YAY

Earlier this week, I went to the pet shop to get the pinktoe they had on sale. Unfortunately I was a bit short on cash. So the next day I went back to get her. I get there and told the employees (A) and (C) in the back that I wanted to get the pinktoe(B) they had. (C) told (A) that I had 7 tarantulas and that I was a ‘tarantula master,’ which made me smile. (A) went to the front to get a container. (A) came back, put the aquarium on the floor and attempted to catch (B). (B) was so fast that (A) couldn’t quite catch (B). So I took the container and took matters in my own hands and got (B). (A) asked me if any of my tarantulas are venomous, then backtracked and said they all are, but do I have any aggressive ones, I told (A) I had one, the OBT. (C) asked us how to tell the sexes of the T’s. (A) answered that the sexes could be identified when they are older. (C) is the employee that whenever she sees me coming in asks about my tarantulas. I was glad that (A) wasn’t afraid of getting the tarantula herself, and that she was knowledgeable about tarantulas.

My Adventures in Arachnids

A few years ago, on an impulse, I bought an emperor scorpion (Pandinus emperator) at the pet shop. Since I had no experience, it didn’t last long with me.

A year ago I bought a Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea). I had experience with the scorpion, so I had a brief idea on how to take care of invertebrates. I was able to take care of it much better than the scorpion. Unfortunately, I made a big mistake, which resulted in her death.

I went to the Philippines in the summer of ’09. Unexpectedly, I stayed there for a long time, coming back home this past June. So when I returned, my rosea was dead. I should have asked somebody to look after her, if I had, I would have 2 tarantulas right now. But while in the Philippines, my fascination(and addiction) with tarantulas started.

I and my cousin have always been animal lovers. One day we went to the place nearby where there are many pet shops. They sell the usual pets, cats, dogs, fish, birds. But they also sell exotic animals such as snakes and invertebrates. My cousin bought a tarantula, a Chilean rose I think. Soon after, we searched the web for sources where we could buy more. We found this site. And as they say, the rest is history. At one point we had close to 40 tarantulas. But that number fluctuated constantly because we bought and sold them.

When I came back Stateside, I found my rose in a death curl position. I expected her to be dead, of course but I was still bummed. So I decided to go to the mall to check if they had any tarantulas or scorpions for sale. I was happy to find that they were selling a Pinktoe tarantula (Avicularia avicularia) because I had expected to find a rosea there again. I got it right away. I’m glad that I have easy access to crickets at the mall, 10 for a dollar.

My Avic had been a voracious eater. Until the time she wasn’t eating anymore. Having much experience having tarantulas, I knew that she was about to molt. She looked awesome after she molted. Now, after I think 2-3 weeks after her molt, she’s been eating a lot again.

I can’t wait to get another one.