Post by Malum on May 25, 2007 18:31:36 GMT -5
This is a full-grown Costa Rican Zebra, what my tarantula's should look like in 3-4 years.
Three days ago a pair of Costa Rican Zebra tarantula spiderlings (Aphonopelma seemani) arrived at my house.
Machiko has a 1" legspan and Aspen has a 1.5" legspan. They arrived in these little containers from scottstarantulas.com. I'd suggest this site to anyone who wants to buy a tarantula. They were cheap, and quickly delievered.
Anywho, Scott suggested that I not remove them until they are 1.5". So, I took Aspen out today and put her in the cage. I believe she's going to molt soon (tarantulas do this to grow). When they molt they won't eat for a week before or afterwards. You need to make sure to remove all crickets or other creatures from the cage when they begin their 3 hour molting period, and don't try to feed or hold them a week after they molt. Spiderlings may molt as many as five times a year.
The cage is ten gallons. I bought a 75 wat infared bulb (they can't see infared) and a heat lamp, which I attached to the home-made, wire-meshed lid.
I also got a stick-on thermometer, in case it gets too hot. They don't like it above 80 degrees or below 60.
The dirt is peat moss, which is suggested for them. There's about four inches of dirt, because Costa Rican Zebras are burrowers, and like deep dirt.
I got the log and sticks from my back yard. But ceder is bad for them! don't use ceder!
I bought a three dollar water dish and put a wet sponge in there for her to drink from until she's big enough that she won't drown in it if she falls in.
I also bought a cricket keeper for them. They can also eat mealworms, but make sure their food is small when you get it. They should be feed once or twice every three days.
So, I was worried about putting Aspen and Machiko together when Machiko gets bigger, so I put them together on a plate to see how they do. Note they are both females.
They didn't seem to mind one another... You can't really see Machiko right now, she's kinda burried. They got face to face at one point, but nothing happened.
Anyway, I've barely held either of them yet, in fear that I might hurt one, or break off a leg. I'm going to wait until they get a little bigger...
Hehe, Nicky wants that sponge.
Three days ago a pair of Costa Rican Zebra tarantula spiderlings (Aphonopelma seemani) arrived at my house.
Machiko has a 1" legspan and Aspen has a 1.5" legspan. They arrived in these little containers from scottstarantulas.com. I'd suggest this site to anyone who wants to buy a tarantula. They were cheap, and quickly delievered.
Anywho, Scott suggested that I not remove them until they are 1.5". So, I took Aspen out today and put her in the cage. I believe she's going to molt soon (tarantulas do this to grow). When they molt they won't eat for a week before or afterwards. You need to make sure to remove all crickets or other creatures from the cage when they begin their 3 hour molting period, and don't try to feed or hold them a week after they molt. Spiderlings may molt as many as five times a year.
The cage is ten gallons. I bought a 75 wat infared bulb (they can't see infared) and a heat lamp, which I attached to the home-made, wire-meshed lid.
I also got a stick-on thermometer, in case it gets too hot. They don't like it above 80 degrees or below 60.
The dirt is peat moss, which is suggested for them. There's about four inches of dirt, because Costa Rican Zebras are burrowers, and like deep dirt.
I got the log and sticks from my back yard. But ceder is bad for them! don't use ceder!
I bought a three dollar water dish and put a wet sponge in there for her to drink from until she's big enough that she won't drown in it if she falls in.
I also bought a cricket keeper for them. They can also eat mealworms, but make sure their food is small when you get it. They should be feed once or twice every three days.
So, I was worried about putting Aspen and Machiko together when Machiko gets bigger, so I put them together on a plate to see how they do. Note they are both females.
They didn't seem to mind one another... You can't really see Machiko right now, she's kinda burried. They got face to face at one point, but nothing happened.
Anyway, I've barely held either of them yet, in fear that I might hurt one, or break off a leg. I'm going to wait until they get a little bigger...
Hehe, Nicky wants that sponge.