@@alexman5203 lps are one of my favorite species, they’re so cool and get big quick. Truly incredible. I love them so much that I have 5 in my collection, all in different stages of growth. Thank you, I hope so too! I now have 4 balfouris, so I have a good chance of getting a male and female. As for my s. Lineatus, I got a female from a vendor, and attempted a pairing project. No results yet. And some of my males have passed away at this point. One is still kicking strong though.

@@audreyabby74 oh my goodness you have made my dayyyyy!!! You are so sweet. Ooooo, yes I totally should do a p Metallica update! They’ve actually molted recently. Honestly they are such a cool spider, and not nearly as crazy as I thought. Mine chills out in the open, so I get to see them all the time. They have a great appetite as well. Omg, I should do a full collection tour, that would be so fun!! Thank you so much, I appreciate you, and I hope you have a great day

@@Milquetoast702 thank you so much!! You’re so kind.

@@Milquetoast702 I’m so glad you did! And thank you for commenting 🥰 omg yes, it was so fast, I wasn’t expecting the speed at all lol. And all of the spiders were so healthy and active

@@misseryn29 hope so too!! Depending on the size, you totally can see it with the naked eye. Something that might help is that females will have the Uterus Externus. This is sometimes more easily identifiable than the spermatheca, as spermatheca can differ in shape, size, and color due to species differences. They can also hide behind the uterus externus, making them harder to see. Look for a translucent flap, that’s the uterus. And it becomes more easily identifiable when dried, as it becomes more opaque. If the molt is covered in water, this translucent flap can be invisible. Another tip is to spread the abdomen as much as possible. Once, I had a molt that I thought I’d stretched out, and I couldn’t see anything at all. But it just so happened that there was a fold right where the female parts were, and the female parts were hiding inside this fold. I stretched out the molt even more and boom, spermatheca and uterus

@ I know what to look for, just haven’t done ones this small. I would like to confirm darn it!

@ thank you so much for your advice!!!

@@misseryn29 you got this!! Honestly the microscope I have is worth the money. I got it from American Lab Trading. It was a price, but well worth it compared to the microscope I bought from Amazon. I also have a digital microscope from Amazon that works wonders with larger specimens. The smallest it's been able to help with is about 2", while the real microscope has been able to identify structures on specimens at 0.75". What size are your tarantulas?

@@misseryn29 oh my goodness, you’re so right. Where did I get quart from 🤦‍♀️. Thank you for pointing this out!!! I’ll put an edit in the description.

It’s totally okay, I just kept hearing you say quarts and was like, “ she must have big hands!!!” LOL! Love fear not and have been looking for more T influencers/content creators out there! So glad I found you! And I can’t even do a TT video without getting nervous!

@@misseryn29 Hahaha, it's so funny that I didn't even think about it while I was filming. Could you imagine how big my hands would have to be to handle a whole 4 quart container like that?? That'd be wild lmao. I'm so glad you found my channel too!!! I also have an Instagram, it's easier to post there, so I post pretty frequently. For youtube, I have to fully edit videos, so it's a bit harder to upload. Plus I've been sick a lot recently, haven't been able to film. Aww!! I completely understand, honestly. All it takes is practice! You can probably pick up on my nervousness / newness to filming & editing in some of my first videos, but then I kind of figure out the things I like to do / say / edit in the next videos. Plus, I've tried multiple times in my life to get a KZbin channel going on various things. But turns out Tarantulas was the route to go the whole time. I've been in the hobby since maybe about 2018, but never thought to make my own videos/content about it. I've been really blessed that so many people have given so much support. It's really refreshing to see.

@@lilspooders 2016 is when I started searching, and I found TKat, Prtco/Dark Den, Dave/Dave’s Little Beasties, Tom Moran, The T Collective - all great/amazing/educational…and a few others I won’t mention, but you never came up… It would have been nice to see another female out there. It took 3 years to get the nerve up to decide to make the plunge, another 3 years to convince my wife and negotiate… we have a deal, if one gets out she gets a hotel until I find it. 😂🤣😂🤣 Then just over a year of personal research on husbandry, and I made the plunge. I know have 32 arachnids in total, to include an Asian Forrest Scorpion, Brown Widdow, 4 Wolfies, and 26 Ts - (including 2 OBTs out of my several baboons). It is seeming to take forever for these slings to grow, and they need to learn I am an old lady!!!!! I wanna see them as adults! LOL

@@Marilynmoonchild 🥹❤️🥰 thank you so very much!!! You’re so sweet.

@@Spooqetti-333 tattoo cups! I found them on Amazon. This set came in multiple sizes, and I can definitely say that I have used all three sizes in various enclosures. My spiders do use them. And you can even find them in different shapes! Like pumpkins for Halloween!

@@kenresendez2665 you are so sweet!!! Thank you so much for your kind words. Oooo, OBTs are a great choice! They’re a really cool spider and build amazing webs if given enough anchor points. They are a terrestrial tarantula, meaning they require more ground space than air space. So you want to look for an enclosure with more width than height. It depends on the size of the spider, but a good rule of thumb is the enclosure needs to be about 3x the spiders diagonal leg span (the typical measuring method for measuring tarantulas). For an OBT, I’d actually bump this number up to about 4x the spiders size, because if you give them extra space between you and the enclosure door, they won’t be as reactive. OBTs are famous for their spicy attitude, but I haven’t had any problems with mine. I give them a huge amount of space. But keep in mind that with larger enclosures, the ventilation holes get bigger, so make sure the ventilation holes are smaller than the spiders carapace (main body segment) before rehousing them into it. Otherwise you’ll have an escapee to try to track down. You also want to provide enough substrate for the OBT to dig and build their burrows. They will create really cool networks of tunnels if given the opportunity. And provide plenty of anchor points. You can use cork bark tubes, sticks, aquarium decor, just about anything. The spider will web these up and incorporate them into their web tunnels. They are an old world species, so handling is not recommended. They have more medically significant venom than new world tarantulas. But if you give them enough space and respect, this shouldn’t be a concern. I haven’t even been threat-postured by my sweet Clementine, and I’ve had her for over 2 years now. And my previous OBT never threatened-postured me either. That’s so sweet that you have a friend giving you some spiders!!! Which species is he giving you?

@@cupofjae omg you’re so sweet, that’s not weird at all and I am so happy I could make enjoyable content 🥰🥰 thank you so so much. yess, you should totally shop with them, they’re amazing.

@@cupofjae thank you!! Molting during transit can be very dangerous for sure. Molting is a difficult time for spiders already, but movement and shaking (like during the shipping process) can stress the spider even more. The movement or extra stress might also cause broken limbs or incomplete molts. To add onto this, until their new exoskeleton hardens, they are extremely vulnerable. Usually they like to stretch to pump their bodily fluid to fill their limbs and other body parts, growing a bit bigger in the process. If they’re in a shipping container, they won’t be able to stretch out like they want to. Being so crammed into a tiny space might also cause their exoskeleton to harden in funky ways. And also, if you’re trying to unpack the shipping vial and trying to move the spider into their new enclosure, them being so soft and vulnerable is a dangerous situation too. Injuries are more likely during this time. Fear Not Tarantulas wants to make sure your new pet is here to stay with you for a long time, so they extend their live arrival guarantee if your spider molts during transit. That way, if the worst happens and your spider doesn’t make it (even if they molted successfully), that you can get a new spider.

@@user-teresastarantulas thank you for sharing your experience! I’m so sorry for your losses. I think the additional air flow / air volume helps, and more substrate being available lets the slings build whatever tunnels they want. The ones in this video have been thriving, building amazing tunnels.

@@user-teresastarantulas yesss, room to grow, and room to not scare me every time I need to get into the enclosure lmao.

@@JessMarie-o4l thank you for commenting! It’s honestly such a great question. There’s only one way to fully confirm if a tarantula is male or female, and that’s with a molt. That way you can see the internal parts, such as the uterus externus of a female, which presents as a translucent flap. Behind that flap, there will also be Spermatheca. Each species has differently shaped spermatheca. Some have little ovals, some have tubes. So it’s a good idea to look at reference images on Google or tarantula forums for your specific species. With larger specimens (4-5”), these spermatheca and uterus flap should be visible to the eye. With smaller specimens, you may need a digital microscope or even a true microscope for the smallest specimens. I’ve been able to confirm a female at 0.75” with a true microscope. There is also ventral sexing, but it is mostly just guessing until a molt confirms it. There’s certain markers that are sometimes more obvious once a specimen becomes larger, such as a darkened arch between the first set of book lungs - that is indicative of a male. It’s called the epiandrous fusillae patch. There’s also how far apart the first set of book lungs are: close together is more likely to be male. Far apart, more likely to be female. Also you can look at the shape of the epigastric furrow. More curved, more likely to be female. Straight across, more likely to be male. If you know what you’re looking for, it can become easy to identify these items. But a tarantula confirmed via ventral sexing is only a guess, and not a true confirmation, until there’s been a molt. Then the molt will confirm.

I actually have a very short video on my channel identifying the important structures on a female tarantula’s molt! I label the structures so you can see what they look like

@@drdoolittlefishhobbyist6055 they are such cool spiders! They do hide a lot though. But the web tunnels they make are absolutely incredible. I rehoused and paired my female over a month ago, and she has created this amazing web tunnel and intricate network of other web trails along the entire enclosure.

@@jerithbriant805 there are so many great choices!!! Each tarantula has pros and cons, it’s so hard to decide which ones to get!!! And there’s so many cool ones out there

@@drdoolittlefishhobbyist6055 thank you so much! Yes indeed, I always try to keep in mind that my spiders are more afraid of me than i am of them. To them I’m a giant, or a potential predator! So I just try to remain calm, cool, and collected. I respect their space and boundaries. And have great outcomes because of that. I’ll stay in the “Never Been Bitten” club as long as I respect my spoods.

@@NavigatorVivi whoo! They’re a great source of tarantulas. They’re one of my favorite vendors. Which ones did you order? You’re going to love them ❤️

@lilspooders I ordered an Arizona Blonde and a Pumpkin patch. I can not remember the scientific names yet. I am glad there are channels like your's. I would not know what to do without you all. 💜

@@NavigatorVivi omg those are fantastic choices!! I have two Arizona Blondes (Aphonopelma chalcodes) and they are so gorgeous. Heads up that they like to go on food strikes where they won’t eat for a long time. My sling named Toast went a whole year without eating once. Don’t panic if yours goes a while without food sometimes too. And I have two pumpkin patches, they’re a great species! Very colorful and interesting to watch. My one has hid itself in its burrow, but luckily it’s up against the side of the enclosure so I can still see it. Its name is Jack, my other is named Speckles! Aww you are so kind!! I’m so thankful you found my channel, and others as well. and I’m glad our content is helpful! That’s exactly why I make content.

@@jodiansley6124 thank you for the feedback! I’ve tried additional lighting in previous videos but what ends up happening is reflections on the acrylic enclosures, then it makes it hard to show off the spiders.

@@courtneysscaleslegs9569 oooo I highly recommend picking up a b klaasi if you can!! I love g pulchra too, I have a number of them so I can hopefully get a female. I can understand being nervous about true spiders! Luckily wolfs are a nice true spider to try out. They are kinda fast though. But they can’t climb the enclosure walls, so you don’t have to worry so much about escapees. They are also amazing hunters, and grow very steadily.

@@chantalspdrlvr hi!! I am so thankful for your kind words. Thank you for your support. I’m 30 and very blessed to be able to care for so many spiders. It’s like I have my own little insect zoo! Work does take up a lot of my time, but I’m thankful to still have time for this wonderful hobby.

@@laurensalters2740 aww I’m so glad we can validate each others experiences!! Keeping species we’ve never had before can be intimidating, nerve-wracking, but also exciting! And inspire us to grow. After this unpacking, this p Metallica has adjusted very well and has become one of my favorites

boo 👹

@@amgtarantulas thank you! I highly recommend this vendor, it was an amazing experience

@@amgtarantulas thank you!! I love these two so much

@@Keaongela thank you! She is one of my stars for sure. They are doing GREAT!! She hasn’t torn them up and they are rooting at different places in the vine! Even in room lighting they seem to be thriving. I see new leaves in all of my enclosures

@@mazaleska thank you so much!! Oooooo that totally would, thank you for that suggestion!!

@@sharonfloyd3101 thank you so much!!!

@@kelseybarrett6174 thank you so much!! I really tried to make this girl comfy. She is obsessed with the big stick and her big pink rock. The 12” cube is also a great option!! Each tarantula is different. My chalcodes doesn’t burrow, so I wanted to give her more floor space to walk around. But another chalcodes totally could burrow, and that extra height in the 12” cube would come in handy! Omg you’re welcome, I struggled so bad with the “snap” close of these lids until I started sliding them. Now it’s easy peasy

@@lilspooders aww I’m glad she’s loving it! I gotta find some pink slate for my girl now!! 🩷🩷

@@kelseybarrett6174 definitely do it! For arid species, it gives them a dry place to hang out! Some stores might sell it as Rainbow Slate, because it has a lot of pretty colors in it. Also, when picking out a piece, go for one that is nice and smooth, no sharp edges on the top. And then the sides you can cover with substrate to reduce the sharpness

@@cosmicarachnid626 thank you so much!! ❤️ omg how exciting!! I bet she does, Tarantula Cribs enclosures are amazing!

@@tetra3ne56scur3 yeah! I was so lucky. Just passing through the room and was like “hey, you’re about to give birth!” It’s awesome to have these little critters, isn’t it? Hopefully one day you’ll be able to watch a birth in your colony ❤️

@@lilspooders by the way I just subscribed to you. I have a Madagascar cockroach video up check it out

@@cosmicarachnid626 thank you!! Unboxing Tarantula Cribs is always so fun. I did use some of these enclosures already, though I do know I have to still edit rehousing Stripe into that big 12” cube enclosure. Keep an eye out, hopefully I’ll be able to post that video soon!!

@@tarantulakat they’re so amazing. I’ll definitely post a rehousing as soon as I pick the perfect spoods to go into them! ❤️

Haha, thank you for saying that! I try to spoil my spoods. Thank you so much, I appreciate your kind words. Aww!!! It's great that you have the same tarantula! They are so amazing. Omg, definitely do get more of the Aphonopelma genus. I have quite a few and they're a treat to have. Thank you for commenting!!

@@over-educated-sp they are so cool!! And I think they were hand-designed by the vendor himself!

@@over-educated-sp that is so funny! I haven’t seen that episode! Thank you so much for your support and kind words, I really appreciate you. And 100% agree with you, entomology is incredible

@@littlewigglemonster7691 they are so amazing! Thank you! Omg you totally should get one, they’re lovely.

@littlewigglemonster7691 I’m glad you found my channel too!! We’re meant to find things at the time they’re meant to come into our lives ❤️

I do so when I’m unsure of their sex. Once I’m able to confirm if they’re female or male through a molt, I’ll call them by she or he, but until then I keep it neutral.

“They” as a pronoun can also be used as a singular pronoun as well, not just for a group.

@@lilspooders I wasn't being rude I hope I didn't come off that way my fiance watches your videos and I was thinking I was missing something lol

@@tarantulakat omg, my day has been made. You’re so awesome ❤️ thank you for your videos, you’ve inspired me so much.

@@dirtycorn4958 thank you!! She seems to like it; she’s much more active now. I agree, decorating is so much fun, and one of the best parts of keeping tarantulas

@@puppybreath87 I agree!!! I love A Chalcodes. They are gorgeous

@@dirtycorn4958 I’m glad you liked it!!! I might have to start adding bonus footage at the end of all my videos, it was super fun to do it with this one.

@@Juicechula thank you!!! Omg I agree so hardcore. I’ve loved watching the tunnel projects of mine! I’m so happy I picked these up. How big is yours? ❤️

@@puppybreath87 thank you!! Omg you definitely should. It was affordable to get, and adds so much detail in enclosures. Especially ones that are smaller and can’t fit a live plant.

@@lilspooders Yes! I’m definitely going to go pick some up! Will definitely add a nice pop of pretty green to my tarantulas enclosures. 🥰

@@mrcass8075 that depends on the size of the scorpion! There’s so many great terrestrial enclosures offered on Tarantula Cribs website. I’d definitely look at the terrestrial options, and not the other options on the website. A Terrestrial setup will definitely be the right way to go. I did a quick google search and the common recommendation for an adult emperor scorpion is a 10 gallon tank. A 10 gallon tank measures 20”x10”x12”. The largest terrestrial Tarantula Cribs enclosure offered is the Terrestrial XL, measuring 18”x12”x12”. So it would compare pretty nicely to a 10 gallon tank when looking at size.

@@lilspooders thanks appreciate you helping me out.