OBT In Action And a Sterling Example of Keeper Carelessness

>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=_JPxc-AVFuM

I debated for a while whether or not to post this, as I don't want folks to think that I'm trying to produced a sensationalized video of an already infamous spider for entertainment value. • No way. • In fact, when I started posting videos, I made the conscious decision to ONLY show examples of GOOD husbandry practices. However, I'm currently writing a blog about the P. murinus, and I think this video illustrates very well some of the points I make about this gorgeous but advanced species. • This was originally intended to be part of a feeding montage, but it didn't go as planned. Instead, I'm using as an example of why keepers always need to be cautious and diligent when working with their animals. • A few things I'd like to point out: • 1. I've had this specimen for years, and it has NEVER tried to bolt from the enclosure. In fact, it usually bolts to its den upon the slightest disturbance. This goes to show how unpredictable any species of tarantula can be and why complacency has no place in the hobby. I know this, so what I did here wasn't particularly bright. • 2. I have NEVER before taken the top off when feeding any of my OBTs. I always tap the enclosure to send them into their dens (which I did here), crack the top, toss the cricket in, then close the top. I thought that by dropping the cricket right at the mouth of my girl's den, I could safely catch video of her grabbing her prey. DUMB move on my part. I've had many tarantulas overshoot prey items or try to follow crickets out of the enclosure, so I know better. • 3. When shooting feeding videos, I normally have the enclosure top in my left hand poised right over the enclosure so that I can close it quickly if necessary (or, I crack the lid just a bit to get my shot). In this case, I carelessly set the lid down, which was why I couldn't put the top back on after it's first bolt. Again...CARELESS. When Ts are in feeding mode, they will often follow the crickets/roaches where every they go, even if it's outside of the enclosure. • • What you can't see in the video is that when the OBT overshot the cricket, I accidentally breathed on the webbing toward the top of the enclosure. Sensing the vibrations and already in feeding mode, the T scrambled to the site of the disturbance. This was in NO way a defensive or aggressive gesture; it was just looking for food. Still, if it hadn't stopped at the edge, I would have been scrambling for the catch cup so that I could quickly wrangle her back into her enclosure. Right after stopping the video, she ran back in and grabbed the cricket and I was able to put the cover back on. • Lesson learned. • No matter the species, the utmost attention and care is needed when performing tarantulas husbandry or when feeding these amazing animals. All it takes is one lapse in judgement or concentration when working with some of the quicker species to lose a spider and have a really bad day. • For those interested, the article can be found here: https://tomsbigspiders.wordpress.com/...

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