Rehousing my female OBT!!!

[Arachnophobphile]

Yeah I wasn't to sure about this but I'd never use anything like that for a mix in my substrate. But I was thinking that since it's recommended to use cedar in bedding for things like pups and stuff because of it being a natural repellent for fleas this would not be a good idea.

Yes that's what makes not just cedar but anything coniferous toxic to T's. What alot of new keepers miss is the hides.

I've seen many keepers just starting out make the mistake of using a cedar hide. The kind you see in reptiles enclosures.

Cedar and Pine are the most toxic to tarantulas.

 

[Tbone192]

Okay got her in. She immediately darted up the lid of her new enclosure, tried gently nudging her but she was totally paralyzed with fear, the poor thing. I had to physically pick her up gently and place her in the enclosure. She scrambled to the lid again while I was closing it and the tips of 2 of her legs got pinched, I noticed before fully locking the lid. I didn't see any damage but she immediately ran into the starter burrow. I feel terrible about the whole ordeal. She was a sweety the whole time never once threat posed. Will she be okay? Surely this is something that can be fixed with a molt no?

I was trying to be as careful as possible. No sudden movements and checking her location constantly. I just hope she is okay and can adjust to her new home.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Okay got her in. She immediately darted up the lid of her new enclosure, tried gently nudging her but she was totally paralyzed with fear, the poor thing. I had to physically pick her up gently and place her in the enclosure. She scrambled to the lid again while I was closing it and the tips of 2 of her legs got pinched, I noticed before fully locking the lid. I didn't see any damage but she immediately ran into the starter burrow. I feel terrible about the whole ordeal. She was a sweety the whole time never once threat posed. Will she be okay? Surely this is something that can be fixed with a molt no?

I was trying to be as careful as possible. No sudden movements and checking her location constantly. I just hope she is okay and can adjust to her new home.

If any of her legs got damaged molting will take care of it. I would try to inspect for any hemolymph that might be leaking. If you do see leaking cornstarch can be applied to stop it.

This an OBT right? They have a very painful bite. Make sure your T and you are safe if cornstarch is necessary.

 

[Tbone192]

If any of her legs got damaged molting will take care of it. I would try to inspect for any hemolymph that might be leaking. If you do see leaking cornstarch can be applied to stop it.

This an OBT right? They have a very painful bite. Make sure your T and you are safe if cornstarch is necessary.

Yes she is an OBT if I have to do any starching I will take your warning gladly. I will only act with the utmost care. I honestly did not know she climb back to the lid, so quickly.

I was very careful with her and only picked her up as a last resort, I left her for an hour and then tried every manner of gentle coaxing. She would not move at all. All I could do was gently grab between the second and third set of legs and place her in the enclosure. She was surprisingly really good about it.

Didn't see any hemolymph so I have put her enclosure somewhere quiet and dark. I will take a look at her again tomorrow. Don't want to stress her out any more than I have.

In the picture you can see I try to move her over the plant so she could wander in. She initially run into the new enclosure, out of it, and then on to the lid. She was just totally frozen there on that lid, would not move for Moses.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Yes she is an OBT if I have to do any starching I will take your warning gladly. I will only act with the utmost care. I honestly did not know she climb back to the lid, so quickly.

I was very careful with her and only picked her up as a last resort, I left her for an hour and then tried every manner of gentle coaxing. She would not move at all. All I could do was gently grab between the second and third set of legs and place her in the enclosure. She was surprisingly really good about it.

Didn't see any hemolymph so I have put her enclosure somewhere quiet and dark. I will take a look at her again tomorrow. Don't want to stress her out any more than I have.

In the picture you can see I try to move her over the plant so she could wander in. She initially run into the new enclosure, out of it, and then on to the lid. She was just totally frozen there on that lid, would not move for Moses.

Accidents do happen and most of us don't want to harm our T's. I never met any human that never made a mistake.

Sometimes something can go wrong that we were unprepared for. Her behavior is nothing out of the ordinary. I find cupping then transporting the T to the new enclosure the most effective.

I place the cup over the new burrow and gently prod and in they go.

OW's can go from a resting position in their enclosure to instantly out of it, sometimes on the keeper. It only takes one bite to never take risk again.

Speaking of which I have several NW's that'll do the same at least teleport out of their enclosure.

 

[ladyratri]

When my versicolor was little, it got kind of "stuck" like that during a rehouse. I ended up more or less using my paint brush as a shovel to physically move it into/out of the catch cup.

It's worth having a variety of different tools and strategies ready so you can adjust your plan as you go.

 

[Tbone192]

I thought I was doing alright. Here is methods and materials for reference.

Catch cup - 16 oz deli cup
Nudging stick - dried grass and long wood skewer stick
Paintbrush - long one
Bathtub, drain closed - flour around rim
Forceps - large

Placed both enclosure in bathtub and close drain. I placed her old enclosure into the new one. I gently nudged her out with the stick. She runs into new enclosure and then onto lid corner which was up against new enclosure, this is where it went sideways. She froze up there and would not move. I adjust the lid so she can just wander into new enclosure. I leave her for just over an hour. I come back she is still there. I try various tools to nudge. Can't get a catch cup on her cause she is on the corner, I tried. Another hour has passed so I gently nudge with finger, no response. So I grab, with my thumb and index, between her 3rd and 4th legs on either side. Then I slowly lifted her off and into new enclosure. This is all okay but very nerve raking. She did not struggle at all, just let me do my thing and then she only goes crazy when in enclosure

Keeping an eye on her I move the lid into position and get ready to lock it when she runs up the side and back to lid as I am closing. I see the tips are between lid and enclosure lip, before fully closing lid I reopen and she runs over to the SB.

I will check on her when I am home.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I thought I was doing alright. Here is methods and materials for reference.

Catch cup - 16 oz deli cup
Nudging stick - dried grass and long wood skewer stick
Paintbrush - long one
Bathtub, drain closed - flour around rim
Forceps - large

Placed both enclosure in bathtub and close drain. I placed her old enclosure into the new one. I gently nudged her out with the stick. She runs into new enclosure and then onto lid corner which was up against new enclosure, this is where it went sideways. She froze up there and would not move. I adjust the lid so she can just wander into new enclosure. I leave her for just over an hour. I come back she is still there. I try various tools to nudge. Can't get a catch cup on her cause she is on the corner, I tried. Another hour has passed so I gently nudge with finger, no response. So I grab, with my thumb and index, between her 3rd and 4th legs on either side. Then I slowly lifted her off and into new enclosure. This is all okay but very nerve raking. She did not struggle at all, just let me do my thing and then she only goes crazy when in enclosure

Keeping an eye on her I move the lid into position and get ready to lock it when she runs up the side and back to lid as I am closing. I see the tips are between lid and enclosure lip, before fully closing lid I reopen and she runs over to the SB.

I will check on her when I am home.

It's all a learning experience. Situations don't always follow the plan.

When I rehoused my Tapinauchenius violaceus I just knew I was in for a fun time.

Over 10 minutes it took when I was planning on a few seconds. The problem was the enclosure is a front opening acrylic, no top lid.

Not the best idea for one of the fastest T's out there. Everytime I put the T in out it came and, luckily.......only did a walk about inside the giant secondary barrier container instead of teleporting all over the place and losing the T. I had scrounge up paper towels laying inside. It hid under those.

So.....over 10 minutes of in and out I finally was able to close the lid with the T safely inside on the corkbark.

 

[Tbone192]

I did not see her outside the burrow but I see some webbing so clearly she has been exploring. Going to keep an eye on her but mostly I will leave her to do her thing.

I'm hoping her legs didn't actually get injured but were just stuck. I haven't seen her to confirm whether she has autolyzed the legs or not. I also haven't seen any legs around the enclosure so there is that.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Night time with the lights off might be the best time to catch a glimpse. Maybe next feeding she might come out.

 

[Tbone192]

Still haven't seem Lara out and about but I have noticed more webbing

Think I might use a red light to check the burrow, from outside enclosure, and report back. I will do this tonight.

 

[Tbone192]

Update!

I still have not seen her outside the burrow. Doesn't look like she has added any more webbing except she has almost entirely closed off the burrow with web. This is a sign she is in pre molt yes? I will keep an eye on her.

Note:
I opened the lid very carefully, to not disturb her, and watered the enclosure a bit extra just in case she is about to molt.

 

[Smotzer]

This is a sign she is in pre molt yes

could be or it needs more time to settle in to the enclosure after rehousing. Either way it shouldnt change much, sit back and wait!!

 

[Tbone192]

Update:

Lara the OBT is absolutely fine. I saw her wandering around last night and I just fed her today. Plopped Z.morio (superworm) by the burrow and looked away for one second. *Crunch* and by time I look again, there is no worm and no spider just burrow.

 

[Tbone192]

She finally did not immediately bolt, she is looking absolutely awesome and appears in good health.