Got my first T! Best birthday present ever! Am I doing things right?

[SonOfSerket]

My partner was adamant about getting me a birthday present other than the coffee table that he got me more for himself so he could stop hounding me about not having a coffee table, so I finally decided on my first tarantula. My local Petco had a pretty diverse selection available (a Tlitlocatl kahlenbergi, two Tlitlocatl verdezi, a Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, and a Brachypelma auratum). I've really entertained the idea of getting my first T forever, but have always been particularly drawn to arboreals, especially Caribena versicolor, as a little one-inch metallic cookie monster juvenile of that species is the only one I've ever held (which promptly got spooked, projectile pooped and webbed on my arm, and ran up my face), but something about the flame-knee just kept calling to me. I had been doing my research for weeks, and despite the urticating hairs, I decided that I really wanted this to be my first baby...if it had not already been sold.

When my birthday actually rolled around, he/she was still there, so now I am their proud owner! I've already started a breeding colony of dubia roaches, and this babe is a VERY good eater. After letting them get settled into the new enclosure for a couple of days, I gave them a rather large female dubia, which they promptly POUNCED on, and proceeded to drain all day. Their abdomen was in my opinion a bit on the skimpy side, so I offered another large dubia the next day, which they promptly also captured and ate with gusto. The new kiddo is currently about 4.5" diagonal leg span, and does not have tibial hooks or emboli, but I know they still have some growing to do. I'm really looking forward to (but also super nervous about) their first molt in my care so I can (hopefully) sex them. The employee said that they molted twice while at the store, but both times, the abdominal region of the molt was too shredded to confidently sex. They also stated that the last molt was approximately a month ago, and the previous one, about a month before that. Does that seem accurate? For a newbie, can anyone give me any rough ideas about when to expect their next molt?

At any rate, I am already totally in love. This little one is already displaying a very clear personality of being mostly shy/reclusive (mostly hanging out under their hide, with their body up against one side, I assume for safety), to two recent cases of the zoomies (once when I was trying to remove the dubia carcasses to prevent mold...they had webbed one to the substrate, and ran over like "MINE!" when I tried to remove that one, and another when I think spooked them when I turned on my office light while they were out in the open...they then ran around a LOT). Does this seem normal? I am already the obsessed parent worried about whether I am doing everything correctly for this sweet baboo. Also, as much as I WANT to, I feel that reducing or NOT handling is probably the safest/kindest in the interest of the baby. Any thoughts there, as well?

I'm also super excited that my previously VERY arachnophobic/entomophobic partner held them in the deli cup on the way to my office, and even remarked on how cute/fuzzy they were, and the little "paws." I'm slowly rubbing off on them, in a less insidious way than urticating hairs. LOL

 

[viper69]

Handling a T is the best way to KILL THEM!!!!!!!

If you cannot control your urges to put the animal’s life in danger due to handling, give it away, and get a dog!

 

[Mustafa67]

My partner was adamant about getting me a birthday present other than the coffee table that he got me more for himself so he could stop hounding me about not having a coffee table, so I finally decided on my first tarantula. My local Petco had a pretty diverse selection available (a Tlitlocatl kahlenbergi, two Tlitlocatl verdezi, a Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, and a Brachypelma auratum). I've really entertained the idea of getting my first T forever, but have always been particularly drawn to arboreals, especially Caribena versicolor, as a little one-inch metallic cookie monster juvenile of that species is the only one I've ever held (which promptly got spooked, projectile pooped and webbed on my arm, and ran up my face), but something about the flame-knee just kept calling to me. I had been doing my research for weeks, and despite the urticating hairs, I decided that I really wanted this to be my first baby...if it had not already been sold.

When my birthday actually rolled around, he/she was still there, so now I am their proud owner! I've already started a breeding colony of dubia roaches, and this babe is a VERY good eater. After letting them get settled into the new enclosure for a couple of days, I gave them a rather large female dubia, which they promptly POUNCED on, and proceeded to drain all day. Their abdomen was in my opinion a bit on the skimpy side, so I offered another large dubia the next day, which they promptly also captured and ate with gusto. The new kiddo is currently about 4.5" diagonal leg span, and does not have tibial hooks or emboli, but I know they still have some growing to do. I'm really looking forward to (but also super nervous about) their first molt in my care so I can (hopefully) sex them. The employee said that they molted twice while at the store, but both times, the abdominal region of the molt was too shredded to confidently sex. They also stated that the last molt was approximately a month ago, and the previous one, about a month before that. Does that seem accurate? For a newbie, can anyone give me any rough ideas about when to expect their next molt?

At any rate, I am already totally in love. This little one is already displaying a very clear personality of being mostly shy/reclusive (mostly hanging out under their hide, with their body up against one side, I assume for safety), to two recent cases of the zoomies (once when I was trying to remove the dubia carcasses to prevent mold...they had webbed one to the substrate, and ran over like "MINE!" when I tried to remove that one, and another when I think spooked them when I turned on my office light while they were out in the open...they then ran around a LOT). Does this seem normal? I am already the obsessed parent worried about whether I am doing everything correctly for this sweet baboo. Also, as much as I WANT to, I feel that reducing or NOT handling is probably the safest/kindest in the interest of the baby. Any thoughts there, as well?

I'm also super excited that my previously VERY arachnophobic/entomophobic partner held them in the deli cup on the way to my office, and even remarked on how cute/fuzzy they were, and the little "paws." I'm slowly rubbing off on them, in a less insidious way than urticating hairs. LOL

What’s the question?

 

[ladyratri]

The new kiddo is currently about 4.5" diagonal leg span, and does not have tibial hooks or emboli, but I know they still have some growing to do. I'm really looking forward to (but also super nervous about) their first molt in my care so I can (hopefully) sex them. The employee said that they molted twice while at the store, but both times, the abdominal region of the molt was too shredded to confidently sex. They also stated that the last molt was approximately a month ago, and the previous one, about a month before that. Does that seem accurate?

No.

For a newbie, can anyone give me any rough ideas about when to expect their next molt?

No.

Joking aside...how long it will be between molts depends on many factors, mostly based on environment and your care. Give you say "flame knee" I am assuming you're talking about the B. auratum. Even my fast-growing 1" slings don't molt two months in a row...I promise this adult or nearly adult sized brachy did not molt two months in a row. It probably hid the exuviae and then kicked out the trash later and they just assumed it molted again.

The best thing you can do to get help/advice here and make sure you're on the right track is post a couple clear photos of your T and as well as its entire enclosure. This can get you feedback on whether its abdomen is actually skimpy or not (it can easily become overfed potentially pretty fast and then hide away for months and months...and......months......... until it molts some time in 2026). Also folks will offer feedback on your enclosure setup e.g. whether there's enough substrate to keep it safe from falling hazards, appropriate hide, water dish/moisture level etc.

Don't be nervous about it molting...it's been doing that its whole life, and knows what it's doing. Reminder: spiders know how to spider way better than humans do.

I mostly keep arboreals, with the exception of two Grammostola, so don't have much detailed feedback on a Brachypelma other than...lol no, they do not grow that quickly .

Welcome to AB!

 

[fcat]

If it is male, you have a ways to go. My male was a wee bit over 6 inches before he molted, now he hangs off my 6" ruler and STILL hasn't matured.

I would've fought you in the store for this beloved creature. To know you are going to handle it would make me so sad for that creature.

In my opinion and limited experience so far, I do own them all but have only spent a few years with them, I find these to be the fastest growing Brachypelma. Molting within 6 months would surprise me, I know they can shorten the period until the next molt to repair injuries. A month I find incredible. If that is true, assume you have a barely recovering tarantula that just weighed surving another molt over surviving whatever was wrong.

If you think we are harsh, the British Tarantula Society have imposed an instaban on one of their adjunct pages for anyone dumb enough to advertise they handle their Ts. But don't worry I think I'm the only one mean enough to want to recommend OW as a first T out of spite. Everyone here puts T safety first.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

T’s abdomens are very fragile. A short fall can kill them. Please don’t handle him/her. They are incapable of bonding with you and get nothing out of the experience. Please post pics of your set up. Everyone here wants all T’s to have safe homes and to assist keepers in dialing in their husbandry by sharing their years (some decades) of experience. Welcome to the boards.

 

[SonOfSerket]

Sorry for the long hiatus before a response, all. At the time of my last post, it was right before finals, which are always hectic (both for us faculty, as well as students), and shortly after the holiday break, my family suffered a devastating loss from which we're all still recovering, and probably will be for a long time. However, I did want to pop back in and state that I do NOT have plans on handling my T, as its safety and well-being is my #1 priority. The little guy/gal is still doing quite well, though has refused to eat for a little over a month. From perusing the forums, I've seen that this is not an unusual thing, and given its previous avid feeding, I figure it will eat again when it's ready. I know I've got the temperature and humidity correct (about 75º F and 55-70% humidity), and otherwise, Tiger (the name I finally decided on) looks healthy and isn't displaying any odd behavior. After several others' comments, I've also tried to be less anxious and accept that spiders know how to spider, and it will eat and molt when it is ready. However, if anyone has any further comments/suggestions from experience they'd like to share, I'd gladly welcome them. At any rate, since I got them, Tiger mostly spends a lot of time in its hide, but does come out to explore occasionally, which is nice to see when it happens.

I have also since gotten an Asian forest scorpion, and after tons of reading the forums, as well as downloading and reading multiple monographs on revisions of Heterometrus, I feel pretty confident that my new little lady is an H. petersii. She has since settled in nicely to her new enclosure, also staying around a nice 74-77º F, with humidity kept between 75% and 85%, and seems to be doing well, and loves to spend time under her cork hide, with just the tips of her claws peeking out. She was quite defensive for the first day or so, but has seemed to mellow considerably since then. She's a very lovely (and large) gal, and her name is Kali. I'll post pictures of both Tiger and Kali soon.

Though I have had substantial experience keeping Latrodectus mactans (7 individuals over the past 15 years), it's really great to finally own my first larger, more long-lived arachnids, and I'm so looking forward to spending the next multiple years with both of my current charges, as well as to eventually branch out and expand my collection as I become more experienced, with the help of others on this forum.

I truly do thank all of you for your previous responses, and I look forward to further interaction with you, as well as gaining knowledge from your experience, as well. I hope 2025 shapes up to be a great year for all of you!

 

[SonOfSerket]

Handling a T is the best way to KILL THEM!!!!!!!

If you cannot control your urges to put the animal’s life in danger due to handling, give it away, and get a dog!

Just to be clear, I never said I was intent on handling. I said that a part of me wanted to, but that I realized that not handling is the best for the spider, which is my ultimate goal. Its safety and well-being will always outweigh any selfish thoughts of the potential of handling.