Smithy FINALLY Molted!

She went into her hide yesterday and came out today looking MUCH MUCH bigger. She hasn't even dried yet but it looks like she's nearly twice her size! Someone is going to need a new home now.

The last time she molted was in the summer, I think. This was definitely the longest time in between suit changes.

It seems there were no problems. No skin still attached, no limbs missing or wonky.

Yay! Congrats to Smithy and her new skin!

Role Reversal

Now Mustapha is back to being hyper and hungry and (I think) Smithy has begun her fast. I put a bug in there with her over a week ago and it ended up dying. So I haven't put anymore in. Due to her being such a slow grower I really start to worry that she's starving after a couple or few weeks of not feeding her. It's happened a few times now where I finally think maybe she does want to eat. Then I have a molting tarantula with a loose cricket in there with her. I mean, she's a lot darker. I hope she'll just molt soon! lol.

I picked up new crickets tonight and I'm guessing that Mustapha will probably have them all to himself. He's been out of his cave much, much more and less skittish. He's FINALLY adjusted to his big-T terrarium.

I really need to get some pics!

Little Update

I've been seeing a little more of Mustapha but he's so shy. I'll notice half his body out of the hide but then he sees me and runs. I hope everything is cool with him because he's not eating like he used to. We're considering covering his tank (he's under a light!) and maybe even moving him over so he's not in such a bright and busy location.

I think the tarantulas have reversed roles because all Smithy has been doing is eating! I keep thinking that she MUST be due for a molt but so far, she not fasting, so I'll keep on feeding her.

I'm considering breeding crickets. I just worry that it will be way too noisy and smelly. It can be so inconvenient having to get them though! One store hates to do it. They sell only supplies. None of their other locations sell live food. I'm not sure why they do but the employees literally groan and make a huge fuss when I go in for them. Actually, I like getting from them better. It's because they hate it so much that they just throw about 30 into a bag (when I ask for a dozen) to avoid having to pick through and count them. Unlike the other pet store that's really out of my way. Last time I went in and asked for a dozen they gave me 11 + one on its way to death. :/

I'm going to take Smithy out again soon for some pictures It has been far too long!

Mustapha, Where Art Thou?

Still hiding:(

I'm a very concerned tarantula Mommy.

Molt?

I haven't seen Mustapha out of his hide in eons. I think that I saw a glimpse of molt skin in there with him, and I found a dead cricket in the tank. If he did molt, I have no idea when that would have been, and I like to know these things. Vexing.

I hope he makes an appearance soon. He hasn't gone on a little hiatus like this since we first received him in the mail, and put him in the vile. Oh my goodness, the days of Mustapha being in a pill vile are so long passed.

I remember when he disappeared for a few weeks back then I was worried sick that he was either dead, buried alive, or lost in one of the tunnels he had made. Right before he surfaced I was just about ready to dig him out. Man, he wouldn't have liked that. It's a good thing he came out on his own!

We haven't had the chance to take Smithy out since her last molt but I so badly want to. She's been eating well and her colouring in really turning out to be quite stunning!

I love my Ts! <3

Vids, Pics and Updates Galore!

Its been over a month since my last post but that doesn't mean nothing has happened! Quite the contrary, we FINALLY moved the beast, aka Mustapha, into his "big boy" tank. We took a video of the occasion, and another of him settling in. Actually we shot a fair few videos that day but these two are the best. The lighting wasn't so great.

We also took a few shots of Smithy (see above, also dark!). Since Mustapha was moving out we figured we'd clean up her "bone yard." She brings her dinner into the hide, and leaves the spare parts in a neat little corner. She likes to dine in!

Unfortunately, she seemed quite agitated, since we lifted her hide up, and was rearing at us. We thought it would be best to skip handling her!

Now that Mustapha has a bigger home, so do the crickets. They were upgraded from a container to his Kritter Keeper. Now everyone has more space!

Soon after the move Mustapha webbed and walled himself into his new hide. I'm not sure if he's going to molt, or if he's cross with us, or what! I hope we see him again soon!

Smithy's New Suit + Mustapha Scares Us!

Smithy's molt went very well...Apparently. That's after I thought her molt was her corpse..lol. She's bigger and her colours look incredible. I can't wait until her first feed in a couple of days!

Mustapha =OMFG. I went in to get his water dish yesterday and he lunged at me. That's nothing new, I'm used to it. I have a pair of chopsticks handy. I tried to grab the dish with them but he stood over the dish. I tried to nudge him off by lightly brushing his back leg with the stick.

Do you know what he did? He not only attacked the stick but he held on to it TIGHT, like he was swinging off a freakin' vine. Holy crapola! I can't put the dish full of water in with the sticks so I had to go in by hand. Fortunately he didn't get me! I gave him a bug for bothering him, a day after eating a huge one. He doesn't waste any time. I don't think he's ever turned down food. Even a day before a molt. Is that normal??

Chris found a terrarium at Value Village for $10 with a screen and everything! The screen itself would cost 30 new. We already have 2 tanks but this one is better suited for a tarantula. It's a little wider and shorter. I'm going to give it a good scrubbing and re-home Mustapha next week! We may even make a video because we're still receiving amused comments from viewers of our original You Tube video when we "opened" our new T's over a year ago.

I'm excited about the new set-up! I can't wait to take pics too.

I'm an Idiot! Smithy Molted!

Yesterday afternoon I checked in on the Tarantulas after getting in. I panicked at first (I'm always worried) when first noticing a crumpled spider. I know, I know, a year later and you WOULD THINK I'd know what a molting tarantula looks like! Well I noticed the double leg look (at one point in a molt, it can look like a tarantula has 16 legs!) before having an emotional breakdown, and then I was happy. Yay, Smithy is molting.

Cue hours later...

OH.MY.GOD. She's still in the same position, I think she's stuck in her molt....*goes online to research* If she's like that in the morning, I'm going to cut in and help her out of the old skin.

*goes to bed, wakes up, and runs down to the terrariums*

OHFUCKOHFUCK. *Grabs tank off bookshelf, tears off lid, and is ready to play Dr. Tarantula*

....Then I realized I had been looking at a molt folded IN HALF the whole time. She was probably already out even before the very first time I noticed her "molting." The skin, being in the back end of the tank and folded slightly over gave the appearance of a molt in progress, but she was already safe and drying in her hide! D'oh. I'm so relieved though! I can't wait to see the new suit!

At least I would have went in to help her out with tweezers and all that jazz. :P

So while I was in there, I cleaned up her tank a bit. It's starting to smell funky:/ I gave her and Mustapha water, fished a cricket out of her tank (she won't be needing it after a molt!) and fed it to Mustapha.

Oh and the whole time I was checking in on Smithy yesterday, Mustapha was half on his glass looking quite spectacular. What a show! I love that guy!

I'm going to pics of them both soon!

My, What a BIG Mouth you have!

I fed Mustapha a cricket the other day and Chris pointed out that he did not spin it. No, he just stuffed it in his mouth and ate it whole. All that could be seen was a head sticking out. Damn, what a scary spider.

I went on my bi-monthly bike ride trip to the pet store and picked up more crickets (a little bigger this time) and 2 butterworms as a nommy treat. Mustapha was on his right away but Smithy wouldn't touch hers. For over 24 hours it was crawling around and under her. Hey Smithy, that's an expensive bug you're not eating! (American Psycho reference, just fyi:P) so I picked it out of her terrarium and gave it to Mustapha, who has now eaten 3 times in 24 hours. That should hold him...Who am I kidding? He's probably hungry again already. Poor Smithy though. You snooze, you lose. I don't know why she wouldn't want to eat. I'll try a cricket again in a couple of days.

I just have to mention for the billionth time that I really love my spiders! It's been over a year and I still watch them everyday and am still awestruck over their developing growth and colouration.

I love Smithy because she's pretty, lazy, and just chill. She lets us play with her and that's exactly what I wanted in a tarantula. I love Mustapha because he's huge, also pretty and really active. He's so interesting to watch. He's not one to allow a handling but that's fine by me. Having one playing spider, and one to watch is not bad...Not bad at all!

I have to water them today but other than that I think that's all for now!

It's Official, We've had the Spides for a Whole Year!

Both tarantulas are in between molt cycles, active, healthy and eating rather well. It seems that I go through crickets rather quickly these days. I suppose when Mustapha gets his newer, bigger home, the crickets will inherit his Kritter Keeper. That way I can accommodate the housing of larger bugs.

I had to chase one this afternoon. There's something extremely funny to me about about hopping around the floor on my knees. Other than the odd escapee, I'm becoming rather good at handling them I remember a year ago I sucked!

I need to get new pictures soon, especially of Mustapha. I mean, Smithy has some fine colouration but Mustpha....He's a real prize. His size, colour, even his way of moving is spectacular. At this point I'll make it known that I totally forgive Tarantula Canada for giving him to me for free:P I'll tell you, this time last year I was a little reluctant to be grateful. I'm a first time T keeper here! What am I going to do with a 8-9 inch (when full grown) beast? Obviously, be awed and dazzled, that's what! They made the right choice!

In other news my hand has swelled up over night to about twice its usual size. I'm thinking bug bite. Spider maybe? Yeesh, I do hope it goes down soon. Its been nearly 12 hours!

Another Molt!

What am I going to do with this guy? Mustapha molts like crazy and each time he like, doubles in size! I think his home is a little small for him now so in the next few weeks I'm going to start organizing his move into a real 10 gallon tank! Wowie, to think that a year ago he was only a little speck.

The molt happened about a week ago and I'm a little worried, as per the usual first time tarantula keeping newbie. He's been scrunched up in the back corner of his hide ever since. He's eating at least but then again when is he not? Ugh I hope he's OK! I didn't even know he was going to molt. He ate 2 days before! What a beast..

Smithy is doing well. I made her hide bigger a while back and for the first week I didn't see her at all. I figured that's just the way it would be but alas, she resurfaced and once again, prefers to sit on top of the thing, rather than tucked away inside.

I'm going through crickets like they're going out of style. I used to be able to make a dozen last well over a month but it seems every couple of weeks I'm taking my bike over to the pet shop. Ah well, more exercise for me. I can't really complain, it costs $2 a month to feed them both!

I have a bit of maintenance ahead of me today: Feed Smithy, pick out "debris," water, spray, check in on Mustapha. It's a lot of fun! It's good to have something to do for them. They're definitely the most low maintenance pet I've ever had!

Despite being so boring (jokes, of course!) I still check in on them everyday!

Quarterly Picture Post! - But Only of Smithy...Again!

Yesterday we rearranged the temp terrariums, to give the tarantulas a little bit more room. It has almost been a year since they have have been in our care, and my, have they grown! It's really hard to believe they came to us as specks, half the size of my pinkie fingernail!

Since we were messing with their space anyway, we decided to take Smithy out, and get some pictures. She sure is purty!

We changed Mustapha's home first. Not only was he crouched into an unflattering position in the corner of his tank, he's pretty much never very photogenic. Plus, he's our "display spider." After having him lunge at me twice now, just putting my hand in to get the water dish, I'm a little bit scared of him!

They have gone up a size in crickets and soon it will time for their permanent homes!

The Beasts Have a Feast

Smithy started eating again the day before yesterday. She was probably ready to eat days before, but I made the mistake of giving her two super worms on separate occasions. Both times they burrowed before she could catch them. I swear, she's the Homer Simpson of tarantulas. Sooo lazy! Yup, she's a slow moving one. Her style is more or less to stay in one spot and wait for the prey to come her way.

Mustapha on the other hand is the exact opposite. As soon as I put a meal worm in he pounces. I think he rather enjoys hunting. He slowly stalks his way around the terrarium and then tackles. I gave him a cricket today and he gobbled it right up.

It's about time I make a little more room for them in their terrariums. Pretty soon they are going to have the final move, into the 10 gallons.

That will be exciting!

Molt!

Jeez, almost another month again.

Unfortunately I'm having somewhat of a bad, cranky week. Since my spiders love me and wanted to cheer me up, Smithy surprised me this morning with a molt! Ever since she arrived last July I have witnessed every molt, except one, which was a bad one. She didn't fully escape her exoskeleton and then hid for about a month.

I woke up this morning and checked on them, as per our usual routine. To my utter delight she was writhing in the substrate on her back, fresh out of her skin! Ahhh the new suit is fabulous and oh my, has she grown up! I don't think she has changed suits since January! This one is definitely noticeable. I'm very excited to see how much bigger she'll become after she hardens.

Mustapha is magnificent as usual. I can't believe when he arrived as a freebie I considered giving him away. I picked up some superworms last weekend for a change of pace. He likey! I'll put one in, turn my back and hear a thud against the side of his terrarium. That would be him going in for the kill. He's an extremely enthusiastic eater! He's also incredibly big, hyper and gorgeous. For a spider he has a lot of personality.

One more thing I wanted to mention: A couple of weeks ago Smithy went into fast and I hadn't realized this, so I kept putting crickets in with her that hid, and were not eaten. Eventually she had about three in with her and so I had to take her terrarium off the bookshelf, to fish them out. She didn't like that one bit. She flicked hairs at me. Luckily I didn't get hit but it made me really nervous. I mean, we have birds in the same room and cats that wander everywhere in the house. I knew that was a risk when I decided to keep tarantulas but now it's real, and I'm nervous.

I'll have to do some research on this matter. It's too bad there is not a whole lot of tarantula keeping information out there, aside from the basics.

Anyway, hopefully I'll write again soon with updates!

Has it really been a month?

I guess my work stuff has become busy. That's spring/summer for a fitness trainer for ya!

Anyway, much has happened:

Mustapha molted! Yup, last Wednesday and oh boy, he sure has grown again. I fed him the biggest cricket that I have yesterday and he wasted no time at all! I also had to reorganize his terrarium to make a little more room.

I found a terrarium down the street from me and carried it home one morning. It's in good condition. Of course, first thing I did with it was throw it in the tub and bleach the hell out of it. Then I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed again. A few weeks later someone was selling a used 5.5 gallon for $10 so I had friends pick it up for me. Sooo I have 2 terrariums now ready to go for permanent homes, that is, if Mustapha doesn't grow any bigger. I'm not sure what size the one I found is but I hear Brazilian Black and Whites need a 10 or 15! Smithy will be okay with at least one of those but I guess we'll see about the big guy.

Smithy is doing very well! They aren't kidding about Redknees being slow growers. She hasn't molted in a long time now and is still happily feasting her round little butt off. I wait patiently!

Well that's pretty much the update for this past month. One molt, two homes and a bunch of crickets I always feel bad for.

Ciao for now!

Butterworms!

I just arrived home from the pet shop with some juicy butterworms for the Ts. I fed Mustapha the last cricket last night but it was just a small one. I figured I'd feed them both butterworms right away. They have never had before and I was giddy with excitement to see if they would enjoy them.

I fed Smithy the biggest one since she did not eat last night and it was so cute. The worms are these yellow and orange fat things and they just kind of wiggle around. Being the lazy spider that she is, she most likely appreciated not having to chase the thing around the terrarium. She simply walked up, tapped it, and sunk her fangs in. I was surprised that the worm gave quite the struggle. There was venom dripping all over it by the end and it's thrashing caused a hole in the substrate.

Mustapha's smaller worm gave him no trouble and he is happily feasting right now too! Yay, feeding success.

I feel good about offering them variety. They are too big now for the moth larvae I was feeding them last summer and unfortunately their diet over the course of the past six months has been strictly crickets.

Now I have to figure out how to keep the third, smallest butterworm alive for a few days until they are hungry again. I also have a brand new tub of crickets but I suspect many of them will be freed. The tarantulas should be almost ready for another fast and molt.

The pet store today was busy but I always get the same guy to get me bugs. He has tarantulas too and has helped me in the past to pick out cork bark and way long ago, pinhead crickets. I actually look forward to my visits now to discuss our Ts and to get recommendations on bugs and accessories.

There was a girl picking up some fish with her Dad and she was fascinated by the butterworms and wanted to check them out. When I told her they were for tarantulas she covered her mouth and gasped. Then she had a bunch of questions for me. She asked me if I'd eat a butterworm for $1000 and I said no, I'm a vegetarian. She said she would and she's vegan, slapped me on the shoulder and left the store..Lol.

Live with tarantulas is grand : )

Spiders are FUN! + FAQs

Both have been out of their hides, active and VISIBLE for the past couple of weeks. They're making tarantula keeping a lot of fun.

I never know if I should pick up more bugs when they're almost out. I don't want crickets stinking up my kitchen while they fast, molt and recover for a month. I mean, sure I can free them outside but even going to the pet store for them is a hassle. I guess I'll have to see how it goes!

Having my ts for 8 months now has prompted a lot of questions. Granted, friends and family are curious so even though the questions seem kind of silly to a tarantula enthusiast,
they're common amongst the majority of the population, who are usually just a little weirded out!

Tarantula FAQs

Q. When do tarantulas get their venom?
F. They always have it.

Q. Can't you get them devemonized?

F. No, and we wouldn't want to! Don't want a pet with claws, don't get a cat. Don't want a smelly pet, don't get a dog or ferret. don't want a venomous bug, don't get a tarantula!

Q. When do you put them together?
F. Never. I have two different species.

Q. Don't they get lonely?
F. Lol, no. They live like that in the wild.

Q. Aren't you afraid they will escape?
F. Yes. More afraid for their safety and the other pets rather than my own though.

I hope that clears things up!

Picture Post!

The tarantulas have been active! We took them out to play the other day and finally captured some decent pics! However, we almost found out the hard way that Mustapha doesn't like to play. He nearly flicked on us!

The first two are of the notoriously unphotogenic Mustapha. The pics do him no justice. He's twice the size of Smithy, hairy and quite the spectacular specimen. The rest are of Smithy, our eight legged golden retriever:)

Playtime!

We decided that it was time to dig a little hole under each of the spider's hides because they are growing so quickly and we are trying to prolong the process of getting them a permanent terrarium by making them a bit more room. Mostly because we don't want to buy a 5 gallon, only to have to replace it in a few months with a 10 and then 15.

We wanted to see if Mustapha wanted to play first. He didn't. Actually he looked very close to flicking hairs on us! He's not very photogenic either:/ Still to this day we don't have a decent pic of him! We are thinking now that he is actually a she. The name Mustapha really suits him/her. I've been calling her Staphie. H/she's very active and looking absolutely magnificent! If he does end up being a look-no-touch spider, I can definitely live with that.

Smithy on the other hand is so adorable. We took her out, took pics and played with her for a bit. We also happened to get great pics, which I promise to post VERY soon. Not that anybody reads this except me and whoever finds the link on Facebook!

In other good news, Smithy fixed up her bad molt and is eating steadily again. Staphie has seriously outgrown her. Now I have to wonder if she's a he! At least the name will still work but I must admit I would be a little sad over the fact that he wouldn't live as long.

I guess that's it for now!

An Update...Finally!

Wow I'm making posts like once a month now. Oops! I swear, I haven't lost interest in my tarantulas:P

Some good and bad news:

I'll start with the bad. Smithy had a bad molt. It's definitely not as bad as some pictures I've seen of Ts with their legs stuck together but she does have some old exoskeleton attacked to her abdomen and back. About a week ago Chris and I decided that it had been way too long since we had seen her come out of her hide. So we lifted it. I think she's depressed. I'm not going to do anything about it because it's not effecting her movement. We saw her come out of her hide the other day for some water and I'm pretty sure she has been eating again. It should be okay. I'm going to have to spray her terrarium more often.

The Good news. Mustapha has been out a lot, eating like a madman (or woman?), and growing like crazy! He's getting so badass. It completely fascinates me that 8 mos ago he was just a little speck, not even as big as my baby fingernail! Now he must have a diameter of 2 inches! He's outgrown Smithy by far!

Maybe I'm just being paranoid but I wonder if he's out so much because his hide is getting too small for him. No doubt, he will need a 5 gallon soon at a minimum!

I definitely have to get pictures now that he's more active. He climbed up his piece of cork bark earlier and now he's chillin' out on his substrate.

It would be good to get him a new home, and then the crickets can also move into a bigger habitat. Right now they live in a plastic container and holy crap, do they ever stink. Phooey!

It's been a while since the last post...

WELL that's because TARANTULAS ARE BORING! Lol, no they're not but out of two of them I haven't seen much except a leg sticking out of their hides here and there for the past few weeks.

This evening we finally spotted a fully out and about Mustapha. He molted recently and man is he getting big! Especially considering that in July he was only a little speck. They grow up so quickly *sniffles* it's precious, really.

I'm getting very tempted to lift Smithy's coconut shell to see if she's okay because I haven't seen so much as a stitch of leg lately and I'm getting worried.

The Ts stress me out still. Not nearly as much as they used to when they first arrived but enough to make me realize that they are very different than anything I'm used to!

They're Settled In!

Since my last post I have seen plenty of tarantula sightings. The two little darlings have been out and about. Smithy has been back to her usual self, clinging onto the side of the terrarium and Mustapha likes to sit outside his hide and then scurry back in as soon as he sees me come near:P

This evening after work it will be spider feeding and maintenance day. I have to pick through their leftovers, fill the water dishes and offer some bugs.

Chris and I are hoping that Smithy will be out, and that we'll be able to handle her. I'm not one for picking their hide up to get to them. If they don't feel safe in their homes, where will they?

My brother gave me a coffee grinder. I don't grind coffee so I'm using it to grind up cat food for the crickets. This will be the spider's first feed with the healthier crickets.

On Sunday we fed the Ts and Mustapha, who never wastes any time, tackled a rather large bug and they wrestled around the terrarium. Unfortunately, I missed that one but Chris said that their brawl actually made noise as they tumbled into the sides of the container.

Bottom line of this post, tarantulas are awesome. I'm still in love!

Come out and Play with Me.

Ever since the terrarium change + new hides, I haven't seen the little guys! I guess I knew this day would come. I had heard that once tarantulas were given nice hides they tend to prefer them over sitting out in the open. I miss my spiders!

Now I'll throw a bug in and they just disappear. No more seeing them hunt, eat and spin. Waaah.

I'm hopeful that they will come out and explore their homes soon and maybe even chill out on the side, or on the substrate once in a while. *crosses fingers*

Another Molt and ReHoming

Mustapha molted a few days later, on the 1st of January. So much for clockwork. I didn't think he'd be due for 2 weeks to a month later. Actually, he ate about 3 days before!

I *thought* Smithy had finally gained some growth ground on him after her last suit change but man oh man, he's huge! Considering he's nearly a year younger than her, he's definitely living up to fast growing reputation of the Brazilian Black and White.

So, I had to set them up with new houses, for the third time in six months. They're in (basically) Critter Keepers now. The next step will be a 5 gallon tank, so I hope they can at least have the new house for 4 to 6 months or so.

I'm currently using coconut husk bedding, slightly moistened. Smithy has a coconut shell hide and a pop bottle cap water dish. Mustapha has a split (half) log and a piece of cork bark on the other end of his home for decor. Also, a pop cap dish.

I want to add a piece of bark to Smithy's habitat but the coconut shell takes up a lot of room. I don't want to crowd her.

Getting Smithy into her new crib was easy and fun. We simply picked her up, played for a few minutes and stuck her in. Mustapha, being the shy guy that he is, hid in his container and I had to use a paintbrush to slowly scoop old (nasty) substrate out until he just went for it and run out.

Tarantulas are so counter intuitive. Most creatures run AWAY when they're scared. T's run toward you! So when he started running at me, needless to say, I turned into Flinchy McFlincherson.

I'll get used to their antics one day...Maybe:P