So you are a teen wanting a tarantula, but mom says “OH HELL NO!!”

Okay, maybe you are a spouse wanting a tarantula….or a roommate, and the counterpart of your household is vehemently opposed to your demands. Here are a few tips to help you on your way that may or may not help you, but will at least get you hooked up with fellow spider enthusiasts (who according to your housemate are probably tattooed freaks and certified crazies.) I assure you, and them, however, that there is nothing certifiable about your fascination with the hairy, 8-legged creatures of the night. They are rather striking, and some are even handleable! So, check out my latest article ‘How to convince your parents to let you have a tarantula’ and let these tips send you on your way to being a star keeper in no time!

Caution: there may be normal folks mentioned in this article!

C. fasciatum after a molt named Zero

A madagascar hissing roach

A nice little book on keeping tarantulas

Me and a G. rosea who later turned out to be male (pictured as mature and pink towards the top of this blog.

Me and another G. rosea whom I sent to be the first tarantula of a 13 year old girl. An amazing event that has fueled my career as an invertebrate dealer.

Hairyback Tarantula Feed 17 July 2013 – Durban South Africa (melancholymons.wordpress.com)
Theodora the Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (creaturekeen.wordpress.com)
You Might Want to Know… (meagangarner.wordpress.com)
Advice about getting a Tarantula as a pet? (petsandcares.com)
Central Valley Herpetological Society (sidnata.wordpress.com)
Giant Tarantula Vs. Hawk Wasp (uniquedaily.com)
Goal #1 – Hold a tarantula – Completed July 31, 2013 (martuo2013.wordpress.com)
I remember him well (terriblywrite.wordpress.com)
RC Tarantula (neatorama.com)
Tarantula Versus Scorpion. Bets On Who Wins? (kotaku.com)

Tarantulas are great first pets for children

See the article here

This is “Fluffy”, the grouchiest G. rosea I have ever come across. She is a female.

You can read the article ‘Tarantulas make great pets for any child’ HERE

A few old and new pics

Me and some of my past and present critters 🙂

Osiris (E, cyanognathos)

Nata (G. Rosea) RIP

Nata

Mitzy (L.P.)

Zero (C. fasciatum)

Serj (A. chalcodes)

To My Fellow Keepers (UPDATE)

Hello again! It’s been a long time, and if you are browsing my site for photos of beautiful tarantulas and hissing roaches, I am sad to say, you will be disappointed, Everything I had was linked to a website that I have since let lapse.

Since relocating the zoo to California, my priorities have shifted and unfortunately, my luck with electronics extended to my laptop. The Toshiba is now sitting idly by, awaiting the day it will come alive again. I have since sold most of the critters except for Serj, my beautiful 3 1/2″ A. Chalcodes. I had her sexed in February, and received the happiest news! It’s all skirts and barbies for her! 🙂

Then, I decided that while getting her sexed, I would try my luck with an LP (Salmon Pink Birdeater) sling. I bought Mitzy right then, and am awaiting the day when I will discover whether it’s bloomers or boxers for the little 3/4″ beauty. Both she and Serj were a 1/8″ handful in the beginning, but now they are both getting huge! I never thought that my little desert freebie would turn out to be a critter that will probably go to college with my son. Mitzy is designated to be for sale, but not until another molt or 6….

What’s that? You didn’t know I had a baby? Well….yes, and he is a beautiful, bouncing boy, born July 22nd, 2012.

Serj came before he did, and in between, I was devastated by the loss of both Sid and Nata within a few weeks of each other. They now reside in my freezer and are awaiting preservation. (Yes, I know, I know….a year and a half is a long time to live in a freezer…but please bare with me! I’ve been busy!) My baby is now learning about T’s through Serj and Mitzy, and will one day understand the beginnings of Buggy Zoo. He will also learn the story of how Sid and Nata started it all. They are definitely missed.

So, here’s to a new chapter of “The Zoo” with Mitzy, and a very pretty Serj leading the way. Perhaps the name of the blog will change to From the Desktop of Serj and Mitzy….Naaahhhh

I look forward to bringing you new photos, on a new laptop (thanks to my Oregon friend who understood my predicament). Until my old one is up, you can still view many photos on my facebook pages, since sadly, the Toshiba holds all of the originals. (A great lesson in BACKING UP FILES.)

Also, I look forward to sharing my son’s journey around the zoo with all of you. If I ever refer to “Moo”, you will know I am talking about him.

Thank you for reading 😀

Have a great day, week, month, and year.

So Many Updates… but just a few for now…

Well, I have obviously neglected the Desktop blog, and sadly, there is no longer a desktop. It looks more like a cardboard box and a couple of 10 gallon tanks.

I feel like the Zoo and I have been moving for eternity, bouncing from place to place in Stockton. Through the past few months I have bought and sold more additions than I care to mention, but the good news is that we now have an official (free) website that allows me to keep a virtual store and more- but the problem is that I have lacked the desire to rewrite care sheets and bug hunting info.

I suck, right?

Well, at least I think we have finally settled somewhere for the long term. A studio apartment that I share with my mother. Part of what I have been doing with the Zoo, though, consists of adding them to yard sales and showings in whatever location I am in. For instance, when I am at my boyfriend’s house, I have customers meet me there. Tomorrow I will be here at Mom’s, so my customer is coming here.

This still equals a lot of bouncing for the zoo, hence the cardboard box. I am down to 5 spiderlings, Sid, Nata, and a new A. avic that I have yet to name.

After this next weekend, though, I think I will finally be able to let these poor guys rest at my mother’s- because my guy is scared to death of them….particularly the roaches I also have.

I am sad to see the zoo has dwindled to such a state, but I am planning to rebuild with the money I make over the next few months. It is all for the new Buggy Zoo- I call it Zen Critter.

Zen Critter’s website can be found at:

http://zencritter.weebly.com/index.html

Once I get off my tired butt, I will once again add care sheets, better photos, and of course kid guides, and a pitch for some upcoming projects that I already have in the works. The nice thing is that my experience with Buggy Zoo has given me the framework for a much bigger (streamlined) idea.

Look for updates soon.

One last note- and I am pretty sad about this:

Siddhartha II (Avicularia avicularia) is not looking well. He is in a permanent Kritter Keeper to help him get to his food, as he is no longer climbing or moving much. He appears to be nearing the end, after an ultimate molt last December. I am already researching ways to preserve him, as he was my first (long living) tarantula on the Desktop. (You may remember Sid I lived for about 18 days after I got him… thanks PetCo. 😡 )

Sid has been retired from the multiple showings, and only comes out when absolutly necessary. (The last was for his safety, as this most recent move was a very messy one that involved some police, thieves, and sadistic threats from teenagers involving the killing of my critters…but that is another blog, for another day, in another place).

As for Nata, he is well, has taken to being handled (sort of) and is as pretty as ever.

With all the moving, I am surprised that the zoo has not packed up and left me for good.

Updates, hooks, and another camera bites the dust….

`If you have been a subscriber to this blog for more than a day, then you probably know my luck with cameras. The last digital- the one that took the amazing Nata and Isis on Buddha shots- has been sadly returned to Wal Mart so that the zoo and I could pay rent. I vow to you, faithful reader, that I will someday buy and KEEP a camera that does not require a connection to my laptop to work. Til then we are back to the 1.3mp camera that makes everything fuzzy.

Sorry guys.

UPDATES:

NATA is MALE. FLUFFY is FEMALE. What does this mean for the zoo? Apparently not much since Nata is scared to death of Fluffy-who is much meaner and bigger than he is. I have tried 3 mating attempts, and being a newbie keeper, this means that nothing but a run-a-way Nata has happened.

I am reading the Tarantula Keepers Guide, checking out forums, asking questions in groups on FB, and reaching out to my FB friends on my personal profile for help. If nothing comes in the next few weeks, I will be seeking a partner for Nata via the forums. He is a beautiful G. rosea that deserves to fulfill his male duties.

Nata getting mating hooks (on his front pair of legs…for you other newbies out there) after his last molt was devastating to me. I have had Nata for a year now, and he was my second Tarantula that actually lived past the 18 day mark set by Sid 1.

Even sadder for me was that I was finally able to sex Sid 2. Yes folks, my Avicularia avicularia is also male. Even if Fluffy were friendly, it would do Sid no good, so I am reluctantly seeking a new home for him so that he too can fulfill his natural purpose.

Sid 2 was my first tarantula (besides the one just mentioned who lasted 18 days in my home…) and is the love of my zoo. If you have a female A. avic, email me at 8pinktoes@gmail.com and I will get you the selling details. Same thing for Nata. (G. rosea)

I would be willing to trade for slings or a reduced price on an A. versicolor or T. blondi.

I am off to bed now. I will announce some updates and good news in the next few days.

New Pics, New Members, New Year..soon….

I have not blogged in a while, and there are some aspects of the zoo that have changed. First of all, there are fewer members now as I have started getting Buggy Zoo on track to begin selling (which actually came in handy for the holiday season…but not for what you think..) and secondly, we finally managed to get a REAL camera!

Who’s Been Sold:

Zero (C. fasciatum) and Sarva (Grammostola rosea)

Both went to wonderful homes, and are definitely missed here at the Zoo.

Even though I really disliked seeing them go, it was definitely an experience worth having. I got to screen the people buying them, and even managed a cool roach (G. portentosa) freebie with the sale of Sarva- who went home with a very intelligent, and very young girl who was already raising frogs and other reptiles. Sarva was to be her first tarantula, so all the nights of handling the well mannered arachnid should pay off. They were a good fit for each other!

We also had an addition here at the zoo- another Rose Hair that I have dubbed “Fluffy”. Fluffy is actually the oldest in my zoo, at an estimated 7 or 8 years old, and began her journey towards the Zoo as a Halloween Decoration that never seemed to leave the house that she was decorating. The tarantula started out as a pet for at least 6 years, but was left at a house to scare party goers. For a whole year Fluffy stayed as a decoration that was reluctantly fed by a woman who was deathly afraid of her. Even though she was fed well, Fluffy wound up on a Craigs List ad that caught my eye.

She is fat, dull in color, and kind of decrepit looking- which is why I love the name I chose for her. “Fluffy” denotes her true beauty, which comes in her still fuzzy appearance:

Now, compared to Nataraja (old photo on the right above my wrist)

Nataraja

There is quite a difference.

I love our new camera, and in the new year, I hope to use it much more.

Here is one more for you:

For questions, comments, or sales info- please use the form on the right.

Happy Holidays Everyone!!!

~Tia Marie

Loss and a Molting Rose Hair

Well, the zoo is still on the floor of the new apartment, but I have been pricing some shelving units that will look fantastic in my living room. Hopefully sometime in the next few weeks I will be scheduling zoo visits with some local children, allowing them to explore the fascinating world of invertebrate keeping.

Molts:

Tonight, I had one molt that was VERY unexpected. Sarva, my smaller Rose Hair, did the deed after 4 months of barely eating. She looks beautiful, and the best part is that I am almost certain that she is a GIRL! YAY!! I measured her through the enclosure, and I am putting her at around 3 1/2″. She gained an entire inch!!

Sad news 😦

Raven, my moody Lasidora parahybana sling died yesterday. I noticed it in the death curl, and moved it into a film container with no lid just to be sure. I am certain that she has passed, and sadly, I don’t know why. Once again I believe that the recent molt might have been at fault, but because it was less than an inch, I am unable to give a definite reason. If you have been following this blog, you will recall that the zoo just lost an Aphonopelma sp- Davis Mountain Rusty under the same circumstances. Humidity levels have been closely monitored, as have feeding practices. I am still looking into ways to prevent future losses.

As mentioned earlier, I am looking at shelving units to nicely display the tanks and jars, as well as provide functionality for lighting and heating (we have a gecko here too.) A camera is in the works so as soon as we are fully settled into the new apartment, I will be posting pictures.

I am looking for photos and set up ideas, so if you have any tips or photos of your own “zoo” displays, send them to me at 8 pink toes at g mail dot com, and I will post them here!

(BTW- If you read the last blog, Aphrodite is doing well, and is her same old self. 🙂

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.