OMG I kind of "rescued" a tarantula-- help!

[GarterGirl]

Cool! My dad would like that. Then he wouldn't have to keep telling me not to let the cats in my room!

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

yes, that is me in that pic gartergirl. and tarantulas are surpisingly easy to breed and they have thousands of babies. (now thats granted your male doesnt screw up adn get himself eaten) that's why theres always an overabundance of slings (spiderlings). and there was no mistaking worms for spinnerettes. these were WORMS... they were eating their way out of her, and were also crawling around the tank. GROSSSSSS.

slings are nice because they can be kept in deli cups until they are about half grown. the only sad part is if you want a female you should buy a few to increase your chances of getting one.

[Charlet_2007]

actually the most I've seen a T. have is close to 400 to 500 babies not thousands lol..

also 3 slings is a good number to work with to get a female..

You can keep them in deli cups only till there leg span reaches half there room in a deli cup.. A 10g tank is all they need for the rest of their life..

Sounds like you fed it a cricket that was infested.. it also sounds like Nematodes tho...

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

i was not speaking quite as literally as you took some of the stuff i said to be lol! i know they dont literally have thousands. but there are still a lot. I always buy five little ones in hopes of a female. and i wasn't talkin deli cups like the tiny ones. BIG ones, and/or chinese takeout containers work great.

[Charlet_2007]

ok sexing T.s 101 here it is lol

P. metallica ( Female Left) (Male Right)


B. smithi



Now how you can tell the difference.. This is Trev P. from the site i told you about..

I could be wrong but the paired lips are there and not to mention males usually don't have a raised edge along the front edge of the "beltline"

I've made a mock up of what I'm talking about.

Males have a single D on the front half of a ventral view along with the epiandrous fussilae shown here in blue.


Females have a double D aka "paired lips" and a raised edge on the flat side of the front D (if that makes sense).



and the original for comparison.



I hope this helps you..

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

can you do this with babies???

[aSnakeLovinBabe]

ever kept theraphosa blondi? amazing spiders. love when they go into defensive posture. the sheer size of this spider makes even an expierienced keeper wary! was always tempted to take mine for a walk on a leash

[Charlet_2007]

um no not on babies.. T. blondi are great T's... all T.s throw up the (jazz hands) if not handle enough or feel threated.. Here's my G. rosea she's a meaning but I love her still..

[adamanteus]

I kept a Trinidad Chevron once, years ago.... but it got out and dragged me all around the house! Never again!

[Charlet_2007]

lmao yeah i know it sucks when you have escapees lol