The arachnophobe is back,with a T :-)

[Mandy James]

Hi again. I introduced myself on here a couple of months back as I was thinking of getting a T to try and help with my spider phobia. Well due to someone kindly donating a young g.rosea and giving me loads of advice plus a very helpful chat with Angela Hale I am now the happy (slightly nervous) owner of a beautiful red phase g.rosea whom I've named Ruby.
I've had her almost 2 months now and its been a very emotional experience at times. Just changing her water bowl was a masive thing for me to begin with,how I didn't spill the water everywhere with all the shaking I really do not know! She was in premoult when I got her and moulted a couple of weeks ago,I got to see the whole process,must be one of the most amazing things I've witnessed On the down side it meant I had to deal with her moult,I find moults far freakier than spiders for some strange reason...just glad I have some long feeding tongs for the snakes haha! Since then I have managed to pick the moult up and hold it in my hand which was a massive thing for me to do I also watched her feed for the first time last night,another fascinating sight.

Anyway I apologise for the overly excited newbie amazement,some pics of Ruby

When I first got her:

Being brave and moving her to a more secure tub:

Moulting:

How did that fit in there!:

[Phil Lilley]

Hi Mandy, I'm new here too and an arachnophob. I nearly got a G Rise, but getting a Bracy instead.

Lovely looking T you have there.

[vincent winyard]

hi there mandy welcome to the forum. you've got yourself probably the best tarantula in the hobby to get you started and one of the easiest to start with. i have two g rosa's myself and swear by them there hardy have a good temperament and don't need any special requirements. someone once said to me if your comfortable in a t shirt where the t is kept then that temperature will be fine for a rosa. just change the water every 2 or 3 days and he/she will do great. anyway if you need any info or have a problem just ask and someone will be happy to help enjoy your eight legged friend i bet it wont be the last one lol.