Info On Tarantula...

[chloe]

Rgiht, im not one for spiders, but since helping out at my LRS and learnt a bit about them, my eyes have been opened.

iv considered it in the past but always said no due to the fact that if it got out i dont know what i would do.
iv been handling them regularly at the shop and got more confidence etc.
now i went in today and found that the chilean rose which is always lovely with me has moulted and is STUNNING!!!!
its not a definite that i will get her but i would like to.

obviously i have been researching for ages anyway, but what would your care tips be?

any help is brilliant.

thanks x

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Basically, they need moderate humidity, a hide box, and a soft substrate like eco-earth. They eat crickets, roaches, etc

 

[sidneymysnake]

Basically, they need moderate humidity, a hide box, and a soft substrate like eco-earth. They eat crickets, roaches, etc

Agreed. That's how my mom has her rosehair set up and it is doing good. It doesn't use the hidebox unless it's getting ready to molt though

 

[snakeguy101]

yeah, T's are great and very easy to keep. you will love it.

 

[TheMightyOscar]

rose hairs like low humidity, bone dry substrate. no misting, just keep a bottle cap of water in the enclosure for moisture.

 

[katschamne]

rose hairs like low humidity, bone dry substrate. no misting, just keep a bottle cap of water in the enclosure for moisture.

In addition make sure that the height of the cage is no more then 1 1/2 times it's leg span. A fall from greater heights can be fatal. We keep ours in a plastic container (there are so many different sizes) but if you want to display it in a 10 gallon tank like a lot of people do just add a lot of substrate. Some will dig other will just stay on top.

We have never had any escapees (except when transferring to a new cage but never opened a cage and found one missing), but when you have to go into the cage make sure to always have a deli cup on hand if you aren't sure on handling them or even if you are.

Great reference books are "The Tarantula Keepers Guide" Make sure it is the newest edition, things have changed since the 1993 edition and arachnoboards is a great forum if you haven't already found them.

Tarantulas make great pets for the right person but it's the misconception that most people have about them that scares them away.

 

[chloe]

ok well i got her. i went back in the next day and she was still as amazing as i remembered...so that was it. deposit is down and i will b picking her up wednesday.

she will be in a terrarium as its not more than 6" high.
she will b on peat soil stuff....the stuff i get from the rep shop which she is already on. iv got a piece of cork bark as a hide/something to stand on. water bowl. and just sit her on my burms viv. my house is already fairly warm so just going to use the heat from his ceramic that goes through the wood. thats what the rep shop advised me anyway, if the temps not right i have a spare space on a slimline heat strip i can put her on.

i will ask my friend to come round and help me handle her, purely so im confident so that if she 'was' to escape i can handle her and get her back safely.
although if i need to move her or clean her etc and im still not comfortable with her, it will be a glass and paper scenario.

thanks for the help peeps.
x

 

[gigas12]

Hi,nice buy!

 

[sidneymysnake]

Congrats I am not a fan of spiders either but I can tolerate them through the glass. If I ever get the urge to watch them I can go to my mom's house and watch hers.

 

[katschamne]

The tank sounds much better then a 10 gallon tank. The only thing is be careful about the heat. They don't need any extra heat unless your home is unusually cold. If the room you plan to keep it in is at least 70-72F or 21-22C then you are fine. If it is too hot you can dry out the tarantula.

I think that you will enjoy your new pet. Just be careful they can become very addictive before you know it you will end up with 150 and counting.