Just got my first Tarantula

[DalilahBlue]

Yep, vertebrate prey can be risky. I saw a teeny tiny mouse kill a several thousand dollar very large snake before. The shop owner was a nut job though...

 

[Kurt Nelson]

Oh my, we can't have that happen! Thank you very much... Insects it is!

I found when I took her out of her cage and she was crawling on me she was much more lively then when in the cage. She has moved around though and I think shes getting used to her environment but maybe she just likes the open space better? Or was more afraid and was trying to find a hiding spot?

Like I said, I'm pretty new to this and I'm probably going to be throwing questions left right and center.

Thank you very much for the help thus far.

 

[DalilahBlue]

Handling is not advised generally. T's don't understand affection like we do. The only times they interact with other creatures it to eat them, be eaten, or to breed. We are too big to eat or breed with them...or the only other option is to be eaten.

Many T's handle being held well, some do not. Your T is probably looking for a hiding spot. Open spaces are bad when you are bite sized.

 

[Kurt Nelson]

Well I got some nice pictures either way!

 

[DalilahBlue]

Occasional handling is fine. Just be realistic and respect the T's instincts.

 

[spider62]

I have not tried pinkies(yech) and had no sucess with the superworms. Do mealworms burrow like superworms? Im' thinking about trying mealworms to add some variety to my Ts diets.

 

[Bast]

I have not tried pinkies(yech) and had no sucess with the superworms. Do mealworms burrow like superworms? Im' thinking about trying mealworms to add some variety to my Ts diets.

Mealworms will burrow...however they don't have the same climbing capability as the Supers do. You can put them in a shallow dish/lid and they won't be able to make it out (works about 98% of the time). Crickets (and roaches, though we can't have them here) seem to be the prey of choice.

Edit: I see you're trying to add 'variety', so I'm assuming you already use crickets; so you can disregard the last line hehe

 

[spider62]

I stick to crickets with my Ts as super and mealworms burrow as soon as they hit the coco fiber! Also diet variety is Ok but certainly not necessary.