Hello, i just got a baby fire leg a couple weeks ago and enjoy watching him eat and grow.. i just got a rose hair this last weekend and now i just ordered a baby smithi... im i addicted?? LOL

In one word...yes!

welcome to the club

Is there a cure???

Where's the best place to buy online the stuff feed the crickets to gut load them... And i have been putting a little water dish in there with her .. i read some where that you should put some cotton or paper towel in there so they won't drown. Or is it ok to have the water shallow like i have been. Also my fire leg sling is in a little container i have been misting him when things get dry... is that good enough for him to get water to drink??

Nope. Buy more tarantulas!

I like to gutload my crickets with fresh carrots, turns them orange but it does the trick. Don't put anything in the water dish, it will turn it into a breeding ground for bacteria! A wide shallow dish is the best option. How large is your fire leg? You might want to trickle a little bit of water down the side to dampen the substrate, it'll keep the humidity up better than misting.

Oh, and welcome!

Also do you folks handle your T's or just enjoy them without interacting with them??? I read it's not the best thing to do, to handle them... i'd like to hear your guys comments..

Welcome to the discussion board and hobby.

I feed goldfish flakes to my crickets if I feel they're starving. Unlike reptiles, tarantulas do not require gut loading, but a few extra nutrients will not hurt either.

As for handling, I do not. I only handle if I have to, say when someone goes walk about. Although I do handle sometimes to show folks they are mostly harmless, for educational reasons.

Christian


Oh, there is no cure, I've been addicted a long time...

I think it is a good idea to be comfortable with handling to some degree, because things happen and sometimes the only way you can save their lives is by not being afraid to touch them.

Welcome. Correct no treatment for tarantula addiction. One gets a littler relief by getting another one every now and then. People have pretty much answered your questions. When you have some time, there is lots of helpful, interesting and funny information on the forum so dig around and enjoy.

My fire leg sling is about the size of a nickel... been eating almost everyday and getting bigger too. I noticed that he's getting some color and hairy, lol.. My Rosie is about 4 inches or more, im picking up a smithi next weekend that's about the size of a 50 cent piece or a little bigger...

Whoa! Slow down on the feeding! Spiders do NOT need to eat every day, and feeding them too much, too often ("power feeding"), may actually shorten their lifespans. Standard rule of thumb is 6 to 8 crickets a month, but they can and do survive with far fewer. Mine get offered 1 cricket a week, and there are some pretty substantial spider booties in this house. One of the awesome people on this forum (I think it was Anette) has a lovely lady spider who went 2 years and 8 months without a good, solid meal. As long as they have water, they'll be fine.

Have you read the Tarantula Keeper's Guide yet? If not, order it NOW and start reading! http://www.amazon.com/The-Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive/dp/0764138855/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336882060&sr=8-1

Welcome to our obsession!

Ok i thought as a little guy he's need food, he eats them every time i drop one in.. I'm def gonna get that book, thanks..

Just ordered the book...

I get where you're coming from. Just remember - it's REALLY hard to starve a spider. Also, even though it may look like your guy's growing, the only part of him getting bigger is his butt. Spiders don't grow continuously, as you'll find out in the TKG. That's what molting is for. Between molts, their opisthosoma (booty), which is the only flexible part of the exoskeleton, can expand when food goes in and contract when it's done being digested. It is possible for spiders to become obese, especially in captivity. Once-a-week feedings will be fine, trust me. The only time you need to really worry about them not getting enough to eat is when their butts look shrunken and shriveled.

I'm glad you got the book! It's a great read. When I read it straight through the first time, I'd occasionally put it down, look at St Francis (my first tarantula, an A. hentzi) and ask her if she knew how amazing she was. Spiders are weird and wonderful creatures, and they'll keep you in awe and scratching your head for years. Enjoy reading about your guys!

Oh, and a little tip - we love to see pictures! http://atshq.org/boards/viewtopic.php?f=23&t=74 tells you how to post them on here.

Got my little Smithi today... that make three T's now... what to get next..hmmm LOL

Im thinking Avicularia Urticans.. what do you guys think??

Go for it! I'm personally a fan of all the Avics though, so I might be a little biased

And to reiterate, there is no hope for a cure. (I wanted two, started out with five, and now have 14 )

Welcome to the addiction!

We are all doomed. There is no other way to describe it.

But it's such a marvelous doomedness!

Might I suggest reading the following webpages?

Stan's Rant - READ AND HEED THE WARNINGS! READ THE BOOKS!

Myths, Misconceptions, Mistakes Perpetuated by Tarantula Enthusiasts - Follow the sub-links too.

Care and Husbandry of the Chilean Rose Tarantula - Tough Love!



Yes, you are now a sinner, and there is no hope! Has no one told you about




You've been warned!

(And, we offer a tip o' the old hat and our profound thanks to the Frito-Lay Company for institutionalizing the progenitor of this little joke.)