First T and loving her ...

[FuzzyFangs]

Hey there folks, hope all is well with everyone.

Two weeks ago, I purchased my first T - a PBK ... 6-year-old female. I brought her home and put her in her new enclosure. Fed her a couple days later, and she's just beautiful. She doesn't hide much, wanders her territory all the time .... just absolutely beautiful. I think she's pretty well settled in, and I'll be sure to get photos up soon.

 

[Fuzzball79]

Feeling a bit thick here, but what is a PBK, please?

I got my first T (my beautiful G. Rosea) a little less than a year ago (7 others since then).

 

[Chubbs]

You say you just recently got the spider? It's pretty much impossible to tell how many years old a tarantula is unless you raise it from the moment it hatches from the sac.

 

[Therasoid]

Hey there folks, hope all is well with everyone.

Two weeks ago, I purchased my first T - a PBK ... 6-year-old female. I brought her home and put her in her new enclosure. Fed her a couple days later, and she's just beautiful. She doesn't hide much, wanders her territory all the time .... just absolutely beautiful. I think she's pretty well settled in, and I'll be sure to get photos up soon.

I'm like Fuzzball79, just what is a PZK? I know PZB is a E. campestratus. If that's what you purchased, very nice terrestrial.

 

[HungryGhost]

Any relation to PB&J?

 

[FuzzyFangs]

Lol ... Yeah it's a PZB and the pet store owner raised it from a sling so her age is accurate ...

 

[Oodalolie]

Very pretty, congrats on your first T! Tarantulas are like tattoos, you can't just stop with one

 

[Chubbs]

I'm usually skeptical of what pet store owners tell me. This is why I recommend buying online from a breeder who specializes in tarantulas.

 

[#Angela#]

Congratulations! My latest acquisition was a PZB sling. So looking forward to seeing it grow up into adult coloration! Nice to know that as they get bigger they are confident in their surroundings. As a baby mine digs like crazy, but is super curious. So I think I can see the beginnings of an excellent display spider in the future.

Did you name this beauty? My baby is named Pequeno.

Angela

 

[FuzzyFangs]

Yes, her name is Miska ...

 

[FuzzyFangs]

Just a little update. Miska is doing very well. She doesn't hide much, which I enjoy. She seems to like the lighter two corners of her enclosure. She's usually climbing there. She has put down webbing over I'd say 65 percent of the open area. She dug a small crater about fist-sized and webbed over it, before sitting in that hole for hours. Then, she was back out, climbing at the corners.

I feed her six gut-fed crickets twice a week. Do you think that is too much?

Also, I give her water dish six or seven sprays every few days. She doesn't drink from the water dish, but she likes to fill it with substrate. When you all say spray down the substrate to keep moisture, guesstimate on how many "sprays" from a standards squirt bottle is enough. I'm not sure if I'm keeping enough humidity for her; although, she is active so I must be doing something right. Your thoughts would be most appreciated.

I live in Central PA, and the temps here are now in the 80s and 90s, but in the room with my T, the temp stays about 78 so I think I'm good there.

 

[Therasoid]

Just a little update. Miska is doing very well. She doesn't hide much, which I enjoy. She seems to like the lighter two corners of her enclosure. She's usually climbing there. She has put down webbing over I'd say 65 percent of the open area. She dug a small crater about fist-sized and webbed over it, before sitting in that hole for hours. Then, she was back out, climbing at the corners.

I feed her six gut-fed crickets twice a week. Do you think that is too much?

Also, I give her water dish six or seven sprays every few days. She doesn't drink from the water dish, but she likes to fill it with substrate. When you all say spray down the substrate to keep moisture, guesstimate on how many "sprays" from a standards squirt bottle is enough. I'm not sure if I'm keeping enough humidity for her; although, she is active so I must be doing something right. Your thoughts would be most appreciated.

I live in Central PA, and the temps here are now in the 80s and 90s, but in the room with my T, the temp stays about 78 so I think I'm good there.

Yes, IMO, you are overfeeding, half that amount will be sufficient. Too large an abdomen can stress the pedicel, possibly causing a rupture. Once the abdomen (rump) is 1-1/2 times larger than the carapace, I space out feedings.
These are Theraphosinae, the substrate should be dry, no need for misting. A water dish about 3-1/2" dia. by 3/4"-1" deep, buried with the top level with the substrate will provide the humidity required. Place a few small, clean rocks in the bottom for the crickets to climb out. They love water and drown easy.
Personally, I've never used tank humidity gauges, they're not all that accurate and pet shops only sell them to boost sales.
78 degrees is fine for your T, I keep my T room at this (78-82) during the day and drops to, sometimes, 70 degrees at night.
Hope the info is useful.