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!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
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!
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!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
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
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
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
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!
Friday, August 20, 2010
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.
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.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
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!
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!
Saturday, August 7, 2010
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!
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!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, July 16, 2010
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!
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!
Friday, July 2, 2010
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!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
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!
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!
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