Tarantula help!

5500

Hi Guys
On of my friends own's a chilean rose but shes moving away and asked did i want to take him.I also wanted a spider so i said yes but anyways ive got some questions!

The tank that she gave me her in is kinda impractical for space for me,(its about 3.5ft by 1.5ft can i get a smaller tank for her or will it do the spider harm?

Theres a heat pad placed on the back of the tank,should it be there or on the floor?Theres also a green coloured heat lamp in the tank,should both be used or just one?

Ive yet to handle her but are they prone to biting or are there any tell tale signs that your about to be fanged and to get your hand out of the way?

Thanks in advance!

u2gooner

Hi,
I had a tarantula for a bit.it was an aggressive red-knee.
Kept it a tank 12inch x 8 inch deep x 8inch high. plenty room. The heat pad heats the tank so a smaller tank would need less heat. I only had one pad and kept it on the bottom. This should be ok once the bedding is not too thick/deep.

Never handled mine but i believe chile roses are quite docile. Best thing to do is put your hand down flat and nudge the spider til it walks onto your hand. It may not want to so dont force it. If it doesnt mind being handled dont lift it too high as even a small drop can be fatal.

I couldnt recommend the 'reptile haven' more for advice. Theyre on fishamble st in temple bar in dublin. Beside the County council civic offices

Hellrazer

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=88569

Theres a care sheet I wrote a few years back--Fairly comprenhensive for Tarantula care.

Personally I dont recommend heat mats as they dont heat the air only the Tarantula--a 15-25 watt pygmy red bulb is ideal.Its all in the post above.
Richie

tonym

hi
this is my site may be some help to you

www.thepetspider.com


the tank is way too big and in my opinion the heat matts are good

have a look at the site let me know what u think and send a photo in to posted in the album and please sign the geust book

thanks

tony

5500

Hi guys
Is it normal for the spiders to go off there food?

I had put two crickets in xmas eve but they seemed to hang around up untill a few days ago,id put in another two yesterday and just looked today and the original 2 seem to still be there so theres 4 in total.

The spider seems to be afraid of the crickets,if they walk by her she scarpers.

I hadnt handled the spider yet but tried the other day and her legs lifted striaght up so i got outta there!Ive tried again but each time she does the same,just there as soon as i took my hand out she jumped towards it!

Giblet

They can go without food for sometime. They don't eat before molting either.

Hellrazer

Probably going to moult in the next few days.Just keep putting the food in and if its not eaten within say 12 hours take it back out as crickets can kill a Tarantula if the nibble on it when its moulting.

Also make sure your temperatures are ok as a Tarantula wont eat if the temps are too low.
Richie

5500

The girl i got it off told me it moulted about 3months ago,i have a red 15w bulb in there now instead of the heatmat.

Tried taking out the crickets there and there little ****s to catch!

Hellrazer

I wouldnt mind the 3 month thing.

How old is the spider???

If its only a juvenile or sub adult expect a moult once every 5-6 weeks and less as they get older so that a fully grown adult will usually only moult once a year.

For example my 1 year old Brazilian Black used to moult on average every month.

5500

Shes nearly 3,went to the local pet shop and was telling the guy and he reckoned she would only molt once a year if even that now.

I got the crickets out but she seems to be kinda curled up in the top corner of the tank since last night.

On the feeding thing,does the spider actually attack its prey eg chase and pounce on the cricket or does it leave web for to catch them?

Theres two corners of the tank with the floor webbed but the crickets just seem to eat there way thru and not get stuck in it

Thanks for the help

Hellrazer

Tarantulas are what they call oportunistic hunters--basically they wait until some small insect passes under their nose and then pounce on it.

As for the tank size--its perfect I kept one of mine in a 2x2x1.5 ft cage and it was fine.

When you say curled up in the top corner of the cage do you mean its hanging from the roof??

This can be a sign that its not getting enough heat and is trying to get closer to the heat source.
Id try a heat mat on the back wall of the tank and see if that helps or up the wattage of the bulb to a 30-40 watt and try that.Also has it somewhere to hide??A ceramic plant pot split down the middle makes a perfect burrow.

5500

Its up at the top of the tank but holding onto the glass,the opposite side of the tank from the bulb.I placed the mat on the back of the tank today but she still sted in the same spot.

There's two lumps of bark in there which it can get under too,

Hellrazer

Usually hanging out of the top of the cage means that there are environmental factors that the Tarantula is not happy with.

Have you changed its substrate lately??
Best substrate Ive found is Vermiculite--available in all good garden centres.Buy the smallest grain one you can get and moisten it till it stays together in a ball when you squeeze it in your hand.

Have you rearranged its cage??
They`re not mad about changes to their environment of any sort.

Bark wouldnt be my first choice unless it was fairly well hollowed out so that it can get under it well.

Any chance you could post a pic of your setup and let me have a look for you?

Sounds to me like there is definately something the spider is not happy with.
And this can lead to lack of appetite.

Another thing to try is feed at different times during the day--Tarantulas naturally eat at dusk so just as the lights are going down feed it then.
Also try Locusts sometimes they`ll eat these quicker.

As for the handling thing--best way I found of starting is to buy a thick pair of gardening gloves(Its all in the mind--you think its going to bite but generally after one or two handling sessions they dont even bother trying to "rear up and frighten you).

Put your hand in flat and gently nudge the spider in the bum towards your hand and once its on it let walk from hand to hand(They`re a bit thick and will think its walking away from you)

Richie

5500

Hellrazer wrote:

Have you rearranged its cage??
They`re not mad about changes to their environment of any sort.

Yep i moved the bark around the other day,Im not sure when the substrate was last changed so im going to go and get some today to give it a change.Do they have any specific brand names or just "vermiculite"

Il get a box of locusts while im at it too

Ill get hold of a digital cam and take a picture for you too

Thanks again for your help

Hellrazer

No its usually just called Vermiculite.Youll probably need about 10 litres of it.You need roughly 2-3 inches on the bottom of the entire tank and after its wet it needs to be packed well.