Second one in two days, will there be a third tomorrow? There is one that didnt eat yesterdays food so that has been removed, wait and see!
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
H. Maculata
Not so good photo but took the chance while he was out, bit blurred but wasnt going to keep the lid off longer than needed
Updates..
Well, over the weekend the little Smithi did pass away, he had been showing little signs of life in his ICU and ended being curled up :( The others are all getting on well though, Spiderman (G. Rosea) has been very active and hungry, happy to be munching his was through crickets all weekend, Spongebob (G. Aureostriata) has been out and about a lot more again, still not eating though so perhaps could still be going to molt, case of wait and see there.
I had some spare cork bark left so put a couple of bits into Skittles' enclosure (A. Avic) and he really likes them, either choosing to hide under the bottom or to sit up on top, certainly a lot more active since they have arrived.
Monster munch (H. Maculata) has been out and about at night, lots of new webbing shooting off from his cork tube to various places and he was even out for a walk on Sunday through the day. Tried to get some pictures but had difficulty in getting it focused on him, he was doing a fair bit of wandering so trying to take a photo and not let him escape was proving hard!
After some advice on the Arachnoboards forum, the P. Imerator has had a change of substrate and is now much happier, I've added in a spare exo-terra hide that I had so she's taken to that as her new home well, and has been doing a fair bit of digging in it, and adding a new entrance out the back. Her crickets have also been disappearing so she seems to be taking to her food too!
try and get some photos later on this afternoon
I had some spare cork bark left so put a couple of bits into Skittles' enclosure (A. Avic) and he really likes them, either choosing to hide under the bottom or to sit up on top, certainly a lot more active since they have arrived.
Monster munch (H. Maculata) has been out and about at night, lots of new webbing shooting off from his cork tube to various places and he was even out for a walk on Sunday through the day. Tried to get some pictures but had difficulty in getting it focused on him, he was doing a fair bit of wandering so trying to take a photo and not let him escape was proving hard!
After some advice on the Arachnoboards forum, the P. Imerator has had a change of substrate and is now much happier, I've added in a spare exo-terra hide that I had so she's taken to that as her new home well, and has been doing a fair bit of digging in it, and adding a new entrance out the back. Her crickets have also been disappearing so she seems to be taking to her food too!
try and get some photos later on this afternoon
Saturday, 3 May 2008
Pandinas Imperator (Imperial Scorpion)
Well.. I wasnt thinking of getting one of these but there was one out with the keeper in the shop and um..
This is the P. Imperator scorpion and comes from Western Africa. Similar to the B. Smithi tarantulas these are also on the CITES appendix 2 list. Its a perfect beginners scorpion as they are quite calm.
They are one of the largest scorpions and can grow up to 20cm long, and weigh up to 30 grams.
This is the P. Imperator scorpion and comes from Western Africa. Similar to the B. Smithi tarantulas these are also on the CITES appendix 2 list. Its a perfect beginners scorpion as they are quite calm.
They are one of the largest scorpions and can grow up to 20cm long, and weigh up to 30 grams.
P. Regalis escaped again
I normally wouldnt agree with handling him, but its feeding time and hes out again, I'll need to rethink the best way to feed him he just runs out as soon as the lid is opened, the fastest thing on 8 legs, perhaps feed him within a larger container just in case?
dont worry he went safely back into his home :)
dont worry he went safely back into his home :)
Friday, 2 May 2008
Poecilotheria Regalis (Indian Ornamental)
Heres my little P. Regalis who arrived this morning. Has settled in nicely :)
Poecilotheria Regalis is here...
... and I thought the H. Maculata was fast ...
As I mentioned the other day I had a little home ready for him, however when he arrived and I unpacked him into his new home I soon discovered that he was a bit bigger than I was expecting with a legspan of perhaps at least 5cm, not to worry though I did also get a slightly larger pot from ASDA as well (with change from 40 pence..) so set to making a larger house, substrate in, cork in, little bit misting and some holes in the lid and we're all set.
Time to move him
He had other ideas..
Obviously quite enjoying his freedom from his packaging when he was in the post, having a bit stretch of the legs and decided to take a morning run! had the old container right inside the new one with the only gap uncovered where I was using my long tweezers to tempt him gently out, which he did, out and up the side, through the gap before I could get the tweezers out, up the tweezers, up my arm, then turned round, back down and across the table and luckily came to a rest on a table mat. All in about the space of a second.
I thought for a moment of getting the camera to take a picture while he was out on the table but thought better of it and got him quickly into his pot, to which he took off for a couple of laps and settled behind the cork.
So for now his pot is in the Exo Terra warming up a bit, see what hes doing later on hopefully get a photo without stressing him too much then just leave him to it.
As I mentioned the other day I had a little home ready for him, however when he arrived and I unpacked him into his new home I soon discovered that he was a bit bigger than I was expecting with a legspan of perhaps at least 5cm, not to worry though I did also get a slightly larger pot from ASDA as well (with change from 40 pence..) so set to making a larger house, substrate in, cork in, little bit misting and some holes in the lid and we're all set.
Time to move him
He had other ideas..
Obviously quite enjoying his freedom from his packaging when he was in the post, having a bit stretch of the legs and decided to take a morning run! had the old container right inside the new one with the only gap uncovered where I was using my long tweezers to tempt him gently out, which he did, out and up the side, through the gap before I could get the tweezers out, up the tweezers, up my arm, then turned round, back down and across the table and luckily came to a rest on a table mat. All in about the space of a second.
I thought for a moment of getting the camera to take a picture while he was out on the table but thought better of it and got him quickly into his pot, to which he took off for a couple of laps and settled behind the cork.
So for now his pot is in the Exo Terra warming up a bit, see what hes doing later on hopefully get a photo without stressing him too much then just leave him to it.
Still Alive
Checked on the little B. Smithi this morning and first thing I saw was no death curl so looking hopeful and there was a little movement from him. He's back in ICU for the day so fingers crossed hope he pulls through.
Thursday, 1 May 2008
B. Smithi on its last legs?
During tonights round of feeding I noticed that the smallest of the B. Smithi slings was not reacting in any way and eventually gave a slight leg movement. He has been moistured and moved to a dark warm place to see if a little heat and water can help revive him, fingers crossed for the morning..
Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Orders away!
Well, I mentioned in an earlier post about something in the pipeline for more Old World tarantulas so today I ordered a couple more little slings, first of all an Augacephalus species 'Mozambique' who should be here next Wednesday. It is a burrowing terrestrial spider from Mozambique in Southern Africa and is a very new arrival in the hobby, with this being one from the first batch of spiderlings available in the UK. I have no idea at present how large he will grow to, but photos I have seen of adult specimens are a golden colour, with amazing darker patterns similar to those which can be found on many of the African tarantulas. The full taxonomy of this tarantula is still being explored and as yet there is no scientific species name for it.
Secondly having seen a Pokie on holiday last year (The photo of it is my Blogger profile picture) in a moment of madness ordered one of those as well. The Poecilotheria Regalis (Indian Ornamental) comes, as its common name suggests from Southern India. It is a very beautiful and very fast arboreal tarantula with ornate white, grey and brown patterns, and has a striking threat pose when it has its adult colouration: the undersides of its first two sets of legs have black and yellow stripes which are displayed when it throws its legs in the air. Similar to a wasp's colours, its telling a predator to beware! I'd rather take the wasp.. they dont grow up to 9 inches!
I already spent 10 minutes making a very small arboreal setup ready for its arrival with some cork bark and substrate in a taller vial. ASDA has some very cheap but useful housing for tarantulas, not bad for 25p. Monster Munch's arboreal setup was also purchased very cheaply from there as he is still smaller, so not yet ready for a large glass enclosure. I'll perhaps do a small tutorial on that tomorrow to show just how easy and cost effective they are to make.
(note to self.. talking of African spiders.. I quite fancy a Pterinochilus Murinus, affectionatly known as the OBT (Orange Bitey Thing) because erm.. they are orange... and bitey.. Lee has slings for £3 at the Spider Shop or 5 for £12, its a good job he is closed for a couple of weeks :)
Secondly having seen a Pokie on holiday last year (The photo of it is my Blogger profile picture) in a moment of madness ordered one of those as well. The Poecilotheria Regalis (Indian Ornamental) comes, as its common name suggests from Southern India. It is a very beautiful and very fast arboreal tarantula with ornate white, grey and brown patterns, and has a striking threat pose when it has its adult colouration: the undersides of its first two sets of legs have black and yellow stripes which are displayed when it throws its legs in the air. Similar to a wasp's colours, its telling a predator to beware! I'd rather take the wasp.. they dont grow up to 9 inches!
I already spent 10 minutes making a very small arboreal setup ready for its arrival with some cork bark and substrate in a taller vial. ASDA has some very cheap but useful housing for tarantulas, not bad for 25p. Monster Munch's arboreal setup was also purchased very cheaply from there as he is still smaller, so not yet ready for a large glass enclosure. I'll perhaps do a small tutorial on that tomorrow to show just how easy and cost effective they are to make.
(note to self.. talking of African spiders.. I quite fancy a Pterinochilus Murinus, affectionatly known as the OBT (Orange Bitey Thing) because erm.. they are orange... and bitey.. Lee has slings for £3 at the Spider Shop or 5 for £12, its a good job he is closed for a couple of weeks :)
Heteroscodra Maculata (Togo Starburst) "Monster Munch"
First time I've seen him since he arrived. He does seem to come out during the dead of night judging by his webs, but tonight he was halfway up his cork bark just above his web and dirt wall, so took the opportunity.
Hope I can get a better one when he gets braver and comes out into the open. He is definitely a spider I will be leaving well alone, and will come out in his own time when he is ready.
Hope I can get a better one when he gets braver and comes out into the open. He is definitely a spider I will be leaving well alone, and will come out in his own time when he is ready.
Tuesday, 29 April 2008
Yum yum!
second cricket of the night, first proper feed that hes taken in a few weeks due to him reciently molting
Spiderman enjoys a munch
Spiderman seems to be back eating again as he jumped on a medium/large black cricket which is the first time I have seen him eating straight away, usually he leaves them and eats through the night, he even done the happy dance and wiggled and turned around :D
Sunday, 27 April 2008
The Euathlus slings get their names
Having watched them eating so enthusiastically, decided to name the E. vulpinus "Nipper" and the E. truculentus "Nibbler".
As well as food for Nipper I also popped in a little cork bark as he is semi arboreal and he seems to have made a little use of it already with strands of silk anchoring it to the ground.
As a side note, Junior seems to be waiting at the end of his hide, perhaps waiting for a passing cricket, so while its light I'm going to see if I can catch it on video. edit: no hes not hungry just now, try again another time..
As well as food for Nipper I also popped in a little cork bark as he is semi arboreal and he seems to have made a little use of it already with strands of silk anchoring it to the ground.
As a side note, Junior seems to be waiting at the end of his hide, perhaps waiting for a passing cricket, so while its light I'm going to see if I can catch it on video. edit: no hes not hungry just now, try again another time..
Saturday, 26 April 2008
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