Green bottle blue & rose hair tarantula

jaleely · 11-10-12, 12:53 AM

Just a little update, since i was feeding the other day. Our green bottle blue (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) has all of his adult coloring now!
Cage was cleaned after this feeding, since he likes to leave roach wings everywhere, so no worries.

IMAG0876 by jaleely, on Flickr

IMAG0877 by jaleely, on Flickr

The rose hair (Grammostola rosea) was abandoned at petsmart when i worked there last year. She is the SWEETEST animal. Not just for a tarantula. Gentle. Her color is not that bright in this pose, but her name is "Violet" so that ought to give you an idea of how she normally looks on her back (cephalothorax, not the rump or abdomen).

Anyway, she looked funny eating her roach and lifting herself up to keep it off of the ground : )

IMAG0873 by jaleely, on Flickr

iBaman · 11-10-12, 12:58 AM

man, those GBB's are so gorgeous. There's a sling at the local pet store that I'm thinking about picking up....he's so tiny <3

jaleely · 11-10-12, 01:11 AM

lol you know, i bought a mexican red knee "sling" thinking it was the actual SLING...the webbed case full of babies. Hubby thought so too. I hate calling the babies slings, for that reason. We were totally silly and we looked up "sling" and was like "OH she's selling the sling!" and google said Oh yeah, she means the whole thing! But right when she was shipping it i found it meant...ONE baby..sling...LOL

Rogue628 · 11-10-12, 01:23 AM

Your GBB is really pretty!

What kind of substrate are you using for your guys? I've been using eco earth for my rose hair but I'm thinking of switching to something else. I don't like the mess I seem to make with it when trying to break it down out of block form. Or maybe I'm just doing it wrong lol.

I want to get a cobalt blue later.

iBaman · 11-10-12, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaleely

lol you know, i bought a mexican red knee "sling" thinking it was the actual SLING...the webbed case full of babies. Hubby thought so too. I hate calling the babies slings, for that reason. We were totally silly and we looked up "sling" and was like "OH she's selling the sling!" and google said Oh yeah, she means the whole thing! But right when she was shipping it i found it meant...ONE baby..sling...LOL

BAHAHAHAHA xD that's awesome. Yeah, it means just one baby. =3 this guy is in a vial still..so tiny. =3

Platinumxero · 11-10-12, 02:15 AM

Wow! I'm terrified of spiders, but those are some very pretty ones you've got there! ^^

iBaman · 11-10-12, 02:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platinumxero

Wow! I'm terrified of spiders, but those are some very pretty ones you've got there! ^^

If you're scared, get a tarantula (rose hair or pink toe are awesome). I went from terrified to trying to hold her in a matter of a month. You really gain a new respect for them!

Rogue628 · 11-10-12, 02:29 AM

^^ Agree.

I did the same. I have a rose hair I've had for about 4 months now. I don't hold it that much, maybe once every couple of weeks for a few minutes, but I'm responsible for its care and it's doing very well. I've gained a new respect for them. I don't even squeal when I see one elsewhere now lol

I love watching it when it's active. Like I said, I don't hold it much, but that's something I've come to terms with. I don't have to handle an animal to get over a fear. Me taking care of my little critter is a huge step. Plus I'd like to eventually have a couple more.

DragonsEye · 11-10-12, 08:01 AM

Actually, Melissa, your Chromatopelma is not yet fully into its adult colors though it is close. Once it finishes the transition (probably next molt) it will no longer have the black stripes/markings on its abdomen -- that area will be completely orange.

Rogue, the easiest way to use the EcoEarth -- assuming you don't wish to use the whole block -- is to saw off a chunk of it. Then soak that chunk in some water so it swells and falls apart easily. NOTE: Because G. rosea does not like a wet substrate (nor does Chromatopelma for that matter), make sure you dry the EcoEarth THOROUGHLY. (Which can take days. It helps to spread the media out and stir/fluff it up throughout the drying process. And, yes, you can put it in a warm oven to speed the process along.)

On another note, be forewarned, Rogue, that Cobalts are known as "pet holes" by those in the hobby because the hole to their burrow is all you are likely to ever see. (They require a deep substrate because of their burrowing requirement.) If you're lucky, once in a while it will sit in the entrance with a couple of legs visible. A pity as they do have beautiful coloration.

BarelyBreathing · 11-10-12, 09:09 AM

Amazing looking spiders. I particularly love the green bottle blue.

Platinumxero · 11-10-12, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iBaman

If you're scared, get a tarantula (rose hair or pink toe are awesome). I went from terrified to trying to hold her in a matter of a month. You really gain a new respect for them!

My father used to own one when I was growing up. I wasn't allowed to hold him though, only look at him when my dad held him. His name was Hairy. How fitting, huh? xD

Rogue628 · 11-10-12, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DragonsEye

Actually, Melissa, your Chromatopelma is not yet fully into its adult colors though it is close. Once it finishes the transition (probably next molt) it will no longer have the black stripes/markings on its abdomen -- that area will be completely orange.

Rogue, the easiest way to use the EcoEarth -- assuming you don't wish to use the whole block -- is to saw off a chunk of it. Then soak that chunk in some water so it swells and falls apart easily. NOTE: Because G. rosea does not like a wet substrate (nor does Chromatopelma for that matter), make sure you dry the EcoEarth THOROUGHLY. (Which can take days. It helps to spread the media out and stir/fluff it up throughout the drying process. And, yes, you can put it in a warm oven to speed the process along.)

On another note, be forewarned, Rogue, that Cobalts are known as "pet holes" by those in the hobby because the hole to their burrow is all you are likely to ever see. (They require a deep substrate because of their burrowing requirement.) If you're lucky, once in a while it will sit in the entrance with a couple of legs visible. A pity as they do have beautiful coloration.

Thanks for the information! I didn't know cobalts were rarely visible.

I guess I need to do some research and see if I can find one that's pretty and more apt to be active and not hidden so much. I'd rather have one I can watch.

brylecc1989 · 11-10-12, 01:27 PM

Wow those are awesome. And the best way to crumble eco earth is put in a bucket of water fully submerged. In a half hour you'll have perfectly crumbled moist coconut husk

Snakeman8 · 11-10-12, 01:34 PM

i.want.a.green.bottle.blue

Snakeman8 · 11-10-12, 01:37 PM

is their another green bottle blue in the cage with it? just wondering