While we wait for the algae to die....

I also have living happily beside my computer two tarantula spiderlings (baby tarantulas). They are a new thing for me; I've avoided most things that could bite or sting me. These are not for playing with, though, they are more of an experiment. At the moment they are tiny; the larger Chilean Rose (Shelob) is only an inch when she's relaxed, and the Avicularia versicolor (Aragog) is even smaller – a mere half inch.

I did my research. I wanted one of the more docile species. Some are downright aggressive, and while I don't plan on handling the creature, you never know when you may need to in an emergency. Some spiders bite, some run like mad and escape easily, and some kick hairs. Tiny little urticating hairs – barbed hairs that apparently some can actually fling at any perceived threat. That's what scares me most, considering my allergic reactions to bristleworms and similar beasties. After many hours on the internet, I decided on the Chilean Rose, and decided to get one as a spiderling and watch it grow.

Of course, the place I ordered from (Swift's) would have to have a special... free tarantula with every order. So heck, why not... I found a pretty one that had no “danger, aggressive” label and got him too. I neglected to research this one as much as my initial choice.

Mistake.

When they arrived I carefully arranged my containers, and gingerly unwrapped the packing material...3 little containers, one with crickets, and two with wadded up paper towels. Ok. No problem. I took a deep breath, wondered why I'd decided on tarantulas, and opened the first one. I even put the paper towel in the container for the unwrapping, just in case. This happened to be Shelob, the Chilean Rose. She politely stepped out of the paper towel and sat rock still as I slapped the lid on. Well, I thought, that was easy. Next! Now I'm a pro! Same drill, I carefully unwrap the paper towel... and Aragog is off like a shot across the kitchen counter. Visions of future giant spiders draining my blood while I hang from the attic rafters in a deadly cocoon fill my mind, but after much panic and mayhem I catch the little devil.

So what's the moral of this story? Do your research. If I had, I would have known that A. versicolor, while a fairly docile spider, more likely to not bite than bite, is also an arboreal species. Meaning, actually, that they are far more likely to run like crazy and climb anything in reach than bite.

At least there's a happy ending, so far. They are both pretty well-behaved now that they have settled in, and they eat their crickets and sit around looking menacing, which is pretty much all tarantulas seem to do. I assume they are happy, they build elaborate webs and defend them. And no one has bitten me or kicked any hairs in my eyes, so the truce holds, for now.

We are nearing the end of the era of algae! Already the mexican turbos are able to cut huge swaths clean daily. The skimmer is going nuts producing nasty thick brown skimmate, and the cyano is peeling off surfaces and making a desperate bid for life by heading for the surface, where I promptly remove it with a net.

Next month should work out just fine for adding the next batch of life. I want to find a good local store for this one, I think. Last time I used liveaquaria.com, since a build-your-own package shipped free if you ordered more than $60 worth of creepy crawlies. The selection on that package is limited, however, and I want some more interesting life-forms this time around. Not that my snails and crabs and starfish aren't interesting... just very mundane.

I'll probably end up with a couple of shrimp, more snails (I can't get enough mexican turbos), and possibly a small fighting conch.

The next decision is what fish I'll end up with. I know I want a maroon clown, but I intend to add him last, since they are territorial. Clowns are actually damselfish pretending to be cute... then you move in with them and they start beating you when dinner is late. I'm on to them, though, they get whatever space is left after my more reasonable inhabitants settle in.

Water quality remains stable -- last test revealed only a very slight nitrate reading, which is complicated by the fact that although the liquid does turn an appropriate color shade, it's always darker or lighter than the comparison card shade. This drives me up the wall. One day I will shell out the money to try some other brands of testing supplies.

One awesome thing (really, the only awesome thing) about being on a very limited budget is that it does force you to take your time. Otherwise, the temptation to buy new life too soon is just far too great -- even those "experts" who tell you not to do it fall into the trap themselves. If anyone ever tells you they've never added animals too soon, they lie.

Ah, the era of algae

Well, all new tanks go through it. I'm talking about the cyanobacteria/algae bloom stage... and it isn't pretty. Right now most of my sand is covered in cyano, which forms as a slimy blue/green sheet. All you can do is siphon it out here and there, and wait. Patience is a virtue, and in this hobby, a necessity.

Luckily, most of my initial crew are alive and well. Have I mentioned how much I love Mexican Turbo snails? Because I really do. They clean glass all day long... unlike astreas, which always seem to be taking a nap. My water readings are all within range, although a slight nitrate reading means it's water change time again.

Next month if all goes well, I'll be adding round two of inverts and possibly the first fish!