My first and, so far, only T is a B. smithi named Nebri (or Nebs). I got her (yes, she is 100% certified female and all of that) in December and generally she was good. I'm a fan of handling T's, but only if they do not object. Nebs typically objected with short dashes and hair kicking whenever a shadow was cast over her, though she never seemed to mind having her legs or abdomen touched if you approached her with your hand on her level, from the side, and not from overhead. So, occasionally rubbing her legs or abdomen gently and briefly (because she's so soft and fluffy) was as much handling as she got.
In April of this year she went from a cricket a week to nothing at all for two straight months. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with food nor handling/touching of any kind, and so she was left alone except for when I'd give her water.
Then she molted in June. Quickly, smoothly, and with no complications at all, and she hasn't been the same T since. Her appetite returned in force and she'll eat anything and everything whenever it is offered (I fed her a little more than once a week for the first two weeks after the molt since she hadn't fed in so long). I didn't try touching her for about three weeks since she seemed more skittish than usual. I cleaned her enclosure completely after three weeks and prodded her gently (barely touch her back legs and she gets the idea) with the blunt end of a pen into a cup like I usually do. She whirled on the pen, reared up, bared fangs and all. I ended up using a wooden spoon to get her into the cup.
When I released her back into her enclosure it was in a cyclone of urticating bristles and dashing spider.
Last night, I had to remove her small water dish because she had gotten substrate in it. When I opened the enclosure lid, she actually rushed towards me and stood in the dish. So, I got a pen and went to prod her out of the dish. Without warning or display she rushed and attacked the pen (with quite a lot of force...I was surprised at her strength).
I ended up waiting until she moved on her own and then slipped the dish out and back in again, quickly.
Has my T lost her mind? Is there any particular reason why she may have become so aggressive since the molt?
In April of this year she went from a cricket a week to nothing at all for two straight months. She wanted absolutely nothing to do with food nor handling/touching of any kind, and so she was left alone except for when I'd give her water.
Then she molted in June. Quickly, smoothly, and with no complications at all, and she hasn't been the same T since. Her appetite returned in force and she'll eat anything and everything whenever it is offered (I fed her a little more than once a week for the first two weeks after the molt since she hadn't fed in so long). I didn't try touching her for about three weeks since she seemed more skittish than usual. I cleaned her enclosure completely after three weeks and prodded her gently (barely touch her back legs and she gets the idea) with the blunt end of a pen into a cup like I usually do. She whirled on the pen, reared up, bared fangs and all. I ended up using a wooden spoon to get her into the cup.
When I released her back into her enclosure it was in a cyclone of urticating bristles and dashing spider.
Last night, I had to remove her small water dish because she had gotten substrate in it. When I opened the enclosure lid, she actually rushed towards me and stood in the dish. So, I got a pen and went to prod her out of the dish. Without warning or display she rushed and attacked the pen (with quite a lot of force...I was surprised at her strength).
I ended up waiting until she moved on her own and then slipped the dish out and back in again, quickly.Has my T lost her mind? Is there any particular reason why she may have become so aggressive since the molt?
