Chilie Rose

[Manoona]

Hiya,

Im very soon to inherit my brother chilie rose, very orignally named Rosie! Anyway she has her set up and so far seem quite happy, hes had her about a year shes shed once and seems to eat fine most of the time but as I've never kept a tarantula before any advice on her would be great.

Any info about what to feed her and how often would be great and any tips on handling her would be fab. She used to be fine being handled but since he moved out of home and shes been left at my mums house she hasnt been handled in a long time and never by me so really anything that I might find useful will be cool!

Cheers - I'll upload some photos when I get a chance too

[nigels mommy]

hi and welcolme chillis need to be kept dry with a full waterbowl that you can overflow slightly, they dont like the damp, they can eat a cricket maybe every week but will sometimes refuse for ages, dont worry thats normal, and as for holding i dont hold mine so cant give any advice there, moulting in bigger spidrs happen once in a blue moon,
cheers

[_TiMiSdRuNk_]

Just have the heat pad under half the tank then she can decide where shes warm enough! Keep the enclosure fairly dry just allowing a slight humidity from the water dish should be good enough. And try her on a locust and if not big crickets! Hope that helps

[_TiMiSdRuNk_]

Oh and on the subject of handling.... as a rule spiders don't like or need to be handled and they can never become "tame" you can get a few spiders like chiles that are pretty docile and reluctant to bite but that doesn't mean it never will! But i guess if you do decide to handle then i allways tap the abdomen with forceps first to test the mood and if she walks away then put your hand in front of her and tap her on! I've not held a spider for quite a while now though i guess i must be getting more nervous in my old age :P

[Manoona]

Cool thanks guys, she eats about once a week so good to know im ont he right track, I havent handled her and my brother hasnt in a long time, probably because she didnt look too friendly so maybe i'll just leave her be keeping her fed, watered and dry!

Thanks!!

[perthchickie]

I wouldn't go tapping a T's abdomen, you could hurt it. What I normally do is just slightly touch the back leg with the bristles of a small paintbrush to encourage them to walk forward.

[_TiMiSdRuNk_]

Originally Posted by perthchickie

I wouldn't go tapping a T's abdomen, you could hurt it. What I normally do is just slightly touch the back leg with the bristles of a small paintbrush to encourage them to walk forward.

Lol i don't mean tapping it with a great whack :P I just mean a gentle nudge to see what kind of reaction you get! If she walks away then go for it but if she swings around balls to that!

[squaddie]

Just have the heat pad under half the tank then she can decide where shes warm enough!

Spiders don't like being heated from underneath. Attach a heat mat to the side of the tank for best results.

Offer a prey item that is roughly the same length as the carapace of the T once a week. However, Chile's are known for going on super long fasts without eating, and this is nothing to worry about.

In my experience (not speaking for everyone) Chile's are the best species for handling. Every one I have come across, including mine likes to bear fangs to the hand! As mentioned above, handling isn't required, and the T would probably prefer it if you didn't.

[atum]

Originally Posted by squaddie

Spiders don't like being heated from underneath. Attach a heat mat to the side of the tank for best results.

Ditto. It's because spiders burrow to get away from the heat if they're too hot i.e summer months.