Hello, I have my first 2 baby red knee's and I am a newbie :)

[KimmyxTx]

Hello everyone i'm Kim
So me and my family have recently got a Mexican red knee spiderling well I say one but to my surprise I was given a freebie the poor little thing is missing 2 legs but we are hoping they grow back in future molts. This one had it's first molt with us the other day which was exciting to wake up to but sadly still no legs starting to appear yet so fingers crossed.
We are wondering when is the best time to start handling them? We understand they don't want constant holding but would love to handle them now and again does anyone have any advice on that would be appreciated
As much as I have read about tarantulas I do look forward to continue learning and trying my hardest to not buy anymore!! lol

 

[Therasoid]

Welcome to the forum.
B. smithi are a nice species to start your collection with. Be warned as a NW species these are prone to kicking their urticating hairs as a defensive maneuver.
The legs will regenerate, but can take 2 or more molts until they fully form. Little ones should be fed twice per week, a hide and have water available at all times. The cap off a water bottle is fine, they won't drown in it. This is a NW terrestrial species so "misting" is not required or advised.

As far as handling, check the thread " Best T to be handled?" and you'll get the idea. [emoji6]

Lol!! You can try, but the addiction to owning more is in most cases, overwhelming. [emoji33]

Good luck and happy T'ing.

 

[KimmyxTx]

Thank you so much for all your advice its much appriciated its great to know about the legs also from your advice I think I am heading in the right direction lol

 

[Enn49]

Hi Kim. One of the great things I like about the B. smithi, or at least mine, is that they have never burrowed, always on view.

 

[KimmyxTx]

Hi Enn49, well we had ours now around 1 week and both have small hides but never use them lol they do like to stand proud on their shells or there small raised stick I can't wait to watch them grow before my eyes I just have a little while to wait lol how many spiderlings/adults do you own?

 

[Enn49]

That's just what mine do. I have 1 sub adult., 2 juvis and 33 slings at various stages but then my son also has an adult and a sub adult. I was stopping at 4 but somehow more keep appearing on my doorstep

 

[KimmyxTx]

Wow lol how long does that take to feed them all? do you have any feeding tips for the slings? I am thinking of maybe 1 more an arboreal kind but I am so torn on which lol I would like a juvenile now and then I have to stop lol I think I'd get carried away with slings and then they would grow and then I'd be like oh I have a room in my home just for tarantulas lol are you still buying or have you stopped for now?

 

[Enn49]

Not long. I tend to feed the 12 tiny ones that are on pinhead crickets one night as they get fed twice a week and then feed the others another night. Recently I have been buying dwarf Ts so even as adults they won't take up much room, the drawback with them is the slings are so tiny, many only 0.25''.
I am supposed to be stopping but I have my eye on a few more. It really is an addictive hobby lol.

 

[KimmyxTx]

Thats Great thats so tiny. Well as long as you can care for them the way they deserve which it sounds to me like you are why not I'll have to keep an eye out on pics you may post any time

 

[Enn49]

They're all on my thread Enn's Bunch.