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Message: <blockquote data-quote="vahurst" data-source="post: 6866" data-attributes="member: 467">Hi everyone, I'm a high school science teacher, and was given a tarantula today by someone who was given an ultimatum by their wife to get rid of it.  I don't know the guy that had it (friend of another teacher at the school), so I am hoping you all can help me out a bit.  I think this little guy (or gal, again, why I need a little help), is super cool, and will make a great class pet.  A couple questions: 1. what species is it?  I think it is a chilean rose, but I am new to this. I attached a pic. 2. What is the best sized cage and substrate for it?  Right now it is in a 8x12 carrying cage.  I have a 10 and a 20 gallon aquarium I can use.  The substrate in there now looks like pine mulch, and has been turned into a big pile of silk/mulch mixture, except one bare corner where the spider likes to sit (it stayed there much of the day, however, i imagine he is a bit stressed)  I gave him a old marker box to hide in, but he hasnt used it yet. 3. What to feed and how much?  I was told the spider molted about a week and a half ago and hasn't been fed since.  I offered it a couple mealworms I had and it pounced and ate them immediately.   What I have read has ranged from a couple mealworms or crickets 2 to 3 times a week, to 1 cricket once a week.  Can I feed it cockroaches? (if so, my old school will be a never ending food source!) Thanks in advance!  I am looking forward to several years with my new friend.  If there is anything else I should know I'd appreciate it.</blockquote>

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