The Spider Conservatory

The Spider Conservatory Where fear becomes curiosity

Tarantulas, Invertebrates, Plants! No gate keeping, No judgement, Beginners welcome!

09/22/2026

Would you keep something that looks like it’s from another planet… what if they were multiplying?!

Our baby tailless whip scorpions or whip spiders (Amblypygi) are moving into their new communal enclosure!

Despite their appearance, these fascinating arachnids are completely harmless to humans, and some species exhibit surprisingly complex social behaviors, including living together in groups.

Watching these little aliens grow and interact is going to be fascinating!

Would you keep a colony of these in your home, or is ONE already too many?

09/21/2026

She married a spider breeder… now she’s seeing the spider life through a whole new lens. 🕷️😂

giving you a first-person look at what life is like when your husband is obsessed with spiders.

Anyone else have a spouse who got dragged into their hobby?

We had these made for us to wear at the expos, and we’re pretty happy with how they turned out!We’ll be sporting them ne...
09/21/2026

We had these made for us to wear at the expos, and we’re pretty happy with how they turned out!

We’ll be sporting them next Sunday, September 27th, at Cold Blooded Expos in West Des Moines!

We’ll have plenty of tarantulas, plants, centipedes, scorpions and other fascinating creatures with us, so be sure to stop by and say hello!

Who’s coming to see us?

And what do you think of the new shirts?

09/18/2026

I didn’t get bit. I didn’t get attacked.

I just dropped some substrate on my bare foot while cleaning out a New World tarantula enclosure… and this was the result.

Many New World tarantulas have microscopic barbed urticating hairs on their abdomens that they can kick into the air as a defense. Those hairs can also accumulate in old substrate, webbing, hides, and around the enclosure.

Just another reminder that with tarantulas, sometimes the thing you can’t see is what gets you.

Have you ever had a reaction to urticating hairs? How bad was yours?

09/18/2026

Wolf spiders have THORNS?!

Those thorn-like spikes covering a wolf spider’s legs are called macrosetae… large, articulated spines that can become erect as hemolymph pressure increases.

And they’re not just there for looks. These structures are associated with sensory neurons, and when a wolf spider grabs prey, the raised spines can help create a barrier that makes it harder for struggling prey to escape.

It’s an incredible piece of anatomy that’s easy to miss until you get this close.

Sometimes the things that look the most intimidating become the most fascinating once you understand what you’re actually looking at.

Let curiosity take you where fear says not to look.

TEAM AMBLYPYGI or TEAM UROPYGI?Amblypygi, commonly called tailless whip scorpions or whip spiders, have enormous raptori...
09/17/2026

TEAM AMBLYPYGI or TEAM UROPYGI?

Amblypygi, commonly called tailless whip scorpions or whip spiders, have enormous raptorial pedipalps for grabbing prey. And those ridiculously long “legs” out front? They’re actually modified first legs used primarily as sensory organs, helping the animal investigate the world around it.

Uropygi, commonly called vinegaroons or whip scorpions, went a different direction. They have powerful pedipalps for capturing and crushing prey and a long, whip-like flagellum at the rear. Their famous defense is even stranger… they can spray an acidic defensive mixture containing acetic acid, which is where the name “vinegaroon” comes from.

Both are arachnids. Both are alien-looking predators. And despite their appearance, neither has a venomous sting or bite.

So now that you know a little more about them…

Are you TEAM AMBLYPYGI or TEAM UROPYGI?


I call this My “Bog in a Box.” 😂Been growing this mess of moss and sundews for over 1.5 years now 😁
09/16/2026

I call this My “Bog in a Box.” 😂

Been growing this mess of moss and sundews for over 1.5 years now 😁

09/16/2026

Still think tarantulas are terrifying? Look closer. 🕷️

Your worst nightmare might be a whole lot fluffier than you imagined.

Fear tells you to look away. Curiosity tells you to look closer. And sometimes, that closer look is all it takes to turn “NOPE” into “wait… that’s actually incredible.”

So which one wins for you… fear or curiosity?

(My song, my words, written by me. Suno used to alter my voice to sound a bit better)

09/15/2026

Nature hides its best creations in the darkest places.

What would you do if you found this under a piece of bark?

Hidden beneath a piece of cork bark, Scolopendra hainanum, the Chinese tiger-legged centipede.. shows exactly why centipedes are some of nature’s most misunderstood predators.

Let curiosity take you where fear says not to look.

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West Des Moines, IA

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