New to the Hobby, B. Hamorii starting to set up

[444 critters]

Patience is the single best skill you can develop in this hobby

It's the worst part

 

[CentiPete]

Hey guys, finally the small one ventured out the burrow We just had to leave it alone for a week and go on holidays, and when we came back it was sitting in the bin, chillin on the substrate.
We felt it looked considerably bigger than before so I suspected a molt but I could not see any shed exo inside the enclosure, the small burrow was next to the side so I tried to shine some light inside but couldnt find anything.

To not disturb the creature I refrained from digging in the burrow and decided to just wait a couple of days and observe. The feeder locust are being gutloaded with carrots right now.

Some more photos of the little brachy, hanging out.

 

[CentiPete]

Sooo, good tarantulas come to those who wait or something
Three days after the last update the little somehow escaped the vault, maybe it wasnt shut completely, but we found the little one crawling on the barbie car two days later, chilling out like nothing happened. Put the rascal back in the vault and there it would have three baby locust over the course of a couple weeks. The bootie got quite fat and bald and what do you know two days ago I found the molted skin and a fresh looking sling next to it

It molted very nicely, no problems at all and I can now observe a drastic change in behaviour. The sling is moving fast, threatening when it sees the pipette getting too close. The colors intesified and it got beautiful long hair on its abdomen now.

I could also observe the molt webbing it made to lie down upon. We are very happy and now think about rehousing it to a bigger enclosure with some more rich environment.

 

[CentiPete]

After a week the spider has considerably grown in size, which prompted me to complete the aforementioned rehousing. I got a 12*12*20cm enclosure, roughly 25% more real estate. We decorated it a bit and offered a real hide, some moss and stuff to climb on as well as a deep bedding of reptisoil with some coconut substrate as a top layer.

It was very docile when we nudged it with a brush to leave the old enclosure, despite my fumbling a bit while doing it.



I will now give it a week before attempting to feed it. Our roaches just had some babies which are just the right size.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

After a week the spider has considerably grown in size, which prompted me to complete the aforementioned rehousing. I got a 12*12*20cm enclosure, roughly 25% more real estate. We decorated it a bit and offered a real hide, some moss and stuff to climb on as well as a deep bedding of reptisoil with some coconut substrate as a top layer.

It was very docile when we nudged it with a brush to leave the old enclosure, despite my fumbling a bit while doing it.

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I will now give it a week before attempting to feed it. Our roaches just had some babies which are just the right size.

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Looks like a nice enclosure I don’t have any acrylic ones. Happy spider !

 

[CentiPete]

Short update the spider has settled in and is checking out the enclosure and hanging out here and there. I gave a baby roach last week. I did not see it being eaten, but so far I cannot find the roach either. My guess is the roach checked out the coconut hide, and found that the owner was home

Inside the cocnut I can see the sling has dug a bit deeper into the substrate, and uses the hide whenever I need to do something around the enclosure. In all it doesnt seem to be bothered too much by anything though and today I had the opportunity to get up close with the phone to make some detailed shots of its beautiful hairs.

 

[CentiPete]

I found a recently deceased locust in my frog enclosure and decided to see if the spider could make use of the little guy, since I had read on here that slings are also known for being scavengers. I would not dare to feed this one alive as it is bigger than the sling itself.

Since I saw the sling out and about I thought I would present the meal and would you believe it after a minute it had picked it up and brought it to the roof of its coconut where it is now munching on the juicy snack!

I am stunned be the strength the spider can muster!
I am a bit unsure though, do you guys think it is okay to feed such a big meal all at once?

While I am typing this the spider starts to move the prey to its burrow to dine in peace I guess, save from prying eyes and camera lenses

 

[goofyGoober99]

I found a recently deceased locust in my frog enclosure and decided to see if the spider could make use of the little guy, since I had read on here that slings are also known for being scavengers. I would not dare to feed this one alive as it is bigger than the sling itself.

Since I saw the sling out and about I thought I would present the meal and would you believe it after a minute it had picked it up and brought it to the roof of its coconut where it is now munching on the juicy snack!

I am stunned be the strength the spider can muster!
I am a bit unsure though, do you guys think it is okay to feed such a big meal all at once?

While I am typing this the spider starts to move the prey to its burrow to dine in peace I guess, save from prying eyes and camera lenses

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That's so cute! Feeding a large meal shouldn't be a problem. It'll just be longer before you need to feed again

 

[TheraMygale]

Just to make sure, you know that molts do have urticating setae on them? I saw the picture of you holding it in your hands. I am glad your tarantula is living the good life!

also, i do not know if it is recommended to use dead feeders from another enclosure…maybe i am overthing it, but to avoid cross-contamination…

that being said, over-sized prey can affect the length of time a tarantula goes through during pre-molt. Since the locust was dead, no danger of the prey hurting the spider or the prey stressing it out. But if your spider gets many big meals, it could go through pre-molt faster and longer. I read many posts about it and experienced it myself. It is not a “dangerous” thing. It might make a person more anxious if they do not understand what is going on.

everything i said is coming from a place of kindness. I am not judging your approach, just wanted to share some insight.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I found a recently deceased locust in my frog enclosure and decided to see if the spider could make use of the little guy, since I had read on here that slings are also known for being scavengers. I would not dare to feed this one alive as it is bigger than the sling itself.

Since I saw the sling out and about I thought I would present the meal and would you believe it after a minute it had picked it up and brought it to the roof of its coconut where it is now munching on the juicy snack!

I am stunned be the strength the spider can muster!
I am a bit unsure though, do you guys think it is okay to feed such a big meal all at once?

While I am typing this the spider starts to move the prey to its burrow to dine in peace I guess, save from prying eyes and camera lenses

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Happy spider ! That’s like a steak dinner for it !..

 

[CentiPete]

And what a steak dinner it is! She is still perched atop the carcass and feeding on the juices. Look at the abdomen now!

I did some reading on Toms big spiders about the practice of power feeding and now I get what was meant by this. I am not in a hurry to grow the spider, I just felt it would be great to have somebody take care of unused feeders and if it would be possible to feed the spider on frog and lizard leftovers it would be a real win in my book.

Thanks @TheraMygalo for the advice regarding the urticating hairs, for some reason it didnt cross my mind that it might be still active on the molt. I even put the thing under the microscope and observed it with my daughter! I will definitely be much more careful about this now. Re the cross contamination, it is already too late as I introduced some of the frog substrate to establish a small colony of springtails and white isopods inside the enclosure

Best shot I could get without disturbing the animal.

 

[TheraMygale]

I am glad some of my information could be of use. Tom’s big spiders is definitely an excellent reference. I don’t think you were “power feeding” by the way. Just figured I’d add that bit of info in there about the over sized prey. I happened upon it in my many hours spent reading old threads.

the gold mine of info is dispersed in this forum. Many important stuff that does not get mentionned in “beginner introductions”. That is why I come here. To share and learn. And i love seeing people who are passionate about their tarantulas. Aka, they don’t take them for another peice of decoration in the house.

i have two B. Hamoriis. Smaller then yours I think. And they both have two different behaviors. Yet probably come from the same sac.

i did the whole molt skin under the telescope with kids aswell. It is something i wish i could have experienced as a child.

 

[CentiPete]

So after spending the weekend in its hide, today is the first time it is showing up and hanging out in front of its lair. Possibly on the lookout for the next snack? When I dripped some water it shot back under the coconut with lightning speed, only to emerge a couple minutes later, this time not as out in the open as the first time.

I have seen many different schedules for feeding, when do you guys think is the next meal due? I am planning on getting some worms for the lizard today, the frog might indulge as well. So I am planning on offering a mealworm this week or so.

Here it is, to me looks like it is scanning the neighborhood for the next juicy meal

 

[CentiPete]

Okay I am totally hooked now and I want a bigger cage for the sling! Yesterday I fed a red runner, I saw them for the first time in a local pet shop and from what I read they are good feeders.

Of course soon after I put them in the old tarantula vivarium, as I was watching a movie, I saw a little something crawling on the carpet. That one was for the frog who ate it up like chocolate! After securing the roach container in a bigger box I want ahead and dropped a roach into the spiders enclosure.

Upon opening the sling dashed into its hide and a waiting game ensued. I was sitting perfectly still for half an hour observing the hide and the roach in front of it sorting out its new environment. Carefully scanning around, drinking some out of the little pond. Cleaning its antennae. I could see some legs carefully position themselves inside the hide, moving ever so slowly as to not disturb the unwitting prey.

Anyway after half an hour I turned off the lights and only a couple minutes later when I checked the roach was gone! I was unsure if it also escaped, but upon using my flashlight I cloud spot the spider sitting in its lair, with the unconscious roach lying in the back.

Just when I started to watch, the spider turned to its prey, delivering the final bite and starting to suck from its already deceased victim.

Today the sling emerged strong and proud, showing off its enormous abdomen to all who would oblige to witness!

 

[CentiPete]

Have been feeding three Shelfordella lateralis over the last couple days, those seem to be easy to digest as the sling is sitting in front of the hide just a day later. The last two have been actively hunted in the enclosure, though they to now seem to recognize the spider and just walk right up to it. So have been blessed with some awesome feeding responses.

One thing I found peculiar is that I have been reading on the spiders having a habit to clean bolus out their hide. This one is starting a dead body collection in its lair, though.

Curious as when it will start cleaning up
Here it is munching on its dinner.

 

[CentiPete]

The sling now is a ferocious eater, hanging out in front of the hide allday waiting for food. Not hesitating to catch those red runners when it sees them approach. Feeding one every two days now until the box is empty, will switch to locust after that I guess it is capable to overpower medium sized ones by now and I am more comfortable keeping those in the house. One red runner esacped the other day and I was already scared it might lay some eggs behind the couch. Found it today lurking on the bedroom floor. Not cool, so no more pestbugs for my pets

 

[CentiPete]

We are getting fat! Been feeding a small roach a day since saturday. It demands more

 

[TheraMygale]

I want redrunners too i want local friends to trade roaches with something they need. Sigh.

does your sling do somersaults?! Mine do this amazing little somersault when they catch their prey. I love seeing it.

 

[CentiPete]

Today I was able to film a hunt for the first time. At 30fps the spider is a mere specter on the sensor. The catch took only six frames, so 0.2 seconds, with the red runner impressively able to retreat into the hide but not escaping the inevitable fangs.

 

[TheraMygale]

Today I was able to film a hunt for the first time. At 30fps the spider is a mere specter on the sensor. The catch took only six frames, so 0.2 seconds, with the red runner impressively able to retreat into the hide but not escaping the inevitable fangs.
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Incredible catch! I love it!