How old is my Tarantula and is the animal male or female?

[BenTarantula]

I believe that the substrate is so moist because the way the water dish was positioned before was somewhat buried and I think the substrate would just wick up the water; I'd add water and soon thereafter the dish would be empty.

 

[octanejunkie]

I added a piece of egg carton to create hide for the spider. My concern right now is that the substrate is rather moist.

Be careful with paper carton, it often molds

Ts will often dump their water dishes, or fill them with substrate, it just comes with the territory

 

[BenTarantula]

Thank you! That was my concern, too, given the moisture in the substrate. I've had the lid off of the enclosure for an hour or so now so I hope that some of the excess moisture will evaporate. It seems that the spider has no desire to escape the enclosure, but I've been supervising!

 

[CritterKeeper79]

I added a piece of egg carton to create hide for the spider. My concern right now is that the substrate is rather moist

I’m worried about how that sling looks. It doesn’t look happy for sure.

 

[CritterKeeper79]

Thank you! That was my concern, too, given the moisture in the substrate. I've had the lid off of the enclosure for an hour or so now so I hope that some of the excess moisture will evaporate. It seems that the spider has no desire to escape the enclosure, but I've been supervising!

Is it eating in the last photo? It’s legs look like it’s in an odd position. Maybe just the angle?

 

[octanejunkie]

Is it eating in the last photo? It’s legs look like it’s in an odd position. Maybe just the angle?

I just went back to look, perhaps a funky pic, but on closer inspection, that enclosure is huge for that size sling. Like kinda too big. I would use something 1/3 the size for a sling that size.
It's like a football field for a hedgehog.

 

[octanejunkie]

Thank you! That was my concern, too, given the moisture in the substrate. I've had the lid off of the enclosure for an hour or so now so I hope that some of the excess moisture will evaporate. It seems that the spider has no desire to escape the enclosure, but I've been supervising

Get a piece of 1/8" metal wire cloth (screen) and put it on top of the open enclosure with a rock to hold it down and leave it for a few hours or overnight, you won't have to supervise it

 

[BenTarantula]

I’m worried about how that sling looks. It doesn’t look happy for sure.

The spider was probably upset that I was in the enclosure making changes.

 

[BenTarantula]

Get a piece of 1/8" metal wire cloth (screen) and put it on top of the open enclosure with a rock to hold it down and leave it for a few hours or overnight, you won't have to supervise it

Good call on the screen. Thank you!

 

[BenTarantula]

I just went back to look, perhaps a funky pic, but on closer inspection, that enclosure is huge for that size sling. Like kinda too big. I would use something 1/3 the size for a sling that size.
It's like a football field for a hedgehog.

Yea, that's the enclosure the spider was housed in when I purchased it.

 

[BenTarantula]

I was terrified to find my sling floating in its water dish this morning. I thought it had drowned, but it quickly exited the dish when I disturbed the enclosure. I took a pipette and removed some of the water out of the dish, thinking it may have been too full.

Anyways, the sling seems to greatly appreciate its new hide. I put a cricket in this morning and I finally saw the t strike as the cricket explored the spider's cave. The cricket, however, managed to escape (for now).

 

[octanejunkie]

Don't worry, tarantulas float. Usually.

 

[BenTarantula]

Week 3 Photos

 

[octanejunkie]

Week 3 Photos

Cute.
I'm not a fan of rocks in tarantula enclosures for several reasons, mainly because if the enclosure topples and the rocks come loose the t can get injured

 

[BenTarantula]

Thank you for the advice! I'm taking them out!

 

[BenTarantula]

There we go.

 

[octanejunkie]

There we go.

You can throw a couple of walnut shell hell halves or a piece of a plastic plant in there that your t can use as anchor points for webbing

 

[BenTarantula]

That is an excellent idea because I feel as if the walnut shells would provide that "natural look" I was intending to go for with rocks!

 

[BenTarantula]

Pretty sure my spider is carrying a cricket's head in its chelicerae...

 

[CritterKeeper79]

Pretty sure my spider is carrying a cricket's head in its chelicerae...

It would appear that way, I agree. Looks like it’s settled a bit.