Hand fed T. bondi!

Just thought I would post an update. Mainly b/c it all went so well. A couple of weeks ago, I posted about my T. blondi's fangs being damaged. I was having a problem getting her to eat, she couldn't hold the food up to her mouth. So, I tried pinky soup, and cricket soup, hoping she would be able to eat that. But it seemed very difficult for her, and she would give up. She is at the 6" leg span mark, and I did not want to lose her.

Windchaser suggested hand feeding her. Actually picking her up, and putting the food directly in her mouth. This thought really kinda freaked me out, but I decided this weekend that I didn't have a choice. She couldn't eat on her own, and she would die eventually. Water can only sustain her so long. Her abdomen was really shrinking

WELL, I put on some rubber gloves, got my tweezers, put on a mouth mask, and decided I was going to try this. I mushed up some crickets, and had all of that ready. My heart was beating like triple! I put my hand in there, and picked her up!!!!! I did the cup method. I could hardly breathe, but she was VERY still. She was probably as freaked as I was.

I attempted putting the cricket mush in between her fang area, and kinda worked it in w/ the tweezers. SHE ACTUALLY STARTED EATING IT! I mean, she ate 3 cricket entrails *gag*! I was so happy! My hand started cramping a little, but she didn't mind, and loosed my grip a little for her.

After the last bit of the food started to disappear, she started wiggling a little. I figured that was her way of telling me, "All done!"

I put her back in her cage, and that was that! I repeated this yesterday, and will be doing it each night this week. Then every other day after that. Have to get that abdomen fluffed up!

Sorry this was so long....but it was absolutely amazing to me, and it worked like a charm BOTH times. I can't believe I was putting FOOD in a T. blondi's mouth

Thanks to all that replied, and especially Windchaser...b/c I would have never thought about trying this :clap:

That is really awesome!!! Congratulations! Maybe you can get someone to get a few picks of you doing this, that would be very cool to see. Good luck and I hope things keep going this well for you.

I can try to get the hubby to do this! He wouldn't even come in the room when I told him what I was doing

I will bring a camera home, and try to get him to take a pic, but I don't have a website to host it. But I don't mind that at all. As long as I have a few minutes to breathe before the pic gets taken. I can't explain how wild it is to pick on of THESE up w/ my hands. She has more strength that I thought. I just can't believe she is accepting it.

I mean, when I started putting the food in between her fangs, she started moving them up and down pushing the food in. Something that made me want to laugh, she put her palps down under her fangs like she had something to hold You know how they look while they are eating, palps all lined up under their fangs until their finished

I couldn't imagine holding my blondi to feed her, she's right at 7 3/4" and in need of a molt soon. I can only imagine how nervous you are when doing that. lol

Mr Ed said:

I couldn't imagine holding my blondi to feed her, she's right at 7 3/4" and in need of a molt soon. I can only imagine how nervous you are when doing that. lol

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Well, I have another blondi, her name is Raggs. She is at the 7-8" mark like the one you mentioned. And she teleports! You know how they are!!

When it was time for her to eat, after she molted in Jan., she tried really hard to eat crickets, etc. I put in a newborn pinky, and she literally had that thing picked up, and was working her fangs all over it. At least for a couple of hours. NEVER broke the pinky's skin. So, I am assuming if she tried to get me, she wouldn't brake my skin either. Her fangs look blunt, like someone cut half of them off. But the fangs on her molt looked perfect

I have never been one to really like handling my T's. I have let a couple of rosies walk on my hand willingly before, but never forced them by the cup method. The only down side is knowing I will have to do this until next time she molts, which will probably be a year or so. She molted last March.

i gotta admit u got big balls than me girl!:? i cant imagine doing that to mine although maybe its different if u HAVE too.congrats hope she starts fattening up soon:clap:

stooka said:

i gotta admit u got big balls than me girl!:? i cant imagine doing that to mine although maybe its different if u HAVE too.congrats hope she starts fattening up soon:clap:

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Yeah, when I read that last suggestion from Windchaser, I was like There ain't no way I am going to do that.

But, it ended up being a life and death situation, and unfortunately I have a very deep affection for all my spideys. I just cannot believe she sat there, cupped in my hand for about 20 minutes, and let me put crickets ickies in her mouth. She must have felt as desperate as I did :}

i think thats amazing well done.:worship:

stooka said:

i gotta admit u got big balls than me girl!:? i cant imagine doing that to mine although maybe its different if u HAVE too.congrats hope she starts fattening up soon:clap:

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You admitted what I uh, couldn't admit...

stooka said:

i think thats amazing well done.:worship:

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Thanks ALL thanks to this BB though, 100%.

I'll tell you what it reminds me of. I am sure all of you have seen the original Rudolph the Rednose Reigndeer. Well, when Cornelious comes in with the Abomindable (sp) snowman, his teeth are pulled out, and he puts a star on the Christmas tree and smiles Just a big hairy half-toothless monster!

Wow! That's brave en very well done!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Yes please take pics next time - you can host a certain number of pictures right here on the board (unless that has changed recently).

Just don't let your successes go to your head, always expect the unexpected, even if your T hasn't reacted defenslively 5 times, 7 times or 10 times, it might still try to strike or kick hairs the 11th time So continue to be careful
Best of luck with it in the future... and remember WE WANT PICS!!!! :worship:

Congratulations! I'm so glad it worked! I, too, want pictures. I can't even imagine picking one of my blondi's up.

You might not have to do this for a year or more, though. She knows her body's not quite right. She might try to force a molt after a couple of months.

Cirith Ungol said:

Wow! That's brave en very well done!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Yes please take pics next time - you can host a certain number of pictures right here on the board (unless that has changed recently).

Just don't let your successes go to your head, always expect the unexpected, even if your T hasn't reacted defenslively 5 times, 7 times or 10 times, it might still try to strike or kick hairs the 11th time So continue to be careful
Best of luck with it in the future... and remember WE WANT PICS!!!! :worship:

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I will check into that. I have a digi cam here at work I will take home tonight.
And I agree about not getting brave. I am sure I will be getting a defense pose or something when I am not quick enough to cup her. I don't mind the hair kicking, I just don't like the idea of her striking at me, and hitting me. Even if she didn't have fangs at all. It's just the idea of it that gives me shivers! Careful is ALWAYS the key. If I ever get bitten by anything, I will never blame the T. I think if a person gets bit, it's 100% their fault.

Varden said:

Congratulations! I'm so glad it worked! I, too, want pictures. I can't even imagine picking one of my blondi's up.

You might not have to do this for a year or more, though. She knows her body's not quite right. She might try to force a molt after a couple of months.

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That would be excellent. I just hope she doesn't lose her life, if she does try to force a molt. I have heard of that before, just never thought about it in this situation. I feel like a little mommy

The thought a couple of weeks ago of having to pick her up and put food in her mouth, almost brought tears to my eyes. Just a weird, kinda scary situation. I mean w/ every move it sounds like they are hissing at you.

A very educational and informative post that may help someone in the future. Thank you for sharing and I also am looking forward to some pictures. You are the girl!

If it's unable to bite, I don't mind hendling it. I wouldn't touch such animal before introducing myself and check out it's response.

I am so glad to hear that it is working for you. I hope your T. blondi regains its strength and molts again. If it does, it should repair its fangs. It may also force an early molt to heal itself.

BTW, great job! :clap: :clap: :clap:

I hope it all works

out for you too. I would hate to lose my Blondi so I can imagine your
concern. Mine molted 2 weeks ago and it's 2 white fangs were the first
things I saw come out. Mine has a scar on the abdomen which I think will molt
out eventually. With all these TV specials about Goliath Bird Eaters, it's
possible they may become scarcer and more expensive due to popularity.
Again Good Luck!

Thank you all for your compliments

I had another successful night, and we managed to get some great pics! The only thing is, I don't have a way to load them on my laptop here at home.
The pics are on a memory stick. I will be loading them tomorrow at my work computer, and will try my best to post them on this forum. If I can't get them to post, I would be happy to email them to any member on here that could post them

I get to work at 8am, and I can't wait to share these

wow sounds like you made a new friend huh? this is the coolest post ive read on the boards since becomming a member. i think you did a great job helping your spider out. i cant wait to see the pictures. dont keep us waiting too long!