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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tortoise Tom" data-source="post: 138185" data-attributes="member: 27883">Hello and welcome. I'll try to answer some of your questions:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Sexual maturity in tarantulas is determined more by size than age. They can grow at vastly different rates and for a wide variety of reasons, so two years old doesn't give us enough info. How long is your tarantula if you measure diagonally from the longest front leg to the longest back leg? Once your tarantula molts, it will be easier to get a more precise measurement. You can guesstimate it on a live spider though.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The crickets should be no bigger than the tarantula's carapace. Sometimes called the thorax, cephalothorax, or more correctly labeled: the prosoma. Mealworms or super worms can be a little longer than that.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Eight days is plenty long enough to settle in. Try to feed her tonight or tomorrow.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A picture of the enclosure would help us to give you better tips. What size is it? What substrate? Is the substrate damp or dry?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">What is the ambient temperature in the room where the tarantula is being kept? Unless your house is unusually cold, they should not need any heat sources. I wouldn't use that bulb. They can be quite dangerous and usually serve to dry the spider out. Normal comfortable room temp should be sufficiently warm, unless you are an Eskimo and live in an igloo. Are you an Eskimo?</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">One molt in two years for a young spider? No. That does not sound right.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">About handling: It is generally discouraged. There is zero benefit for the spider, but substantial risk. If you want to do it anyway, proceed with caution and do it in a safe area down on the floor. Have catch cups, a chopstick for prodding, and a cardboard blocker at the ready.</li> </ul>Please feel free to ask lots more questions. We are here to talk tarantulas and your questions will fuel the conversation.</blockquote>

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