Back in the T world

[Team Gomberg]

Hi, my name is Heather. I recently purchased a sub adult female rose hair. My sons named her Chewbacca.

I kept a rose hair about 9 years ago. She was one of my animals used for educational purposes. I did birthday parties and group events with exotic animals. Once I started having kids I stopped my business and rehomed most of my animals, including my T.
Now that my boys are older, I felt they would enjoy having a T.
Mama's happy to have one again, too!

We've had her a week. I bought her private party from a guy who has a large collection. She's very calm and easy to handle. A perfect fit for us.
Hasn't eaten yet but I expected that.

**tonight we switched her substrate to coco coir and ditched the wood chips.

We had fun watching her on the big screen!

 

[Marija]

Hello Heather and welcome!
The idea of parties and group events with exotic animals is awesome Too bad we don't have those here, I'd love to attend one
Your son is so adorable I love how he shows no fear! He's gonna turn into a big animal lover. I have a 9 year old sister who was at first afraid of tarantulas but now loves them. She holds and pets my G pulchripes "Lucifer" all the time , she even had the courage to hold my 5' N chromatus.
Here she with Lucifer

 

[Enn49]

Hi Heather. Welcome to you and your sons to the wonderful world of Ts.

 

[Tricocyst]

Welcome to the forums and more importantly welcome back to the hobby seeing your children handling your rose hair reminds me of the days when mine was docile.. she was laid back and never showed a threat posture even once until one of her random adult molts.. after that it was constant threat postures at any movement at all and it was a huge shock to see such a dramatic attitude change

 

[Evanthomas]

Welcome! I love the idea of having her on the tv! How did you do that?

 

[Team Gomberg]

after that it was constant threat postures at any movement at all and it was a huge shock to see such a dramatic attitude change

Yikes! I sooo don't ever want that to happen! My previous rose molted with me but never changed her disposition. Hoping for the same thing here.
Is there anything we as the keeper/handlers can do to keep them docile or is it totally out of our hands? Like, regardless of our frequency in handling them, could they change regardless?

 

[Team Gomberg]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!

She holds and pets my G pulchripes "Lucifer" all the time , she even had the courage to hold my 5' N chromatus.
Here she with Lucifer

I never became familiar with scientific names. Although I quickly noticed they are commonly referred to that way. Any reason why tarantula keepers don't use the common names?

 

[Team Gomberg]

Welcome! I love the idea of having her on the tv! How did you do that?

Miracasting

 

[Marija]

Thanks for the welcome everyone!



I never became familiar with scientific names. Although I quickly noticed they are commonly referred to that way. Any reason why tarantula keepers don't use the common names?

Not sure to be honest, seemed more natural :/

 

[Tricocyst]

Yikes! I sooo don't ever want that to happen! My previous rose molted with me but never changed her disposition. Hoping for the same thing here.
Is there anything we as the keeper/handlers can do to keep them docile or is it totally out of our hands? Like, regardless of our frequency in handling them, could they change regardless?

In my opinion I don't think there is a remedy to prevent attitude changes. My rose hair was held atleast weekly... more then that most of the time and she was calm. But when the molt happened I gave her a day to rest then raised her hide to get the molt the movement startled her but as soon as I reach for her molt she struck at my hand. She thankfully missed but she was never held again.. any attempt was meet with threat postures and kicking hairs

 

[Team Gomberg]

In my opinion I don't think there is a remedy to prevent attitude changes. My rose hair was held atleast weekly... more then that most of the time and she was calm. But when the molt happened I gave her a day to rest then raised her hide to get the molt the movement startled her but as soon as I reach for her molt she struck at my hand. She thankfully missed but she was never held again.. any attempt was meet with threat postures and kicking hairs

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that.

Do you have other Ts? If yes, do you still hold any of them?
Can this switch of behavior happen in other species too?

 

[Team Gomberg]

Here she is in the new coco coir.

Is it deep enough?

How damp should I keep it?

The tank lid (screen top) has been covered with a clear laminate sheet and has 3 slits in 2 opposing corners for ventilation. That should help with humidity and keep her from being able to walk upside down. Eventually I want to upgrade the laminate to a piece of glass or plexi.

 

[Tricocyst]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear that.

Do you have other Ts? If yes, do you still hold any of them?
Can this switch of behavior happen in other species too?

Oh no this was my only T for a long time, however in February I'll be getting a p regalis and a brachypelma smithi to add to the list I already know the p regalis wont be held.. atleast not on purpose anyways lol.. who knows it might run up my arm.. lets hope not.. but I have a good feeling about the brachypelma smithi they seem super laid back

 

[Team Gomberg]

Oh no this was my only T for a long time, however in February I'll be getting a p regalis and a brachypelma smithi to add to the list I already know the p regalis wont be held.. atleast not on purpose anyways lol.. who knows it might run up my arm.. lets hope not.. but I have a good feeling about the brachypelma smithi they seem super laid back

Uh, I'll have to Google those names and see what you're talking about lol

 

[Tricocyst]

Uh, I'll have to Google those names and see what you're talking about lol

p regalis is the scientific name for the indian ornamental and the brachypelma smithi is the mexican red knee

 

[MassExodus]

The reason proper names are used is to leave no room for doubt about what species is being discussed. Several common names are similar to others, and aren't a reliable descriptor for species. Pet shop owners and importers dont get to name species discovered by naturalists. That said, there are a few that are still used commonly in the hobby, simply because everyone knows what a "GBB" is, etc.

 

[Team Gomberg]

Oh, the Mexican red knee is pretty. Thanks hehe

Are rose hairs the only T that can have the behavior switches? What about the blonde..uh..blonde something or the mex red knee, do they go from docile to feisty too?

 

[Team Gomberg]

The reason proper names are used is to leave no room for doubt about what species is being discussed. Several common names are similar to others, and aren't a reliable descriptor for species. Pet shop owners and importers dont get to name species discovered by naturalists. That said, there are a few that are still used commonly in the hobby, simply because everyone knows what a "GBB" is, etc.

Ok, I guess I better start figuring out the scientific names then. Is there a link to commonly used "T lingo" somewhere? I'm seeing all kinds of terms I have no clue about. LOL

 

[Team Gomberg]

What's my rose hair called? Is that the GBB you were referring to?

And how is it pronounced? I can read the names, not sure I can say them!

 

[Tricocyst]

What's my rose hair called? Is that the GBB you were referring to?

And how is it pronounced? I can read the names, not sure I can say them!

GBB I think is the green bottle blue tarantula and the rose hair -if- I remember correctly is the grammostola rosea..? needs confirmation