Molt

Female Aphonopelma bicoloratum molted during the night.... finally.

Molt

And the other two GBB's molted only one day later. They're on a pretty tight schedule.

Molt

First GBB molt - 7/24/11.

Hmmm... just realizing that now that we finally have a group of more than two of a species, may be a good idea to ID them with additional methods (as opposed to just male/female or bigger one/smaller one).

A. geniculata - we're here to pump, YOU UP!

I don't know why, but from time to time I'll catch my A. geniculata with a mouthful of pebbles... or a pebble rather. She just carry it around for an hour or more before setting it down and going about her business.

The only explanation I can come up with is that the pebbles are in her water dish to keep to keep her dish shallow enough for her (though I'm sure she's big enough for them to be removed now that she's grown quite a bit). I may leave one or two in there for her though, as I'd hate to take away her favorite toy! Lol.


~ B. Percha

The GBB's Are Here! The GBB's Are Here!

We've been checking the local reptile show for GBB's (Green Bottle Blue Tarantulas - Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) for MONTHS now. This past month we were out of town and wouldn't you know it - they finally show up. We got in touch with one of the dealers from the show and were able to meet him and pick up a few of the eight he had left.

They're just teeny slings now (1/2"), but are relatively quick growers attaining a maximum size of about 6". These are part of our developing breeding projects.


~ B. Percha

Latest Molts:

Grammostola pulchra (our new little male) - sometime last week. (We were out of town.)
Avicularia amazonica - 7/14/11.

Zippity do daAAAHHHHHHH!!!

I finally got around to really checking out the OBT. She's been eating well and has had time to adjust. I wanted to get a good photo of her, and have been too nervous to remove the lid to her container. I closed up the door to our T room, got the camera ready and an extra deli cup in case she got loose. I cracked the lid to her container and lightly prodded her. She just crouched. So I touched her again just trying to get her to step forward and spread out a bit. Again, she seems to be a lot more mellow than I expected.

After a little prodding and moving of the lid I got her to start walking around her container. Snapped a pic here and there. It was going pretty well. Then I think I got a bit too comfortable. I opened the lid a bit wider, got some good clear shots, then she turned and zipped over the edge of the container, across the desk and flew superman-style to the floor. I grabbed the deli cup and went for her, trembling. She kept dodging me and trying to go behind the filing cabinet, at which point I continually blocked her with a large manilla envelope - but each time she would climb over, coming close to my hand and I'd drop it. Finally she scrambled up the wall a bit and I was able to get her in the deli container. Whew. But now what? Transferring her from the small deli cup to her larger deli-style contianer was the most nerve wracking part I think. Lol, in the end I got her back safe and sound, with a new respect for her speed and agility.

And, I got my photo. :)


She has since been moved into a critter-keeper. Much easier to access her enclosure for water, maintenance, etc. without her getting out.

~ B. Percha