Hello everyone! I am very new to the hobby and just got my first T two days ago. I was looking through some ads just to see what was available in my area (as I hadn't decided on what kind of T to get), and browsing for tanks etc and I ended up coming across an ad posted by someone giving away their A. avic. (was listed as female, but I'm not too sure if this is the case). It was love at first sight! She's approx. 3" DLS, and just so fuzzy and cute! Poor thing was in a very, very dry, extremely dirty 10 gallon tank with a very loose fitting screen lid and no water at all (only some dried out bug gel; wtf?). Was also told me she hadn't eaten in quite awhile (he hadn't gotten around to buying her any food), and had not moulted at all in the four months they'd had her.
I wish that I had have had an enclosure ready and waiting for her (that was my original plan), but given her situation I couldn't do a worse job taking care of her if I put effort into it! So, unfortunately I am still keeping her in the 10 gallon until Tuesday (found an Exo-Terra nano tall for a good price) when I can put her in to a more suitable enclosure. I did get her some new substrate and made sure it was moist (not swampy). She was very cooperative with me when I moved her to a small critter keeper (so I could clean out her tank), which was a relief because I was so nervous about moving her, being that it was my first time and all. But she played nice and I have much more confidence now. She immediately went to the water I had put in with her, and stayed there a very long time (who knows how long it's been since she's had a real drink). I also taped up a lot of the screening on the tank cover (making sure there was no sticky parts where she could get stuck), and am keeping it weighted down with some heavy books for now; I was actually surprised she's never gotten out). She has totally ignored the crickets I put in for her to nom on, but I'm trying not to get too worried about this as I'm sure she's very stressed out.
Me and my son love her so much already! He was initially very afraid of spiders until I started researching T's, and then he started asking me tons of questions (most of which I had to look up answers to, myself lol), and he has spent a good amount of time going to 'check on her' and just sitting and watching her)...it's so nice to see his fascination
He's also asked me if we can get "one of the pretty orange and black ones next?" (B. smithi). So since that was one of the T's on my original list, it looks as though we'll be adding our 2nd T sooner than I thought.
Here's a pic of our new baby:
I wish that I had have had an enclosure ready and waiting for her (that was my original plan), but given her situation I couldn't do a worse job taking care of her if I put effort into it! So, unfortunately I am still keeping her in the 10 gallon until Tuesday (found an Exo-Terra nano tall for a good price) when I can put her in to a more suitable enclosure. I did get her some new substrate and made sure it was moist (not swampy). She was very cooperative with me when I moved her to a small critter keeper (so I could clean out her tank), which was a relief because I was so nervous about moving her, being that it was my first time and all. But she played nice and I have much more confidence now. She immediately went to the water I had put in with her, and stayed there a very long time (who knows how long it's been since she's had a real drink). I also taped up a lot of the screening on the tank cover (making sure there was no sticky parts where she could get stuck), and am keeping it weighted down with some heavy books for now; I was actually surprised she's never gotten out). She has totally ignored the crickets I put in for her to nom on, but I'm trying not to get too worried about this as I'm sure she's very stressed out.
Me and my son love her so much already! He was initially very afraid of spiders until I started researching T's, and then he started asking me tons of questions (most of which I had to look up answers to, myself lol), and he has spent a good amount of time going to 'check on her' and just sitting and watching her)...it's so nice to see his fascination
Here's a pic of our new baby:
I'm sure the 2nd T won't be far off hehe