Ok I can't work out if I've got the sweetest or dumbest T ever. Here goes:

She'll be happily chilling out in her tank



Then I'll open her enclosure



Now she can get fully in2 that hole (believe it or not) but she sits there as if 'I can't c u So u can't c me' almost child like

She is sooooooooo funny  I think she's the sweetest dumb T I've ever know

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Ohhhhhhhh the excitement was growing, it was after 11am and the postman was due any minute. I was chatting 2 my good friend Michael (papilio) on msn who had been kind enough 2 send me 8 Atlas cocoons J and they wer due 2 arrive that day (They would have been here the day be4 but sadly it was a Bank Holiday Monday in the UK) So I was panicking that they wer already a day late. I spent the next couple of hours talking 2 Michael and looking out of the door 2 c if I cud see the postman in the distance. Sadly it wasn’t 2 be that day and me and Michael joked about how they would likely arrive wen he wasn’t around (Which I might add was very possible considering Michael lives in the U.S) and how I wouldn’t be able 2 (with excitement) wait 4 him 2 come on-line. 

Sure enough the following day the Postman arrived at 11am

ohhhhhhhh the excitement was 2 much. The 1^st thing I did was e-mail Michael and then waited ……….. and waited ……. and waited ….. I had a conversation with myself (which is pretty common with me) as 2 whether I should open the package without Michael. I decided not 2 but knew I needed 2 do something 2 calm my nerves while I waited. So I decided 2 change my Haplopelma lividum’s tank over The little guy was getting way 2 big 4 the enclosure he was in. I had 2 dig the little guy out (kinda upset him slightly lol) but it was nice 2 c his colours wer coming out at last

A few hours passed and I’d been pacing the floor (darn who wud of ever thought moths of all things would bring such excitement) My kids (who thought I’d already lost the plot) wer telling me 2 open it but I cudn't. Ohhhhhh at last Michael was on line  We talked thro as I opened each layer of the package, once I got 2 the plastic carton u cud see 1 of the little guys hadn’t made it but the rest looked just fine  as I lifted the cotton wool up ther in front of me wer these amazing little things (the cocoons)

I VERY carefully checked them all over, it was at this point I realized another male hadn’t made it. So we wer 2 males down L

So out of the 4 pairs Michael sent me 4 females and 2 males looked fine

Again I VERY carefully and with Michael’s guidance took each pupa out of ther cocoons. Most of them looked nice and plump with good colouring

1 of the females looked very different 2 the rest, I’m not sure if it’s began 2 dry out or if its just at a different stage of development (but it looks more dried out)

I had originally planned 2 keep them in the bathroom (much 2 my youngest daughters dismay) But sadly I found keeping both the humidity and temps high rather difficult in ther, so we had 2 have a re-think. As I was thinking about it I was just gazing at my snake’s enclosures, then it dawned on me J it was the perfect solution. I quickly re-homed my 2 Boa’s in2 a Rubbermaid, cleaned out ther enclosure laid newspaper on the floor and put in a humidity box. At this point Michael talked me thro How 2 hang them etc and tried 2 teach me how 2 sex them (Hmmmm glad humans r easier 2 sex lol) Lucky 4 me Michael had been kind enough 2 sex and mark them J After checking the humidity and temps wer consistent I hung the cocoons inside

I wanted 2 write this blog for 2 reasons 1^st 2 thank Michael who has become a dear friend and was soooooooo kind 2 share his Atlas with me  and 2^nd 2 thank insectgeeks  as without insectgeeks I wouldn’t of met Michael and many other wonderful people

The ironic part of this story is the Atlas cocoons Michael so kindly sent me, wer originally sent from the UK and had flown all the way 2 the U.S and back 2 the UK without a futter of ther wings

Tags: Atlas Cocoons Pupa

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Ok I just have 2 share my excitement (as those around me think i've gone mad lol) I bought my grandaughter something 2 go bug hunting in the summer



I thought it was sooooooo neat that she'd have her own little insect kit  and hopefully she'll catch more than wood lice and worms this year lol.  I luv the fact that she's sooooo in2 all kinds of insects and want 2 encourage her 2 explore and enjoy them even more. So all I want now is the summer 2 arrive

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Sadly I lost my Togo Starburst last week. He’s the 1^st T I’ve lost since starting my collection   I’ve spent the last week going over and over in my mind as 2 whether I had his conditions right. He was never 1 of the liveliest T’s in my collection (unless disturbed then boy could he gooooooo) Hence why my kids named him Wouldy (would he move) When I bought him he was wild caught and mature (even tho @ the time thro inexperience I hadn’t realised as he appeared quite small) I’ve now decided there is a lesson 2 be learnt 4 me. I’m not going 2 buy mature wild caught T’s from now on. Not that I mind them dying (as long as its of natural causes) but more because I’m left wondering if the changes in his habitat after living his life in the wild played a part in his death. I also wonder if his still behaviour (even @ nite) was part of his inability 2 re-adjust 2 life in captivity.

I have a few male T’s and would not be put off buying more knowing their lifespan will be a lot shorter than a females. As long as I feel I’m giving them the best conditions 4 them 2 live out their lives as near 2 their natural habitat as I can.

R.I.P Woudly

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