Got my first Tarantula

tikichick · #1 (**permalink**) 10-18-2007, 11:58 PM

I went to the local pet store today for some worms and crickets and noticed they had .99 cent baby curly haired tarantulas. I couldn't resist! Here's the little dear with a dime. The thing in the lower left is it's shed. I put a pinhead cricket in with it about 20 minutes ago and the cricket's gone

Check out it's little shiny eyes!

Pavel · #2 (**permalink**) 10-19-2007, 10:51 PM

That was very inexpensive! Any idea how big it will eventually get?

You likely already know this but just in case you don't, do keep a close eye on prey items like crickets. T's won't eat [sometimes for days or weeks] when an impending molt is upon it nor will most eat for a few days afterwards. During this time, crickets have been known to feed on the T's.

tikichick · #3 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 05:27 AM

Ew, yes I read that last night - I did lots of reading on T's last night, lol. I rolled the pinhead a bit between my fingers before putting it in with the little T, so it was stunned and didn't put up a fight. I'll be sure to monitor feeding!

I read these (Brachypelma albopilosa) get between 3 and 5 inches. They are found in the central tropical regions of northern Costa Rica and Honduras. They burrow and are found on the rainforest floor around the base of large trees, near rivers, so I'll be making it a small viv with burrowing material and condusive to keeping the humidity around 75%.

I read that while they are babies like this, they should stay in the deli cup - they're like babies and it's like their crib, so all they have to do is eat, sleep, and poop, lol. They won't hunt yet, so putting it in a larger container could prohibit it from eating properly.

Here's what it will look like:

Pavel · #4 (**permalink**) 10-20-2007, 10:00 PM

Cool.

When it gets older/bigger, you can try to encourage it to set up shop against the glass where you can see it by burying a PVC pipe cut in half lengthwise with the open side against the glass and an opening to the surface.

The Brachys are usually very docile which adds to their appeal IMO.

tikichick · #5 (**permalink**) 10-21-2007, 05:36 AM

Awesome idea! I'll do that!

spiderez · #6 (**permalink**) 12-17-2007, 09:35 AM

Congradulations! That's how it started for me. I bought one and then bout 25 more!

brandongalea · #7 (**permalink**) 12-22-2007, 06:02 PM

My tarantula got eaten by a cricket when it was moulting

So keep an eye on crickets

spiderez · #8 (**permalink**) 12-22-2007, 06:12 PM

I am sorry to hear about that. I have been dealing with tarantulas a long time and had that happen to me once or twice. Just make sure the size of the cricket is smaller than the size of the spider. Matter a fact, I have a friend who breeds mealworms and he takes tongs and feeds them mealworms by hand. Again, I am sorry to hear it, but don't let that discourage you from having them. It takes a lot of practice.

brandongalea · #9 (**permalink**) 12-22-2007, 06:22 PM

Currently i have different kinds of animals but not tarantulas, but i'm planning to buy an emperor scorpion, and next will be a tarantula

jen1302 · #10 (**permalink**) 02-28-2008, 02:14 PM

Nice looking baby you have love them myself owner

of a female Chilean Rose.