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.