Private breeder feeder & pet exotic roaches. Residing in sunny S. Ca. This blog is all about my collection of various critters, past & present. You'll find care sheets, tutorials and various information on my former reptiles & current inverts.
A quick update to those who have followed the progress of my G. rosea breeding project.
I bred her last November 09′. She was getting larger and larger and was due this month! I checked today and she had freshly molted. So it seems I won’t be getting an egg sac after all. Instead I get a fresh molt, what a trade-off.
She is gorgeous though. It’s probably a good thing she molted. Since I had bred her, my roach production and business has skyrocketed. So I wouldn’t have had much time now anyhow, so all is good.
A brief update on my Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens. (GBB) that I purchased back in August 09. They were half inch then and now 3″+. They have molted around 4 times now in my care. They’ll take down adult male B. dubia without a problem. Quite a move up from the B. lateralis they were eating.
Valid comments on/about/experience are all welcome. Spam, hate, offensive, etc… will be ignored/deleted. Your welcome to share videos as long as it is doesn’t violate any terms. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.
A brief tutorial of how I pack my tarantulas safely for shipping. Always use appropriate size container for tarantula being shipped. Line bottom, sides and top with tissue, napkin or similar. You want to mimic a burrow for the tarantula so it feels at home and also the tissue helps protect the tarantula during shipment.
After adding tissue linning, moisten slightly to help keep tarantula hydrated during its trip. Once you coax the tarantula into the container, cover with cap and place in insulated box with heat or cold pack. depending on season along with packing material to keep tarantula safe and stable during transit. This is how I pack and ship, with great success.
Valid comments on/about/experience are all welcome. Spam, hate, offensive, etc… will be ignored/deleted. Your welcome to share videos as long as it is doesn’t violate any terms. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.
WARNING: Tarantulas are unpredictable and can change there disposition at anytime and may bite. So handling is never advised unless you’re experienced. Old World species tend to be more venomous (stronger venom) than New World species who have urticating hairs. Take all precautions, do some research on the species you plan to own, etc…before handling these wonderful creatures.
Thought I would do a tarantula handling video for a client who had asked me how to safely handle her new B. smithi as it grows. While doing another breeding attempt with my G. rosea’s, I had the male in my hands and thought “handling video”. He cooperated really well.
Before attempting to hold your tarantula, test to make sure it is safe. You should never just reach in and grab your tarantula. You risk getting bit. If your tarantula is hungry, it could easily mistake your finger for a giant roach. Watch this feeding video to see how fast a tarantula can attack your finger when reaching in to pickup.
To attempt a safe pickup of your tarantula, take a paint brush, or a pair of tongs or similar and gently nudge the tarantulas back end. If it flicks urticating hairs, or worse yet, turns around rapidly and bites whatever your using to probe, then its not a good time to handle.
If however your tarantula scrolls up the side after nudging, then gently hold your hand at the edge for it to crawl onto. When handling your tarantula, never hold hi above the floor. Tarantulas bodies are very delicate. If it should fall from a couple of feet or more, it could severally injure or be fatal. So always take precautions and handle over a table, counter, bed or on the floor.
When handling your tarantula, they generally will walk forward in your hands. As your tarantula moves forward, move your free hand under and forward of your other hand so the tarantula has a consistant path to walk. While handling, never breathe or blow directly the tarantula. Doing so could startle it and cause it to become nervous and run off your hands.
Always place your hand in front when attempting to pickup. Only advanced keepers should attempt grabbing from above or behind. When done handling, just place your hand palm up inside the tarantulas enclosure and let it walk off gradually. Now you can safely handle your tarantula without to many concerns.
Valid comments on/about/experience are all welcome. Spam, hate, offensive, etc… will be ignored/deleted. Your welcome to share videos as long as it is doesn’t violate any terms. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.
