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Creeping Things | Zoophilist

@creeping.things

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Replacing Fear with Fascination
Discover the beauty & purpose of our world’s most misunderstood creatures. Genesis 1:24-25
@creepingthingspodcast
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I really don’t know how to say this, and I’ve been avoiding sharing it because I honestly don’t want it to be true. I guess I was in denial, but last Tuesday, my sweetest girl Maple passed away. I’m absolutely devastated. I realize jumping spiders don’t have long lifespans. Females usually live around 1.5–2.5 years, but I honestly hoped that because of the impeccable care she received from me, she’d live closer to the 2½-year mark instead of the approximate 20 months (1.67 years) she made it to. I’m still so shocked and confused about what happened. She laid her first infertile egg sac the week prior and was sitting on it diligently. I made sure to spray her enclosure to give her opportunities to drink and even threw a few fruit flies in there in case she decided she wanted to eat. From everything I’d read, they can go quite a while without eating while sitting on an egg sac, but I still wanted to give her the option. Then last Tuesday, she abandoned her egg sac after less than a week. I sprayed her enclosure and she drank. I gave her a couple of small black soldier fly larvae in her feeding bowl and then went to take care of the 55 jumping spider slings currently in my care. That usually takes me about 3 hours. Early in my feeding routine, I actually saw Maple roaming around her enclosure twice. Once when I walked past her to the bathroom to fill water bottles and again when I went to wash my hands while feeding the slings. She had just had a drink and was up moving around like normal, which makes what happened next even harder for me to understand. *CONTINUED IN PINNED COMMENT* by @creeping.things
25
a day ago
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One of my favorite things is finding new ways to get outside, explore, and learn about the animals we share California with. So I started putting together a list of upcoming events for anyone else who loves creeping things as much as I do! If you’re located in California, check out these upcoming events! I’ll try to make a new list every six months to keep everyone in the loop on fun and unique opportunities to get out into nature and experience the animals we all love so much. You can find the full list of upcoming events on my blog at faunainthefoothills.com. I’m currently working on another list for mammals, plus a separate one specifically for marine life, so stay tuned for those too! I’m also thinking it could be really fun to turn one of these events into a little Creeping Things “field trip” and all meet up to experience it together. Would anyone be up for that? by @creeping.things
0
5 days ago
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Did you know that a female Regal Jumping Spider (Phidippus regius) can lay eggs even if she has never mated? Once a female reaches sexual maturity after her final molt, her body may produce eggs as part of her normal reproductive cycle. If she hasn’t mated, those eggs are infertile and will never develop into spiderlings. Before laying, she’ll usually build a silk hammock or nest and may spend much more time inside it. Egg-laying nests are often quite thick, but sometimes an infertile clutch ends up in a more loosely spun hammock and some of the eggs can slide or fall out. Seeing yellow eggs stuck to the side of the enclosure or hanging below the hammock can look alarming, but it doesn’t automatically mean something is wrong with your spider. She may still behave as though those eggs are fertile: staying with them, guarding them and refusing to leave her hammock. She doesn’t necessarily “know” they’re infertile when she lays them. She may guard an infertile egg sac for about 1–4 weeks, although every female is different and some may abandon it sooner or later. During this time, give her space and let her stay with her eggs. Many females won’t eat at all while guarding an egg sac, and that’s normal. There’s no need to force her out or continually offer food. If you do offer food, stick with a small, low-risk feeder such as large fruit flies or black soldier flies, and remove anything she doesn’t eat. Avoid leaving crickets, mealworms, roaches or other feeders in the enclosure where they could disturb or potentially injure her while she’s guarding. Continue providing access to water by lightly misting an area away from the hammock, taking care not to spray the egg sac itself. Most importantly, don’t open her hammock, remove the eggs or try to coax her out. Let her come out when she’s ready. SIDE NOTE: if you bought an adult female and don’t know her history, don’t automatically assume an egg sac is infertile. Female jumping spiders can store sperm after mating and later use it to fertilize eggs. by @creeping.things
0
7 days ago
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She finally has the home she deserves! I ordered this @tarantulacribs enclosure a week after I brought her home and it finally arrived yesterday! She’s been living in an enclosure that’s too small for her for weeks now, but I guess it beats the deli cup she was in. During this time, I’ve been plumping her up because she was VERY skinny when I got her. I think she could stand a couple more crickets, but we’re getting there. This enclosure is 14x10x8. As a terrestrial tarantula who likes to burrow, she needs a wider, shorter space with thick substrate to protect her heavy body from falls. The distance between the top of the substrate and the enclosure lid shouldn’t be greater than about 1 1/2 times her diagonal leg span. She also has a shallow water dish available at all times. Arizona blondes are an arid species, so I don’t personally mist her enclosure. Good ventilation, mostly dry substrate and access to fresh water are what I focus on. They also appreciate somewhere to retreat, so I created a hide for her with a piece of cork bark. I know a lot of keepers don’t include digital thermometer/hygrometers in their tarantula enclosures, but I put one in every single enclosure. Even my smallest velvet spider enclosures have them. I just like being able to see what’s actually happening inside their little environments. How do you think it turned out? by @creeping.things
4
8 days ago
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You can’t say you’re an animal lover while h@ting 86% of ALL animals on earth. Did you know that roughly 81–86% of all known animal species are arthropods and reptiles? That’s spiders, beetles, snakes, millipedes, crustaceans, lizards, etc. and so many other animals that people are quick to call creepy, gross, disgusting, or something that needs to be kiII€d. Let that sink in… So when you say, “I’m an animal lover”… Are you really? Or do you just love the animals you’ve been taught are lovable? Like dogs, cats, bunnies, etc. Being an ANIMAL lover can’t only mean loving the soft, cute, and familiar ones, that society has decided are worthy of affection. The “creepy” things count too. 🕷️🪲🐍 Also, the Andalusian horse belongs to my daughter and she gave me permission to film her. by @creeping.things
4
8 days ago
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Phrynocephalus mystaceus, often called the secret toad-headed agama, is such a cool little desert lizard. 5 fun facts about them: 1. They have a built-in “monster face.” When threatened, they can open their mouth wide and unfurl folds of skin at the corners of their mouth, making their head suddenly look much larger and more intimidating. They may hiss at the same time. 2. They can basically disappear into the sand. Instead of only running from predators, they can rapidly bury themselves beneath loose sand using fast body and limb movements. This also helps them escape extreme heat and reduce water loss. 3. Their toes have special sand “fringes.” The edges of their toes have enlarged scales that help them move and dig through loose dunes. Experiments found that these fringes significantly improve their ability to bury themselves. 4. Males use the tops of sand dunes like lookout towers. Researchers have observed males spending lots of time basking and surveying their surroundings from dune crests. They also defend their territory and will fight or chase away intruders. 5. They lives in some seriously harsh desert habitat. Their range stretches across parts of Central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, northern Iran, Afghanistan, northwestern China and southern Russia, and they are strongly associated with large sandy dune systems. This little one belongs to @vexoticme by @creeping.things
19
15 days ago
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Did we just become best friends?!?! At the pet expo in Pomona, I stopped by a giant booth where I ALMOST bought my curly hair tarantula. But I ran out of money after buying my daughter her false water cobra. They had run out of business cards & I forgot the booth name. That was two months ago, & I’ve been dreaming about my curly haired baby ever since. Fast forward to a few days ago when an unboxing came up on my For You page. I clicked on the breeder’s page & INSTANTLY recognized the booth. I was ecstatic because his employee had been so kind at the expo. Imagine my shock when I discovered he was in the exact town I was driving to THE VERY NEXT DAY for my cat Mocha’s cardiology appointment. I immediately asked if he had curly hairs & C. versicolors, my last two dream species. HE HAD BOTH. Then my daughter found out he also keeps reptiles, including one of the snakes she REALLY wants. I asked him about it & he said, “F it, just come to my place. I went to your page & you don’t look like a psychopath.”😂 So there we were, heading to this man’s house WITH OUR CAT & what we walked into was like a dream! Well over 200 species of arachnids, lizards, snakes, even venomous species. The best part? One of the kindest, most down to earth humans I’ve met in the exotics world. Victor showed us some of his babies, answered our questions, let us nerd out, & even gave me a deal. I am SO glad I waited to buy my last two spiders from him. Hopefully next year my daughter will also be getting another snake from him. He had also just pulled an egg sac from another spider my daughter wants. After she showed me pictures, I loved it so much that now I think we might need mommy & me spiders.😂 If all goes well, we may be getting some in a few months. I give Victor from @vexoticme TWO enormous thumbs up. If you’re looking for exotic animals, DEFINITELY check him out. He is knowledgeable, passionate, kind, & responsible in a world with way too many unreputable breeders. Sometimes things work out exactly the way they’re supposed to. Sometimes you go to your cat’s cardiology appointment & come home with several new pets, plans for future animals, & a new exotic animal bestie. by @creeping.things
13
16 days ago
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I was sitting in my chair outside with the dogs when I noticed something BRIGHT blue moving around in the grass, so of course I had to go investigate. This is what I found… a lizard tail, and it was still moving. It once belonged to a juvenile Skilton's Skink/Western Skink (Plestiodon skiltonianus). So naturally, I wanted to share 3 pretty cool facts about what I stumbled across: 🩵 Blue is one of the rarest colors in nature. True blue pigment is actually pretty uncommon in animals. A lot of the blue we see in nature isn’t created by blue pigment at all, but by microscopic structures that interact with light and make something look blue. 🦎 Some lizards can purposely drop their tails to escape predators. It’s called autotomy. If a predator grabs the tail, the lizard can essentially detach it at specially adapted fracture points and make its escape. No, the lizard doesn’t just bleed to death afterward. Blood vessels around the break are adapted to constrict quickly, which helps dramatically limit blood loss. The wound then begins healing, and in many species the tail can eventually regenerate, although the replacement usually isn’t exactly the same as the original. 🤯 The tail can keep moving AFTER it’s no longer attached to the lizard. The detached tail doesn’t need instructions from the brain for every movement. Nerve circuits within the tail and spinal tissue can continue producing muscle contractions for a while after separation. That movement is purposely designed that way too! A wriggling, flipping tail can keep a predator’s attention focused on the tail while the actual lizard runs in the opposite direction. Essentially, it’s a moving decoy. Isn’t nature WILD! 😍 Would you have immediately gone over to investigate the mysterious blue thing moving through the grass too? by @creeping.things
1
20 days ago
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The Sudan Plated Lizard This cool lizard comes from the dry, rocky savannas & semi-desert regions of sub-Saharan Africa; from countries like Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania & parts of Central and West Africa. 😃Below are some fun facts about them! 1. Sudan plated lizards (Gerrhosaurus major) have thick, rectangular scales arranged in neat rows across their bodies. Those tough “plates” help protect them from predators & give them their prehistoric-looking appearance. 2. Their tail is built for defense. If threatened, a Sudan plated lizard can whip its strong tail at a predator. They’ll also wedge themselves tightly into rocky cracks, making it extremely difficult for something to pull them back out. 3.They’re surprisingly flexible eaters. Even though they’re primarily insect eaters, Sudan plated lizards are omnivores. Along with insects & other small invertebrates, they may eat flowers, fruit & other plant material when it’s available. Isn’t this an absolutely beautiful animal! 😍 by @creeping.things
0
25 days ago
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Isn’t her new coloring soooooo cool!!!! 😍 Anyway, one thing hasn’t changed, she’s is still an incredible hunter! Let’s talk about their hunting style for a bit… Jumping spiders are visual hunters. Unlike spiders that build webs to catch their food, jumping spiders actively stalk their prey. They use their incredible eyesight to spot insects, slowly creep closer, then launch themselves at just the right moment. Before they jump, they attach a silk safety line behind them, basically giving themselves a tiny built-in bungee cord in case they miss. They are REALLY good at judging their jumps too. Jumping spiders can calculate distance, direction & even plan a route to reach prey they can’t immediately get to. Once they’re close enough… they pounce, grab & bite. It’s so cool to watch! For something so tiny, they’re surprisingly strategic little hunters. So, I call Wednesday “she” but the truth is, I don’t actually know. She’s so tiny that it’s impossible for me to know from her molt but I hope she’s a girl because they live longer than the males. Her coloring makes me think she’s a girl. Speaking of color... does anyone want me to talk about why they change color when they molt? Also, are there any jumping spider experts out there? Can you tell if this is a male or a female spood? by @creeping.things
8
a month ago
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Maple poops on me often enough that at this point I’m just grateful she’s tiny. But since I actually caught my regal jumping spider (Phidippus regius) doing it on video, I figured we might as well turn this incredibly glamorous moment into an educational one. Let’s talk about spider poop!💩 If you keep jumping spiders, you’ve probably noticed those tiny little splatters or dots on the sides of their enclosure… or directly on your hand if your spider is Maple. When spiders eat, they use digestive fluids to begin breaking down their prey & essentially turn the edible tissues into a nutrient-rich liquid that they can suck up. But drinking your dinner doesn’t mean you get out of pooping. Spider poop is usually a tiny liquid or semi-liquid droplet rather than the little solid pellet you might picture. Depending on what they’ve eaten & what’s being eliminated, it can look white, cream, gray, brown or even pretty dark. That little splatter isn’t just leftover food waste either. Spiders also have to eliminate nitrogen-containing waste produced by their bodies. Their waste can contain compounds like guanine & uric-acid-type products, which can contribute to that white or chalky appearance you sometimes see. There’s actually a benefit to getting rid of waste this way too. These compounds allow spiders to eliminate nitrogen while losing relatively little water, which is pretty important when you’re a very tiny animal & conserving moisture is vital. Fun fact! Maple pooping on my hand is NOT her telling me to back off. Jumping spiders aren’t known for intentionally pooping on people as a defensive strategy. Sometimes nature just calls at an inconvenient time. My pinktoe tarantula Rose, on the other hand… She actually CAN weaponize her poop. Pinktoe tarantulas (Avicularia avicularia) are known to propel liquid feces toward something they perceive as a threat as one of their defensive behaviors. So if Maple poops on me, I was probably just in the wrong place at the wrong time but if Rose aims her butt at me, I should probably take the hint.😂 So there you have it. Spiders poop. Sometimes on their humans, like Maple. And sometimes V by @creeping.things
5
a month ago
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10 fun facts about blue death-feigning beetles (Asbolus verrucosus): 1. Their bright blue color isn’t a pigment. It’s created by a waxy coating that reflects light, giving them their powdery blue appearance. 2. They can “play dead.” When threatened, they roll onto their backs, tuck in their legs, and remain motionless, sometimes for several minutes. This behavior is called thanatosis or death feigning. 3. They live a long time. With proper care, they commonly live 8 to 10 years in captivity, and some individuals have been reported to live even longer. 4. They come from the desert. They are native to the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. 5. Humidity changes their color. When they get wet or the humidity is very high, the wax coating temporarily becomes transparent, making them appear dark gray or black. Once they dry out, the beautiful blue color returns. 6. They’re nature’s cleanup crew. They are omnivorous scavengers, feeding on dead insects, decaying plant matter, fungi, seeds, fruits, and other organic material. 7. They don’t bite or sting. They are completely harmless to people, making them one of the easiest beetles to handle. 8. They can’t fly. Their wing covers (elytra) are fused together, so they have no functional flight wings underneath. 9. They’re surprisingly strong climbers. Even though they spend much of their time on the ground, they can climb branches, rocks, and rough surfaces with ease. 10. Their blue coating helps them survive. The waxy layer not only creates their stunning color but also helps reduce water loss, an important adaptation for surviving life in the desert. Bonus fact: A group of beetles is called a colony or aggregation, and blue death-feigning beetles often do very well living together. They are social enough that many keepers (like me) successfully house them in groups.🩵🙂 by @creeping.things
3
a month ago
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