A journey only for the brave

[NMTs]

No lol they're all fine. Just haven't eaten or molted in months. No progress in growth whatsoever lol I'm starting to believe that they'll reach adulthood in my 50s

That explains why it's taken so long for them to get into the hobby - the very first members of their branch of the evolutionary tree must have just became sexually mature in the past few years... Or maybe they popped through a wormhole from another dimension.

 

[A guy]

Aphonopelma anitahoffmannae sexed out female! The exuvium measured out under 1/2"

 

[l4nsky]

Aphonopelma anitahoffmannae sexed out female! The exivium measured out under 1/2"

View attachment 447030

I need to send you some molts really quick.....

 

[A guy]

I need to send you some molts really quick.....

I'll pm you my address lol

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I need to send you some molts really quick.....

Wow

Aphonopelma anitahoffmannae sexed out female! The exuvium measured out under 1/2"

View attachment 447030

impressive I totally forgot you could actually do this. Most people say it’s just easier after 1.5” , but knowing earlier is even better . I don’t have the tools to do it. Right now I don’t have any slings my smallest are Juvies.

 

[l4nsky]

Wow

impressive I totally forgot you could actually do this. Most people say it’s just easier after 1.5” , but knowing earlier is even better . I don’t have the tools to do it. Right now I don’t have any slings my smallest are Juvies.

I don't have the fine motor control lol. I ingest too much caffiene on a daily basis to really even attempt anything under 1.5" DLS lol.

 

[A guy]

After almost 2 years without any updates, finally something really interesting. I'm actually quite disappointed with what I figured out recently with these specimens.

Those who followed this thread before will know that I have sexed them all out as females at very small sizes. Now, 3 years later, they're almost an inch in size and have molted recently. I looked at their molts once again in the microscope, definitely all females. Unfortunately, they're all different species from one another. The 3 females that molted all have different spermathecae from each other, too different in fact. Some of their anatomical features are starting to show differences aswell. One specimen has a very rounded carapace, while the others have elongated ones. They were sold as Aphonopelma sp. jalisco, however, I don't know which is which and I don't know what I really have now. It's really disappointing to know that after all these years.

Photos below are two of the specimens that I'm raising up. Sold as Aphonopelma sp. jalisco , same size and molted just days from each other.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

After almost 2 years without any updates, finally something really interesting. I'm actually quite disappointed with what I figured out recently with these specimens.

Those who followed this thread before will know that I have sexed them all out as females at very small sizes. Now, 3 years later, they're almost an inch in size and have molted recently. I looked at their molts once again in the microscope, definitely all females. Unfortunately, they're all different species from one another. The 3 females that molted all have different spermathecae from each other, too different in fact. Some of their anatomical features are starting to show differences aswell. One specimen has a very rounded carapace, while the others have elongated ones. They were sold as Aphonopelma sp. jalisco, however, I don't know which is which and I don't know what I really have now. It's really disappointing to know that after all these years.

Photos below are two of the specimens that I'm raising up. Sold as Aphonopelma sp. jalisco , same size and molted just days from each other.

View attachment 492789

View attachment 492790

The plus side is you have Aphonopelma T's. I love this genus even if they grow slow.

I try to avoid buying any sp as this is one thing that happens. That or as adults you might just have something that's been described.

There was a sudden explosion of a lot of Aphonopelma sp popping up everywhere for sale a year or two ago.

Either way Aphonopelma are one of the most adorable genus out there IMO.

Yours are some great looking individuals so it's not all a wash.

 

[NMTs]

After almost 2 years without any updates, finally something really interesting. I'm actually quite disappointed with what I figured out recently with these specimens.

Those who followed this thread before will know that I have sexed them all out as females at very small sizes. Now, 3 years later, they're almost an inch in size and have molted recently. I looked at their molts once again in the microscope, definitely all females. Unfortunately, they're all different species from one another. The 3 females that molted all have different spermathecae from each other, too different in fact. Some of their anatomical features are starting to show differences aswell. One specimen has a very rounded carapace, while the others have elongated ones. They were sold as Aphonopelma sp. jalisco, however, I don't know which is which and I don't know what I really have now. It's really disappointing to know that after all these years.

Photos below are two of the specimens that I'm raising up. Sold as Aphonopelma sp. jalisco , same size and molted just days from each other.

View attachment 492789

View attachment 492790

That's really disappointing! I'd be curious to see spermathecae pics you you have them. Sorry...