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.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, October 16, 2009
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!
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!
Friday, October 9, 2009
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)