Spider owners tips, feed videos and BS

Damn now I think I want to start keeping some again. Damn you William!

 

I read it's stressful going through a molt; is it unheard of for one to really just croak during a molt?

Looked up the golden blue leg; would've been a beautiful spider.

 

It happens. And it is very stressful, I think @boogie3478 might have said even painful? And they are in a very delicate state...

 

My understanding and training from an old hippy arachnid guy that I worked under is humidity is key. If it is too dry they can get "stuck". Even for desert species, as they would seek out underground refugia like mammal burrows to get out of the drier upland conditions they would traverse. Same with reptiles, but a stuck shed is not really lethal immediately as it can be with spiders. So spray your terrariums and manage the ventilation to keep it where you want it.

 

Good to know

Shit...imagine taking off your clothes one day only to get stuck....and starve to death

 

@Kwikvette you ever make it up to Berkeley?

 

I don't.

Though I need to go to Hayward one of these days; what's in Berkeley?

 

The other thing is providing a correct temperature gradient. This is sometimes not possible with smaller spiders and terrariums so getting a good ambient temp is all you can do.

What I did in the past is used heat tape all the way on one side and attach it to a dimmer. Find out what the temps should be and maintain that warm to room temp gradient( thermometer on ground over heat tape). Being ectotherms they rely on the external conditions to regulate body temperature. You provide that gradient and they do their thing. Not saying room temp wouldn't work for some spiders, but the general concept is applicable to arachnids, amphibians, and reptiles. Overheating and lack of heat are common problems in husbandry.

 

Definitely stressful but not sure if it actually hurts.

 

https://www.eastbayvivarium.com

I worked here for a few years. Place is one of the top stores and breeders in the country. Been around since the 70s. Cool place to check out. They have arachnids too, cages, supplies, and staff that will make sure you know how to care for whatever you buy before you leave.

 

Last feed was 10 days ago...

 

That's a badass looking shop.

 

It's a cool place to check out. Honestly, you probably get spiders online for cheaper. it was on Dirty Jobs once and local schools take field trips there. Hundreds of herps on display, arachnids is one rack with maybe 50 on display (restock in back). A lot of rare stuff, big stuff, and so on. Once sold some critters to Nicolas Cage. Including a Scolopendra. He's a big herp guy.

Better than most reptile rooms at a zoo.

 

10 days isn't really that long for a tarantula as they can easily go months or even up to a year without eating. You'll probably have more fun by feeding them smaller crickets at more frequent intervals so you get to see more kills without the spider being too bloated.

 

@Pinay so what species do you have now? The gooty, the brazillian black and?

 

Thats it...two of the Brazilians

 

Ahh gotcha. Think you are going to order anything from the spidersworld.eu site?

 

More kills, more often? What more can you ask for?

 

Not sure. Prices seem to be pretty low.

 

They are! Best place to buy tarantulas on the planet.