My First Spider

[martin82531]

So I picked up this guy/gal today from my local reptile store. It was sold as a versicolor. I'm not sure on the sex, they said it was too small to tell but I could bring in a molt and they could tell me then.

Wanted to see what you guys think and if anyone had any tips for a first time tarantula owner.




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[3skulls]

Very nice pick up.
What size it is?

Avics can and like to aim and poo on you :p so watch out.

I'm not sure if you plan to handle it or not. If you do, they can leap. So be careful that it doesn't hit the floor.

Remove food waste ASAP. It will poo on the glass so you'll have to clean that as well. When cleaning, keep a catch cup near. They can be pretty quick when they want to be.

Enjoy your new T.

Edit...
I'll also add. It might go off feed a few days before a molt. After a molt give it a week before you feed again, let everything harden back up. Remove all food before a molt too. They are defenseless during a molt.

[Rob]

Cool looking ......I wouldn't go near it tho

[martin82531]

He is only about a inch in diameter. I don't plan on holding him, I will but nothing compared to a python. How often should they be feed. He ate two small crickets today when he came home, there is still one live in the cage I was going to remove as it doesn't seem he will eat.

I was also thinking about a water dish, seems they should be relatively small, I was thinking a water bottle cap or something similar.


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[3skulls]

Yeah at that size I would give it a water bottle cap with water.

A couple of small crickets every week will be good. Keep an eye on it. You don't want it's "butt" to look like its going to pop but you do want it to look full.

If you are going to stick to crickets, I wouldn't leave them in there more than a day.

[gsarchie]

Very nice. Is that an 8"X8"X8" nano cube? I've got one that us empty that I plan to use for a T or a dart frog.

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[martin82531]

It's a 8x8x12 nano.

What are my other options besides crickets, roaches? What happens if the crickets or what ever is being fed is left in the cage longer than a day or two?


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[3skulls]

Roaches are the best! They can be hard to find if you are just buying feeders.

A cricket will eat other bugs. Not that it ever will but it can. An arboreal spider and the chance goes down even more.
Just good practice. A hungry cricket and a T in molt is not a good combo.

[martin82531]

What are your thoughts on live plants? Anything particular plant(s) I should stay away from?


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[3skulls]

Your best bet is to look for a Pothos plant. They don't need much light, hard to kill and safe for your T.

Find a smaller plant.
Remove it from the pot and wash the soil off the roots. Also a good idea to go ahead and clean the whole plant.
Replant it in something a little bigger and use your Eco-Earth. You can place a fertilizer broke in half in the bottom of the pot.

I'll see if I can dig up a good video for you.