Just held my G. rosea for the first time...

[lilmoonrabbit]

I know, not a big deal for most people on here, but I wanted to share anyway, because it meant a lot to me. She's so sweet, I like her more than I even thought I would.

The other day I saw her hanging from the top of her cage (not a screen top lid, but there's a tiny lip on the top of the aquarium she can hang onto). I had originally thought I had enough substrate, but seeing her do that made me nervous, so I added another 1 1/2-2" just to be extra safe. Since I had to take her out of her enclosure, I decided I might as well handle her a little. While I don't plan to handle her much at all, I wanted to do it at least once, just to kind of connect with her.

I have a whole new appreciation for her. Having her in my hands, even if it was only for a minute, was just too cool.

I haven't seen a single possible sign of defensiveness from this little lady. She's awesome

Me coaxing her onto my hand:

My little beauty, sitting in my hands:

On her new layer of substrate after. Look at how vibrant her red setae (sp?) are:

 

[Mr. Gone]

Congratulations! She is beautiful, and you are doing everything perfectly.

your pics remind me so much of the first several times we handled our G. rosea (we rarely handle also, except in maintenance situations like yours), just in total awe of the experience. (and we still are)

You know, I have to say I really respect the way you went about your first T. Very well thought-out, and forward thinking.
The patience, maturity, and forethought you exhibited is very admirable. After doing all your homework and being patient, it sure is rewarding isn't it?

Lovely carpet by the way!

 

[curiousme]

i want to second Mr. Gone.(he's my hubby and beat me to this post!)

i respect the way you went about being a T keeper. You came to forums, did research, asked for opinions on what T to get as a beginner, followed the advice, set up the enclosure, made sure the enclosure was suitable, once again followed advice and THEN got the beautiful T. That is the correct way to go about getting a pet, knowing what you are getting into before you get the pet. It is admirable and i think you should be told that. It is sometimes frustrating to see a 'just got a new T, tell me everything about it' thread. You are not the 'typical' 'impulsive' newbie and i admire you for that.

Great job on seeing that a change needed to be made to the enclosure for the safety of your T!

Congratulations on handling it, it's a great feeling. i can't wait until our G. rosea RCF grows up! (it will be a long wait though!)

 

[lilmoonrabbit]

thank you both! Your posts mean a lot to me. I have a lot of respect for both of you and I always enjoy getting your input and reading everything you both write!

Thanks again!

 

[Ariel]

congrats. I've never really had an oppertunity to hold my B. smithi because when I got her she was really skiddish, and i haven't since tried to hold her, and my A. avic seems to refuse to climb on my hand and will walk backwards or sideways if one of his little feet touches my hand, so I've yet to have this experiance, I'll bet it was really great.

 

[Steve Calceatum]

Awesome job!!! Handling is a personal choice, and is best done how you did: With great care and respect from you towards the animal. 110% great!!! Now try a Pokie!!! J/K (actually, they aren't too bad...like a really toxic Avic suffering a weird form of shell-shock)

Just because you haven't seen any defensiveness out of your rosie, doesn't mean you won't. I've seen episodes out of my rosie and B. smithi that rivaled some of my OW's. Sometimes tarantulas have bad days too. All part of the fun in this hobby.

congrats. I've never really had an oppertunity to hold my B. smithi because when I got her she was really skiddish, and i haven't since tried to hold her, and my A. avic seems to refuse to climb on my hand and will walk backwards or sideways if one of his little feet touches my hand, so I've yet to have this experiance, I'll bet it was really great.

I just discovered this little trick for Avics the other day while trying to handle my Avic avic: Try wearing a long-sleeve shirt with the sleeves covering half of your hands. I found this old thermal shirt of mine that had thumbholes (I use it for working in the warehouse during winter), and it worked like a charm. Remember, T's have chemoreceptors in their feet, and do not really care for the taste of skin. Terrestrials don't seem to mind too much, but alot of arboreals seem to abhor flesh...especially Avics. If you can't beat 'em......do something different. Avics, for the most part, will accept compromise.

As for your smithi: get her in a cup, then out of her enclosure. Mine flips out if I try to manipulate her while she's in her enclosure. T's are completely defensive on their own turf....but when you get them out, it's a whole new scenerio.

 

[Tugbay Yagci]

perfect focusing on the ventilation holes there :clap: ;P

 

[lilmoonrabbit]

perfect focusing on the ventilation holes there :clap: ;P

haha, yeah I know, I laughed when I saw that picture.

I don't have a lot of experience with photography, so it's going to take a while before the pictures are "good" lol.

 

[lilmoonrabbit]

Just because you haven't seen any defensiveness out of your rosie, doesn't mean you won't. I've seen episodes out of my rosie and B. smithi that rivaled some of my OW's. Sometimes tarantulas have bad days too. All part of the fun in this hobby.

Yes, she may be a perfect lady now, but I am aware of how things can change. I will always respect her and keep in mind that she is, essentially, a wild animal, and should be treated as such.

 

[Tugbay Yagci]

her red tones are brilliant. happy hobbying with her.

 

[micheldied]

i want to second Mr. Gone.(he's my hubby and beat me to this post!)

i respect the way you went about being a T keeper. You came to forums, did research, asked for opinions on what T to get as a beginner, followed the advice, set up the enclosure, made sure the enclosure was suitable, once again followed advice and THEN got the beautiful T. That is the correct way to go about getting a pet, knowing what you are getting into before you get the pet. It is admirable and i think you should be told that. It is sometimes frustrating to see a 'just got a new T, tell me everything about it' thread. You are not the 'typical' 'impulsive' newbie and i admire you for that.

Great job on seeing that a change needed to be made to the enclosure for the safety of your T!

Congratulations on handling it, it's a great feeling. i can't wait until our G. rosea RCF grows up! (it will be a long wait though!)

totally agreed!
dont be like me.
i handled my rosea by accident as a sling.
she actually climbed out and on to my hand during maintenance and i didnt really know how to coax her back into her enclosure for good...

 

[biomarine2000]

You have a very nice setup. I agree with those above in that you did a great job on reasearching before you bought. I bet you will be a great owner. BTW the reason she could be climbing is because the substrate may still be damp or wet. They hate it for some reason. When it dries out she will settle in.