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You should make a video on Oscar fish (Astronotus ocellatus)! They’re great fish and I think many newcomers to freshwater fish would benefit from learning about them.
I learned this from a keeper as a wee bane, so your mileage may vary but: On the issue of keeping them, you have to simulate the night/day cycles and temperatures in their enclosures otherwise their daily cycles of their biology gets a bit messed up - eg, they won't sleep if they're always at only comfortable temperatures and risk instead being-awake-to-death. Arachnids don't sleep like mammals do, but they do have daily cycles, metabolic rate changes and their muscles, prosoma and flexors have been observed to move in patterns resembling REM sleep!
I had a sun spider walk from my head down my face. He didnot run! I'll never forget the weight of his big legs slowly walking down my face! I put him outside & made sure he was ok and put him in our garden. I live in Southwest and was always told that sun spiders eat other bugs & flys. I knew we had one in the house, so I kinda knew what it was. But, hell in my house it could been a scorpion!
I kept a wild-caught solfugid that I found in our garage when I was in junior high. I had a 10g aquarium set up as a naturalistic terrarium based on the local grassy scrub that housed different interesting local fauna every spring to fall, and she did really well in there. She was super cool, ate medium sized crickets like a fiend, and liked to hang out under a large piece of bark that I'd given her as a shelter. Everything was dandy for several weeks, then suddenly I stopped seeing her come out to hunt. I took the blunt end of a pencil to flip her bark over, and she boiled out, furiously attacking the pencil. She chomped the eraser right off the pencil and then, *after* that insane attack, started a threat display (similar to a tarantula). She had a whole pile of eggs in there, and like heck was *anything* coming near them without losing an appendage. Mom didn't want a swarm of angry not-spiders in the house and made me release her and the eggs (which was slightly tricky to do safely, because she was definitely not excited about me trying to catch her in a cup so I could gently remove the eggs to a new nest outside). But, she was really fun while I had her, and I've considered keeping one again. Very cool creatures.
That's a shame she made you toss her out! I wouldn't imagine her babies would've escaped since they're not very good climbers compared to spiders. I kept one too, around the same age. I'll never forget feeding him a giant blowfly, nearly his size. Watching him tear it apart in an instant, and proceed to slurp up all the little maggots that spewed from it, was like watching an overexcited toddler with a birthday cake.
To sum this up, a scorpion or tarantula is probably a better option. I highly recommend tarantulas as pets. I own seven different species. A lot of people who keep tarantulas were once terrified of arachnids. If I told myself from five years ago that I own seven tarantulas, my past self would call me crazy. Sure, they’re a strange pet, but I think that just adds to the cool factor
There’s a downside to owning tarantulas though. You’ll find yourself saying “oh maybe I’ll get 1 or 2” and then some day, you find yourself with 20+. It can be very addicting! I started keeping them just over a year ago, and now I have 25.
@Kristin W I think that’s a positive personality. I bought my first one with the intention of starting a small collection, but in reality, owning seven is no harder than owning one. It’s still the same easy care, just more time consuming. Keeping tarantulas is definitely the best hobby I’ve ever gotten into
My brother is actually breeding these! There’s some new info from a Japanese keeper and my brother is replicating the care. He now has had 2 females lay eggs.
Here I was thinking Clint couldn’t get any cooler of a person, then he throws in a Princess Bride reference that probably slipped past many viewers. Love that movie!
@@northernplantucky Princess Bride when he’s talking about it being MOSTLY dead, instead of all dead. That’s the scene when Westley (Carey Elwes) is seeing Mad Max, the Miracle Worker (Billy Crystal) to bring him back to life after being tortured by The Count, who has 6 fingers on his right hand.
They only "chase" people because they're trying to hide in your shadow from the sunlight! I remember seeing one in a desert animal book as a kid and I was totally obsessed with them. I definitely wouldn't handle them, they're just too skittish and easily hurt. I'm sure feeding them via hand or tongs is lots of fun.
From personal experience I know this isn’t true. I’ve been chased by them / seen them chase other people at night. Anecdotally I’ve heard that sounds from their bites tend to get infected easier than than other wounds.
@@stefanostokatlidis4861 untrue, these mfs are just really fuckin mean. Sun spiders are well known to have a very aggressive temperament on average, and I've seen it for myself plenty of times. Opened doors for them to leave and such and they just get pissed off and try to bite you, running towards you when not even cornered. I get it, they're just animals so I don't hold it against them, but legitimately these guys are just naturally very likely to pick a fight rather than run. Even in animals such as african badgers, being small and highly aggressive can make predators less likely to hunt you, even if they could theoretically win the fight. It's just not worth it to stay in your vicinity or hunt you. Anyways sunspiders, or at least the pale yellow socal desert variety, are definitely picking fights left and right. I wouldn't know about the darker, shier wind scorpions though, or other varieties.
@@kiteflightyoure damn right. I work in the desert and those big mfs just run towards me during the night, and they are super tough to kill. Hate them. What a vicious creature
I saw a handful in Iraq in 2006. I like creepy-crawly things but even these guys were a big "nope" for me. As others have pointed out, you mostly saw them when you'd disturb things they were hiding under during the day. Then they'd "chase you." Later I learned that this was, as others have pointed out, their desire to get out of the blaring 120°F heat of the Iraqi desert, but their size, speed, appearance, and misunderstood nature were enough to make grown men run in fear! While channels like yours have helped to reduce the number of mischaracterizations of these little dudes/dudettes, I still don't know if I could ever consider keeping on as a 'pet.' I also don't think my wife or kid would be down for such a thing! :P Thanks for the video, Clint! Glad to be a patron of your channel!
I recommend excavator clay from ZooMed for this species. Top it with play sand and you'll have a substrate that holds a beautiful tunnel system without the need for adding regular moisture. I use it for my H Arizonensus and she's created dozens of elaborate tunnels for herself without a single collapse.
That's hilarious, I moved to Tucson almost two years ago, and my first introduction to these, (outside the internet of course) was finding one in my bathtub. The wild Tusconian ones seem much smaller than what's shown. Does anyone know if that's a locale difference? Is it only the middle eastern ones that get as big as in the video?
I would love to see you cover hermit crabs. They're really rad little pets that are super common, but not everyone quite understands the care that they actually need.
It's almost ridiculous how much you need to know about them to keep them healthy. Had 4 of them but after 2 years I must have done something wrong because they slowly died off. That's another pet that you don't mess with if it looks dead since sometimes molting can take forever. I loved those little guys and their obsession with popcorn fluff. I swear I would give them 8 or 9 different food options and they always chose the chopped up fluff from popcorn first
Thanks, Clint. I learned these existed when reviewing my insect ID book and was immediately taken with their insane and frightening appearance. The more I learned the more they became one of my faves. No sting, no venom, just straight up sprinting to the target and taking those chipper/shredder mouthparts to dinner. Nice to see them getting some love, even if you wouldn't necessarily want them to hug you back. Extra points for the Monty Python (Python! Ha-HA! I just got that!) and Princess Bride quotes.
I think I had that same ID book! Had beautiful drawings including a yuge one of the Solfugid. I've seen it in shops a couple times, almost got it for old times' sake.
Aren't they awesome? I kept one when I was a pre-teen. For how intimidating they look, you'd expect more ferocity and biting when people handle them, but as long as they're handled gently and allowed to lead, a lot of videos of them go to show they're pretty docile.
These guys are so interesting! I remember hearing about camel spiders first from schoolyard rumours about soldiers in the middle east that would get killed by these because they're SO VENOMOUS and the size of a small cat! And they're so fast and aggressive that once you see one, ITS TOO LATE! 😱 I didn't think they were real for the longest time 😂
I remember actually reading it online with the photos that came along with the meme/creepypasta like setup of it. I don't really understand what the point in the lie was though, to make people fear something that is actually completely harmless!
@@shinjiwolf oh it was cause we wanted "Our soldiers to appear more badass by having to deal with these things" also it was to make the middle east seem like a horribble place. all War propaganda
Ah, solfugids. So horribly cute and cutely horrible. Most animals can't manage to be so equally terrifying and charismatic, yet here they are. Great video! P.S.: Sand demon, lol!
One morning at about 4am I was in Afghanistan, on my way to the restroom when I came across a large gray colored beast of a solpugid. It raised its fore limbs and tracked me as I circled around at a respectful distance. I know they can't hurt me, but it did not show fear and I felt slightly vulnerable in my shorts and flip flops with exposed piggies. When I exited the restroom a few minutes later it was gone and I hurried back to my bed while checking over my shoulder (just in case!).
Your videos are such a useful source of info and I often use them during my classes where I teach animal care for special need and disadvantaged young adults. Would you ever consider redoing videos? So much changes so quick with what we know about substrate use and nutrition would be great to see old comparisons to new info for common pet species :)
I actually own a smaller species of these (i don't remember wich) and honestly they're great BUT with the 2 I've had it's hard to get them to eat Atleast for me because they're usually scared of their prey Would definitely be my favorite arachnid if they didn't die so often in captivity tho! Also for the little ones, even their bites hurt alot more than you'd think Atrong little fellas
I'm so glad that you eventually made a video about this interesting and cool creature. What about Moon Wind-Bug as an alternative name? I think it'll make more sense. Anyway I hope you'll make a video about hellbenders or giant japanese/chinese salamanders next
I can name a few faces people find terrifying: frilled shark, goblin shark, spookfish, aye-ayes, me in the mornings, etc. I personally find all of them interesting (except the last one). Also, I have a suggestion for a name, "shadow walkers". The reason I think it's a good name is because during the day they'll chase peoples' shadows to hide from the sun, and when the shadow moves they move with it.
keeping in theme with the sand critters, i would love to see you do a video on the sand spider. keep up the amazing work clint, I always get excited when i see a new video of yours.
I love the inclusion of moisture gradients and their propensity to drink from moistened surfaces. My tarantulas always drink from the substrate or from surfaces. I still always give them a water dish just in case.
Years ago before the internet was readily available and full of information on the weirder arachnids, i found one of these crawling on my leg in bed one night. I had never heard/seen them before and was confused for years by what i had just found. I actually haven't seen one since then either. Although since that time ive learned what they are in various other ways, this video has taught me a lot about them. Thank you for everything you do Clint!
Great video! I didn't know that so little was known about solifugids. As a chelicerid loving biologist living in Texas (where there are some reports of sulifugids) getting ready to finish my PhD and looking for my next study organism, it gets me thinking...
Story time! I read about these when I was a child, but lived in the northeast usa so I eventually forgot they exist. When I ran to Arizona, I lived with someone who had sandy looking tan tile floors, hated keeping doors closed, had messy dogs, and generally went to bed before the roaches came out. I gave up trying to convince her they were a nightly problem and named some of them when I went to the kitchen to refill my drink at 1am (it would have been futile and messy to crush them). One night, I returned to my room to sit on my bed and saw something freakishly huge SPRINT across my floor. It was small mouse-sized but I've seen enough mice to feel true terror of the unknown, as it was absolutely not the correct shape. Now, show me a pet insect or arachnid and I will be fascinated and ask if it's handle-able. Show me something mouse sized freeballing through my personal space completely uncontained and I am suddenly in a panicked impromptu game of the floor is lava. At this point I had only been in arizona for a few months and was still trying to identify all the creatures that I had read about but never SEEN. I usually keep some manner of clean, clear tupperware nearby for the purpose of capturing and observing for a few minutes before release (yes I crack them open for air). Anyway, I knew I would absolutely not be sleeping with an unknown creature of such size in my room. I had already been wary of surprise scorpions so there was very little in my room to hide behind or under, and safely into my observation chamber it went. I'm not sure how I managed to walk with the tanuki-sized pair I had suddenly grown, and terror had turned my brain worthless for anything not related to an adrenaline-infused feat of acrobatics. Took me a stiff beverage and a little time to figure out what it was. Months later, one about a half inch bigger did the same thing. I don't know if it was the same hero trying to keep the roaches at bay for me, but I did politely ask him to stay outside before I gently chucked him under a bush.
I once saw one at night outside in a village in Morocco, I'll never forget it, it was already one of my favorite animals and I was finally seeing it in the wild. Shame some locals thought it was a scorpion and killed it 😭 So yeah, I was really excited to see this and it turned out to be awesome as always!
As a person who absolutes loves spider and bugs in general - 2 mins in and well-deserved sub. Read a lot about spiders but have no idea how to pronounce half the damn words they use - so you doing it for me to near out loud - perfect. Great video so far.
OMG! Thank you sooooooo much for making this video. I love them, yet terrified of most arachnids with irrational phobia. I plan on getting one very very soon. I will be making sure to be very careful with care and enjoy it's (most likely) half-dead awesomeness.
I caught one of these in my garage in Northern California. It was huge. The cat was trying to play with it. Wasn’t a good idea! Lol! I caught it in a bucket and went online to find out what it was. Then I released it into field. I also had a smaller one get into a bathtub that was never used. He was quite useful for the spiders that also wandered into the tub. Nothing but spider legs left in tub. I eventually set him free also. Very cool insect. I wouldn’t want to get pinched by those powerful jaws like the cat did!
Clint, can I have a request? Could you talk about Muller Skink? I kept a pair of them, it lay 4 eggs but none of them hatch, I want to hear some advice from a reptile expert like you
Jesus man, don't know how I haven't been subbed, I have been watching your posts for a long time but I just realized I never subbed so in the error of my ways I have fixed that problem now.
Hey Clint, thanks for another great video! It'd be really cool to see you make a video about hominids, what do you think? And when are the Clint explains videos coming back? That's also a great channel.
7:52 Now this is something I had not heard about. Would make some sense, since logically there isn't anything about the lifestyle of sun spiders that would make them so much harder to keep alive than the many other kinds of arachnids with similar lifestyles that do well in captivity. Seems best to wait until one is rotting before you declare it dead (and after a few days large dead arthropods have a very obvious rotting smell to them). Though I have also heard that some deaths may be caused by lack of proper burrowing and hiding opportunities, that being forced to be on the surface active for too long basically "wears" them down until they die prematurely.
I love Solifugids! They’re a species I would love to see or even catch one over here in CO. Thanks for the content love to see some more arachnid love.
I've seen exactly two here in Colorado in the last few years after not having seen them at all and living here most of my life. I get so excited to see them, I managed to gently capture the first one and kept it in a container for a little while until it calmed down so I could take a picture, then I sent it on it's way. The second disappeared under the porch before I could enjoy observing it, the temptation to take a board off to look for it was very real lol Hoping to see more in the future, they're so much fun to watch as they go about their business.
Thank you for this video! We call them windscorpions here where I am in northern Arizona and I see several every summer. They are terrifying-looking, lol, yes, but really cool. I always like seeing them- though if they come inside I try and catch them and take them outside! One time, years ago, I watched two fight to the death on my driveway- that was epic. :O I have considered trying to catch and keep one- if I ever do, I'm glad to now know about their "mostly dead" stage. Right now, though, I'm keeping a desert blonde tarantula youngster that showed up in my living room one night.
I love your videos, been watching you for years. Could I make a request on White Lipped Pythons? They're a snake I dream of having but would love to hear your opinion on them
Now I love you even more!! I think that I just saw a clip from one of my FAVORITE movies OF ALL TIMES!!!! MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL!! And then you showed when the Queen's guards were yelling, "BRING OUT CHYA-DEAD! BRING OUT CHYA-DEAD!!" And one guy. "Wasn't dead yet so they hit him over the head with a giant rock to assisted him with that small detail!! 😂🤣🤣😆😆 Oh Thank you Thank you Clint! 💞
We have some species of camel spider native to Greece, both on the mainland and many islands. They extend more northerly in Europe through the Balkans as well. Apparently most herpers I know have encountered them, but I don’t have this amount of luck until now. They are extremely secretive and come out on the surface unpredictably. In this situation you can just catch an adult and keep it as a curiosity for a while, to witness feeding for example. Despite their large size, they are characterized by fast growth and short lifespan, so probably a wild-caught adult isn’t going to survive for long. You can easily check if it is really dead or appearing so byjust poking it. Dead arthropods will eventually lose moisture and become much lighter.
Clint, if you haven’t already I think you’d really enjoy learning about naked mole rats as they’re very unique, eusocial, largely ectothermal, highly cancer and oxygen deprivation resistant, and 30+ year life span rodents
Scary bug have pinchy face. Neat watching it sipping from the water on the wall, though. If I were to seek out an arachnid as a pet, I'd probably go vinegaroon, but thank you for showing us another cool big, Clint.
Thanks for the wonderful videos, Mr.Clint! It's your videos that actually helped me out of an impulse buy of a Nile monitor. Thank you, good sir!! , Sincerely The Reaper
My squad leader allowed one of the solfugid genus to live under his bed while I was deployed to Iraq it was his way of keeping mice away from his stuff stored under his bed. Used to see there eye shine on night patrols in my headlights. I probably ran a few over but Iraq is not the best place to swerve around an animal. Keep up the good work love to here about things with exoskeletons. Loved the feeders video but wished I saw some moths that were easier to produce in captivity as my local tree frogs love them around our porch light.
Damn that was a smooth Princess Bride quote drop! We had a hard time keeping ours alive in Iraq but it might have been going dormant after gorging on lizards. Also they REALLY dont want to fight scorpions and vice versa.
Bro they are super fast and can grow to huge sizes. As a Saudi I consider it as the Saudi version of bed monster along with scorpions and snakes. I've seen it hunting and eating mice.
My stepfather used to have them in his basement. Think they were eating the crickets. They were fascinating. Very brave, I'd actually put my finger down in front of one. It wouldn't attack me but neither would it run away. Lot's of bravery for such a little creature. I always let them go their own way, and found them amazing.
Thanks to your footage of solifugid mastication I have just learned that the joints connecting their chelicerae to their heads are situated laterally on either side of the body, and this has filled me with exuberant joy as I now know how to design the mouthparts on my speculative xenobiology project's xenochordates, thank you.
When I was young, my brother showed me a picture of a leg with a big giant chunk taken out of it, which I think he said was from a camel spider. It scared me for years. I had trouble going to bed - I live in northern US
I caught one of these in my garage up in Idaho a couple years ago. Had no idea we had them in our area. It was the most horrifying thing I've ever seen... the stuff nightmares are made of.
True story. One of these almost killed me. To make a long story short, i was a termite inspector in Arizona. I was doing an inspection on a trailer home and had to crawl under the home in a very tight crawl space. Once i got to the end of the crawl space, i felt something crawling around on my head. I thought it was a cockroach and tried to knock it off my head. I brushed it with my finger and it ran around my head, down my face, and up my nose. After 20-30 minutes of desperately trying not to panic while crawling back out of the crawlspace while coughing and sneezing uncontrollably, while also blinded by the heavy dust clinging to my eyes which were watering, along with my nose running.. i managed to get out of the crawlspace, stand up, and eventually sneeze it out. A month later, i came down with a sinus infection. I didn't think anything of it and my doctor gave me z-pac antibiotics which cleared it up. Then a month later i got another sinus infection and more z-pac antibiotics. This process repeated a total of 6 times until i finally got tired of my doctor giving me z-pacs. I went to another doctor who actually ran tests and found out i had MRSA in my sinus cavity which was slowly spreading through the thin bone and towards my brain. Which would have absolutely killed me in short order. I couldn't imagine how i got MRSA in my sinus cavity until i remembered "oh crap, 8 months ago that camel spider ran up my nose!" I was put on extremely powerful antibiotics for 5 weeks. Which finally cleared the infection. The end result was that i lost my sense of smell for about 5 years. It started to come back about 3 years ago but has not fully returned.
I Really Love This Series. Please Keep This Up As Long As You Can! Also May I Suggest Adding Silverfish/Firebrats To The List? I Know They're Considered More As Pests But I Really Do Find Them Interesting. Just Like The Earwigs :>
