Invertebrates as Residents: A Primer on Care and Rescue in collaboration with Gavin Wolfe of Sun and Moon Sanctuary
Though not often considered in the context of rescue work, there’s growing interest in caring for arthropods as sanctuary residents. Their small size makes many species especially well-suited to the microsanctuary model, making it possible for caretakers to provide a spacious habitat even in situations such as apartment living that might make caring for larger animals difficult. That said, many species have very particular (and sometimes challenging) care requirements, so it’s vitally important to thoroughly research any species you plan on rescuing. This guide will offer an introduction to help get you started.
Note: For the sake of simplicity this guide is geared towards land-dwelling species common in the “exotic pet” industry (such as insects, arachnids, etc.) as these are the individuals most likely to be in need of rescue. For aquatic species, resources aimed towards fishes are often more applicable.
Special considerations:
Do your research to be sure your setup is appropriate for the species you are rescuing. Humidity, temperature, and airflow are all important considerations- you’ll want a thermometer, a hygrometer, and potentially a heater depending on species.
When researching care requirements, it’s always best to cross-reference from more than one source to be sure you’re working with the most up-to-date info, as best practices are always evolving. Some species may have few informational resources available, or those resources may be mainly geared towards rearing them as food for other species. In these cases it’s often helpful to research their native habitat and what their lifestyle in the wild might look like for insight into what sort of environment would be most suitable.
Though typically hardy, invertebrates can experience health issues like any other resident– many of the most common issues, such as injury, mites, and fungal infection, are preventable with proper quarantine (of both animals and habitat decor), maintenance, and mindful enclosure setup. Though locating a veterinarian who treats invertebrates can be difficult, they do exist! Your best bet in locating one will often be to ask around to reptile or general exotic-specialized clinics; they may be able to offer you a lead even if they don’t treat invertebrates themselves.
Invertebrates are very sensitive to pesticides, so be sure to thoroughly wash any produce offered, and be cautious when introducing any natural materials into the habitat such as live plants.
Once you’re ready for your new resident(s), you can keep a lookout for opportunities to rescue. As with other species, it’s important to avoid purchasing individuals, as this ultimately serves to create more demand and reinforces the notion of animals as objects. Rescuing may take a bit of patience, but some common avenues for finding adoptable individuals are:
- Negotiating surrender of injured/ailing individuals from pet stores,
- Checking “free sites”, Facebook groups, forums, etc. for individuals being rehomed,
- Though not as common, shelters may occasionally get more common “pet” species such as hermit crabs or tarantulas surrendered.