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- Apr 4, 2004
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- 1,497
Okay, let me preface this thread by copping to breaking one of the rules with my G. rosea. I've had this spider for 11 years. And in those 11 years, the thing has only scaled the tank walls one time, (to my knowledge, but I suppose that after lights are out it may climb up and do a trapeze act for all I know) and that was when it was dissatisfied with the fresh substrate I put in there which was still just a tiny bit damp. So, I've never filled it's tank to the prescribed level in case of a fall. Yeah, I know, Bad on me! Now to tonight's event...
I noticed its water bowl was dry. So, I removed the deli cups of slings from the top of her cage and removed the sliding lid. Retrieved the water bowl, cleaned it, filled it, and put it back. The spider ignored me. So, I turn around to get the deli cups, and realized that I really should replace the cage lid before putting them back on top
, and after I got the lid and returned my attention back on the cage, I saw this. (See photo)
Somehow the spider managed to zip up the corner. Now, as I've said, I've had this spider for 11 years, and would have said it couldn't zip anywhere even if you dosed it with meth-amphetamines then and shot 2000 volts into it. To say I was startled and stunned would be an understatement. But, I didn't have long to remain that way. The cage sits atop a chest of drawers. If the silly thing would have decided to vault that rim, it would have been nearly a five-foot drop to the floor. Splat. Instinctively, I reached out to try to contain it with my hand somehow. Then I remembered that this spider was one of those rosies that can not be counted on to remain calm. She's thrown me threat postures before. So, I backed up and wondered what I should do. I knew if I shooed it back, it might fall to the floor of the cage -about a six-inch drop - which may have proved harmful. (Again, bad me) If I grabbed it, I may have gotten tagged, which would more than likely have resulted in a startled fling. Splat via being temporarily airborne.
I grabbed a 12x 8 piece of cardboard on which I use to cut up crickets for the slings, intending to goose her over the top onto the cardboard. Then I thought, "Yeah genius, then what if it decides to keep right on going?" I pondered for a moment, my approach seemed to have made it decide to freeze for the moment. (That's when I grabbed the camera and took a quick shot of it.)
I finally noticed a nearby empty deli container and picked it up and placed it inside the tank beneath the spider, and then used the sheet of cardboard prod her it into the container. That worked, and I lowered it to the floor of the cage and tilted the spider out to where she belongs.
I guess I better backfill the cage to a safe level. Oh and all of this transpired within 5 minutes. I've had the lid off before longer than that and the spider never even made an effort to climb out. Which was what lured me into a sense of complacency, I guess.
Oh, and nothing makes you realize that glass you considered clean is not so clean quicker than using a flash to take a photo. Ugh.
I noticed its water bowl was dry. So, I removed the deli cups of slings from the top of her cage and removed the sliding lid. Retrieved the water bowl, cleaned it, filled it, and put it back. The spider ignored me. So, I turn around to get the deli cups, and realized that I really should replace the cage lid before putting them back on top
, and after I got the lid and returned my attention back on the cage, I saw this. (See photo)Somehow the spider managed to zip up the corner. Now, as I've said, I've had this spider for 11 years, and would have said it couldn't zip anywhere even if you dosed it with meth-amphetamines then and shot 2000 volts into it. To say I was startled and stunned would be an understatement. But, I didn't have long to remain that way. The cage sits atop a chest of drawers. If the silly thing would have decided to vault that rim, it would have been nearly a five-foot drop to the floor. Splat. Instinctively, I reached out to try to contain it with my hand somehow. Then I remembered that this spider was one of those rosies that can not be counted on to remain calm. She's thrown me threat postures before. So, I backed up and wondered what I should do. I knew if I shooed it back, it might fall to the floor of the cage -about a six-inch drop - which may have proved harmful. (Again, bad me) If I grabbed it, I may have gotten tagged, which would more than likely have resulted in a startled fling. Splat via being temporarily airborne.
I grabbed a 12x 8 piece of cardboard on which I use to cut up crickets for the slings, intending to goose her over the top onto the cardboard. Then I thought, "Yeah genius, then what if it decides to keep right on going?" I pondered for a moment, my approach seemed to have made it decide to freeze for the moment. (That's when I grabbed the camera and took a quick shot of it.)
I finally noticed a nearby empty deli container and picked it up and placed it inside the tank beneath the spider, and then used the sheet of cardboard prod her it into the container. That worked, and I lowered it to the floor of the cage and tilted the spider out to where she belongs.
I guess I better backfill the cage to a safe level. Oh and all of this transpired within 5 minutes. I've had the lid off before longer than that and the spider never even made an effort to climb out. Which was what lured me into a sense of complacency, I guess.
Oh, and nothing makes you realize that glass you considered clean is not so clean quicker than using a flash to take a photo. Ugh.
