So...I went to Swifts, and ordered 4 more. Well, three, and I got a freebie. Now I'm so back into it, I half wonder why I ever got out. Oh, I remember. It's because I lost a string of slings all at once. Big money, and a disappointing loss of life. It happens, though. Fungus, a few escapees, and a cold draft finished off about 6 slings all within a few weeks. That prevented me from buying any more for a long time. Eventually I lost Charity, then Priscilla died of old age, and all I had left were the two.
Right here on my desk now, are Cocoa the King Baboon or Citharischius crawshayi, who is two inches across, fat, furry, and a lovely dutch cocoa brown. She's going to be enormous, with a thick body, and thick powerful legs. One of the sturdiest specimens, and she really looks it. Shy as hell, though. Someone on the Arachnoboards said "Say bye to her, while she's out, because you'll never see her again" heh. Mama Ji the Grammostola Rosea, like Priscilla and Hazel, my first species, and still a favorite. She's the second largest. Swift listed her as a half inch, as the freebie, but she's closer to 3/4" and looks ready to molt again. With this order, I chose tarantulas I'd had already, and knew how to take care of, so I also got a Nhandu chromatus, or a Brazilian Red Rump. They're so pretty, with long red setae, and striking banded black and white legs. They're docile, and get big. Very showy. She's only about a quarter inch from toe to toe, and I really hope this one makes it. I named her Olivia. The final addition is a Brachypelma albopilosum or Honduran Curlyhair. Never had this one before, but always wanted one. Long fine cream colored setae covering the legs and body, with a darker black or brown underneath. Fluffy spider. Michele encouraged me to name it Bob Ross.
I have them all in vials on my desk, besides Cocoa, who is in a deli cup. Bob moved all his substrate to the top of the vial, making it look like a clump of dirt defying gravity, and instead chooses to live on the smooth bottom. It was amusing to watch him relocate all the substrate, and now difficult to feed. That's one thing I really adore about keeping them. In spite of what most people might think, they do have definite personalities. Levels of activity, shyness, agressiveness, defensiveness. Just different patterns of behavior. I love learning about them, trying to memorize the scientific names, and recreate habitats based on their natural environment. I love the act of naming them and showing them off to people (non arachnophobes, that is) I would never use them to scare people, just to sort of help build acceptance, and educate. They really are fascinating creatures.
I'm so happy to have them, I'm already planning a wishlist for the nekst order. I've already decided to limit the really tiny 2 instars, instead going for slings that are 1" or larger. I seem to have better luck that way.
My upcoming list includes:
another Pterinochilus Murinus or Usambar Baboon. Affectionately known as the OBT (orange bitey thing)- I had two of these guys, and they were a trip. Very, er, animated and very orange. Very. The venom is a concern, but now that Alden's getting older, it wouldn't be fatal to any member of the household, just a huge pain.
Lampropelma violaceopes or a Singapore Blue. Huge, blue, and a foray into arboreals. I think I can handle it. They look beautiful. They're enormous. What can I say, I'm a size queen.
Grammastola pulchra, the Brazilian Black, only because I've always wanted a slick black tarantula, the kind that looks like a Halloween decoration. Docile, too.
Godamn my expensive hobbies.
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