Smithy is Molting...Right Now!

Woke up a little while ago to Smithy on her back. I don't see any skin peeling away yet and she's fully on her back this time, oppose to her side.

I meant to mist her container last night because I'm convinced that it's not humid enough in there. D'oh. So I did that as soon as I saw what's going on.

Oh this is always so scary! I hope she pulls through alright! If I didn't know better I'd think she's dead. I hate the way they look when they molt!

This T is like clockwork! Every 2 months almost on the dot since August.

PIX and Updates

We handled Smithy again and took a great picture! I love it! I wish Mustapha could he held but he runs away over the slightest vibration. :( Booo. I'm hoping he'll be less timid as he grows. I'd be scared too if I were so little! It's just that if he doesn't shake the fear soon I'm going to lose my nerve. I can't exactly start handling him when he reaches an 8 inch leg span!

Mustapha is an amazing spider. He's so active and interesting. When I rehoused him I simply put his baby vile into the new terrarium, hoping he would burrow in the new substrate but alas, he made the vile his hide. I should have known. The other day he was making it bigger for his ever growing body and dug and dragged the dirt out. It was really cool to watch. Now if you look behind the vile you can always see him camped out back there.

Smithy started refusing food on Monday. Over the weekend we picked up a new bookshelf and put them on it, complete with some Mexican art I brought back from vacation last year for Chris as their background, plus a houseplant. Yup, they get a whole shelf to themselves. We were even thinking that eventually, that shelf could be the right spot for one of their permanent homes.

Anyway, I don't know if she's not eating because the move scared her, or if she's going to molt again. On the 27th of December it will be 2 months since her last suit change. She's been molting pretty steady every two months since July but I know at some point, that's going to change and the gap will widen. She also seems to fast for about 2 weeks before the molt so I have to wonder if it's almost time? Lol, in this picture you can see Mustapha. He's on the right.

I gave Smithy's rejected cricket to Mustapha and I'm sure he was glad for it because it sure didn't last long in there!

I have to buy bugs tomorrow or Friday. They ran out again. Hungry little monsters they are!

New Smithy Picture

The spiders have been eating regularly, are more active than usual.

Not much more to report other than that. So I'll leave you with a recent picture of Smithy. It's too bad these little guys are so unphotogenic...Well at least to my abilities.

It's been nearly 5 months of being a spider Mom. I'm still fascinated. Will the novelty ever wear off? I hope not!

Spectacular Takedown

I fed the spideys yesterday. I shake them out of the container and size is random. Mustapha's bug was HUGE for him. I decided to sit with him for a few minutes to make sure he wasn't scared of it to the point of me having to fish it out. Ha! He attacked right away. The cricket had some serious fight in it and they wrestled for a good ten minutes with Mustapha, always having the upper hand. He's very bloated atm.

I also noticed that he's grown in to his new suit and is officially BIGGER THAN SMITHY. He's just gorgeous too. He has his black and white stripes and fuzz. I can't believe four months ago he was just this little speck. I'm actually starting to get the feeling that Mustapha is a she. If that's the case I may change her name to Fatima or something similar to keep my middle eastern theme. Don't ask why, he's a Brazilian species.

Smithy had a much smaller cricket and also pounced right away. She carried it around under her arm for a little while, like a toy or blankie and then did her death dance. She can really shake her booty!

Spiders are cool.

Mustapha Molted!

I knew it! I'm getting much better at recognizing the signs now. The fasting, the darker complexion, the lethargy...I noticed yesterday evening that he was pale, BIGGER and still a little folded up.

I have to go in there later. I want his skin! He usually molts in his burrow and I haven't been able to grab one since the very first molt.

I noticed it had happened because I went to feed Smithy. I looked over to him, looked back at her, and she had already caught the bug...D'oh! I wanted to see!

So right now, everything with the spiders is just dandy!

P.S. I think Mustapha is big enough for a water dish now!

Just a T Update

Mustapha has stopped eating. That can only mean one thing, MOLT TIME! It's pretty cool have two spiders because they're molt cycles have been about a month apart and at around one molt every couple of months, I get to see one approximately every thirty days!

Smithy has eaten about 3 times since her molt at the end of October. She's so fast and skittish now! I really hope she chills out. I actually saw her JUMP! Ummm, I didn't think redknees could jump. Then again, she moves so fast that it could have just looked that way. If you blink, you will miss her moving and now she's in this habit of running up the container. I *really* hope she never runs out when I have to go in there.

With her first meal she lunged at it, and like threw the cricket across the container upside down in to her water dish. I had to rescue it from drowning so she could try again.

I did some maintenance last night. Just refilling water dishes and spraying. I think I sprayed Mustapha's home too much because there is still condensation this morning. Actually it's more like droplets. I hope he's not too warm in there!

I also had to take a cricket out of his place because it's been in there a few days. It's being saved for Smithy tomorrow.

I know I keep saying this, but I'll take pics very soon!

Settling In

Smithy ate her first meal since molting. It's actually time to feed her again.

I have noticed that since the molt, she is moving more quickly, and seems kind of skittish. I hope she settles down. We want to play with her again!

Mustapha has also eaten at least once since his big move. I thought it was twice but a cricket got lost in his burrows and died in there. I noticed the dead bug pressed up against the container deep down in his burrow, at the bottom of the container. Now it's going moldy and there's no way to get it out! D'oh!

I still have his little container in there with him, and he seems to prefer it. I was hoping to have taken it out by now but as long as he's happy, I guess!

The last batch of crickets I bought are crap. Most are already dead. Grrr! It's a pain to get those things.

That's all for now!

SMITHY MOLTED + Mustapha has a new home!

YAY! I was getting worried there, as usual. Last night against my instinct, I started to panic and gave Smithy a cricket because it has been nearly 3 weeks since she has had a bite to eat. She wasn't impressed and ran to the top of her container and clung there, right above her water dish. I was so scared for her, but by this morning she was on the substrate again, so I got that bug outta there in a hurry.

Around 1pm I went to check in on her and she was half on the side of her hide molting! I saw it happen throughout the next hour or so. I can't believe I finally witnessed a molt! I wonder if she always molts on her side?! Even right now she is not completely finished. She still has to stretch her legs but she's already looking bigger and better than ever. I LOVE her colours. She's a real jewel :D

Now Mustapha had himself transferred in to a new home yesterday. He LOVES to burrow and he outgrew his original vial so I bought him a bigger Tupperware that has the same floor space as Smithy's house, but much deeper. Fortunately his original vial fits in the new home so it was a very stress free move. I placed the vial on its side, in the new house and within an hour he was poking his head out of the old burrow. I started a new burrow for him outside of the old container, and by this morning he was poking his head out from it! Lol. The new burrow looks more developed then what I started him out with so I guess he was very busy throughout the night digging. In a couple of days I'm going to take away the old home. I want to give him a chance to adjust to his new place, and be able to escape back to the old home, if something scares him.

My crickets have grown too quickly again. I'm picking up little ones tomorrow.

Little Update. Worried as Usual.

I have gathered the courage. I'm going to buy a container for Mustapha today and give him a new home.

He's been on the surface a lot. I think he outgrew his burrow. He's a little monster. My crickets are getting big again (a few lucky ones will get released soon) and he can really take them down. He destroyed one at least his size. I know they would prefer to eat smaller prey but once in a while I think they could use the exercise and excitement. Maybe I'll buy smaller ones tomorrow though!

I'm getting worried about Smithy, She hasn't eaten in over 2 weeks. She really looks like she's going to molt so I hope it happens soon. She's all dark and crusty looking. I'm also worried about her new home. It's not nearly as humid as the glass one was. This container was a former cricket keeper with little screen holes on the lid. I have it half covered with saran wrap to reduce the air flow. I just hope it's going to be okay for the molt.

Mustapha has eaten twice since his molt. I think it's about time to move him to a new house. I'm kinda scared! He's very timid. You just look at him and he jumps in to his burrow! How the hell am I going to do this? Lol.

Smithy hasn't eaten since I put her in to her new house. I'm glad I decided to not move her until she had a lot to eat. Now I don't know if she's not eating because she's going to molt (she's about due, I think!) or if it's because the move upset her.

I'm glad she's been using her hide and liking it. Her last home was too small for one and she doesn't like to burrow. Everybody in the forums was telling me this was normal, but I donno, I think she wanted one.

I've been having A LOT of spider dreams lately. The most amusing one was that I went to check on Smithy and she had grown so large that she completely filled her new container. I wish!

Well, I think that's it for now!

Loads of News!

Wow, figures when a whole bunch of REALLY cool stuff happens, I'm swamped with writing deadlines, work and extracurriculars. Boourns!

First of all, Mustapha molted. He definitely has his little routines. He started refusing food a little over a week ago. Last weekend he retreated in to his burrow, and by about Tuesday, he surfaced to sport his new suit. Although his body is still quite a bit smaller than Smithy, his legs are about the same size. He's going to outgrow her in no time!

Secondly, I HANDLED SMITHY! This is the biggest news of all. Frankly, her house was getting gross. Given her species, I'm sure she wasn't appreciating the moldy, stagnant conditions. She has also started refusing food and by my calculations, she should molt too within the next few weeks. So I rehoused her in to a bigger container, complete with a little pop bottle water dish, and a hide.

I figured this was as good a time than any to try putting her on my hand, since I had to get her from one house to the other. At first, it was really hard to get her out of the container because its so small. Chris suggested we "spoon her out." It worked like a charm. She ran up my hand and arm. We were surprised by how heavy she is for such a little thing. She's also fleshy and sticky. Not hard and scratchy like we would have guessed!

The only problem was afterward, my arm burned! I think I'm going to be sensitive to all of their poisons. Lame! I guess I'll just have to be extra cautious and wash really well.

It was so much fun though that it's hard to articulate. She's just so easy going and cute! I'm super happy about this. Right now she's stuck to underside of her new hide. Rehousing is stressful for them, and I feel bad:( No more playing with her until she has adjusted and eats.

Mustapha has to move into a new house as well. He's so skittish and anti social that I think I'll use the spoon method on him, but not handle him. With Smithy, I've been watching her movements for nearly three months and at this point, she's predictable. Mustapha is not. Maybe I'll try when he's bigger. I'm going to make the transfer once he's eaten. It's been a while due to the molt, and I doubt he'll want to eat anything for a while, after making the move.

I really want to get some pictures and video happening on here. I'm pretty lazy about it for one thing. The other is that as a newish T keeper, I feel like it's challenging enough to say, handle the spider safely without trying to do multiple things at once. I really do want the best for the little guys. I'm not treating them like some kind of novelty to parade around the internet, you know? However, I want pics to remember them by once they're all grown up so I'll get on that soon enough!

I'm also birdsitting "Belle," the budgie, for the next 12 days. It's a zoo in here right now! I'm housing five animals in one room alone. Then there are the cats roaming around too. Lol.

Spiders are BORING! J/k!

It's been about ten days since my last update. I've been a tarantula keeper for almost three months now, and the spiders are very much in to their routines. Aside from a molt (which hasn't happened in a while) or something new, like the death dance, there isn't much to post about. However, I'm sure the next molt will mean re homing for both Ts.

Mustapha is fasting again, so I bet he'll have his soon. Smithy is eating like a little piggy, and she only got her new suit a month ago, so still more time on the clock for her.

I DO need to clean out some mold in both containers, and re dig a burrow for Smithy, because hers somehow disappeared. Who knows, maybe she's like, "Look Mom, I don't want or need of these so bugger off." Still, I'll keep trying, just in case.

I keep feeding the Ts larvae. I'm hoping they have growth hormones in them:P Plus, they're only eating those and crickets, and I like to keep the diet varied. I gave one of the larva to Smithy last night, and it walked right in to her. She didn't even have to move to eat. I thought it was pretty hilarious. On the other hand, when she eats crickets, she's super fast! She's so quick, it really makes me worry about handling her! I've never seen anything move like that! She's from one end of the container to the other, in a blink of the eye. Pretty crazy stuff!

I was introduced to a tarantula called the Hysterocrates giga, or H.giga, and I think I'm in love:P They swim, and appear to change colour, in between molt cycles. Holy WOW! Unfortunately, I'm going to have to wait on that. I only wanted one T originally. At only two and a half months in, I don't even know if I'm going to make a good spider keeper. If in the future I do decide to take the plunge again, I'm going for the H. Giga.

Well anyway, I have a wicked cold, and it's time to cover the 'tiels for the night.

I love my little zoo!

Death Dance!!

I saw Smithy's "death dance" for the first time on Tuesday. Well that's what I like to call it anyway:P She looked sooo cool spinning up her food. Check out This YouTube video I was watching. It's of a Black Horn Baboon T dancing.

It's feeding day again today. I picked up new crickets last week because the original bunch of them grew too big. They grew their way to freedom. Chris let them out in to the garden.

The new ones had a nice ride home on my bicycle. Then one of the cats knocked the container off the kitchen counter:/ Poor bugs.

Both of the spiders are out and about today. I wonder if that means they are hungry.

I'll find out in a few hours!

OM NOM NOM

It was feeding day yesterday.

Mustapha's cricket jumped right in to his burrow. Oops! Chris said he saw a brief struggle, but ultimately Mustapha came out on top..Of his burrow that is. He has a routine! He catches his prey, ties it up or whatever these BDSM-vampire-like pets do. Then he goes for a little stroll around his container. Eventually, he drags the bug to the opening of his home, and sucks out its insides. He'll take breaks, and go for walks. This continues for 12-24 hours until he's all done. Next, he drags the remains to the opposite end of his container. I guess that's for me to clean up:/ At least he's tidy!

Smithy on the other hand, gobbles the whole thing down, rather quickly! She's usually finished within a few hours.

Last night was funny because we saw that Mustapha caught his bug right away, but Smithy seemed a little scared of her dinner again. We turned out the lights and left the "bird room" (yes, my birds have their very own room, but now they have to share with the Tarantulas, until the T's are big enough for their permanent homes) but when I checked on the spiders a few hours later (I'm a good spider Mom like that!) I discovered they were both out on the substrate eating. Synchronized dinner party!

The remaining 3-4 crickets, from a container of 100 pinheads 6-7 weeks ago, are too big for the tarantulas now. I have to pick up some smaller ones before the next feeding and I guess, the crickets will have their freedom.

Sometimes I feel bad feeding the spiders. It doesn't make it any easier that I think the crickets are wicked cute, and I call them "Jiminy."

All is Well

I checked in on Smithy yesterday evening, and she was happily feasting away on her cricket. Finally! I didn't take the bug out, when she didn't eat right away on Wednesday. I know I shouldn't do that. She was clinging to the top of the container, and I figured it would have been more risky to open the jar, and fish the cricket out. She could have escaped, or fallen. In my defense, I was constantly checking in on her.

Mustapha is out of his burrow again. He's looking well! I did notice some mold in his house yesterday, so I'm going to pick it out today, and hopefully, I won't collapse the burrow on him again:/

Life with spiders is a lot of fun!

Oh, Dear!

It's been six days since Smithy molted. Chris and I tried to put a cricket in that was maybe, a little too ambitious. It scared the crap out the poor T, and the cricket chased her around her container. So, we fished that one out, and tried a smaller, more manageable bug, but she's still wiggin' out. Chris found her at the very top of her container in the middle of the night, clinging to the side of the glass. This morning she's in the same spot! I really hope she doesn't fall and hurt herself:(

She seems like a really sweet spider, that likes to eat (although she hasn't been hungry lately!) and sit still on the middle of her substrate. I feel so bad for her when she seems stressed out. I'm going to give her a few more hours to chill, and if she doesn't come down on her own, then I'm going to try coaxing her off the side, and take out the cricket.

Mustapha on the other hand, resurfaced the day before yesterday, and clung to the side of his container for a while. I took this as "Feed me, NOW!" I put the cricket in at the same time as Smithy's dinner, and by this morning he was sitting outside of his burrow, looking rather pleased with himself. He's a flighty guy, but a real character. I really dig him!

I'll keep the Smithy situation posted.

I'm making a new tag for juveniles, because at one year and two months, Smithy isn't really a sling anymore, now is she? She really grew up after that molt!

Found Mustapha

I try to not move their homes around too much, but I was really curious as to where my boy got to! I lifted up the container and found him! He's burrowed right to the bottom of the vile! What a weirdo!

He looked quite fleshy too, so I wonder if he has molted. He's only about 3 months old, so he's probably about due again. I kind of hope he didn't because I want the old skin. I'm collecting them! Lol.

I can't wait until the molts gets bigger. Prank time!

So, I'm relieved again.

Oh and btw, Smithy looks purdy in her new skin:)

SMITHY MOLTED!

YESSSSS! I was hoping she would before my birthday. 2 days early! Thank you Smithy! It's like having a brand new BIGGER spider.

She was still on her back, and all folded up, when I found her this morning. After about 30 minutes, she flipped on to her feet, and spread out to do her tarantula yoga. WOW. I think she's big enough now for a pop bottle cap water dish.

*gets excited*

I took a few pics. She's really unphotogenic though. I can't seem to take any good pics of her! Maybe it's just me! I'll post the only one that came out, pretty soon though.

I can't wait until she's all hardened up, and eating ravenously again. I was getting worried there!

As for Mustapha, I haven't seen him in over a week! I'm going to try feeding him a cricket today. I'm getting nervous!

Worried Spider Mom

I've noticed this blog contains many "worried" posts. This entry is no exception!

Neither of the spiderlings have eaten in about a week! I don't know if this is because I have been feeding them so much over the course of the past month, if they're going to molt, or if they're sick. I just don't know!

I keep hearing that tarantula keeping is a game of patience. Sometimes they won't eat in a while. Sometimes they don't move for a while. For the most part, they are strange and alien creatures. I can totally accept that, but at the same time, I don't want to brush everything off as them just being weird animals.

For example, I have not seen Mustapha in 2-3 days. I tried to grab a dead cricked from his container, and once again, collapsed his burrow. The first time was way worse, and he dug out through that, so I think he should be okay. I also remember that when he arrived from Montreal, he hid for nearly a week. Maybe he's going to molt again? After he hid that week, he finally surfaced and shed his skin. I hope so!

Then there is Smithy. Why hasn't she been eating? I thought maybe she would molt, but it's been a week now! The interesting thing about her, is since she has not been eating, she's much more active. No more couch potato lifestyle for her! Not only is she moving more, she is shockingly fast! I had no idea!

Well, I'll just sit on my hands, try not worrying so much, and wait for them to do something!

The Most Disgusting Thing I Have Ever Seen

Sooooo, Toronto has a little fruit fly problem, thanks to a month long garbage strike.

I saw some of 'em in the cricket container and we tried to release them on a pretty regular basis but there's only so much you can do.

We were out last night drinking. I woke up feeling rather crusty this morning, and to my absolute horror, discovered that the cricket container was infested with maggots. Yeah, totally not what I wanted to deal with this morning, on an already upset stomach.

I took the container outside and set up a new cricket home in a container with a screen top, so no bugs can get in. I tried shaking as many of the crickets in to the new home as I could. Of course, that also woke up, and exposed even more maggots. When I started feeling too nauseous, I threw the rest of the container out.

As luck would have it, the maggots attracted all of the wasps that have made their home on my patio, and I had to fight them off at the same time. Some even got on to my patio table, and I had to clean that too:( *cries*

As I'm writing this, I keep scratching and brushing at myself. I feel like I'm being crawled. That seriously was the most disgusting thing I have ever had to deal with.

I have been taught a very important lesson here. Keep your crickets and feeder bugs in a container with a screen top. Air holes let too many things in there. Speaking of letting bugs in, I also noticed what had to be a mite in there as well. We have other pets, including birds, and that's just not cool.

I hope I caught it soon enough:/

*shudder*

"Housework" Day

Wow has it really been over a week since I last posted? Time flies when you are raising tarantulas!

I feel like they are settled in now, and regularly doing their spidery things. A day in the life of a spider looks like this:

-Eat
-Sit
-Move a little
-Repeat

Right now I'm amused that their bellies look really bloated and full after a big meal. They're still working on the crickets I originally bought for them. The crickets are growing, so each meal gets bigger, and bigger! Mustpaha is eating bugs almost his own size!

He's my little monster, she's my little beastie!

I'm feeding the crickets oranges, bird food, cat food, water and I have this goopy cricket food but I'm not sure if I should use it. I hear mixed things about calcium fortified gut loading. *shrugs* I have to research more.

So back to the original point of this post, housework day. Every Thursday I've made a habit of doing something to make their habitat better. This usually consists of picking out mold (ew), adding a bit of water to the substrate, and putting a bit more substrate in.

Today will be a little different because I'm adding a home for Smithy, and giving her new air holes, since her container seems very prone to stagnant conditions.

I have a plastic barrel from one of those giant Kinder Surprise eggs, and I'm going to half bury it so she can have a hiding place. Mustapha seems just fine with his burrow. People (like on the wicked tarantula.us forum) have told me that the B. smithi does not require a home. So maybe it's just for my own piece of mind. I just don't see how she can sit there all day, and not want a little home to call her own.

We'll see how it goes. My guess, is she will end up stuck to the side of the jar for a week!

Brush Test

It's been exactly two weeks since I have officially been a tarantula keeper. Woohoo.

I was cleaning up the substrate today, and I thought I'd give Smithy "the brush test."

The brush test is a decent indicator of temperament and reaction to being touched. So, I put the end of a little paintbrush in, and very gently, tapped her back leg....Nothing. Not even a flinch. I tried a leg on the other side...Nadda.

I was at expecting her at the very least, take a step forward, but no go. Then I was really brave and I lightly tapped her back end. Still nothing! The hell?

Is that normal? Now I'm concerned again. Is it possible just she is just THAT lazy? Or is there something wrong with her?

I just took a look at my stop-motion pet, and she is turned in the other direction now. I guess she is just slow moving and lazy. I'll take this as a good sign for future handling!

I can guarantee that this would not be Mustapha's reaction to the brush test. All you have to do is look at him, and he's back in the burrow!

Oh btw, I was originally planning on giving him away when he is older, being an "unwanted" free bonus T and all, but now I'm thinking that I'll never be able to do it! He's just too cool, attitude and all : o )

EW Mold!

Last night I spotted some white fuzzy mold in Smithy's container. Yuck! Apparently, it's common, and not too much of a problem. Well it is for me!

I took out the visible mold and scraped off the first layer of substrate. I'm going to ask Chris to poke a couple more holes in the lid (because he does such a fine job) and hopefully, that will help to keep it under control.

I also need to be on the look-out for bug bodies. I'm not easily recognizing them, all webbed up, in the substrate. It all looks the same to me!

In other news, Mustapha has been hanging upside down off the container, above his burrow, holding on to his "prize" from yesterday. At this point, the larva is looking pretttty deflated.

Good for him!

Different Eating Habits

I saw Mustapha eating today for the first time. It was pretty damn cool!

Both of the Ts have very different feeding behaviour.

Smithy- Waits very patiently for the prey to go to her. When it's in pouncing distance, she attacks, and eats on the spot.

Mustapha- Slowly comes out from his burrow, spots the prey, runs to it, and attacks. Then he immediately drags it back in to his burrow to feast. I was actually really surprised that he walked to the opposite side of the container for the larva. I guess that means his container is a good size, and he can find his dinner okay.

After that molt last Tuesday he definitely looks bigger, and different. He's already a very elegant looking critter. Smithy is very pretty too, no doubt, but she's more of the golden retriever of Ts, whereas Mustapha is a Greyhound or Afghan Hound...Or something :P

Day 11- Smithy is Making Herself at Home

Late at night, Chris has been noticing that Smithy is digging and rearranging her home. It definitely looks different. She evened out the substrate on one end, and dug a deeper burrow on the other.

It's starting to look really good! I'm glad she is more comfortable now.

Mustapha Is Done Fasting!

In the nine days since I have had him, Mustapha has not eaten a thing! First, I think it was nerves from the travel, then a molt. These past two days he's been sitting outside of his burrow. I wondered if he was getting hungry, but he molted on Tuesday, and I didn't want him to break a fang, or anything.

I just offered him a cricket, and he gobbled it right up.

Yay!

Daydreaming- Handling

Many moons ago, I worked in a pet store, and I handled a Chilean Rose. Looking back I didn't even consider not holding the T, because I was told it was "friendly," and it really seemed to be. These days, I have more respect for their fragility, and solitary nature. I'm more worried about hurting them, or pissing them off than I used to be. I really want to try though. I'm already so tempted to see if Smithy will go on to my hand. I know she's too small though.

Tarantula keeping is a hobby of patience, and I need to wait.

Birthdays and Antics

I wrote the breeders today for the first time since the Tarantulas' arrival exactly a week ago. I had a few questions I needed to ask, and I wasn't getting straight answers from books, or forums. The most important for me was, can you overfeed a spiderling? I asked, because Smithy is the Homer Simpson of spiders. I swear, she fell asleep last night holding a (sucked almost dry) larva in her arms.

Amanda, from Tarantula Canada, told me that although a spiderling can't be overfed, their abdomens can become very swollen, leaving them more vulnerable to ruptures, if they fall. That makes sense to me, so I'm not feeding Smithy for a couple of days. She definitely looks full!

I also asked about their hatch date. I want to be able to celebrate their birth...err hatchdates. Mustapha was born in their care, and his hatchdate is May 20 2009. Even though from my understanding, he was in an eggsac since January...Bizarre!

Smithy, is from another breeder. She estimates she was hatched in June 2008! Holy crap! Smithy is over a year old? I had NO idea! I'm actually excited because that means she'll be full grown in two years from now, rather than three like I thought. Awesome!

Other Observations:

-After Mustapha's molt yesterday, he spread out and dried(?..lol) for a few hours.

-Smithy is a stop motion pet. I'll go look at her one minute and she's in a slightly different spot/position from the last time I looked. Sometimes she waves at me.

-All I did this morning was look at Mustapha, and he jumped back in to his burrow again. Who knows how long he'll be there? He's very shy.

-I went in to Smithy's container this morning to pull out the bug. She was pretty close to my finger and didn't seem to care. This is good!

I know I want to handle Smithy. Even when I do, it will be with the utmost care and caution. Mustapha, I'm not too sure about. When he's full grown he'll have an 8-9 inch legspan, and a bite that can cause significant physical harm. It all depends on his temperament.

Houston, We Have a Molt!

FINALLY last night Mustapha came out of his burrow! I thought he might be hungry, but he didn't seem to want the juicy larva I put in for him.

This morning I woke up to "two" spiders in the container. I saw the molt first, all shriveled up, and my heart kind of sunk. Then I noticed the much paler, fleshier spider beside it! The new Mustapha!

I did have to go in, to fish out the larva, and I wanted to grab the husk. I hope I wasn't too disruptive.
WOW YAY!

Smithy is finally starting to turn down food. Maybe she'll molt soon too! A lot of people on the forums are telling me it's very normal for a smithi to cling to the class. I guess she's all good.

They both are.

Day 5- Mustapha = M.I.A

I haven't seen Mustapha since Thursday afternoon. I'm concerned. I skipped a couple of feedings, to let him get settled in. I tossed a little cricket in today, and hours later, it's still there. I *think* I see some burrow entrances, and the main one I started (and he apparently worked with) has changed. It's covered up. I definitely see some spider poop. I'm pretty sure he's still alive. I hope so:/

Maybe he's molting?

Smithy on the other hand, is looking much more comfortable today. She's been chillin' on the substrate. I think she would like a little home. We're thinking half a walnut shell. I'm going to pick one up tomorrow.

She ate THREE crickets today. She most definitely needs bigger prey because she has taken food (sometimes twice) four days in a row! She is probably just over 1/2 inch and the cricks are barely a centimetre. I hope Mustapha grows soon, or else my kitchen will be filled with bugs in all sizes.

Speaking of the bugs, I had a hard time figuring out how to get such small crickets from the container. One time, I spent 15 minutes fishing one out! I was sitting on my feet, and by the time I stood up, they were asleep and very tingly!

I finally realized I could shake a couple out in to a smaller container. Yay! Feedings are much easier now.

A Worrying Day- PM

Smithy has been moving around, but remains on the side of the container. After calming myself down, and reading enough to be convinced it's nothing to panic over, I noticed clear droplets around her "feelers," the pedipalps. Tarantula blood is clear, and I was really worried that she fell off the container and hurt herself. Again, I looked in to it, and I've convinced myself for the time being, that it's just condensation, or even venom.

Mustapha is STILL hiding in his burrow. I learned that Ts sometimes go in to hiding to molt. He HAS been refusing food, so I'm going to lay off offering his dinner tonight. If he is molting, he wouldn't want it for a while anyway, and those little crickets are very hard to get back out!

I just fed Smithy her dinner, and I think it's already gone. Well, that convinced her to get off the side of the container. MAN, I LOVE THIS SPIDER! I'm losing track of how many crickets she's had. 3-4, plus that larva. Wow!

That's it for tonight. I'm going to upload some new pics soon. It's hard to take pics of them (especially without a flash!) but I do have a few of Smithy that came out nice. Mustapha on the other hand is still too small!

Day 4 - AM Observations

My first thought this morning was of the spiders, Smithy in particular. She ate two little crickets last night. She's the ideal spider, so far. However, I'm a little concerned. She is clinging to the side of her container. I'm reading online that this either means she is unhappy with her surroundings, or hungry. HUNGRY? I wouldn't be surprised. I hope its not the substrate. I'm using what basically amounts to "Eco-Earth." It's not wet, or dry. I figured it was just about right.

I'm probably just being paranoid. Within the the first year of acquiring my tiel "Baby," she visited the vet about three times. Only once, for a good reason. She's turning 9 at the end of the summer. Even though I made my share of newb mistakes, she turned out healthy and happy. Both birds are sitting on me now, demanding head scratches!

Speaking of novice mistakes, I was trying to feed Smithy her crickets last night, and I accidentally knocked her container. Oops! She ran and dove in to her burrow! I felt so bad but it was kind of cool to see her run. As soon as dinner was served she was back out again, gobbling up her third and fourth meal.

GOOD NEWS! I have decided to name the Brazilian Black and White "Mustapha." For some reason, it suits him. That, and my boyfriend Chris, and I have an inside joke concerning the name. It was mentioned last night, and there you have it.

Mustapha has burrowed. I haven't seen him for about 12 hours. It's a little concerning! He still hasn't eaten anything. We were reading that the Nhandu coloratovillosus is a shy, reclusive species. This is turning out to be very true, even for a wee spiderling. They are also suppose to be very hungry. I know they can live weeks without food but I'd feel a lot better if he'd eat!

For the record, I'm going to assume Smithy is a girl and Mustapha is a boy, until proven otherwise.

Day 3 - Housing

On Wednesday when they arrived, I placed them in to their temp homes, filled with substrate and wrapped in the gauze they were shipped in. I left it in there until today (Friday) because they were using it as shelter. I know I shouldn't have done that. They're too moist and probably, a wicked bacteria trap. They looked like they were using the gauze as a "security blanket." I felt bad taking it out.

As mentioned, I removed the gauze. I also put more substrate in there with them, and poked some holes with the end of a pen, around the side of the viles, as a starter burrow.

Smithy seemed a little freaked out at first. I suspect she quite enjoyed her gauze home. She's a pretty chill little spider though. I was patting down substrate near her, and she seemed to be okay with my presence. I seriously love her. *squeee*

I can't find any of her insect debris. I'm suppose to be cleaning out the leftovers but I can't find any! Either she's eating the whole thing, or burying the remains.

The Black and white hasn't eaten anything yet. I killed the live cricket that was in there. I'll see if it will eat it dead by tonight, if not, I'll pull it out and try again in a couple of days.

I took some pictures today. I'll post them soon!

Day 2- First Feed

I let the Ts (plural now!) settle in over night. This afternoon I fed "Smithy" the B.Smithi a moth larva. Within literally, ten seconds, she attacked and devoured the wiggly! I witnessed her first feed. *does happy dance*

Later in the evening, I offered a pinhead cricket. I didn't see it, but it's definitely gone now. What a little beast! I love it!

Okay, the Brazilian Black and White is only 1/4 inch. I think it's stressed at the moment. Won't eat, doesn't move much. I thought it was dead earlier, but in retrospect, it was looking for a burrow, and so it pressed its body on to the side of the vile. As soon as I poked a pen in to the substrate, it ran in. Problem solved, hopefully.

I actually picked up half a dozen crickets last night, but they were way too big. It was suggested to me, that I rip off their legs and feed the babies "drumsticks." I couldn't imagine doing that! So Chris released them all in to the front garden. Lucky bugs!

Day 1- Arrival

After being surprised over dinner that I was ordered a Brachypelma Smithi (Mexican Redknee) spiderling, as an early birthday present, I have been eagerly awaiting her (wishful thinking!) arrival. You know, most girlfriends want a ring, or flowers over dinner. Not me. I'm as happy as a spoiled little girl getting a pony...lol!

The spiderling was ordered from Tarantula Canada and I (in addition to like, everybody, recommend them whole heartily)

Instead of boring you guys with the deets, I made a video of opening the package. Oh boy, were we in for a treat. Check out our "bonus."