New to the hobby - juvenile arizona blonde

[AliceTheBlondie]

Hi all,

I brought home an unsexed juvenile arizona blonde tarantula yesterday. I'm new to this hobby and admitting she was an impulse buy which I can understand isn't the best situation.

With that in mind, I am now just wondering if there is anything major I need to know.

I know to avoid handling, which I will try to do at all costs as the risk isn't worth it to my 8 legged friend. I did handle her to put her into her new home which I then realised is a big no,no. So really I'm just trying to avoid any major mistakes that newbies tend to do.

Also, I used spiderlife for the substrate but noticed there are quite a lot of little bugs in it. Should I be concerned?

Thank you and here is a photo of Alice (I'm just going with a female name because why not) and this photo was taken of me holding her to put her into her new home before I realised it should be avoided.

 

[Smotzer]

For this species the substrate should be predominantly dry. Your substrate looks kinda moist or also maybe just dark. Pretty much keep it dry with a water dish and a partially buried hide. Pretty simple.

by little bugs do you mean springtails?

 

[NMTs]

Hi all,

I brought home an unsexed juvenile arizona blonde tarantula yesterday. I'm new to this hobby and admitting she was an impulse buy which I can understand isn't the best situation.

With that in mind, I am now just wondering if there is anything major I need to know.

I know to avoid handling, which I will try to do at all costs as the risk isn't worth it to my 8 legged friend. I did handle her to put her into her new home which I then realised is a big no,no. So really I'm just trying to avoid any major mistakes that newbies tend to do.

Also, I used spiderlife for the substrate but noticed there are quite a lot of little bugs in it. Should I be concerned?

Thank you and here is a photo of Alice (I'm just going with a female name because why not) and this photo was taken of me holding her to put her into her new home before I realised it should be avoided.

Use the search function on this site to look up "Aphonopelma chalcodes care" and you should find plenty of threads with good info about keeping them. Always use the scientific name when talking or writing about it to avoid confusion.

I will suggest that you feed it sparingly - that is already a very plump T, and if you feed it too much/too often right off the bat, it will stop eating altogether and you'll make one of those "My new T won't eat - help!" posts on here we see all the time. They have slow metabolism and growth rates (one reason they will live for 30+ years), so only need to be fed every couple weeks.

Welcome to the hobby. Let us know when you get your next one!

 

[AliceTheBlondie]

For this species the substrate should be predominantly dry. Your substrate looks kinda moist or also maybe just dark. Pretty much keep it dry with a water dish and a partially buried hide. Pretty simple.

by little bugs do you mean springtails?

The substrate was a little damp, it has dried out now nicely.

They could be springtails. They look like really small ants, I will try and get a photo of them if I can x

Use the search function on this site to look up "Aphonopelma chalcodes care" and you should find plenty of threads with good info about keeping them. Always use the scientific name when talking or writing about it to avoid confusion.

I will suggest that you feed it sparingly - that is already a very plump T, and if you feed it too much/too often right off the bat, it will stop eating altogether and you'll make one of those "My new T won't eat - help!" posts on here we see all the time. They have slow metabolism and growth rates (one reason they will live for 30+ years), so only need to be fed every couple weeks.

Welcome to the hobby. Let us know when you get your next one!

Thank you, how often and how much would you suggest to feed her?

She seems quite content in her new hide but it's all very new. I'm trying to catch up with lots of YouTube videos but some of the content is over a decade old and I'm unsure if it's even relevant.

Thank you again, they're so interesting to watch and she's a real beauty xx

 

[Smotzer]

The substrate was a little damp, it has dried out now nicely.

They could be springtails. They look like really small ants, I will try and get a photo of them if I can x

Okay great!

ohhh ants…..hrmmm. What color are they? Most springtails appear white. And yea please get a photo. I really hope their not ants.

 

[viper69]

Read everything you can find on AB about Ts

 

[AliceTheBlondie]

Okay great!

ohhh ants…..hrmmm. What color are they? Most springtails appear white. And yea please get a photo. I really hope their not ants.

Thankfully, after having another check I don't think they're ants.

I tried to get a photo but they're too small. They appear to be very little, brown insects, they definitely do not look white.

 

[Manny]

@AliceTheBlondie I’d ditch that substrate if I were you. Little unidentifiable bugs are a no no.

 

[AliceTheBlondie]

I've just managed to get a photo of one of them and this does look like an ant! What do I do?

I'm now terrified for the spider, shall I remove her from the tub?

@AliceTheBlondie I’d ditch that substrate if I were you. Little unidentifiable bugs are a no no.

I'll go and buy a new substrate tomorrow, do you have any recommendations?

 

[Smotzer]

Yes replace immediately!! Use plain topsoil for filling holes, coco fiber or peat moss. Just make sure whatever you use has no additives, fertilizers, or chemicals.

 

[UtilityTurkey]

Congrats on the new friend, this species is pretty chill. There's lots of information on them, but mainly dry substrate with a water dish and don't overfeed.


This animal comes from a harsh environment where it doesn't rain often and there isn't an abundance of food so they're hardy and resistant to drought and food shortage; consequently they have a slow metabolism and take forever to grow. It's easy to overfeed them. Just make sure the water dish is full.

I wouldn't worry about spring tails in substrate. Ants are a big nono though. I might be forgetting something but I've typed this out and need to leave and run some errands. Just read up on them and check different sources. Try to avoid really old information. Enjoy your new buddy.

 

[AliceTheBlondie]

I haven't got that here right now, I've just ordered some to arrive tomorrow.

What shall I do now? Shall I remove it all and leave her in an empty container xx

Congrats on the new friend, this species is pretty chill. There's lots of information on them, but mainly dry substrate with a water dish and don't overfeed.


This animal comes from a harsh environment where it doesn't rain often and there isn't an abundance of food so they're hardy and resistant to drought and food shortage; consequently they have a slow metabolism and take forever to grow. It's easy to overfeed them. Just make sure the water dish is full.

I wouldn't worry about spring tails in substrate. Ants are a big nono though. I might be forgetting something but I've typed this out and need to leave and run some errands. Just read up on them and check different sources. Try to avoid really old information. Enjoy your new buddy.

Thank you so much, I haven't stopped worrying about her. Especially since I've found the ants.

I've emptied her tub now to remove the ants but the substrate isn't coming till tomorrow. Will she be OK without substrate for one day? I feel truly awful for her and so so guilty.

 

[Manny]

@AliceTheBlondie everything will be ok. Place her in a very dark area of a dark room or very well ventilated closet for 1 day. This does 2 things, keep her nice, safe, and in the dark with nothing to spook her. The other thing it does is, it gets her out of your line of sight. By staring at her, you’re paranoia will kick up with anything it does. It’s beginners anxiety and we’ve all experienced it when we first started out. Good luck

 

[NMTs]

I've just managed to get a photo of one of them and this does look like an ant! What do I do?

I'm now terrified for the spider, shall I remove her from the tub?

The important thing is to figure out where those ants came from. If they were in the substrate when you got it, then replacing the sub will solve the problem, but if they're coming from outside the enclosure you'll end up with them again even with new sub.

Thank you, how often and how much would you suggest to feed her?

I think you would be fine feeding it one large cricket, meal worm, or other equivalent feeder around every 10 days. Just know that if it refuses food, there's no reason at all to panic - just wait another 7-10 days and try again. It's not unheard of for these to not eat for 6 months or longer!

 

[AliceTheBlondie]

The important thing is to figure out where those ants came from. If they were in the substrate when you got it, then replacing the sub will solve the problem, but if they're coming from outside the enclosure you'll end up with them again even with new sub.



I think you would be fine feeding it one large cricket, meal worm, or other equivalent feeder around every 10 days. Just know that if it refuses food, there's no reason at all to panic - just wait another 7-10 days and try again. It's not unheard of for these to not eat for 6 months or longer!

They came from the new substrate, so fingers crossed that should be the end of it.

Thank you, yeah I won't panic. My royal python can go a long time without eating, it sounds like they operate in a similar fashion.

@AliceTheBlondie everything will be ok. Place her in a very dark area of a dark room or very well ventilated closet for 1 day. This does 2 things, keep her nice, safe, and in the dark with nothing to spook her. The other thing it does is, it gets her out of your line of sight. By staring at her, you’re paranoia will kick up with anything it does. It’s beginners anxiety and we’ve all experienced it when we first started out. Good luck

Thank you, I've put her in a nice ventilated dark spot of the house. I've had to stop watching her or ill worry myself sick.

Thank you for all your help and your kindness x

 

[Dry Desert]

Thank you, I've put her in a nice ventilated dark spot of the house. I've had to stop watching her or ill worry myself sick.

Thank you for all your help and
on a refund your kindness x

If your spiderlife came in a sealed bag, inform the dealer and insist on a refund, telling them you have photos of the ants if they require proof.

 

[AliceTheBlondie]

If your spiderlife came in a sealed bag, inform the dealer and insist on a refund, telling them you have photos of the ants if they require proof.

I'll let them know on Tuesday. I don't know if they will give a refund because perhaps its just one of these things?

Saying that though, I also bought substrate from them that I found was covered in mites

 

[Dry Desert]

I'll let them know on Tuesday. I don't know if they will give a refund because perhaps its just one of these things?

Saying that though, I also bought substrate from them that I found was covered in mites

Just one of those things won't cook it.
Tell them their product was not fit for purpose and they have a legal obligation to make sure what they sell is fit for purpose.
Also add that the fact the substrate was full of ants would have been the death of any inverts you used the substrate for.

Don't let them get away with crappy shop excuses.

 

[AliceTheBlondie]

I've got new substrate and she's finally able to start settling in safely in her tub.

Thank you all for your help, you've been wonderful!

 

[Matt Man]

Congrats, and Aliced is a sub adult, it is bigger than juvenile and quite healthy.
Feed it 1 cricket 1 x a week. If you overfeed a Chalcodes they go on LONG fasts
Keep the soil dry and have a water dish. I use a mix of Coco Fibre (fine), generic topsoil, and peat. They can do fine with just one of them.
Do very little, they are quite easy to take care of.
Welcome to the hobby. I have 2 Chalcodes and am quite fond of them