Questions Answered

I had a few more hits on my blog today than expected. Being a blog about tarantulas, you can probably imagine that the stats are not stunning. However, the same questions and searches seem to keep coming up. Today, I will use the search terms from this blog today, along with some recurring questions/searches to get you to the right info.

Remember that if you do not find an answer here, you can always join InsectGeeks, visit forums, or ask around your social networks to see what their experience is. Although most information is useful, you will find outdated or unusable info around the web, so SEARCH WISELY!

The FIRST THING I would recommend is to get a copy of the TARANTULA KEEPERS GUIDE by Stanley A. and Marguerite Schultz. This is considered the “bible” of the keeping hobby, and is recommended by most top breeders/dealers and hobbyists. GET THIS BEFORE YOU GET YOUR FIRST TARANTULA.

If you already have a T, and still have questions (and you should) GET THE BOOK.

Then, NETWORK NETWORK NETWORK.

I have many friends across insect geeks, facebook, on forums, and elsewhere. When I see a blog or site that shares information in a readable non-ad flashy way, I contact the webmaster and compliment them. This opens up a dialogue for future questions, and lets them know that their hard work is helping someone. (Like ME!)

Now, on to today’s searches:

brachypelma boehmei when will she get the colors:

My boehmei has colors, and she is only a half inch. Look closely, and if you notice yours getting dark and ugly, then it is probably time for a molt.

why is my b. smithi is pacing?

Could be a hunger thing, could be that her soil is too moist, could be that she is looking for a retreat. Try to fix each of these and see if it helps. Usually, the pacing stops shortly after the problem is addressed. My A. avic was doing this, and I realized that I had forgotten to put a climbing branch in after a cleaning. When I put the branch back in, Sid climbed up and made a nice new web. The pacing ceased.

parahybana on girls hand

My parabyana is too small to be handled (1″) and I have seen her flick hairs…so I cannot help you there. Try Google Pictures.

aphonopelma sp care sheet

Try THIS

n. chromatus care sheet

Try THIS and add enough soil to allow for burrowing!!

brachypelma smithi spiderling care

YER KILLIN ME SMALLS!!!!! Try THIS and if yours is as small as mine (1 1/2″ls approx) use a film canister as a hide. These are GREAT for any terrestrial spiderling!

how fast do rose hair slings molt

I am not too familiar with a rosie as a sling, but I do know that as adults, there is NO TELLING. Rosies do their own thing at their own pace. If your sling gets sluggish, gets ugly and darker in color, and refuses food, you are probably headed for a molt. Hit up some forums for more info.

spiderling care sheet

SEE ABOVE ANSWERS! Please be more specific. Certain spiderlings (like my E. cyanognathus and P. subfusca require more humidity, and different set ups than other spiderlings.) When you hit the forums, have a species in mind so the community can better assist you.

If you have any specific questions for me, please use the form on the right to ask it. I won’t bite! If I can’t answer a question. I will be more than happy to find the answer for you because it will probably benefit me and my growing tarantula zoo as well!!

You can always email me directly at 8pinktoes@gmail.com too….

Thanks for looking!

~Tia Marie

Care sheets updates

A few months back I made some quick care sheets for various species using photos and info from around the web. Now that I have acquired a few new slings, I decided it was time to update the care sheets using my own photos and some information relevant to my critters to give you a quick overview of the desktop.

To see these updated sheets, just visit this link HERE.

The site BUGGYZOO will now host the “Meet the Zoo” page as well.

I see a lot of searches for the Cyclosternum fasciatum and Nhandu chromatus, so I will be sure to keep these pages updated frequently.

Each care sheet now has my critter’s LS, name, common name, and photo- as well as information on temperament and housing etc.

I have been promising these updates, so finally, here they are!

Sad news….

This morning, I was doing a quick feeding and tank check when I noticed that my little Aphonopelma sp. Davis Mountain Rusty was in the death curl. He had not eaten in quite some time, and had molted recently, although I have yet to see the actual molt. I believe it is underground in the soil. I am wondering if I didn’t keep it humid enough, or if he had a bad molt that led to complications that I was unable to see due to the small size…

Either way I am sad.

RIP Tank. The Desktop will miss you. 😦

Scratching my head….

I have been too lazy to post anything lately, but here is a quick update:

Zero (C. fasciatum) has still not let me measure him….nor have I been able to get near the molt. Today though, he did begin to push it out of his hide, so tomorrow I am going to try and remove it while feeding the zoo.

Tank (Aphonopelma sp.) has not eaten in a while, and looks like he may be molting. Aphrodite (B. boehmei) has also been refusing food, and looks very boring in color. I really REALLY REALLY can’t wait for her to molt!!

Nata (G. rosea) exhibited some odd behaviors on Sunday, and in addition to refusing food (which is not like her at all!) she attacked the water that I was pouring in her dish AND attacked the tweezers I was using to place a cricket in her tank. This is highly unlike her.

Now, she and Sarva are both acting like normal pet rocks. WEIRD.

Thank God Sarva is still normal, and as always was a pleasure to hold during feeding. She’s so sweet!

Well, that was my update, and when I finally get my schedule back (as far as adjusting to new work times and new sleep times) I will post the promised pictures, Molt Update, LS roundup, and regular blogging.

BTW- For those of you who read my Frank Zappa blog, I wanted to let you know that tonight my cat tried to eat my foot…through my blanket. He is truly a douche-bag, but yes…I love him.

Frankie *Wonder Kitty* Loving Me With His Teeth

How insects and crustaceans molt (scienceblogs.com)
My Tarantula is Molting! (therealowner.com)

Pictures and Measurements!

I got a couple of Serj and Tank, as well as Isis and Annabel Lee a few days after their molts. I measured both, and here are the results:

Annabel Lee:

Old LS- 1/8″ New LS-1/2″

Isis:

Old LS-3/4″ New LS- 1 1/4″ (WHOO!!)

I held Isis (Brachypelma smithi) for the first time about 4 days after her molt, when she was out and about looking for food. Though I didn’t get any of her in my hand, I did get a few of her last night!