infection.

My other ball python had her back broken by her first owner. It's healed now but she does have visible kinks.

I'll add some pics to keep this post from being too horrible and depressing

 

[Cheerlead-in-Chief]

I had a science teacher that had corn snakes, and a lizard in class.

In my next middle school the strict science teacher fed his snake frozen mice before class ended.

 

[ulsterscotsman]

Goliath Tarantula and friends.

 

[Cheerlead-in-Chief]

In defense of spiders:
1. majority are non-venomous
2. if they choose to hang outside your house, it's a good thing as they get rid of pests for you.

Once we had a female spider (brown recluse?) and she had her Web outside our living room window. she even had a brood of spider eggs. sadly, she disappeared presumably a frog's lunch, RIP.

 

[ulsterscotsman]

In defense of spiders:
1. majority are non-venomous
2. if they choose to hang outside your house, it's a good thing as they get rid of pests for you.

Once we had a female spider (brown recluse?) and she had her Web outside our living room window. she even had a brood of spider eggs. sadly, she disappeared presumably a frog's lunch, RIP.

Only issue I have with spiders is that my Goliath Tarantula can be rather noisy at night time doing stuff around her enclosure. It also hisses (stridulates) while walking.