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> /u/kona_worldwaker: Do they see 8 images of what they look at or does each eye see an 8th of what they see all together?

> Do they see in color?

> I know in general spider vision is considered poor, but what does this mean? Blurry? No depth perception?

A lot of this information comes from Biology of Spiders, and I would encourage you to get a copy of this book if you want to learn more about spider anatomy, physiology, and behavior.

In short, how well spiders can see depends on species. Not all spider eyes are created the same. As noted in Biology of Spiders, "the efficiency of any eye is determined by the design of its optics and by the structure of the retina."

Most spiders don't rely heavily on vision but tactile and chemical cues. For example, web dwelling spiders like orbweavers, cobweb spiders, and funnel weavers can only see differences in light levels, which helps them entrain their circadian rhythms to the day/night cycle. Their eyes don't form clear images, and they rely mostly on the vibrations transmitted through their webs to know what is going on around them.

Hunting spiders (such as jumping spiders and wolf spiders) tend to have better eyesight, which is usually indicated by the presence of two large median eyes. The input of these two eyes is probably merged into one image, with the slight difference between the eyes helping with depth perception. (Just as we see only one image even though we have two eyes.) The other six eyes, which are much smaller, do things like sense motion and light levels.

Jumping spiders have the best vision of any spider. Not only do they see in color and have binocular vision for gauging distance, but they can see ultraviolet and polarized light. However, even they can only see sharp images within a relatively short distance (we're talking inches, not feet).

> Can they climb glass? If so, I'd think they'd get hurt if they fell from near the top - could I fill the tank with substrate up to the point it would be safe for the spider?

Yes they can; ground spiders are more susceptible to falls. That will be A LOT of substrate. If you get an arboreal spider, it will be less of an issue.
> Also, what are the best types for a beginner? I've hear the chilean rose mentioned, and I had a friend in high school with a mexican redknee that was really really docile.

Those are good, ground spiders, but there's also A. avicularia - pink toe, which is a good docile spider.

> I live in North Idaho, so I'll have to get a tank heater. Would a pad be best? I can't imagine a spider liking a heat lamp - wouldn't it want to hide all the time? Also, besides crickets bought at a pet store, a very shallow water dish, and something for the spider to hide under, what else might I need?

Heat lamps are bad - too dry. Spot heated pad is good, but make sure there are non-heated parts so they can escape. Also, cricket food and water, and long forceps or tongs - crickets are obnoxious and tricky.

Get a spray bottle, coconut husk substrate, water dish, and I personally like a temperature and humidity sensor (analog dial ones - pretty cheap).

Also, pick up The Tarantula Keeper's Guide.

Good luck! Here's my setup.

There's some good advice in this thread, but if you're interested in learning more, I'd point you to the most excellent Tarantula Keeper's Guide . It has the answer to pretty much any question you can imagine and more. It's a favorite among people in the hobby.

Yes, tarantulas are very easy to care for. They are the most low maintenance pet that I know of.

As far as where to buy them...

Local pet stores are actually one of the worst places to buy them if you're concerned about ethical treatment or the quality of living at all. The staff generally has no idea how to properly care for a tarantula, the specimens are often mislabeled, the prices are way too high ($150 vs $15, literally), the selection is usually pretty bad, and they will almost always give you misinformation about that specimen and usually all tarantulas.

The best place to buy a tarantula, as a beginner, is either from an exotic pet shop that has at least 50 specimens or from a hobbyist (you can save money this way).

In the case of tarantulas "docile" generally means "boring". Tarantulas certainly don't have the capacity for any kind of socializing or domestication. They are entirely for observation, just like fish. (Keeping that in mind, I recommend you forget about ever handling them because it's not worth the risk. I'll go into that more if you want.)

As far as the particular species... Yes, it's widely claimed that the G. rosea is the ultimate starter tarantula because of its so-called docile nature and ease of care. However, it is also the most commonly available and likely the least expensive. But that doesn't make it a good starter! There are many disadvantages to this being your first tarantula...

1. They are VERY inactive for most of the time. Sometimes going months without moving more than an inch, and certainly not showing interest in food.
   
   
2. They grow slowly. If you are interested in watching it grow quickly, forget this one. They are well below average in terms of molt frequency and growth and they can take months of "pre-molt" before they will finally go through with it.
   
   
3. They don't eat a lot (See 1 and 2). I don't know about you, but to most people, feeding a tarantula is the most exciting part of ownership and generally the most activity you get to witness. A low appetite makes for a boring tarantula, in other words.
   
   
4. They are just plain boring to look at. Dull, brown and average sized...
   
   
5. You might not care about this, but the G. rosea population in Chile has been nearly wiped out due to export of this species.
   
   If you want a recommendation on something else, I will happily give you some ideas.
   
   Above all, before you make ANY purchase, you MUST buy and read a copy of The Tarantula Keeper's Guide. You will save yourself a lot of trial and error and I assure you that you will not find a more thorough and comprehensive source of published information on tarantula keeping.

The identifying features of spiders are more subtle than they are for birds or butterflies - like eye arrangements, length and number of hairs on their legs. Also, consider there are about 900 species of birds in the U.S. vs. about 3,000 spider species. Just trying to help you understand why you're having a hard time finding such a guide.

My favorite spider field guide is the Golden Guide to Spiders and their Kin. Though the book includes spiders worldwide, it focuses on American species, and the description of family features can inform ID anywhere. There is a 1990 edition available in full online. Some of the taxonomic names have changed since then, but you can get the idea. You can't beat it for the money.

I don't have this one, but browsing it, it looks pretty nice.

Otherwise, the technical standard is SONA.

Alternatively, invest in a camera: take pictures and share them with us -- we are always here to help. Bugguide.net has detailed descriptions at almost every taxonomic level.

Have you tried the cheapie little clip-on "macro" lenses for your phone? I was skeptical but I got a set on sale on Amazon Prime Day, and it works surprisingly well for reducing the minimum focus distance. Using mine on an iPhone and have gotten pretty good results for a $20 toy from China. For something this size you should be able to get a decent amount of detail.

This kind of thing (Amazon Link)

Sample image from my phone

https://www.amazon.com/Common-Spiders-America-Richard-Bradley/dp/0520274881

Not cheap at all, but I love this book, detailed descriptions and pages of excellent drawings

It's actually a yoga chaise, any surface is intimate if you make it so ;)

https://www.amazon.com/Multi-Functional-Relaxation-Meditation-Exercise-Leatherette/dp/B0777RYRX6/ref=mp_s_a_1_10?keywords=yoga+chair&qid=1572564480&sr=8-10

Edit: lol Thanks for the Silver, stranger. You've popped my silver cherry :)

Yeah as long as your slow then it’s safer and much cooler as you can safely stare them down for science!

Carson BugView Quick-Release Bug Catching Tool and Magnifier for Children and Adults https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000JQ5AZK

I'll recommend you Biology of Spiders by Rainer F. Foelix.
It's pretty broad treatment of everything spider, and includes a little bit of everything, such as anatomy, metabolism, web structure, reproduction, ecology and systematics.
It's roughly around 300 pages in a average sized paperback and even though such books can sometimes be rather dry reading material, I don't think that's the case at all with this one. I found it engaging without being tough to read.

What worked for me was reading about them. Go to your library, find a really in-depth spider book, and read all of it. You may end up completely fascinated. Here's the one I read.

Also, try observing them. Figure out when they're active, what spots they like to hang out in, what sorts of webs they build, what prey they catch. Taking a scientific interest allows you to see them as more than "scary thing with lots of legs."

Same here. I just used my old entomology textboook, Insects: Their Natural History and Diversity, which is one of the best textbooks I've ever bought. They have a limited section on non-insect arthropods and the Dimorphic Jumping Spider was the closest match I could find.

I also moved mobile homes a couple times out in Bedford as a summer job this year and saw a few of these guys. There were False Black Widows all over the place, but I had these spiders and Bold Jumpers crawling over me all day, too.

Well if you like in North America you can check out this awesome book! I have it and it is amazing, warning alittle bit pricey.

Well, I bought this one a while back and it's been super handy

First, get this book: http://www.amazon.com/Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Stanley-Schultz/dp/0764100769

Question 1: I have been keeping spiders since I was about 15 (35 years ago!). I currently keep 7 or 8 species. In the last 10 years, I have held or touched tarantulas less than 10 times. They don't enjoy human contact, and it is actually a little dangerous for both parties. For example, new world tarantulas have hairs on their abdomens (urticating hairs) that some people are really sensitive to (including me). I am so sensitive that I have to clean their cages while wearing thick rubber gloves. Another example: if you drop your tarantula (or she/he falls) from a considerable height, there is a really good chance it will rupture its abdomen. Even the slightest wound is going to kill it. It is just best to have them remain terrarium pets.

Question 2: I use long handled tweezers to pick up dead insects and body parts. When I have to clean the entire enclosure (roughly every six months), I use a soft-bristled paint brush to nudge the spider into a smaller container with a lid (I use one of those cheap plastic cages they give you when you buy a mouse at a pet store). I also use a good pair of tongs to pick up their water dish for cleaning. I sterilize it once a week (soaking it in hot water with some chlorine bleach) and keep it filled with fresh water (inexplicably, crickets like to drown themselves in it, so fish them out whenever you see one).

>this spider is notable for being featured on the cover of the original "Golden Guide" to spiders and their kin

That's on my bookshelf - handed down through my family for generations. Cool to see a photo of one of the cover models!

If you're looking for more information about spider locomotion and not just a video, see if you can find a copy of Foelix's Biology of Spiders. There is a thorough section on spider movement - plus a lot of other interesting things (if you're into spiders, that is!).

Believe it or not this was with one of those really cheap 10x clip on macro lenses clipped on an LG V20. I couldn't believe how well it worked tbh. The downsides are it has very shallow DoF and focuses like 0.5" away so you have to practically touch what you're taking a picture of. I was surprised he didn't jump away.

I'm not sure if this is the exact one but it looks right. The one I have has 3 lenses and 2 of them are useless but the 10x macro is fun.

https://www.amazon.com/AUKEY-Wide-Angle-Samsung-Android-Smartphones/dp/B01D8KOAWM

Ventilation is way more important than humidity. Give it a water dish and it'll be fine.

Your room temps are perfectly adequate too. In lower temperatures, spiders may grow slower or eat less frequently, but that's no big deal whereas overheating with supplemental heat sources is easy to do and potentially fatal.

Spiders are real contenders for the most low-maintenance pets available, so there's really no need to fuss over the exact conditions as long as their basic needs are met.

As for substrate, coconut shavings will be fine. I use either cocofiber (Eco Earth bricks) or 100% peat (available at any garden supply establishment) or a mix of the two, but as long as your substrate isn't sand/sharp objects your new friend will never know the difference, and will likely never leave the top half of the terrarium once it settles in.

Feeding arboreals can be kind of awkward since they're not bright enough to go down to the bottom in search of food, but most people either tong-feed or flip the whole enclosure until the spider nabs its prey. I do the latter, generally, but my Avics are all pretty small and it doesn't sound like that'll be an option for you if your terrarium is a big one.

There is a subreddit just for tarantula keepers, but it's not super active, so my best advice is a) pick up The Tarantula Keeper's Guide, if you haven't already, and b) check out Arachnoboards, which is a lot more active than /r/tarantulas and is a lot more search-friendly.

Also, if you want this book: https://www.amazon.com/Field-Guide-Spiders-Australia/dp/064310707X

and Spider in ecological webs for ecology.

I blame this book for the bullshit necrotic white tail myth.