smof's shots

[smof]

Hey all. Thought I'd start one of these, so I can keep track of my pics better

Some recent shots of my G. aureostriata:

And munching down:

 

[smof]

And my others,

B. emilia:

P. murinus:

These 2 I've posted ages ago but I cleared them a bit better

C. cyaneopubescens:

B. smithi

That's all for now. I will try and get some new pics of my GBB, emilia and smithi soon.

 

[MRL]

Smof those are some pretty good shots, what do ya need a new cam for!!

 

[smof]

BETTER shots

 

[xgrafcorex]

haha yea they look pretty good from here. you're lucky to get such a good shot of your gbb. after mine found the burrow i made for it, i have only been able to see its little orange legs and black feet stick out. and if i open the lid to get a decent shot, it hides.

 

[Ewok]

Those are nice pics, how big is your GBB? Oh I was wondering too, why do you use insulating styrofoam in your chaco's cage ?

 

[xgrafcorex]

thats the backing that comes with exo terras. i think its removable (velcro?) but i've never tried taking it out.

 

[smof]

Those are nice pics, how big is your GBB? Oh I was wondering too, why do you use insulating styrofoam in your chaco's cage ?

Thanks. My GBB is about 0.75" from tip of leg 1 to leg 4.

The styrofoam is a backing made to look like rock, it comes with the tank. I think it's so you can put heat mats behind it and conceal them. You can take it out, it just slots in, but my Chaco likes to climb and has trouble sticking to glass so I'm gonna leave it in for him

xgrafcorex, my GBB doesn't have a burrow. He's kind of built the substrate in his vial up on one side. Not sure why, but he likes to sit on it. I can always see him ;P

 

[smof]

Two more of Hubert. I've heard emilias are generally shy/skittish, but this little guy seems pretty chilled, especially recently. It's nearly always out of its hide and very calm about me moving the deli cup around and taking the lid off. Makes for easy photos. It's super dark and not eating at the moment, so hopefully it'll moult soon. Fingers crossed it's a girl cos so far my only 2 confirmed sex Ts are boys.

 

[smof]

My GBB, Super Hans, with a meal This guy LOVES food. The speed it jumps on crickets when I drop them in its vial is amazing.

In most of these pics you can see it has mites. They irritate me but I don't think they're harming the T. I tried changing the substrate and not feeding him for ages to see if they would go, but it didn't work. My aureostriata also had mites and only got rid of them by moulting. So now I've changed tactic and am going to power feed the GBB, just until he moults and gets rid of the mites. He seems very happy with this plan!

 

[xgrafcorex]

looks nice. can see a little greenish on the legs there. i guess they get that once a tad larger...mine still looks pretty black there. at first i was having trouble seeing those mites..are they between the chelicerae close to the eyes??

 

[smof]

looks nice. can see a little greenish on the legs there. i guess they get that once a tad larger...mine still looks pretty black there. at first i was having trouble seeing those mites..are they between the chelicerae close to the eyes??

Yep. Little bastards :evil:

 

[dzony]

That G. aureostriata is just too much :drool:
I have to say thats the best looking individual G.A. I've ever seen. Definately on my wish list.

 

[smof]

That G. aureostriata is just too much :drool:
I have to say thats the best looking individual G.A. I've ever seen. Definately on my wish list.

Thankyou! He looked nice when I got him, but since he moulted he's developed a gold shine to his carapce and a pinkish tinge overall and he looks really beautiful now. Hopefully another moult and he will get some really rich colour in his stripes.

He's an adorable guy, very calm, brilliant eater and quite active compared to my others. I definitely endorse a Chaco on your wish list

 

[smof]

Smithers my B. smithi. I woke up today and checked on him like I always do. Found him eating, which is the first time I've seen him do anything since about Christmas So of course I grabbed the camera

 

[smof]

More exciting progress. Today is the first day for about 7 weeks that my smithi was out his hide. And not only that but he didn't bolt back in the second I came close to the tank. In fact he sat there totally calm while I took the lid off and got a couple of photos. And now he's munching on a cricket, my way of saying thanks He must be feeling good in his new suit.

So, 2 more of Smithers:

 

[Arlius]

Hey smof, I would seriously consider doing something more about those mites. I and many people have lost T's to mites. Best suggestion would be to get predatory mites (Hyoaspis Miles)
Also, GBBs like it bone dry, with a water dish filled occasionally. So it shouldn't have got the mites in the first place, it must have been humid...

For future reference though, mites are unlikely in a dry enclosure, as well as pinheads/mold/other nasties.

 

[smof]

The GBB is on bone dry substrate as are all my Ts. These mites came from a batch of crickets. I now get my crix from a different shop and have had no further problems.

From what I have read and gathered from other people these patricular mites do not harm the spider like the ones you find on the carapace, they feed on dead remains. My aureostriata and emilia both had them as well. I managed to get rid of the emilia's by not feeding him for a few weeks (he was already on dry substrate). The aureo's I couldn't shift but he lost them when he moulted.

I have tried changing the substrate and I always keep it dry. I tried not feeding the GBB and the mites didn't go. As they aren't harming the spider I don't want to stress it out and risk losing/hurting it by trying to remove them myself. I figure when he moults he will lose them, same as my Chaco. If they start to look like they're affecting his health I may try more but I'd rather leave him alone as long as he is eating, healthy and active, which he is

 

[bananaman]

:clap: beautiful T's you got there! congrats...

ps. I need... B.smithi... now!

 

[Crunchie]

First of all lovely photos of some fantastic looking spiders!:clap:

Regarding the mites on your GBB, my young GBB had mites there as well when I got her. I let the substrate dry out and when she moulted I chucked it all out and put her on fresh stuff (dry of course). That worked well and now I have no more mites!