I got a T. blondi!

[Flower]

I put money down on a T. blondi last night that a LPS got in. The thing is HUGE! It's not even full grown!

Any tips on keeping a T. blondi? It's gonna be there until I can put down the full $100 but I want to prepare for her arrival.

 

[wedge07]

RobC has an awesome caresheet for blondi's on arachnophiles here.

 

[dougle]

Dougle

Welcome to the family of giant Ts, I purchased my first one about three weeks ago, its been feeding well , it appears to be a female subadult , she already eatin a mouse , all of it just a small ball of hair left , and she eatin Several Large Dubia roachs from my Own colony. I just moved her into a new
Ten Gallon glass tank for her new home. I made her a den with a clay flower pot covered it with eco earth and spaghnum moss. I plan on buying at least three more Blondi I love these giant spiders , I had know idea they were actually this large until I bought my first one and saw it in person.

 

[upwith inverts!]

Keep it humid, and give it an arch made out of sticks with soil behind one side so it can make a natural burrow.

 

[Dave]

Watch out for the urticating setae!

 

[tabor]

Watch out for the urticating setae!

this. also keep in mind that some of them like to lay down a carpeting of hairs mixed in with their webs, although this might just be residual hairs left over from one of her hair kicking tantrums. either way, itchy stuff! worth it though, wonderful species. get it home as soon as you can so you can be sure it's getting the proper care!

 

[Moltar]

Congrats on the blondi. You'll certainly love it.

My advice is that you use peat for substrate and not coco fiber. Although it isn't every time, coco can often have something in it that grows mold/fungus easily under moist conditions and it can happen fast. I've had a few enclosures go south in a big way from this. My 6"+ H gigas did not enjoy being dug up (again) for rehousing. Neither did 2 haplopelmas and needless to say I didn't enjoy it either.

Edit: This is exactly the stuff i'm talking about. I've never seen this happen with just peat. Never, not even ever. http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=152247

 

[EightLeggedFrea]

Congrats on the blondi. You'll certainly love it.

My advice is that you use peat for substrate and not coco fiber. Although it isn't every time, coco can often have something in it that grows mold/fungus easily under moist conditions and it can happen fast. I've had a few enclosures go south in a big way from this. My 6"+ H gigas did not enjoy being dug up (again) for rehousing. Neither did 2 haplopelmas and needless to say I didn't enjoy it either.

Edit: This is exactly the stuff i'm talking about. I've never seen this happen with just peat. Never, not even ever. http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=152247

I use coco fiber for everything tropical (my blondi's sub is a mix of peat and coco). The only time it molds is when the ventilation is too restricted/prey leftovers are missed. Otherwise I've had no problems with it.