My Tarantula Log

[Dominus_XVIII]

Alright guys, got a small update. Due to the still going on winter weather here, CanadaPost has been delaying deliveries. So I'll actually have my new tarantula shipped to me next Tuesday. I'll keep you guys updated.

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

Been a while, since I last posted here, much to do with work, school related stuff and the storm 2 days ago (here in the Toronto/GTA area, which caused severe flooding and major blackouts).
Well I actually have a few updates:

1. My female Phidippus.audax (Bold/Daring jumping spider) laid her first clutch of eggs last week and they have developed into tiny spiderlings yesterday morning. I'll post pics soon.

2. My Cyclosternum.fasciatum (Costa Rican tiger rump) tarantula sling just molted yesterday afternoon. Now measuring a little over 2", will get some pics as soon as possible.

3. I'm getting a Pterinochilus.murinus (orange baboon tarantula) sling some time next week. These guys are also commonly called the "OBT"/Orange bitey thing, as this tarantula has the tendency to bite VERY often, because of it's very defensive nature. The venom from this species is quite potent aswell, as with all old world Ts, due to the lack of ultricating hairs for defense. It's advised to seek immediate medical attention, if ever bitten as with all T bites. Though the venom won't kill you (unless you have a rare allergic reaction) the bite has been described to be more painful than a rattlesnake's or equally as painful as slowly driving a white hot 3" nail through your hand.
Really is a double edged sword with this species, extremely beautiful tarantula, but lethal at the same time.

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

Here's some pics of my tiger rump's recent molt from yesterday afternoon. I apologize if the pics are too large, I was uploading via mobile.

 

[dgwebster]

A fantastic read. I have looked at the spiders & scorpions many time in my les (local exotic store?) And whilst I find them intruiging have never felt the desire to buy one yet.

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

Here are the new tarantula slings, I'm getting on Tuesday:

1x Avicularia.versicolor (Antilles pink toe tarantula, Arboreal T)

1x Haploplema.lividum (Cobalt blue tarantula, Terrestrial T)

1x Pterinochilus.murinus (Orange baboon tarantula, Terrestrial T)

I'll keep everyone updated.

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

Here's some pics of my new slings, just unboxed, got another free blonde sling too (N.tripepii). Upon opening the box, I got blasted in the face with hot air, which made me worry about the status of the slings. After digging through the packing and cool pack (at this point, it could have been considered a heat pack because of the 104/40 degree weather we've been having this week) the slings were surprisingly fine.

New Avicularia.versicolor sling, 1/2". Going to put him in a beanie container enclosure like I did with the P.murinus, but with only a 1.5" sub layer.

New Haploplema.lividum sling, 1/2". Unfortunately as soon as I placed the moist paper towel containing the sling into the enclosure, it ran into one of the burrows I made for it.

Hind legs and abdomen

New Pterinochilus.murinus sling, 1/3". Unfortunately this sling also darted into a burrow I made lol. The enclosure is a 4"x4"x7" beanie container/display case with 3" of sub on the bottom.

All together

 

[dgwebster]

I find it concerning that the company keeps sending you free live creatures. I had a frozen food supplier try to provide a surprise free corn snake once (the market is kind of flooded) with no regard to whether or not we would be able to home and care for it, or want it. I have never used them again since.

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

I find it concerning that the company keeps sending you free live creatures. I had a frozen food supplier try to provide a surprise free corn snake once (the market is kind of flooded) with no regard to whether or not we would be able to home and care for it, or want it. I have never used them again since.

Oh no it's not that type of situation here. The suppier has always had the support of the fellow arachnid community from it's beginnings to now. So once in a while they send one or two freebies as a thank you for the continuous support.
They even provide you with the enclosure to house the critters, it's up to you whether or not you think you can handle it. Contrary to what you might think, caring for 100+ specimens is quite easy, I even find it to be child's play in my honest opinion.
They even state that you may send back the spiders free of charge or send unwanted mature species to them to breeding purposes. If it also happens that your donated spider produces a batch of babies half the spiderlings will go to you or they can send you a cash credit for that half, if can't take them.

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

Here's 2 pics I got of the cobalt blue (H.lividum) sling and OBT (P.murinus) coming out of their burrows. The cobalt blue moved from the side burrow to the middle one.

H.lividum sling, out side of center burrow

P.murinus sling, peeping out of the entrance. You can see the orange hairs beginning to develop on it's abdomen.

 

[stanleo]

I love these guys. I had them as a kid and I would like to have them again. This is making up my mind. I had a roommate with a little girl that used to have nightmares about spiders. Because of this she was terrified of all spiders so I got a tarantula and she fell in love with it. The bad dreams stopped and when my roommate moved out, her daughter took Spiderman (the kid named it) with her.  

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

I love these guys. I had them as a kid and I would like to have them again. This is making up my mind. I had a roommate with a little girl that used to have nightmares about spiders. Because of this she was terrified of all spiders so I got a tarantula and she fell in love with it. The bad dreams stopped and when my roommate moved out, her daughter took Spiderman (the kid named it) with her.

That's a pretty cool story. My first time getting a T, was a surprise present from my parents when I was a kid. Scared the crap out of me, it also helped me get over my fears of spiders, because the T bit me lol.

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

My orange baboon sling and versicolor sling feeding -

OBT quick and clean, thought it would be more of a aggressive feeder.

Versi savagely feasting on a cricket.

 

[stanleo]

I think it is really cute that they have larger feet at this stage. Like a puppy. LOL

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

Haven't posted here on TFF, since I was I'm vacation with my family this summer, aswell as being busy with my new college program starting soon. Anyhow, just a quick update. All my slings (with the exception of the tiger rump and orange baboon) have molted earlier today.
Here's the time lapse pics of my Chaco gold knee sling molting. It started molting at 2:30pm and finished at 2:56pm, followed by 15 minutes of stretching. My A.versicolor and 2 N.tripepii slings molted earlier in the morning, but I wasn't home to witness it. The N.tripepii retreated back into their burrows so I couldn't get pics of them, but I did get a few of the versicolor, which I'll post later.

 

[Dominus_XVIII]

Here's the pics of my newly molted versi sling. Not quite sure when he molted today, but I'm guessing it was early in the morning, because it had finished by the time my G.pulchripes started.
It's metallic blue colouration is starting to become really stunning. My camera doesn't do justice for this guy lol. It looks more stunning in person.