Smithy Molted.

Omg it's been ages since I have posted in this blog and this one will be short too.

I checked in on Smithy this morning and found her molting! She has since gone to hide so I haven't actually seen the result. I also want to check back in this blog to see how long it has been. Probably a pretty long time! now that she has molted again I really do need to set her up with her substrate and a better hide.

Mustapha. *Sigh* He's a very unhappy spider. Ever since we changed his home months ago he has hardly ate anything...If at all. He climbs the tank everyday and has lost all of his abdomen hairs. I keep thinking he is going to molt but it has happened yet. He used to be so content. I swear tarantulas are the most counter-intuitive animal in the world. I thought since he's growing, and is going to be so big, that he's need a bigger hide. Well apparently that has caused him terrible grief.

Well, I guess that's all for now.

Not the Greatest Shot but it's Something!

Smithy recovered quite nicely from her last molt and she's eating like a PIG! We haven't played with her in a while but I hope to very soon.

Mustapha on the other hand is the happiest tarantula in the world. Why? Well because we haven't seen him in months. I see him moving around in his cave but he's quite content to web himself inside and chill out at home. Actually, I think he's probably due for a terrarium cleaning. Oh, God the idea scares me. We've never had to do that before. I don't even want to know how big he is now.

Smithy worries me sometimes because she's so active. Apparently this means that she isn't thrilled with her environment. I'm going to add more substrate at some point but that always makes it worse before it gets better. She'll probably spend a week hanging off the top of her tank.

I acquired two bettas. I'm finding more and more that I think I actually prefer these types of pets over cats, birds, dogs and other traditionally interactive animals. I have to say, I like my fish so much that I already want another one!

Anyway, writing this post reminds me that I need to feed the Ts!

Little Update

Smithy's molt went without incident and she's already eating. Her legs have grown! I don't know what's going on with Mustapha. He's been webbed away in his cave for what seems like ages. I thought he was eating until I noticed a couple of crickets jumping around in his terrarium. Oops, I hope they haven't been sucking his eyeball juices or doing anything like some of the horror stories I've heard about leaving crickets in with vulnerable, molting tarantulas.

It's so strange how tarantulas are both hardy and delicate. They can live for a year without food, and survive all types of shoddy conditions but at the same time they can bust if they fall.

I've almost had the Ts for 2 years now! I kind of can't believe that it's been so long already! I think I'm doing a good job so far at being a spider Mom.

Now that Smithy is molted, fed and finally has her abdomen hairs back, I want to take her out to play and take pictures. I haven't freaked out my friends and family on Facebook in quite some time!

Smithy Molted!

She's not molting very often anymore. It must be 4-6 months in between them. It also took her a lot longer to get out of the skin this time around. She's resting and doing well. I haven't seen her stretched out yet so I don't know just how much of a difference the molt made but I AM happy that the bald spot on her butt is all gone now. That means I'll be taking some pics soon!

I think Mustapha has molted too but there's so much web that I can't even see into his cave. He only comes out to eat and drink anyway so like last time, I'll just see him make an appearance one day and be like, OMFG he's huge AHHHH!"

Tarantulas are awesome

Smithy Is Going to Molt!

Well her nasty bad patch has turned black and she's been denying food for over a week. Yay, molt time!

Mustapha is still eating well and oh so big. He's taken to webbing like, everything in the terrarium. He just wants to make himself an even scarier and creepier spider.

Not sure if I mentioned but I picked up some fake plants for their terrariums. I know that quite frankly, tarantulas don't give a rat's ass about decoration but I think it looks nice. Hey, I have two big tanks in my living room. They're gonna look nice!

I think I need to buy new crickets tomorrow. The chirping has stopped.

That's it for now.

Be Careful What You Wish For

I haven't had time to update but I had a case of the, "be careful what you wish for's." RIGHT after my last post about tarantulas being boring I thought that Smithy had escaped! Ack!

I fed her the butter worm, and went to check in on her later that evening, only to realize she was nowhere to be found!

The way her terrarium is set up, I can see into her hide, the substrate is pretty shallow at the moment, and she has a half coconut that used to be her hide. This coconut shell has the *tiniest* hole, and it faces the glass.

Sure enough, I discovered her in there the next afternoon. This was after going to bed thinking she had escaped and having to work the next day from 6am-12pm. ALL of that time, I figured I'd have to pull apart the bookshelf she lives on, and looks for a runaway.

*phew*

Tarantula keepers will swear that T's are Houdini's who can escape through the tiniest crack, and her screen covering is not that secure! She has now proven that she can manage getting through small spaces with the coconut shell. Time to re-think that screen cover, me thinks!

In other news, Mustapha has been out and about a lot lately. S/he's HUGE, and still really shy.

I need to get a picture of this beast but s/he runs away whenever I come close, and when I do get a shot, it never turns out well. Dang unphotogenic giant spider!

Both Eating

It's been a while since I have posted. Not only am I seriously busy these days but you know, tarantulas are boring! Smithy is still bald. Mustapha is still shy and won't come out.

However, they both ate a cricket the other day, at exactly the same time. That was the last two. I had to go to the pet store today. I picked them up a butter worm each. I don't think that Smithy has enjoyed hers yet.

I know Mustapha has molted and I want to see him (really, I'm pretty sure I should be saying "her") but he won't come out!

Well I guess that's it for now! Hopefully something exciting will happen soon. Haha

WTF Smithy?

I know that tarantulas have a difficult time adjusting to new homes but I'm very concerned about Smithy. Since the pictures in the last post (note her beautiful big bottom) she has kicked off like, almost all of the hairs on her abdomen. She looks gross! She keeps climbing up the side of the terrarium and falling. Mustapha also has a tall tank (I know, they should be shorter) and he has never climbed at all!

When I had her in the old home she climbed for a bit at first and then became bored, and grew content with just sticking low to the side. She reminds me of one of those Garfield car window decals, with the suction cups on the hands and feet. Anyway, every time she goes tank climbing I really stress. I'm not sure if this is the cause of her naked backside, or what?

I think Mustapha molted. He's been refusing food and I haven't seen him out of the hide in a few weeks. I peeked in yesterday during my food and drink delivery rounds and saw a very bulbous rump. More so than usual.

Sometimes I think the crickets require more upkeep then the Ts. They have to be fed and watered more often, cleaned up etc. Plus they're loud and smelly. Funny how that works out.

Well I'm outta here to get my workday over with and then YAY Friday night.

Peace out T fans.

Smithy has a new house!

They grow up so quickly. :)

Surprise Mom and Dad, I MOLTED AGAIN!

This Mustapha is full of surprises. True, I noticed he was refusing crickets but I didn't think it was that time yet. I woke early this morning to find him drinking from his dish, and his abdomen pretty much doubled in size! He has 2 or 3 old suits in his cave now and I donno how to get them out without disturbing him. Smithy on the other hand, drags hers out for me to discard on her behalf. Lol.

Poor Smithy, she needs a bigger home now. And we're way overdue a photo session. I've been so busy lately I've barely had time to even sleep. This will be my last full weekend off for about six weeks. I should get her set up!

Chris was saying the other day how Mustapha's personality has changed. It sure has. He's no longer skittish. I bet he doesn't run away because he knows that he's big and scary. Of course, he ran away this morning when I tried to get a picture but that was probably because Chris was closing the front door on his way to work and it's right under the terrarium. It was more likely the vibrations than my measly presence!

I need new bugs too. I'm still considering breeding but I'm not sure I want the noise, hassle or smell.

Chris wakes up with his alarm set to the sound of crickets. Just train the real ones to sing on cue already! :P

Hungry Tarantulas

Smithy is finished with her post-molt fast and now bother her and Mustapha are back to being eating machines!

Right before New Years Eve I went into the pet store to stock up on crickets for the long weekend. They were all out. *Enter panic mode* Mustapha hadn't eaten since Christmas day. I know they can live for a year without food but I do like to feed them as often a they like. I mean, what else do tarantulas do for fun if not hunt and feed?

Chris went down to the pet store in the beaches. They are way more expensive (old in a container) and small but this time they were a good size. I figure I can save the container in case on the Tarantulas ever needs a temp home for relocation or travel.

I really need to get on some pics. I know I keep saying that but I truly mean it this time!

Smithy FINALLY Molted!

She went into her hide yesterday and came out today looking MUCH MUCH bigger. She hasn't even dried yet but it looks like she's nearly twice her size! Someone is going to need a new home now.

The last time she molted was in the summer, I think. This was definitely the longest time in between suit changes.

It seems there were no problems. No skin still attached, no limbs missing or wonky.

Yay! Congrats to Smithy and her new skin!