Do you consider a tarantula to be a pet?
 

One of my tenants has asked my permission to get a cat, which I have agreed to, and he did the right thing in asking - its in his agreement to ask.

However its come to my attention he already has a tarantula. I dont mind this in the slightest, but I did suggest that he should really have let me know. His response?

The tarantula isn't a pet, as it doesn't leave the house or roam the house unattended, it cant leave a mess, and he doesn't stroke or pet it. Therefore its not a pet.

My logic is if it isn't a pet, then why have it? Its not like it wandered in of its own accord, and he's afraid to try and get it to leave...

His theory could also apply to goldfish, but I would still say that a tank of goldfish are pets...

So my question is, is the tarantula a pet and if so, then he's broken his tenancy agreement and I should start eviction proceedings?

Nah, I have a snake and to be honest its more like an ornament than anything. Nice to have, good to look at but not really a pet. I wouldn't evict him but maybe tell him that if he gets anything else similar he should let you know. Couldve easily been an honest mistake. I wouldn't declare my snake a pet as I've never viewed it as one.

yes absolutely...why should he live under such a thin skin landlord that has trouble with an insect in a glass terrarium that makes no noise and can do no possible damage to the property....

Dogs and cats are domesticated pets. Exotics like snakes, tropical fish, and spiders are interesting because you need to replicate their natural habitat to a degree to keep them.

They are for people interested in nature, animal behavior, and enjoy observing their behaviors and often, the challenge of keeping them.

To call them pets is to diminish what they are.

Pet has to give a shit if you live or die, I think, beyond just that food suddenly isn't there.

Fish tank is a potential hazard in case of breakage.

Tarantula is a potential hazard to other tenants. If it got out and went to another unit (presuming you have one and the unit is multi-tenant) he should have told you. What if he dies, or is delayed for a few days? To care for the unit, and his welfare, you need to know all the things that live in his ecosystem.

If you have another reason to get rid of him - Maybe for instance you just don't like him - Then you could use it as an excuse - I would suggest he hasn't really broken the spirit of the agreement though...

Yeah, I'm only joking about kicking him out. My point really was that he should have asked / informed me about the spider in the same way he has about the cat, but his answer was that it wasn't a pet...

As far as I'm concerned I'm not bothered in the slightest he has the spider - Just that I should have been told :)

I just wondered what other peoples take on it 'not being a pet' was?

Is he affectionate towards the spider:winkwink:?..

i consider tarantulas as yeeAAHWHATTEFUCKGETOUTTAHERE

If I knew one of my neighbors has a Tarantula I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

Throw him out anyways.don't want people to be complacent

nah man, fuck spiders

I don't think it's really a pet, and it can't really cause damage to your place.

I guess if it escapes and bites someone that could be an issue.

I've had good luck with tenants in my extra house, they're looking after it better than I did.

I consider it a pest ...

They are exotic pets 100%

Thanks for all the opinions guys...

ilnjscb seems to have captured the spirit of my intentions when they said:

So from today forward, the wording of my tenancy agreements shall read 'Any Living Creatures' instead of 'Any Pets'

This should clarify any ambiguity in my intentions and resolve the possibility of an 'arguing semantics' situation.

Thanks all :)

They are being eaten in some countries. :1orglaugh

I had one for years and I saw it as a pet....

Tarantul is not a pet.
In general, people should be banned to keep the nasty animals in the house.

If it can't bring me my slippers, it can't be a pet. It's a fucking ornament. LOL

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh

Trouble with that is, then he would have to notify you any time any other spider appears in his house. Or moths. Or dust mites....

Good one Paul...

:1orglaugh

If I were him, I would ask if I can have a tarantula more often than I would ask about having a cat in the flat. But again, his point makes sense too. Just don't tell others about the tarantula, I guess. :D

:1orglaugh:1orglaugh:1orglaugh True, however in that case, the 'arguing of semantics' argument would be in my favour, and not in his :)

Your place, your rules, or maybe ask additional fee , everybody might go home happy.
On the funny thought some girls regard their boyfriends as pets.

What if someone set up a huge fish tank without any fish in it... Only water plants?

I had an a.versicolor once that I loved like a hamster when I was a kid.

I agree. I love my dogs and cats like I love xhamster.

Wouldn't bother me in the slightest. I'm not so anal as to consider living plants as pets, and I'm fully insured anyway for tenant damage should there be an accident.

My definition of a 'pet' is a living creature that YOU have deliberately introduced into the property, which you feed and are responsible for. I really don't care what it is, I just want to know about it, as per the tenancy agreement. Thats all.

And before someone says what about a living creature that is deliberately introduced into the property, but is not cared for or fed, then I would call in the RSPCA / ASACP :)

What about a creature that is not deliberately introduced, but is fed? Like a cat that comes and goes through an open door all the time.

If its not deliberately introduced then I assume its either wild or belongs to someone else? In that case no big deal. If however its there constantly and they are feeding it and it starts to sleep there then imho it has become their pet and I'm entitled to know about it.

I'm not going to tell the to get rid of it. As the landlord, I just want to know what animals are residing at the property, and when they took on the tenancy, they signed a legal contract to say that they would tell me... Simples :upsidedow