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:)
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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!
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!
Friday, August 21, 2009
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!
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!
Sunday, August 16, 2009
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*
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*
Thursday, August 13, 2009
"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!
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!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
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 )
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 )
Monday, August 3, 2009
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!
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!
Sunday, August 2, 2009
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
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
Saturday, August 1, 2009
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.
It's starting to look really good! I'm glad she is more comfortable now.
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