B. Smithi incoming.

[Andrew Ferguson]

I bought it some small black ones (I'm guessing these are pinheads?). They are varying in sze from a large aphid to a flying ant. I've put two small ones and a large one. Hopefully they will all be gone by this time tomorrow.

[Richard Shah]

I bought it some small black ones (I'm guessing these are pinheads?). They are varying in sze from a large aphid to a flying ant. I've put two small ones and a large one. Hopefully they will all be gone by this time tomorrow.

No - pinheads are tiny tiny little creatures. Apparently you should avoid feeding the T. for a while as you should let it settle, but since you've already put them in, just wait and observe!
Those that you r describing are probably 'medium-sized'. Can I see what your enclosure looks like please?
I've already constructed my F.R. home, I just cut the lid 1/3 down and heated a needle over a candle (since my cooker is electric) and burnt holes into the main container (as you can see):



Now the substrate and cork bark should come in two weeks if I save up my lunch money, and the T. in four - five!

Lol,
Rich!

[Peter Lacey]

Thats looking good Richard, although you might want to space those holes out a little, test it and see if it gets moist. For a young sling having it moist is good, for an juv you'll want to move over to drier conditions. Remember, it won't appreciate it too moist.

Andrew, might I suggest moving your water bowl to the other end of the tank, that way you'll be further away from the T's hide when changing and overfilling the bowl. Continual moist substrate will encourage mites so its better to have that issue up the other end. Plus if your T isnt happy with having 5 digits thrust into her face this will be a simple remedy.

[Pam Turner]

Cute baby Andrew!!

My guy is roughly 4cm (had to break out the ruler for that one, LOL), and I feed him the larger "small" sized crickets. Sounds like an oxymoron, doesn't it. My kiddos over 5cm get medium sized ones.

(Thank goodness for rulers, cause I suck at metric measurements!! )

[Andrew Ferguson]

Andrew, might I suggest moving your water bowl to the other end of the tank, that way you'll be further away from the T's hide when changing and overfilling the bowl.

At the moment, I've got no water in the bowl. I believe (hope) I have the substrate just right regarding the moisture, so at the bowl currently at this moment it just ornamental.

[patsyking]

Smiffy is so cute! Congrats on getting him/her. Mine is smaller and eats the tiniest pinheads I can get my hand on. I feed Monday, Wednesday and Friday and mist one side of his container twice a week for moisture.

[Nicola Dolby]

Vive Le Smiffy!

[Clinton Hogben]

Warm Welcome to Citizen Smiff

Clint

[Richard Shah]

Thats looking good Richard, although you might want to space those holes out a little, test it and see if it gets moist. For a young sling having it moist is good, for an juv you'll want to move over to drier conditions. Remember, it won't appreciate it too moist.

Andrew, might I suggest moving your water bowl to the other end of the tank, that way you'll be further away from the T's hide when changing and overfilling the bowl. Continual moist substrate will encourage mites so its better to have that issue up the other end. Plus if your T isnt happy with having 5 digits thrust into her face this will be a simple remedy.

Thank you.
Well about the holes, there isn't too much I can do now - but I can probably add a few more which are further spaced out. And how would I go about testing it to see if it gets moist?
And BTW, what does the 'misting' process involve?
Thanks a lot,
Rich!

[Andrew Ferguson]

Thanks Nicola and Clinton.

I woke up even earlier this morning just to see how Smiffy had coped with his/her first night at Chatuex Brachypelma. Still hadn't eaten but I kind of guessed as much.
However this afternoon I just checked and saw a dead cricket. Upon further inspection it had had all its soft parts removed and was just a crispy shell with legs. So either one of the other crickets has become Hannibal Lector or Smiffy has had its first meal. And boy was I excited at the thought. Even James cheered when I showed him the crickets remains.

So how soon should it be before I start considering spider #2

[Richard Shah]

Thanks Nicola and Clinton.

I woke up even earlier this morning just to see how Smiffy had coped with his/her first night at Chatuex Brachypelma. Still hadn't eaten but I kind of guessed as much.
However this afternoon I just checked and saw a dead cricket. Upon further inspection it had had all its soft parts removed and was just a crispy shell with legs. So either one of the other crickets has become Hannibal Lector or Smiffy has had its first meal. And boy was I excited at the thought. Even James cheered when I showed him the crickets remains.

So how soon should it be before I start considering spider #2

Damn man, spider no. 2 - lol I dnt think after this I'll be getting any more spiders for a long long while lol!
To me it seems (from what I know) your T.'s first meal when with you! Although how crickets eat other crickets I'm not sure about.
On the other hand I know how a T. eats its victim, and it resembles what you described by the cricket's carcass; it injects the venom into the body, which breaks the cells into a soup-like state, then sucks it up! Although most ADULTS will just devour the whole thing!
Your B. Smithi is juvenile though, so I think the first method would be more appropriate for him/her!
Rich!

[SylviRigden]

Thanks Nicola and Clinton.

I woke up even earlier this morning just to see how Smiffy had coped with his/her first night at Chatuex Brachypelma. Still hadn't eaten but I kind of guessed as much.
However this afternoon I just checked and saw a dead cricket. Upon further inspection it had had all its soft parts removed and was just a crispy shell with legs. So either one of the other crickets has become Hannibal Lector or Smiffy has had its first meal. And boy was I excited at the thought. Even James cheered when I showed him the crickets remains.

So how soon should it be before I start considering spider #2

Yesterday! lol. You need a few so that there is always something to fiddle about with.

[Peter Lacey]

Richard, if you remember from previous replies I suggested you set up your enclosure before your T arrives. You'll perhaps want to change things, move things into better positions just for your own reasons. If you purchase a thermometer (around £3) you'll see what temperatures you have in your enclosure. Move the thermometer around the enclosure on a daily basis to see what temp you're getting at the top and bottom of the enclosure (morning, day and night). Let the substrate dry out (if you're using coco-fibre it will be wet)
and read the temps again.
Some more holes will help the ventilation. Misting, you can get a simple mister from plant shops or barbie doll hair sprayers (small and very fine spray). If once you've set up your enclosure, with the lid on permanently, the enclosure is permanently wet with moisture running down the side you'll need to create more holes to help improve ventilation.

Congrats on your first T meal Andrew. Remember to remove that carcass, its served its job
Perhaps wait a day before putting another in, or perhaps try another now, who knows when a Ts full up!!!

[Peter Lacey]

Andrew, absolutely no reason why you can't get no. 2, 3 or 4. Helps to get rid of those darn crickets you have so many of LMAO

[Richard Shah]

Richard, if you remember from previous replies I suggested you set up your enclosure before your T arrives. You'll perhaps want to change things, move things into better positions just for your own reasons. If you purchase a thermometer (around £3) you'll see what temperatures you have in your enclosure. Move the thermometer around the enclosure on a daily basis to see what temp you're getting at the top and bottom of the enclosure (morning, day and night). Let the substrate dry out (if you're using coco-fibre it will be wet)
and read the temps again.
Some more holes will help the ventilation. Misting, you can get a simple mister from plant shops or barbie doll hair sprayers (small and very fine spray). If once you've set up your enclosure, with the lid on permanently, the enclosure is permanently wet with moisture running down the side you'll need to create more holes to help improve ventilation.

Congrats on your first T meal Andrew. Remember to remove that carcass, its served its job
Perhaps wait a day before putting another in, or perhaps try another now, who knows when a Ts full up!!!

I will definitely be setting it up first, cuz I plan to order the substrate and the cork bark in two weeks and the T. in four. Yeah I will get a thermomter and follow through with your advice - thanks. I'll also have a look ino misters, but no way am I gonna go to a shop and buy a barbie doll sprayer! Lmao!
About the books, I'll have a look for a few in my library, since I want to go and get 'My friend Leonard' after reading a Million Little Pieces!
Thank you very much Peter!
Rich!