Eight-legged addition.

[Jace]

I found a website called "Tarantula Canada" based in Quebec that does captive breeding programs of a variety of tarantulas. I fell in love with an A. versicolor-I think that is going to be my next one. From what I can find, it has a pretty good rep, so I am going to do some more digging into it and maybe save up and order a tarantula from them. I guess you were right-can't stop at just one!

Kamani has eaten lots the last few days. I am trying to feed her during the day so that I can see whether she is eating the crickets or not. Though I was told she was getting ready to molt, she is still eating quite a lot and hasn't done any more webbing. It has been amazing to watch her hunt the last few nights.

I would love to see some pics of your setups, especially for any arboreal spiders. She seems pretty comfortable, but I am going to spruce up her digs a bit as I want her to behave as naturally as she can...you know, living in a glass box like she is.

One other quick question: I know she is still pretty young, but exactly how much and how often should I feed her? She usually accepts two or three crickets every other night. Is that enough for her? Oh, and do the crickets need to be dusted with any calcium or vitamins? I am finding conflicting info on various sites. Thanks (again-lol).

[flamesbane]

I found a website called "Tarantula Canada" based in Quebec that does captive breeding programs of a variety of tarantulas. I fell in love with an A. versicolor-I think that is going to be my next one. From what I can find, it has a pretty good rep, so I am going to do some more digging into it and maybe save up and order a tarantula from them. I guess you were right-can't stop at just one!

Local groups are the best, and A. versicolors are absolutely beautiful! If you order keep in mind you will likely be getting a sling (spiderling), which is cool on one hand because you get to watch them grow. I have some versicolor slings I will try to take a pic of so you can see how small they are. However they can be very fragile (Avics. especially so), and you won't have any clue on sex. Generally with slings I like to get 2 or 3 of the same species that way I have pretty good chance of getting a female. I was skimming their site, and you should try to pick up a L. parahybana as well they grow really fast and are eating machines.

Kamani has eaten lots the last few days. I am trying to feed her during the day so that I can see whether she is eating the crickets or not. Though I was told she was getting ready to molt, she is still eating quite a lot and hasn't done any more webbing. It has been amazing to watch her hunt the last few nights.

They will generally go off feed a few weeks before a molt. No need to worry though, she will molt when she gets ready. Some species will go years between molts.

I would love to see some pics of your setups, especially for any arboreal spiders. She seems pretty comfortable, but I am going to spruce up her digs a bit as I want her to behave as naturally as she can...you know, living in a glass box like she is.

I will try to get some pics later, but they are very simple. For sub-adult arboreals I keep them in a 1 gallon plastic container with a curl of cork bark and a pothos sprig. For some of my terrestrials it is literally just substrate and a water dish.

One other quick question: I know she is still pretty young, but exactly how much and how often should I feed her? She usually accepts two or three crickets every other night. Is that enough for her? Oh, and do the crickets need to be dusted with any calcium or vitamins? I am finding conflicting info on various sites. Thanks (again-lol).

Tarantulas aren't like reptiles or amphibians, she will stop when she is full. Feed her 1-3 crickets once or twice per week and remove the food if she doesn't eat it (this is were a smaller enclosure is sometimes better). Don't dust your crickets, or their food when you gut load. Too much calcium has been rumored to cause what is known as a "wet molt" were the tarantula doesn't molt properly. This has never been proven, but to be safe don't dust. You're welcome and glad to help!


**Added by Edit**

A quick note on using found wood (I have posted this elsewhere):

The aromatic oils in cedar repel insects (that is why is is used in cabinets) so I can't imagine that it would be good for your T's. Hemlock also contains aromatic oils so I would be careful with it to. Pretty much all softwood/evergreen/gymnosperms trees contain greater amounts of aromatic oil than hardwood/deciduous/angiosperms (these groups are not that clear cut, I am being very general).

Woods that are resistant to decay (though not necessarily to mold) and that don't contain high concentration aromatic oils are:

Black Locust
Osage Orange
Red Mulberry
White Oak
Sassafras

Keep in mind though that all sapwood (in trees native to North America) is susceptible to decay and mold, and that most heartwood contains some extractive (waxes, oils, resins, gums, tannins, and aromatic agents.) and most of these are toxic to insects, and so the may be toxic to T's as well. Letting the wood "cure" (dry out) for a long period of time will help reduce this.

[Jace]

Thanks for the information on the wood. I have left the wood to really dry out on my carport as I did fish it out of the water of a local lake. I am going to bake it and then use it in my terriariums. I am trying to find a cheaper way of setting up my frog and spider homes as the wood you buy in a pet store can be overly expensive. I am concerned about mites and whatnot, but if I cure the wood over several weeks, it should be okay.

I haven't been dusting the crickets at all, nor do I dust their food. Glad I nailed that part!! I will pick two or three days a week and give her the recommended crickets and go from there. Unlike with frogs and geckos, it's hard to tell if a spider is getting enough sometimes.

This morning I noticed more webbing. Does this mean she might be getting prepared to molt? Should I increase the humidity to help her?

I looked up L. parachybana-gorgeous looking spider but I was surprised at how big they can get!! 8-10"!! My largest African Giant Bullfrog is 9" and I just can't imagine a tarantula that big. However, I think I might do some more research as the look and size of that one has definitely peaked my interest!!

[Jace]

I managed to take a couple of pics of her webbing; it's pretty much doubled what she had before. Busy girl last night!!

[flamesbane]

Thanks for the information on the wood. I have left the wood to really dry out on my carport as I did fish it out of the water of a local lake. I am going to bake it and then use it in my terriariums. I am trying to find a cheaper way of setting up my frog and spider homes as the wood you buy in a pet store can be overly expensive. I am concerned about mites and whatnot, but if I cure the wood over several weeks, it should be okay.

As long as you let it cure it will be fine, some people even microwave wood to sterilize it.

I haven't been dusting the crickets at all, nor do I dust their food. Glad I nailed that part!! I will pick two or three days a week and give her the recommended crickets and go from there. Unlike with frogs and geckos, it's hard to tell if a spider is getting enough sometimes.

As long as the opisthosoma is plump she is fine.

This morning I noticed more webbing. Does this mean she might be getting prepared to molt? Should I increase the humidity to help her?

Probably not if she just took food. Most tarantula will fast for a little while before they molt. However avics do like high humidity, so keep it pretty humid in there anyway and she will be fine when she gets ready to molt.

I looked up L. parachybana-gorgeous looking spider but I was surprised at how big they can get!! 8-10"!! My largest African Giant Bullfrog is 9" and I just can't imagine a tarantula that big. However, I think I might do some more research as the look and size of that one has definitely peaked my interest!!

I had a mature male that was 11.5" so they do get big. On the plus side they are super cheap and little eating machines.

I managed to take a couple of pics of her webbing; it's pretty much doubled what she had before. Busy girl last night!!

She definitely looks like she is getting comfy!

Now for those pics:



A shot down my female P. pederseni's enclosure, you can see her in the lower right hand corner. This is the simplest way to keep arboreal tarantulas.



Here is a shot of the same enclosure from the side.



How I keep slings



A. versicolor sling with my thumb for comparison.



Inside the little versi's home.



N. chromatus enclosure.



A picture of the N. chromatus.



Juvie. female L. parahybana in her hide



The L.P.'s enclosure, showing the hide I made.



Same enclosure from the front



Juvie Female G. pulchra



Giving her a roach



Going in for the bite.



And supper time!

[Jace]

First, your pics....wow. Thank you for sharing. How do you open up the top of the arboreals setup if there is webbing near the top? I would feel guilty if I wrecked Kamani's hard efforts. Especially since hers is looking more and more like a tunnel. I am worried about her setup being a bit large in terms of her being able to hunt the crickets I put in there, but I like the front opening doors......

I am so taken with the A. versicolors!! I have drooled over them in my new tarantula book and yours are absolutely gorgeous. I can't believe how small the slings are. I can see what you mean by them being so fragile-how could they possible survive being shipped? However, I discovered one for sale at my local pet store. Rather, it says "Antilles Pink Toe". It is on sale for $90, down from $120. I can't get a good look at the actual tarantula as there is a lot of webbing in the setup.

Your juvie L.P. looks really neat upclose. How big is she right now? An 11.5" male you had?? I'm not sure how that big of a spider would go over in this house...but I will do some more reading on them for sure.

Would Kamani be able to handle a hissing roach do you think? I'm not sure if I could get the roach to climb the silk plant I have....she might like the treat and I have 18 of them on top of my entertainment unit...with more on the way....Very neat to see the pic sequence of your G. pulchra hunting. That is a gorgeous looking spider, too. I am starting to understand your love of tarantulas.

I will keep Kamanis' tank misted and her dish topped with water. I have yet to see her drink, but she is obviously quite busy once the lights go off at night. Her tunnel is coming along very niely. When I go to the lake this Saturday, I am going to check out some tree bark and possible bring some home to make a hide for her. I've already taken measurements from the outside of the tank, but she still didn't like the tape measure. Now, back to my tarantula book...which is also coming with me to the lake!!

[Musicpanda]

I wish I had a Goliath Spider big and fuzzy is a must for me when it comes to spiders, I'm scared of the small ones not knowing were they will strike me next... Nice pet Jo-Anna! I don't know much about spiders but sure is a looker