Hurricane Gustav

[equuskat]

Take them with you....

I am in Lakeland, FL, and we have been getting hammered with rain bands all day and the storm is still in CUBA. The storm is huge and widespread, it'd be so much better to take them along with you. Pack them in small containers and get yourself, your family, and your critters out of the path of that storm.

[Tokendog]

Take them with you....

I am in Lakeland, FL, and we have been getting hammered with rain bands all day and the storm is still in CUBA. The storm is huge and widespread, it'd be so much better to take them along with you. Pack them in small containers and get yourself, your family, and your critters out of the path of that storm.

Yeah, we're getting out of here tonight. Its a big storm. We're still not fully recovered from Katrina. I was going to put them in a closet and feed/water them before I left, but then I realized there is a very high chance of flooding with this storm and the amount of rain we're going to get...it would be OK because they would be up high on the shelf, but what would NOT be ok is the fumes and vapors that will fill my house from all of the pollution and crap being mixed with the ocean/rain water. It becomes toxic enough to kill all kinds of things and carries a crap load of diseases.

Atm I am just debating about whether or I should try to take them in their small cages with substrate and all or if its better to just disturb them and move them in to padded ziplock containers. We're heading up to Monroe, Louisiana., which is like a 4 to 5 hour drive normally, but heading through New Orleans the traffic is going at about 15 miles every 1 and a half hours...

so this can easily be a 10 hour trip. Thats about what it took last time. We are going to try to get a hotel on the way though but most every thing is booked all the way up to Tennessee.

I will have to move further inland before I increase my T collection. I did not consider Hurricanes when I started this addicting hobby.

[Flying]

I don't want this to happen to my babies... The poor little fella. I hope he made it and has a good long life.

That is one stunning picture and I sure hope he made it. Looks like an Aphonopelma.

Also take them with you. Any idea where you're going? I recently moved and just brought everything (the larger and smaller tarantulas, even one that was bred) in the containers they were in.

[Tokendog]

Here is the containers they are in...

GBB (just moved in three days ago)



Versicolor (been in this one for a week or two) He's hiding in his web hammock at the top. The residue on the outside is from the sticker that shows up really bad in pictures for some reason...not so bad in person.



My B. Vagan who is still in his vial that he was shipped in because he is so small. He has started digging a small tunnel but its very small and does not go deep at all. You can see him in the above picture next to the Versi sling enclosure.

And my G. Rosea. She has been in this enclosure for about three weeks and seems to like it. She goes in to her hide every so often, but hangs out outside, and drinks often. She never climbs the walls so seems content...



and this is what I am thinking of relocating the GBB and the Versi in to.



I have two of them and like I posted earlier, going off advice given here, I was going to fill them with paper towels (does it matter if its printed or does it need to be blank to avoid exposure to the ink chemicals???) and dampen the top layers of the paper towels, make a small impression, place the Sling in the impression, and put more damp towels on top of him. Then I was going to put that in an aquarium with a blanket in it and make sure they were snug, keep them out of direct light, and try to keep the ride as still as possible...but we will be in the car for a long long time.

What do you guys think? Relocate or take them in the enclosure? I know you have been giving me advice so far but I just want to make sure I do the right thing.

Thanks!

[equuskat]

Those enclosure seem pretty small...you might not need to relocate the Ts, if you have room in your vehicle. I have gone on long car trips (10-12 hours or so) with Ts in their normal enclosures and I haven't had an issue.

[Tokendog]

That is one stunning picture and I sure hope he made it. Looks like an Aphonopelma.

Also take them with you. Any idea where you're going? I recently moved and just brought everything (the larger and smaller tarantulas, even one that was bred) in the containers they were in.

We're heading up to Monroe, LA. The idea is to get a hotel once we get a little further north. We do not want to be far from home because if the storm is as bad as it can be, and our apartment gets hit hard, we need to get back to make sure looters do not take their picking from our belongings.

Its sad but things fall apart very quickly when a disaster occurs. Already, before the storm has even entered the Gulf, people are becoming agitated and fighting over sand for sand bags. I just want to head further North and be able to get back quickly once it passes.

I have only had my Ts for almost a month and am getting really attached to them, so they are high up on my priority list. The only other person I have to worry about is my wife and she is coming with me so my Ts are next in line, lol! My friends have all headed out already or will be soon.

[PsychoSpider]

The only ones I would be worried about the substrate flying all over the place are the gbb and the rosea so I would put those two in a salsa container but then again the only thing I would really be wor ied about in the roseas enclosure because hides are normally heavy. You can deciede what to do but I would definetly put the gbb in one.

[Flying]

The only ones I would be worried about the substrate flying all over the place are the gbb and the rosea so I would put those two in a salsa container but then again the only thing I would really be wor ied about in the roseas enclosure because hides are normally heavy. You can deciede what to do but I would definetly put the gbb in one.

If you give the containers a good place in the car then that's not an issue. Unless the driver drives like a maniac. I've bought tarantulas at expo's located in other countries and got them home by car without them suffering a cave-in..

[PsychoSpider]

If you give the containers a good place in the car then that's not an issue. Unless the driver drives like a maniac. I've bought tarantulas at expo's located in other countries and got them home by car without them suffering a cave-in..

I was thinking that to but I just decieded to not say anything.

[Tokendog]

If you give the containers a good place in the car then that's not an issue. Unless the driver drives like a maniac. I've bought tarantulas at expo's located in other countries and got them home by car without them suffering a cave-in..

Yeah and the GBB was moved in three days ago and already has started webbing from the floor to the ceiling of the enclosure and is making a very nice curtain out of it, so I would prefer not to open the enclosure all the way and damage it as that would just further stress the T. I think my best bet is to take them as they are and bring the ziplock cups along with some paper towels just in case. If I see they are getting jostled a good bit, I can pull over at a gas station, dampen the towels with water, and transfer them over...

Its going to be stop and go traffic most of the way - should be, usually is anyway, and that will help as we will not be moving very fast for much of the trip.

[PsychoSpider]

Yeah and the GBB was moved in three days ago and already has started webbing from the floor to the ceiling of the enclosure and is making a very nice curtain out of it, so I would prefer not to open the enclosure all the way and damage it as that would just further stress the T. I think my best bet is to take them as they are and bring the ziplock cups along with some paper towels just in case. If I see they are getting jostled a good bit, I can pull over at a gas station, dampen the towels with water, and transfer them over...

Its going to be stop and go traffic most of the way - should be, usually is anyway, and that will help as we will not be moving very fast for much of the trip.

That's why I said you deciede.

[equuskat]

I think that either way, they'll be fine. Don't stress too much over it, just be careful and be safe. Hoping for the best for you!

[Tokendog]

I think that either way, they'll be fine. Don't stress too much over it, just be careful and be safe. Hoping for the best for you!

Thanks

I was just resting for a moment and I was thinking about all the crap I have to do and have been doing the last couple of days when a stray thought came to me: Hey, Monroe might have some nice reptile pet stores...I could check out their Tarantula inventory while I am there...

Then I realized I am going through this trying to figure out how to safely get my Ts up there, while I am also considering coming back down with more!

No, I'm not addicted. =P

[Tokendog]

Alright. Heading out in 30 minutes. Hopefully my home will be here when I get back. Thanks for all of your advice and I will post with an update once electricity is restored and we're allowed back in.

For Katrina, which was a Cat 5, it was two weeks. I am hoping this one will not do as much damage and I'll be back home in a week or less.

Thanks again!

[PsychoSpider]

Good luck. I hipe you make it through ok.