B.Smithi blocked her cave up!

[RG Lewis]

Hi all, I am still on a big learning curve here and having to l learn patience, not easy at 46yrs! My B.Smithi which I have had since Jan 12th 2012 has for the last 16 days barricaded herself up in her cave, I am assuming after lots of checking including the TKG that she is about to molt soon.

I just thought that I would post the great job that she has done on her barricade, I am well impressed.

I will hopefully post a picture when she decides to show herself again.

[asmaa farooq]

lovely job shes done hubbys bought me a juvenile today from TSS cant wait hope it doenst go into hiding too fast tho id like to sit and stare for a month or 3 first lol

[Mrs Linda Street]

Hi all, I am still on a big learning curve here and having to l learn patience, not easy at 46yrs! My B.Smithi which I have had since Jan 12th 2012 has for the last 16 days barricaded herself up in her cave, I am assuming after lots of checking including the TKG that she is about to molt soon.

I just thought that I would post the great job that she has done on her barricade, I am well impressed.

I will hopefully post a picture when she decides to show herself again.

Our Smithi's are the opposite, they usually fill up their hide or web it over and sit on the top lol, nice looking set up by the way, that's what I call thinking out of the box

[Nicola Dolby]

Nice picture, I think you have a moult on the way

[RG Lewis]

Hi Nicola even though this is my first T I have been reading up on them for the last 2 tears or so and following the BTS and digested the TKG I assumed she (it) was getting ready to molt and it will be my first molt, I am pretty nervous about it, I am looking forward to her (it) breaking out and demanding crickets, although she (it) won't have them for a week but its something to look forward to.
Not sure if this molt will be big enough to sex yet but if I can get to it I will put some photos up.

[Nicola Dolby]

That would be great, I'd love to see them! I had a little surprise with one of my Brachys the day before yesterday. For 5 years I thought I had a male B. bohemi and now I know she's a female! Happy days!

[RG Lewis]

So as a follow up its now 25 days since my T barricaded herself up in her cave, now as a new T keeper and having developed a real meaning of patience I am starting to wonder if she is ok. My T is a Juvenile B.Smithi and every thing seems fine. Temp and Humidity are ok and I keep her small water dish topped up. No nasty smells from the tank and all is calm. I really do not want to disturb her if you guys (far more knowledgeable than me) think its still in the "sit back and relax phase" Let me know your thoughts please.

[Peter Roach]

All sounds fine and good to me.

Think on it this way. . . . . .4-6 weeks in premoult and 4-6 weeks after moulting to let everything harden up and have a snooze after all the excitement of moulting.
So you're basically looking at a possible 2 to 3 months in the burrow.. . . . if you are lucky and much longer if you're not LOL
There is always the chance that she didnt make it through the moult but if thats the case, there is nothing you can do about it so just leave her to come out in her own time.

[RG Lewis]

While waiting for my B.Smithi to come out of her cave I have maintained the temp and humidity. I have a dual wire gauge and today I added a digital gauge and to my surprise there is a big difference. The temp is almost the same with just a degree or so out, the humidity is a full 10 points out ? So which is the right one and do I have to get a 3rd one to find this ;o)... I did expect a difference but not that much!
Just my thoughts?

[Peter Roach]

I have a dual wire gauge and today I added a digital gauge and to my surprise there is a big difference. The temp is almost the same with just a degree or so out, the humidity is a full 10 points out ? So which is the right one and do I have to get a 3rd one to find this ;o)... I did expect a difference but not that much!
Just my thoughts?

I would always go with the digital gauge as the other type are a total waste of time, money and space but in all honesty i would take them out and put them both in a draw or up for sale.
I really cant see the worth in using temp and humidity gauges unless you are trying to replicate seasonal variation while trying breed a particularly difficult species.
Conditions for a Brachy smith ? . . . Room temperature and humidity is fine, if you start trying to keep tabs on both and then change them then you are just seriously over complicating things for yourself. I dont think I've ever checked humidity on any Tarantula that i've ever kept, although I do heat my shed to around 74-78 but this can go up or down depending on the outside temps. Nothing i can do about the fluctuations so I dont try and I dont bother about it. Humidity is provided by a damp corner when i overflow the small waterbowl once a week, what it is i have absolutely no idea (and no particular interest either)

[RG Lewis]

Just a update, the B.smithi juv was moved to a new tank on Monday and she did not look any different from when I got her/it in January. Sometime within 36 hours of being moved she has molted. I guess everything has gone ok but I have only had a few views of her as she went under a plant to molt. I will have to get the old molt out soon but I understand it will be ok for a few days. I really don't want to disturb her to much. My first molt so well pleased even though I never saw it.
Thursday I moved my G.rosea into her new tank now she/it is a handful not really aggressive but runs at everything.

Remember I was only ever going to have one T and I have two! And we have just setup a tank for a Avic Avic we are hoping to get at the BTS show this month so that will make three. That's my wife's idea.
I really do blame you lot ;o) lol.