Tarantula Molts

Our seven inch female Grammostola aureostriata (Chaco Golden Knee) had been “pre-molt” for a few weeks now. (The hairless patch on her abdomen turned from pink to black, she stopped eating, etc.) Every time I passed her tank, I looked in, hoping to see her in the process of molting. Finally, on the morning of February 13, I found her like this… For those of you not familiar with tarantula behaviors, ...

Thai Tiger Tarantula

I open the lid and can see the water dish half full (because I’m an optimist) and a slab of cork bark. I take the water dish out, clean it, fill it, and return it. I take out a couple of pieces of debri that I see lying around. I dump two fat crickets into the tank and close the lid. I return the tank to the bookshelf where it resides, and stop. What the heck is in this tank again? I purchased a beautiful Thai...

Tarantula 'Tudes

Doctors sometimes bring patients in for what is called a “stress test.” The patient is made to perform certain activities that will increase their heart rate - like running on a treadmill. Well, we at Amazing Tarantulas have an easier way to get the ‘ole pumper going; stick your finger in the tank of our adult female Brachypelma vagans (Mexican Red Rump)! Now, I’m not saying that this spider...

Molting Spiders

Well, ’tis the season for molting spiders! It seems as if I am finding new molts every couple of days. In the last month and a half, we have molts from: Poecilotheria fasciata, Aphonopelma sp. (Carlsbad Green), Brachypelma emilia, Grammostola aureostriata, Cyclosternum fasciatum, 2 Brachypelma albopilosum, Lasiodora parahybana, Brachypelma auratum, Aphonopelma chalcodes, and last night, Grammostola rosea. A....

New Additions from the ATS Conference

If you’ve been on my site before, you know that I wouldn’t attend the biggest event in the tarantula hobby without bringing a few new ones home. Pamphobeteus sp.II from Ecuador. Aphonopelma hentzi Aphonopelma chalcodes (caught by Carla during a morning field trip on...

Tarantula Tattoos

I am a little late in posting this entry, but you know what they say…better late than never! (They really do say that.) Anyway, Carla and I have shared another “tarantula-related” bonding experience that we would like to share with you. About three weeks ago now, Carla and I got tarantula tattoos! Carla’s “Avicularia metallica” tattoo. We were eating dinner at our favorite Mexican ...