New Tarantula Owner!

[Nagualli96]

I've never owned a tarantula let alone a spidderling but I fell in love with this little guy from the second I saw him! He is doing awesome but I worry so much for him everyday! My little Mexican Redleg's name is Nagualli. He is named after an Aztec Legend of witches that can shapeshift into creatures of the night. I just call him Nagi! I will take any help and suggestions I get!! Thanks guys!!

 

[Kymura]

Hello and welcome to the wonderful world of arachnids!
Post up a couple pictures and the fine folks here will let you know if there's anything you can improve on as far as enclosure.
Meanwhile, welcome to the boards
Feel free to ask any questions you need to.
Even if they have been asked before,
most of us understand that anxiety that goes along with your first.

 

[Enn49]

Hi and welcome to the addiction, no, you won't be able to stop at one. As already said, any worries just ask.

 

[Nagualli96]

I am going to go get a picture in just a second so I'll post those I do have a few questions:
1. How can I keep his enclosure warm enough? I have him in a small enclosure inside a 25 gallon tank with a "lid" over it and a light down the way. I move it closer or farther away depending on what the temperature gauge says.
2. What do you suggest for socializing with me? I have held him twice (once for fun and once for taking the sponge the pet store had out and putting substrate in) and I'm not going to do it again (unless that's what I need to do haha) until he's older because it scares me he will run away!


Thank you guys so much!! ♡

 

[Enn49]

1. Most tarantulas don't need extra heat, as long as you're comfortable in the room they will be.

2. Tarantulas don't socialise, in fact handling them can cause them stress. If you really want to handle a T make sure it is over something soft, with not too far for it to fall so it can't hurt itself.

 

[syzygy]

What is the temp. range at your place? Most of the time there is no need to artificially alter the temp for your T.
Supplemental light is fine, but not required. None of mine have any special lighting...it's dark at night and there is some indirect natural and artificial light during the day.

You'll likely get varying opinions on whether a T can be socialized. If you want to handle them I'd wait until they are 1" or so and then only do it while sitting on the floor in an area without much clutter (in case it bolts). You could spread out a sheet and sort of rumple the edges so that maybe it would stay contained. If the T seems stressed at all when you try to pick them up then just let them be...even spiders that seem OK with it most of the time don't always feel like cuddling.

You've started with a great species...congrats!

 

[Nagualli96]

Thank you guys! The temperature in my house during the day ranges between 65 and 85 depending on the side of the house you are on and what time of day it is. My room stays around 65 for the most part. At night it gets pretty cold (around 50 degrees or so).

I am a person who loves to hold my pets so I'm hoping he will be ok with it when he gets older! XD I'll be extra careful and maybe a kiddy pool in a closed room would work perfectly? Lol I have some time to work that out!

 

[Nagualli96]

Also, what can you guys tell me about the Mexican Red Leg species? Habitat, what to expect when it's older (personality and such), what sets them apart from other species, how long he will take to become fully grown, how much moisture they need, etc!

 

[Nicolas C]

Well... About the habitat, you can check this excellent website:
http://mantid.nl/tarantula/smithi.html

About the temperament, most of the smithi are rather peaceful but tend to love flicking hairs, which can be annoying. Individuals may vary.

The growth rate is slow, you can expect a mature female after 6 years when kept with warm temps and good feeding, about 5 years for a male.

Dry substrate with a full waterdish is ok when they are around 6cm legspan. When younger, I add a little water in a corner to increase the humidity. But beware: too damp will put your spider in danger. Most of the substrate has to stay dry.

They need a good hide too.

65 F is maybe too low for such a sling. Is it possible to put its enclosure in a warmer place in your house?




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[Nagualli96]

That is some wonderful info! I think at night I will put him in our bathroom because it is always warm in there! I'm gonna test some Temps out today and see what room stays the warmest

 

[syzygy]

65F inside? That's seems crazy to me, but I'm in Texas. We'll be within a degree or two of 100F for the next 6 weeks. Central AC is a given.

 

[Nagualli96]

We live in a cement walled warehouse type building so it can get chilly at times inside haha but that's only at night! It stays around 75 degrees lately! Welcome to Utah weather! Random and all over the place!!