KT's A.R.C
KT's A.R.C
KT's Arachnids, Reptiles & Cats
Arachnids
& Other Invertebrates
2021
If you had told me a few years ago that my home would be filled with shelves of spiders, I would have laughed in disbelief. This collection was not born out of an immediate love for the eight-legged, but out of a desperate desire to conquer a debilitating fear.
It started with a tiny jumping spider named Minx, who taught me that spiders could be inquisitive and cute, rather than terrifying. That shift in perspective opened the door for Dagda, my Brachypelma hamorii and very first tarantula, who introduced me to their calm, prehistoric beauty.
Since those early days, the "A" in KT's A.R.C has exploded into a diverse, thriving ecosystem. Today, sharing the Critter Cupboard with several of the A.R.C.'s rescued reptiles, the invertebrate shelves house a meticulously monitored spectrum of the arachnid and insect world:
2026
The Heavyweights (Terrestrials & Giants)
These are the classic, heavy-bodied terrestrial species, including my foundational Brachypelma tarantulas. It also serves as the nursery for the true giants of the hobby, housing massive South American Theraphosa slings like Gaia and Dana, alongside growing Pamphobeteus juveniles.
The Arboreals
(The Tree-Dwellers)
Built for verticality and speed, these are the lightning-fast, incredibly colorful acrobats of the collection. This includes a diverse array of Avicularia species, the vibrant Caribena versicolor juveniles Bobbi and Marli, and striking Psalmopoeus species like Gwyion.
The True Spiders
While I will always hold a special place for the Phidippus jumping spiders that cured my phobia, this shelf has expanded significantly. It now proudly houses Ziggy the Huntsman (Heteropoda davidbowie), Lyka the Wolf Spider, and our velvety Gandanameno species, Obsidian and Kyanite.
The "Other" Inverts
The A.R.C. isn't strictly limited to spiders! The invertebrate shelves are also home to our scorpions, Selket and Zenobia, Casper the Ghost Mantis, Ivor the millipede, and the "Palmyrene Army"—a bustling colony of Blue Death Feigning Beetles that cohabitate with Zenobia.
From tiny slings in the nursery to mature adults in bio-active display enclosures, this space is a testament to high-welfare invertebrate keeping. It is a living introduction to the incredibly complex creatures that successfully turned my greatest fear into a dedicated lifestyle.