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!