A few Solifugid pics.

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Jonathan

Arachnoknight
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Please excuse the poor quality. I should take a photo class or something.
I hope this works.

















I just picked her up from across town at a pet shop. They had no idea even the genera, so if anyone has an inkling about identification, feel free to lay it on me.
Just cool to look at!!
 
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Devon

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I've had very poor luck keeping solifugids they start out eating well and digging etc. But then grow lithargic and stop eating. They just seem so much stronger when encountered in the wild. Most speices are extremely fast and don't stop moving even for short pauses. If you have good luck please share your insight.

Devon
 
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lucanidae

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Mind you, this is a species specific paper. It may not apply to all species. BUT, it may shed some light; Especially when dealing w/ lethargy. Page 365 specifically, almost half way down:
Click to expand...
Are you referencing the expieriment done on temperature vs. lethargy?
 
J

Jonathan

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I was pointing out that naturally these species are active when temps reach 40-60 deg. celsius. That is extremely hot. The differences between species location can be extremely different. I would hesitate to generalize about this order based on what little we know, and how many different species there are.

The one in my care seems lethargic. Now in Egypt, it is the height of the summer. I think a cooling period at this point may be premature. I could cool her. Would this mess up her biological clock, and hault the chance that she could fertile, and lay eggs? Who knows. I also need to get general locale info, or even genera level ID. That was my intention of this thread, albeit a stretch.

And of course, I always appreciate helpful critiquing.

**I was told Egypt was her locale
 
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L

lucanidae

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Nevertheless, caged individuals maintained at lower ambient
temperatures of 25-30°C still actively burrowed, and quickly responded to
stimulation of leg IV setae.
Click to expand...
That is 77-86 degrees F. Seems like normal temperatures to keep them at to me.

Two individuals placed at 20 ± 1°C, however, became
lethargic and responded only weakly to the same stimuli .
Click to expand...
That is 68 degrees F. Definitely seems a little cold for activity in a desert species.

Of approximately 190 individuals subjected to refrigeration at 5-10°C for up to 30 min during census periods (to facilitate cheliceral measurement), all recovered completely, usually within 10 min.
Click to expand...
Seems like if it is lethargic due to cold it would get active really quickly when subjected to higher heat. 5-10 degrees C is really cold for an desert invert!

The species this paper discusses is a diurnal species, which is rare among solfugids. It seems that a dirunal desert animal would be inclined to tolerate higher temperatures, whereas if yours is one of the majority (nocturnal) it would prefer cooler temperatures. I would not attempt to hibernate an animal that is lethargic. This would most likely lead to extended inactivity and most likely death. Instead, try to set it up in a 75-85 degree cage with deep soil it can burrow it. I think that is your best bet.
 
J

Jonathan

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Howdy,

I think warming her up a bit would yield better results. Esp. if she is from Egypt....etc. A work in progress can be so stressful sometimes!

I was a bit confused by the reference to the "Hibernation" link, and actually considered it. I have been hashing it over and over again in my mind!!

At this point in time, she has barely dug herself in. I am keeping her in sand @ aprox. 77 deg. F. She is quite large. I am hoping gravid.

I must say that I am truly glad to have people as eager as I to see an animal thrive in captivity. Thanks!

Ps: Interesting paper anyhow.
PS. Just returned from the Peaches, Bauhaus, Nine Inch Nails show!!
 
ftorres

ftorres

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Camel Spiders

Hello ALl,
I think your camel spider is a female Galeodes arabs.
They are really large,but usually only leave a few days/weeks after getting here from Africa.

I had some large females full of eggs but the won't move or show any interest on eating no matter how warm it gets, smaller specimens will do much better, they won't dig but hide under a piece of bark.

good luck with her.
FT
 
K

konrad16660

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yea, i want to know how he does. thats a good looking one though, tell me if he is hard to contain. i heard those buggers can get out and be a pain. i still want one though, lol.
 
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Jonathan

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Update!

Hi,
I re-housed her in a 5.5 gal aquarium. I also changed the substrate. It seemed to be too hard for her to dig through. Aprox 60% sand and 40% peat. I also added a heat pad in the back side of the glass. I decided to make pre-made retreats for her. I made one w/ a toilet paper core angled at a 45 degree angle, w/ substrate mix on top. I made a similar retreat on the opposied side of the tank, away from the heat source. The third retreat was a more opportunistic, lean-to type along another non-heated wall.

She has taken up residence in the burrow along side of the heater. She has also been active repairing, and moving cork bark pieces, and substrate around the enclosure. I have offered her one small cricket, and she immediately devoured it. Her activity has increased a great deal, but is no where near the crazed animal I was expecting.

I will also add that she was crazy as hell at the pet shop. She was there at least a week before I snagged her. Some of her appendages were damaged, and she appeared to have little or no control of her fourth legs. I can only guess, but the fact that they had her in a deli cup w/ little or no substrate may have added to this. This is purely my opinion though.

Thanks again for all of your replies.

Jon
 
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lucanidae

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The fact that she is working on burrow construction and taking food is a great sign! What are you thinking of doing in terms of water/humidity inside and outside of the burrow?

Sorry to hear about those legs....hopefully she will recover.
 
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zinto

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Let's see some pictures of her new enclosure! I'm very happy to hear you moved her out of that deli cup and that she seems to be doing so well! Well done! Keep us updated.
-Nick
 
J

Jonathan

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Hi,
@ Lucanidae- About humidity. That is a good question. I just threw this setup together in an act of desperation. I only have a water dish (cap) offering water now.

I have a feeling that I need to create deeper substrate for her to burrow in. I would like to lose the paper core's too. Before work, and after I returned, she was on top of the substrate. I am not sure if that is a bad sign, but is making me wonder if the substrate is too shallow.

I have offered her one more small cricket, which she hasn't eaten yet.






 
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