Updates and new bugs

After a trip on Thursday to GBU Enterprises, I came home with some new bugs, a creature I have never kept on the Desktop before, and a critter that was happily released right after I snapped it’s photo.

A turtle, obviously. Something I have NEVER kept before.

3 Madagascar hissing beetles! Yep, I am bringing them back to the zoo!!

A Black Widow and her brood. After photos, they were kindly released away from my home and back into the wild!

She had a few hundred in there, I think. Now, they will be ‘enjoyed’ by the folks of Stockton, CA.

A Pink Toed spiderling 1″ whom I am still trying to name. Sid IV, if you will.

A cool shot of the spiderlings backside, and as one of the forum members pointed out, the spiderling resembles a Green Bottle Blue, though I doubt GBU made that big of a mistake. I am quite certain this is an avic.

I had a great time interviewing one of the co-owners of GBU. and may even be volunteering there if I can get out of some engagements that will take up most of my time over the next month or so. In the meantime I will be enjoying these new additions, and hopefully will acquire more to begin doing private bug-shows and maybe getting back into selling again. Who knows!

IT’S A BOY!!!

Mitzy, my fuzzy Lasiodora parahybana (also acquired from GBU back in February) has turned out to be a boy. I’m toying with renaming him, but may keep it the same just to throw people off. Even though he will not (most likely) have the opportunity to reproduce, I will still enjoy watching him grow, and will be keeping him as a personal pet, along with Serj, my A. chalcodes female. Serj, who can live for up to 25ish years, will hopefully become a companion for my son when he goes to college. He’s 1 now, so just 17 years to go!

Spider Bugs (a10com.wordpress.com)

Mitzy (L. parahybana) post Molt

Mitzy has grown a bit. I think (s)he’s about 1 1/2″ now, and molted sometime in the past week. I am hoping to get another L. parahybana soon…and maybe a roach or 10.

The last photo is Mitzy’s molt.

Highlight-Lasidora parahybana

Meet Mitzy, the 1″ Lasidora parahybana that I acquired in February while getting another tarantula sexed.

Mitzy’s species is the 3rd largest in the world, giving her the reputation of being a “dinner plate” tarantula. In an ironic twist, some species are used for food. (Although I have been told that the taste is comparable to that of a soft shelled crab. I think I’ll pass on both, thank you!)

The L. parahybana is an aggressive eater, eating pretty much anything you can throw at it. Mice and lizards are a wild staple, although my preference is to only feed insects- mostly crickets and roaches. (For tiny spiderlings of other species, I do occasionally buy flightless fruit flies.) Which ever becomes your preference is fine, but remember that the LP is a new world species, so if they feel threatened they will not hesitate to flick hairs. Take caution to keep these hairs from entering your airways and eyes. If you do wind up with one of the urticating hairs in your skin, be prepared for an itchy rash. And yes, I do mean ITCHY. Also, as if I have to tell you, BE VERY CAREFUL of the fangs of this species! They can be up to 1″ long, and inflict an extremely painful bite. ALWAYS USE CAUTION WHEN FEEDING!!!

Mitzy may look harmless now, but someday she (I hope for a she, at least) will be extremely large and bulky, and will grow quickly into a nice roomie 20 gallon tank. If you acquire one as an adult, be sure to have an appropriate house. This means no large sided tanks because if your critter falls, it can be fatal. Also, a shallow water dish, and moderate humidity should be provided. Keep a spray bottle on hand to fill the dish from above your tank lid (if the LP’s size is too intimidating for you to put your hands in the tank) and to keep the humidity up. As your LP molts, (flips over and plays dead while shedding it’s exoskeleton) it will need extra humidity and a quiet dark environment. Cover the tank, and do not handle your LP for at least a week to be safe. This goes for all T’s, and although some people say to only wait 3 days, I prefer safe than sorry methods. Do not feed your critter at all during this period as crickets like to feed on, and possibly kill, molting tarantulas. (Even after they molt, tarantulas are very soft and easily killed by an aggressive keeper or hungry food source.)

Provide a hiding spot (hollow logs for BIG LP’s and film containers, or halved flower pots for smaller ones.)

Mitzy is now a 1″ spiderling, but was only 1/8″ when acquired. These suckers grow FAST so be prepared by reading a lot of books, blogs, and articles. Also, never be afraid to ask questions to other hobbyists. I do and always will, as there is so much to learn. Facebook, arachnoboards and the American Tarantula Society are great places to start. Many keepers also recommend a book called The Tarantula Keeper’s Guide as THE BEST BOOK on tarantula keeping.

I hope to have shared some information that may help you in your own endeavors as a tarantula keeper. The Lasidora parahybana is an excellent addition to any household as it is low maintenance, displays well, and makes for great learning for older children and adults alike. No walking, peeing on the carpet, or tearing up of your furniture.

Find me on Facebook. and use my resources to jump start your hobby today 🙂 OR, just search for your own. They are out there, and in the hundreds of thousands across the world.

I have been keeping T’s for 4 years, and probably will for many to come. I love the hobby, the tarantulas, and seeing children and adults take one home for the first time.

Good luck, and thanks for reading!

The creepy-crawly farm that grows 5,000 giant SPIDERS as big as a man’s hand (at least they don’t bite) (thisismoney.co.uk)
Advice about getting a Tarantula as a pet? (petsandcares.com)
What are the safest and most docile tarantulas you can keep as pets? (petsandcares.com)
Shopper shocked after finding tarantula on bunch of bananas (telegraph.co.uk)
To My Fellow Keepers (UPDATE) (sidnata.wordpress.com)
Isn’t it Cute? Chilean Farm Exports Tarantula Pets (thejakartaglobe.com)

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.

Moving, again….

Well, being that I am such a lazy blogger, I have a lot to say, and just a cup of coffee to help me say it. As the title states, the zoo and I will be moving, again. This time however, it will not be within Oregon. We are packing up and heading to Stockton, CA sometime around the first.

If you have been a reader of my blog for a while, then you know that I refer to the zoo as Buggy Zoo. This will change in the upcoming weeks, as I am hoping to make even more additions that will prove “neato” to the local people in Stockton. Part of my plan is to run a booth at the Open Air Mall on Wilson Way, where these little critters can be showcased, and hopefully will inspire some new hobbyists to join the tarantula fan club.

The first new additions have already arrived, as I have just acquired some tiny Avicularia avicularia! They are cute, fuzzy, and are sure to make some child or adult happy as they grow into Pink Toed adults. Up next on my grocery list is the Brachypelma smithi, which is the Red knee. I have already sold one, and plan to get more.

For the first time, the zoo will have a dedicated shop, that is going to be set up specifically for them. In the back of the house I am moving into there are shelves, and the ability to heat/cool them as needed. We will be sharing the space with a bike shop, so if you are ever in the area and need a bike, or a tarantula, feel free to stop on by.

While I am excited to move, I am sad to see Oregon through a rear view mirror. I hope to return once I take care of some things in California.

On a sadder note, on 2-16-11, the zoo lost Aphrodite– the Flame Leg sling. She went into a molt, and never came out. At 1/2″, she was very tiny, and it is hard to tell what could have caused the issue. She will certainly be missed.

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.

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

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: