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I recently received a medium sized tarantula through the post.
When I opened the box I was extremely surprised to see the total lack of packing in the box and around the spider itself.
I fully expected to see a dead spider with a ruptured abdomen considering the lack of padding.
Luckily the spider was OK and is now settling into its new home.
Everyone has their own methods and ideas on how to pack a tarantula (or any other invert) so I though that I would post a few photos showing how NOT to do it and then a few photo's showing how I do it.
I have removed any identifying markings off the packing box and changed the species of spider for one of my own to stop any amateur Sherlock Holmes wannabe's' trying to ID the sender.
This is the first view of the lack of packing in the box
Covering the cricket box was several layers of neatly folded toilet tissue
No packing around the edges of the cricket box.
There was a few inches of open space surrounding the cricket box, there was nothing to cushion the spider against any knocks or bangs.
Showing the several layers of neatly folded toilet tissue that was on top of the cricket box
The same amount of tissue under the cricket box
Underneath the tissue was a slightly screwed up and folded carrier bag as added padding !!
Inside the cricket box was a cardboard tube from a toilet roll with a few sheets of tissue underneath it.
I have replaced the new posted spider with one of my own that is only slightly smaller that the spider that I received as mine is easier to handle while taking these photo's.
It is the policy of the BTS to NOT handle tarantulas.
This individual spider was chosen because of its calm nature and slow movements otherwise I would not have been able to take these photos showing my method of packing spiders (and how much space NOT to have)
Showing how much space the spider had to rattle about in while in the gentle hands of the post office.
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This is how I pack my Tarantulas when i post them out.
What I aim for is a space slightly larger than the spiders body so that it can crouch in the space provided with its legs close to its body
A 2-3ft length of toilet tissue is wrapped around 3 of my fingers.
Hoop of tissue in cricket box where the spider will eventually go.
A handful of screwed up tissue jammed in either end of the cricket box so that the 'hoop' is cushioned from any knocks or bangs
The tissue is sprayed so that it compacts slightly
Another 'hoop' of tissue is added because the space is too big for the spider.
A few sheets of screwed up tissue that will be used a 'lid' once the spider is inside the 'hoop'
Showing the size of the 'hoop' and the spider, a nice snug fit for the spiders size.
The spider is in the 'hoop' covered by a small lid just to show the amount of space that is needed.
The tissue 'lid' is placed over the spider, which is now crouched at the bottom of the 'hoop'
The cardboard box shown is too small to use with a cricket tub so I've swapped it for a more suitable sized tub
(I did take photos with the original cardboard box and cricket tub but accidently deleted them while on the camera)
Screwed up newspapers first
Folded newspaper next
Tub added then screwed up newspaper is placed around the tub
A few inches left for more screwed up newspaper to be added on top of the spider tub
and done !!
The spider cannot be bounced around because there is no extra space for it to happen, the tub cannot be moved about because there is screwed up newspaper tightly wedged around it.
The spider is now ready for posting
When I opened the box I was extremely surprised to see the total lack of packing in the box and around the spider itself.
I fully expected to see a dead spider with a ruptured abdomen considering the lack of padding.
Luckily the spider was OK and is now settling into its new home.
Everyone has their own methods and ideas on how to pack a tarantula (or any other invert) so I though that I would post a few photos showing how NOT to do it and then a few photo's showing how I do it.
I have removed any identifying markings off the packing box and changed the species of spider for one of my own to stop any amateur Sherlock Holmes wannabe's' trying to ID the sender.
This is the first view of the lack of packing in the box
Covering the cricket box was several layers of neatly folded toilet tissue
No packing around the edges of the cricket box.
There was a few inches of open space surrounding the cricket box, there was nothing to cushion the spider against any knocks or bangs.
Showing the several layers of neatly folded toilet tissue that was on top of the cricket box
The same amount of tissue under the cricket box
Underneath the tissue was a slightly screwed up and folded carrier bag as added padding !!
Inside the cricket box was a cardboard tube from a toilet roll with a few sheets of tissue underneath it.
I have replaced the new posted spider with one of my own that is only slightly smaller that the spider that I received as mine is easier to handle while taking these photo's.
It is the policy of the BTS to NOT handle tarantulas.
This individual spider was chosen because of its calm nature and slow movements otherwise I would not have been able to take these photos showing my method of packing spiders (and how much space NOT to have)
Showing how much space the spider had to rattle about in while in the gentle hands of the post office.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
************************************************** ************************************************** ***************
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
This is how I pack my Tarantulas when i post them out.
What I aim for is a space slightly larger than the spiders body so that it can crouch in the space provided with its legs close to its body
A 2-3ft length of toilet tissue is wrapped around 3 of my fingers.
Hoop of tissue in cricket box where the spider will eventually go.
A handful of screwed up tissue jammed in either end of the cricket box so that the 'hoop' is cushioned from any knocks or bangs
The tissue is sprayed so that it compacts slightly
Another 'hoop' of tissue is added because the space is too big for the spider.
A few sheets of screwed up tissue that will be used a 'lid' once the spider is inside the 'hoop'
Showing the size of the 'hoop' and the spider, a nice snug fit for the spiders size.
The spider is in the 'hoop' covered by a small lid just to show the amount of space that is needed.
The tissue 'lid' is placed over the spider, which is now crouched at the bottom of the 'hoop'
The cardboard box shown is too small to use with a cricket tub so I've swapped it for a more suitable sized tub
(I did take photos with the original cardboard box and cricket tub but accidently deleted them while on the camera)
Screwed up newspapers first
Folded newspaper next
Tub added then screwed up newspaper is placed around the tub
A few inches left for more screwed up newspaper to be added on top of the spider tub
and done !!
The spider cannot be bounced around because there is no extra space for it to happen, the tub cannot be moved about because there is screwed up newspaper tightly wedged around it.
The spider is now ready for posting
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