First Aboreal today..

[MatthewS]

Picked up my first Arboreal today, an Avicularia Metallica. Was at the reptile show here in Mars looking over the specimens Steve @ spiderguys had there. I had owned two terrestrials before and never handled a T in my life until today.

Steve really coaxed me out of my 'handling shell' today when I saw how calm this one was. And I chose this one because she honestly seemed like she wanted to come home with me Shes about a 3.5" right now and expected to molt soon. I will have pictures up when she get's into her modified terrarium tomorrow night.

This is a beautiful T, and I'm sure just a begining to Arboreals. Despite what I've read about this particular one being mostly skittish, very fast, and not usually liking human skin, she is an ABSOLUTE sweetheart! I have honestly never seen a T this calm, cool, and collected. With a gentle prod she comes slowly out of her keeper and into my hand. She walks very slowly and carefully on my skin and after a minute she will rest comfortably in my palm.

This T is so damn sweet, I seriously think I'm naming her 'Peanut' !! Totally blew my mind how chillaxed this spider is. She had to come home with me and I am going to spoil her absolutely rotten! Although it is understood there is always a risk with even the most docile, this particular girl is just plain calm. It's like a T on Valium.. With any luck, she'll never change.

Can't exactly say the same thing about the massive Goliath they had there.. I was interested until the lid came off.. NO... I didn't seem to matter how carefully you turned the container, she would ruffle around to face off with you and never turned her back! I was under the impression she was going to make a run at someone.

They also has a some black asian species there that reared and flared as soon as the lid came off and didn't stand down for 5 minutes. I can't remember the name of it but I do remember one them them saying not much was documented about it yet, so the behaviour is still being learned. Anyone know this one? Scary little bastard! I wouldn't take that thing home if they paid me!

I'll get some pics up when shes at home. Just wanted to share.

- Matt

 

[VESPidA]

aww nice... congrats! docile little beauties are the best... enjoy spoiling her silly

 

[satanslilhelper]

Congrats, on the A. Metallica. I just got my first one 3 days ago and it's just a little sling. The black asian species sounds like what I picked up from a lps the other day. The same thing happened. I lifted the lid off and was greeted by the best threat pose I have ever seen. I reached in to show the employee that the sponge should be taken out and to leave the water in the water bowl instead and it started swatting at the air. Needless to say, I was very impressed and brought it home where it has chilled out for the most part.

 

[Shrike]

Congrats! I think A. metallica look fantastic. I love the genus Avicularia for exactly the reasons you stated. I've got a metallica myself but would really like to get a couple more. A. Versicolor and A.minatrix are high on my want list.

 

[MatthewS]

Thanks guys! (and gals!)

As promised, some pics of her new/temporary home. Because she was an 'impulse buy' at the moment (I was looking at T's, just didn't expect to buy here right then and there) I had to fashion something for her.

I took an old ten gallow aquarium, some lexan carbonate, piano hinge, tumbler lock, silicone and a few hours time to make this for her. I plan a much more elaborate setup for her in the future but my main concern was getting her a place to molt as thats the current suspicion right now. The tree branch was washed after the lose bark was pulled, and then baked @ 350 to kill anything in it. It was laying in the yard and ya can't beat free! I placed it so she should find the split and the back half is about 2.5" from the glass at the widest point. She should find this to be a good safe place to make her molt web. At least thats my intention.

Feel free to comment or ask questions. I'll try and get a spread pic later as she was making her way towards the door when I was trying to get one of her. You will notice I have a curious cat in the picture thus the added security and care. I would have held her for one, but it's too hard for me to snap a stable pic with one hand, my camera takes goods pictures but doesn't have 'tremor reduction' and I have a standing tremor, always have.

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- Matt

 

[MatthewS]

More pics!

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Her official name is 'Peanut'

- Matt

 

[gecko_keeper/KBfauna]

Very nice. I got my A. metallica last year and she very docile.

 

[VESPidA]

wow, that's a great setup, let alone a temporary one! where in the burgh are you?

 

[MaThEwMoNsTr323]

great choice! both tarantula & cage. awesome job. :clap:

 

[MatthewS]

wow, that's a great setup, let alone a temporary one! where in the burgh are you?

Thanks Laura. I actually made a few changes too. She started to web a home from the top left to the corner and couldn't manage to stick to the glass well enough. She actuall fell twice in her attempts to get the webbing from the branch to the glass. I felt bad for her and went out to HellCo for a digital temp/humidity monitor (on sale, 9.99 and picked her up a couple more pieces to complete the cage for her own sake.

Right now she has a corner retreat and at least SIX possible spots for a home/moult area. I took some pics, but it's hard to tell the depth in the pics. I arranged everything so it was spaced to give her the most spots and the least fall risk. I know these ones can take a small fall, but shes my little peanut So I gotta make her feel safe. I'm going to attach the pics below, shes a camera ham!

But right now I need to leave her be. Shes been fasting and her abdomens dark. Shes currently and slowly pacing every piece and leaving some silk behind so I know shes feeling it all out and hope she starts on her master webbing soon. The humidity with the still wet substrate is about 85% (I read they like it around 80%) and the temp is about 75.6 F. She should be happier than a pig in shit right now. Hopefully I'm doing this right!

I'm in the North Hills BTW.

great choice! both tarantula & cage. awesome job. :clap:

Thanks man! See above for more details.


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- Matt