new tarantula mom here!!!

[spidysoph]

Hi! I have always wanted a tarantula since high school, however, I have always had parents or roommates living with me who have all disapproved. Now that I finally live alone (with my dog) I just adopted my first tranchy! He/she is a 1-year-old pink toe named Lucy (non-gender conforming). I think tarantulas are adorable but I am kind of sad that mine has only let me hold her twice (I will usually lightly tap her back legs when I want to hold, 80% of the time he goes in a warning stance). Is there a way to let her let me hold her more? Is it just because she is just getting used to her new home?

Also, my spider child is a hungry boi. Do I keep feeding her crickets once she has none in her cage? I only give her 1-2 at a time, but she eats them immediately and I have heard they do not need to eat everyday, but can they if they want to?

I appreciate any and all help/tips for new tranchy parents!

-Sophie

 

[spidysoph]

Also, might I add that my tranchy has barely explored his new home. I have a few tree branches and a little tree tunnel/hut in there and she hasn't even touched it yet (at least every time I have watched her). Is this normal? Keep in mind, I adopted her only 4 days ago.

 

[LitAF]

Congrats on the new T! I love pinktoes and want more than what I have.

 

[LitAF]

I feed my Ts depending on their age. If the T is a sling that once a week. I don't wanna power feed them and have them grow fast.

 

[spidysoph]

thanks for the tip! I won't feed her today then

 

[m0lsx]

Hello & welcome to the forum & hobby. If by PinkToe, you mean an Avic Avic, (Avicularia avicularia. Then it is probably not the best T to try & hold. They are well known for jumping & they are capable of firing their faeces at you too.

 

[nickjsims]

Hi! I have always wanted a tarantula since high school, however, I have always had parents or roommates living with me who have all disapproved. Now that I finally live alone (with my dog) I just adopted my first tranchy! He/she is a 1-year-old pink toe named Lucy (non-gender conforming). I think tarantulas are adorable but I am kind of sad that mine has only let me hold her twice (I will usually lightly tap her back legs when I want to hold, 80% of the time he goes in a warning stance). Is there a way to let her let me hold her more? Is it just because she is just getting used to her new home?

Also, my spider child is a hungry boi. Do I keep feeding her crickets once she has none in her cage? I only give her 1-2 at a time, but she eats them immediately and I have heard they do not need to eat everyday, but can they if they want to?

I appreciate any and all help/tips for new tranchy parents!

-Sophie

Thats awesome. Welcome to the family

 

[menavodi]

Welcome to TF. A great place! Give your tarantula a little time to adjust. He will use everything in his enclosure. Most of them are shy and don’t like to be handled anyway. If he still takes the crickets, you can feed him. They stop when they are full.

 

[IliaIlyich]

Congratulations! It’s funny but when I was in school I was afraid of spiders but then I read my first book about them - change my opinion)

 

[Bazaar]

thanks for the tip! I won't feed her today then

Definitely, not every day but maybe once a week depending what the T can eat in one day. And at most I think twice a week.

 

[Volkswachter]

A good general rule of thumb is to feed once a week for adults and twice a week for slings.

 

[WolfSpider]

At one year of age, an A. avicularia is, guessing, 2-3 inches diagonal leg span. If Lucy's abdomen is bigger than her thorax, I would recommend 2 week feedings. 3-4 medium crickets should suffice.

 

[spidysoph]

should I take out the cricket he isn't eating? he has only eaten one cricket in 5 days.

 

[Jeremy-psychonaut]

should I take out the cricket he isn't eating? he has only eaten one cricket in 5 days.

Yes

 

[spidysoph]

Hello & welcome to the forum & hobby. If by PinkToe, you mean an Avic Avic, (Avicularia avicularia. Then it is probably not the best T to try & hold. They are well known for jumping & they are capable of firing their faeces at you too.

He only bolts when scared, no jumping. Based on research and what I was told, pink toes are supposed to be a good first tarantula breed (?) as they are very docile. I think maybe she just needs some time to adjust? I want to hold her more but obviously want her to feel comfortable so it will never be forced. I was also told pink toes are fine with both being held every so often and left alone.

 

[Rs50matt]

Some Ts can take atleast a week or so to settle in. The reality is that Avics are one of the most popular species for people to start with, they also have a high mortality rate as people like to play with them. Tarantulas can stress quite easily and it's why handling isn't recommended.(aswell as the risk of the T falling/jumping and also a bite) if you do choose to (and it is your choice) be aware that unlike reptiles it will never recognise you and it will never get used to handling.

 

[PanzoN88]

He only bolts when scared, no jumping. Based on research and what I was told, pink toes are supposed to be a good first tarantula breed (?) as they are very docile. I think maybe she just needs some time to adjust? I want to hold her more but obviously want her to feel comfortable so it will never be forced. I was also told pink toes are fine with both being held every so often and left alone.

First of all welcome to the forum and the hobby.

Tarantulas regardless of species, like every other creature on earth, individuals do vary. Research and individual tarantula may not line up. For example I have a big female P. cancerides and she actually runs for her burrow. P. cancerides have a reputation for being extremely defensive, but mine does not fit that description at all.

Tarantulas in general do not "like" to be handled, as they get no benefit from it. Accidents can and at some point may happen. Avics are fast and you never know when they are going turn on the jets.

I usually give my tarantulas around a week or two so they can get acclimated before feeding. When it comes to slings, I feed mine twice a week, juvies once a week and adults every other week.

 

[Seekeroftruth]

If he/ she goes into threat posture 80% of the time when nudged, i would consider it a poor candidate for handling. I don't handle myself, but that percentage seems too risky imo.

 

[spidysoph]

If he/ she goes into threat posture 80% of the time when nudged, i would consider it a poor candidate for handling. I don't handle myself, but that percentage seems too risky imo.

I think it was just the first week I had her. Now she is pretty "cuddly" for lack of a better term. To me it seems like she likes being held sometimes, she will crawl on the roof of her cage, and when I open it will immediately latch onto me. However, she really enjoys resting on my back which is fine and all but I have gone thru hell and back thinking I have lost her to find that she was on my back the whole time. I think we have and are still developing a "connection" (because T's don't develop connections to humans) where I can tell when she wants to be held and when she does not want to be held, and I am respectful of that. She also loves being pet! Correct me if I am wrong but I will pet her booty (obviously very lightly) and she will wiggle but won't run/walk away. I am in love with her.

 

[spidysoph]

First of all welcome to the forum and the hobby.

Tarantulas regardless of species, like every other creature on earth, individuals do vary. Research and individual tarantula may not line up. For example I have a big female P. cancerides and she actually runs for her burrow. P. cancerides have a reputation for being extremely defensive, but mine does not fit that description at all.

Tarantulas in general do not "like" to be handled, as they get no benefit from it. Accidents can and at some point may happen. Avics are fast and you never know when they are going turn on the jets.

I usually give my tarantulas around a week or two so they can get acclimated before feeding. When it comes to slings, I feed mine twice a week, juvies once a week and adults every other week.

Thank you for the insight! Very helpful. I just posted a thread about how she wasn't eating much, and now it makes sense and I have less anxiety about that given that she is still young. When I joined this forum and posted this, I had just got Lucy (my T). Now, I hold her a few times a week and pet her every day. I think she likes being pet? I will very lightly stroke her little booty and she will not run or even walk away, she just wiggles and I see that as a form of enjoyment? Correct me if I am wrong.