Categories
Main

Aphonopelma sp. diamondback Veracruz Care Sheet

The first time I saw this species I was taken back. See for yourself, this spider looks like it was dipped in black ink! One half is black, the other half is blond.

This stunning spiders color dip even goes across the carapace in a diamond pattern, consistent with the color coordination. What a unique tarantula, indeed!

Aphonopelma sp. diamondback Veracruz is not just gorgeous, they are also incredibly hard, docile and long-lived. A true gem.

Smaller slings like to burrow while larger specimens are often content to adopt a hide, and are more likely to be out in the open for viewing.

I can’t get enough of this one. I hope to see more of it in the hobby.

Origin: New World. Native to Mexico

Difficulty: Beginner

Type: Terrestrial

Adult Size: 4.5-5″

Growth speed: Very slow

Longevity: Males 7+ years, females 22-40+ years

Temperament:  Known for it’s docile nature if frightened or disturbed it may flee and/or flick urticating hairs. Bites from this species are very rare.

Bite potency:  Mild

Urticating hairs: Yes

Ideal Temperature:  70 to 75°

Humidity: Low to Medium

Fun Fact: This is one of Jamie’s new favorites!

Enclosure:  For spiderlings under about 1/3-1 1/4″ we recommend the Terrestrial Spiderling Enclosure Kit. For specimens over 1″ to about 2″ we recommend the Terrestrial Juvenile Enclosure Kit. Specimens over 2″ can go into a 7x7x11″ complete terrestrial enclosure or 8x8x14″ Adult Complete Terrestrial . Click HERE to find out how to you measure a tarantula.

Substrate: While most adults will adopt a hide, slings often prefer to burrow. Cocofiber, vermiculite, peat moss and/or potting soil (or a mix) are all excellent substrate choices. Please make sure the substrate you choose is organic and chemical/fertilizer free. Do not use sand, pebbles, rocks or wood chips or anything else that could potentially cut or injure the tarantula.

In many cases a larger specimen would rather adopt or retrofit an existing hide than create it’s own from deep substrate. Cork tubes half buried in substrate are what we use for our adult females. The specimen will excavate one side of the cork tube to it’s liking. I like to think this makes the tarantula feel “at home” while minimizing the time and effort for the spider to settle in.

Spiderlings will often desire to create their own home by excavating a burrow. A tarantula with this talent and preference for tunneling is referred to as an obligate burrower. To encourage this natural behavior we recommend rehousing on semi-moist substrate at least twice, and ideally three times as deep as the tarantulas DLS. The substrate and should dry out as needed. The  Terrestrial Spiderling and Terrestrial Juvenile Enclosure Kit can be set up to encourage burrowing. Older/larger specimens are typically kept with hides as they’re more likely to be observed.

Water: Larger spiders 2” and over can be provided with a shallow water dish if desired. The water bowl should be rinsed our every time it is refilled. Being a scrubland species they will not require as frequent misting.

Feeding: Adults will eat every 10-18 days depending on the size of the spider and it’s prey. Spiderlings should eat more often, every 7-14 days. Adults may be fed crickets, mealworms or roaches. Spiderlings under 1/3” can only eat food small enough for it to overpower so it may be advised to use pre-killed four until large enough to handle live prey. We feed our slings freshly hatched “pinhead” rusty red roaches.

Keep your tarantulas enclosure clean. food waste left in the enclosure will invite mold, mildew, mites, flies and other pests. The substrate does not need to be changed unless it is moldy, overly filthy or otherwise unfit for the tarantula. It is advised to remove uneaten prey items after a few minutes to hours. If using a feeder who will not “bother” a tarantula such as dubia roaches it is alright to leave them in the enclosure as long as they are not causing stress to the specimen. A more detailed feeding, misting & troubleshooting guide can be found here: https://jamiestarantulas.com/guides/

Categories
Main

Sexual Dimorphism & How Tarantulas Change As They Grow

Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Ornamental) sub/adult ♀

Adult female P. metallica nearly always have stronger color vs. when they were small. The adult females also display very clear markings on their carapace. Don’t be fooled as some of the larger immature males can look pretty “girly” depending on when they have their ultimate molt.

Adult females can be bright blue or rarely they can be darker, often appearing black if not a lot of light is reflected off their unusual “hairs” with their amazing structural blues.

I have been asked about “True Black” P. metallica and many years ago I acquired some females from a retiring hobbiest whose Gootys were strikingly charcoal in appearance, nearly black. They were at least 7 years old when I acquired them and I cannot say what they looked like when thy were younger.

Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Ornamental) ultimate/mature ♂

Notice the overall more brown-purple coloration of the male compared to the female. His carapace is especially drab and fuzzy, there is no defining pattern. He is leggy meaning, this mature males legs are very long compared to his body. His fangs are narrow. He also has the defining palpal bulbs (boxing gloves) although you can’t see them in this photo.

I am providing the gender of the below specimens however, I will say at the juvenile stage both genders look nearly identical.

Many customers come to me asking about the “male stripes” on their Gooty. This below female has the “male stripes” I often see (incorrectly) used to identify males. Keep in mind these stripes are simply something typical of juvenile specimens. This lovely lady eventually grew out of them.

Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Ornamental) juvenile ♀

Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Ornamental) juvenile ♀

Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Ornamental) juvenile/sub-adult ♀

Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire Ornamental) juvenile/sub-adult ♂

Poecilotheria metallica spiderling photos coming soon!

 

 

Aphonopelma belindae (Panama Gold) sub/adult ♀

Aphonopelma belindae (Panama Gold) juvenile/immature ♂

Aphonopelma belindae (Panama Gold) ultimate/mature ♂

Aphonopelma belindae (Panama Gold)   too small to determine sex

 

 

Antilles pinktoe tarantula (Caribena versicolor)♀ (left) breeding with the smaller, leggier mature ♂ on the right.

Antilles pinktoe tarantula (Caribena versicolor) ♀ with eggsac

Caribena versicolor first instar (what they look like while typically still inside the eggsac)

Caribena versicolor mother with her second-instar spiderlings

Caribena versicolor juvenile. Gender is unknown:

 

 

Cyriopangopus schmidti juvenile ♀

 

Cyriopangopus schmidti juvenile ♂

Even though this male is immature we can see he has a lankier and narrower overall build typical of males but this is not always the case!

 

Citharacanthus cyaneus juvenile ♂

Citharacanthus cyaneus juvenile ♀

 

Lasiodora parahybana spiderling

Lasiodora parahybana adult ♀ she is nearly 9″ DLS!

 

I will add many, many more to this article soon!

…right now I need to go rehouse ; )

Happy spider-ing everyone!

 

Categories
Aphonopelma Care Sheets

Aphonopelma belindae (Panama Gold) Care Sheet

Aphonopelma belindae is also known as the Panama Gold. Found east of the Panama Canal and relatively new to the hobby we are charmed by this tarantulas good looks and shy personality.

Smaller slings like to burrow while larger specimens are often content to adopt a hide, and are more likely to be out in the open for viewing. Pictured below is a spidering who is just beginning to show adult coloring:

Like other Aphonopelmas is known for its longevity and hardiness. Often considered a docile species, I find they can sometimes be testy although bites are rare and not considered medically significant. The species is typically slower-moving which makes care, maintenance, rehousing and shipping much easier on the keeper.

Origin: New World. Native to Chiriqui province of Panama.

Difficulty: Beginner

Type: Terrestrial

Adult Size: 3.5-5″

Growth speed: Slow

Longevity: Males 7+ years, females 20-35+ years

Temperament:  Known for it’s docile nature if frightened or disturbed it may flee and/or flick urticating hairs. Although they can sometimes be testy, bites from this species are very rare.

Bite potency:  Mild

Urticating hairs: Yes

Ideal Temperature:  70 to 75°

Humidity: Low to Medium

Fun Fact: I love how this species looks like it was dipped in paint. The front is light and the back is dark.

Sexual Dimorphism: As with most Aphonopelma species (and many tarantulas in general) when males mature they darken. Pictured below is a mature male A. belindae:

Enclosure:  For spiderlings under about 1/3-1 1/4″ we recommend the Terrestrial Spiderling Enclosure Kit. For specimens over 1″ to about 2″ we recommend the Terrestrial Juvenile Enclosure Kit. Specimens over 2″ can go into a 7x7x11″ complete terrestrial enclosure or 8x8x14″ Adult Complete Terrestrial . Click HERE to find out how to you measure a tarantula.

Substrate: While most adults will adopt a hide, slings often prefer to burrow. Cocofiber, vermiculite, peat moss and/or potting soil (or a mix) are all excellent substrate choices. Please make sure the substrate you choose is organic and chemical/fertilizer free. Do not use sand, pebbles, sharp rocks or wood chips or anything else that could potentially cut or injure the tarantula.

In many cases a larger specimen would rather adopt or retrofit an existing hide than create it’s own from deep substrate. Cork tubes half buried in substrate are what we use for our adult females. The specimen will excavate one side of the cork tube to it’s liking. I like to think this makes the tarantula feel “at home” while minimizing the time and effort for the spider to settle in.

Spiderlings will often desire to create their own home by excavating a burrow. A tarantula with this talent and preference for tunneling is referred to as an obligate burrower. To encourage this natural behavior we recommend rehousing on semi-moist substrate at least twice, and ideally three times as deep as the tarantulas DLS. The substrate and should dry out as needed. The  Terrestrial Spiderling and Terrestrial Juvenile Enclosure Kit can be set up to encourage burrowing. Older/larger specimens are typically kept with hides as they’re more likely to be observed.

Water: Larger spiders 2” and over can be provided with a shallow water dish if desired. The water bowl should be rinsed our every time it is refilled. Being a scrubland species they will not require as frequent misting.

Feeding: Adults will eat every 10-18 days depending on the size of the spider and it’s prey. Spiderlings should eat more often, every 7-14 days. Adults may be fed crickets, mealworms or roaches. Spiderlings under 1/3” can only eat food small enough for it to overpower so it may be advised to use pre-killed four until large enough to handle live prey. We feed our slings freshly hatched “pinhead” rusty red roaches.

Keep your tarantulas enclosure clean. food waste left in the enclosure will invite mold, mildew, mites, flies and other pests. The substrate does not need to be changed unless it is moldy, overly filthy or otherwise unfit for the tarantula. It is advised to remove uneaten prey items after a few minutes to hours. If using a feeder who will not “bother” a tarantula such as dubia roaches it is alright to leave them in the enclosure as long as they are not causing stress to the specimen. A more detailed feeding, misting & troubleshooting guide can be found here: https://jamiestarantulas.com/guides/