Just got my first T (Rose Hair)

[paolo_28]

Hey everyone, my wicked girlfriend just bough me my first T (Rose Hair) a couple days ago.
He/she's about 2-3 inches, and one of the main reasons why I got'em is that while he/she's eating, he/she would do this dance - spin around and around while setting up his/her web around her.

Afterwards, he/she would raise his/her front legs (nearest ones to the fangs) like as if he/she were cleaning/flossing. Do spiders do that in general? Also when can I start feeding this guy pinkies?

I'll post up pictures soon. However Im still looking for a sub-adult female Mexican Red Knee.


Thanks, Paolo.

[Pixie]

Congratulations!!!!! I'm so excited for you!!!

Most tarantulas will do a "happy dance" when they catch their food before settling down to eat it, my Charlotte does it all the time. I don't think it's a dance really but the tarantula looking for a quiet spot to eat but it is so cute the way they walk around all high up on their legs. They look so excited from catching a meal!

Yes, it is normal behavior for the tarantula to clean her pedipalps (name of the two front little leg like appendages), they use those to help them eat and after they clean up Sometimes you will see your tarantula clean other tips of her legs that way.

As for feeding pinkies, it sounds like your T is big enough to take a small pinky (not more than a day old though), just be sure not to overfeed your tarantula. At that size a pinky would last a good week if not more as a meal.

Let us know the name of your new critter and show us some pics!!!

Pixie

P.S. Don't freak out if you find your spider on it's back! It's really freaky but that's a good sign, your T is moulting!!!

[Hamster of Borg]

Whats funny, is when you go to fill their water dish and they attack the water stream. It looks like they're doing the 'ew I got wet dance'.

Ham

[paolo_28]

LOL. During moulting period, do T's change colours like snakes (blueish eyes, cloudy skin colour) or do they just lay on their back?


Paolo.

[OttawaChris]

T's will get sluggish and go off eating when they are approaching a molt. Many will start to make webs and/or retreat into a burrow to hide.

Signs to look for are a bald or dark spot on the abdomen, and the overall colour looking drab.

It should be noted that they also get quite cranky at this time!

[Pixie]

When you see the signs of a molt coming up, it helps your T to raise the ambient humidity in it's tank. Do so without spraying the T directly!

As Chris mentionned, your T will stop eating and be cranky. They don't always go drab but a lot will lay down a silk mat. An area about the size of themselves spread out and a little more. Expect a molt to happen soon after, often in a matter of hours.

Smaller T's tend to molt quicker. First it will flip over on it's back and be completely sprawled out, really interesting to see! I didn't see mine actually flip over but when I walked into the room and saw her like that, I was quite surprised! Even if I knew to expect it, looked like she had been shot down by a cowboy at high noon!!!

Once on her back, she will start working out of her old skin. This can take any amount of time (I don't know with younger spiders), mine took a good 6-7 hours to do so. The real action took place in the last hour, before that, not much.

It's really important to leave your T alone for a few days after a molt and not feed. You will notice after a fresh molt that the fangs are white. When the fangs have turned black again (4-7 days) you can feed and handle again.

Pixie

[paolo_28]

Chris & Pixie> Thank for the info guys. As soon he/she molts, I'll try to take some pic's and for sure, I'll let you guys know.

Paolo.

[OttawaChris]

Its hard to notice that they are drab until you see them fresh after a molt... then it is WOW time.

Chilean rose hairs look really pretty after a molt... I know you will love it.

[nuno]

Congratulations Paolo you finally got one. I can't wait to see some pics of her.

[paolo_28]

Thanks everyone.