good day.
I am new to keeping Tarantulas and have one of each of the following:
0.0.1 Brachypelma vagans
0.0.1 Brachypelma albopilosum
0.0.1 Psalmopoeus irminia
0.0.1 Brachypelma boehmei
0.0.1 Hysterocrates gigas
0.0.1 Lasiodora parahybana
0.0.1 Acanthoscurria geniculata
0.0.1 Cyclosternum fasciatum
0.0.1 Grammostola pulchripes
0.0.1 Grammostola rosea
I know I need to get The Tarantula Keepers Guide book. ( Planning on sorting this out at end of month)
And I know that I should avoid care sheets unless they are validated by the above book or one of the others mentioned in "Stans rant"

In the mean time what I'd like to know is
1) where could i get the correct care sheets for the above?
2) i read somewhere it is advisable to put your T's in a room where they can get a normal day night routine. this would be kinda hard at my place. is it necessary? where do you guys/girls keep yours?
3) from what i hear as long as i keep my T's room temp above say 16C and below say 35C ( degrees celcius) is this right?
4) I'm under the impression that picking up the Ts Enclosure( to view) disturbs them is this true?

I'm asking question 3 and 4 because i'm thinking of making a shelf/ cabinet to store them to be able to view feed etc without
bothering them.

5) How often am i supposed to clean the enclosures? What must i look for to decide "Ok now it's time to clean"?
6) Is feeding the little buggers twice a week too much? For the most part they are all slings ( not sure when they become Juveniles)
7) Is it strange that i don't really have this huge desire to touch, hold or cuddle them? i just want to view them

I had a whole lot of questions I wanted to ask, but as i started this post I forgot most of them. For the last few days I have been going through this forum looking for as much info as I can find. I feel like my head is going to explode LOL..

If I have missed the answers and they were answered in other posts could you please point me in the right direction

Hey Vash1979 and welcome

In my opinion:

1.) There are a lot of general care sheets but if you are looking for specific care sheets i would use this website : www.bighairyspiders.com/ an example www.bighairyspiders.com/geniculata.shtml

2.) From "The Tarantula's Keepers Guide" it is important that your tarantula's can distinguish between day and night time (NOTE: This does not mean put your T's in direct sunlight, They will die!). Just leave the curtains open would be my advice? But in my opinion yes it is important that your T's know the difference between day and night.

3.) I would say keep your T's between 24-28 degrees celcius is the normal temperature but T's will survive much more abnormal temperatures. A warmer tarantula will eat and be more active, but be careful not to over heat. I usually get worried when the temps in a cage get above 30 or 32. 35 and i would immediatly do something.

4.) Picking up the enclosures really isen't a bad thing in my opinion, yes it disturbs them but its not going to scar them for life if you pick up the enclosure, unless you decide to pick up the enclosure and shake it up and down like a rollercoaster.

5.) When maintaining the T's enclosure... As slings there really is no cleaning because you are constantly moving them into bigger enclosures but a big tarantula's cage can get messy and all you really need to do is take out the 'Bolus' (Ball of food- Left overs) and change the peat every so once in a while. Otherwise i find cleaning very easy.

6.) There is alot of debate about feeding and people will argue with this, but i would say feed them once a week maybe twice a week as slings. For one, i feed all my tarantulas big or small one prey item a week and they are fine.

7.) Nope its not strange at all, Tarantula's don't really have any affectionate side and won't love you. They are better left alone and handeling is not usually recommended so don't worry, you definatly do not have to handle them.

I do suggest you buy "The Tarantula Keeper's Guide" it is a very good book!

Goodluck with all your T's and i hope i helped atleast a little

Vin

Yes thanks. Was a big help. Still going to make a shelf or whatever to put up heating pads at the back (at the moment i have 1 big pad that they all sit on. I only put it on when it's late and starting to get cold)

The best room i can think of at the moment for location is our pc room, but we do often have the lights on till around say 10PM or 12Am. but will try find a place where there is not too much activity after dark with lights on

:ohmy: in my opinion and from what i have heard, do not put them on a heat pad at all. this is not good for them as they have no place to go when they want to be cooler. Some tarantulas will start burrowing to get away from the heat and the more they burrow, the closer they get to the heat source so they burrow some more, resulting in you cooking your tarantulas slowly.

I am open for corrections if i am wrong...

i have heard i must not put them on top of a pad. i'm planning on rectifying that this weekend as soon as i have time. we don't leave the pad on aal the time only late at night till around 6 am when i get home due to the low temps where i live. and thanks for the advice guys.

Hi there

Regarding the caresheets. I am busy compiling some basic caresheets for most Ts in the hobby in SA. I have researched this site, and asked some advice and help from alot of these respectable breeders and collectors in the hobby.

If you want, you can send me a PM as well, and I can send you the sheets I have done already.

I only clean my enclosures thoroughly when I rehouse them. Other than that I just take out uneaten leftovers and molts. I feed my Ts once a week, because there are a lot. I never handle my Ts. I have handled my B.albopilosum once, and that was it. I don't like handling Ts, I don't think it is natural, but others enjoy it. The best Temps in my opinion will be between 22 - 29degrees.