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!
Monday, September 28, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
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."
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."
Saturday, September 5, 2009
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!
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!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
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!
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!
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