Aphonopelma moderatum (Rio Grande Gold)

[maverick]

Hi to all:

I am a new user here and have had a lot of questions answered by reading some of the other posts. Thanks for the advice and information.
My T (Pharaohe). This is the 2nd molt since i purchased her in June. First molt was the 2nd day i had her. She looked a little thin but color was striking.
However, after completing the 2nd molt with me as the owner she is completely black (not that i mind). Just a few gold hairs on her abdomen.

Does anyone know why this would happen?

Also noticed that the difference in her leg length. Her legs have grown a lot compared to the last time she molted.

Thanks in advance for any information on why she changed color.

 

[becca81]

Colors can change with each molt. Typically it seems that some Ts "brown out" before a molt, and then "regain" their color during their next molt. Completely normal.

They can also grow a LOT with each molt, depending on the species.

 

[greenbay1]

Sounds like you have a mature male. The last time it molted it "grew up" so to speak and is now a sexually mature male. Glad you joined the board. Lots of great people here with good advice. Welcome! :clap:

 

[mebebraz]

sure its a rio? any way you can post a pic for us?
and welcome to the boards

 

[maverick]

becca: Pharaohe did kinda get brown. But i thought that would be due to the fact that a molt was in the works and the (skin) was getting old.

greenbay1: Mature male. Damn. I was hoping it would be a female. Apparently they live longer.

mebebraz: I'll try. Not really sure how.

 

[greenbay1]

Yeah, the females live a lot longer. It is hard to say for sure about it being a mature male unless we have a pic to go by but the A. moderatum male is black with longer legs after the final molt. If you go to the Tarantula Store website they have a pic of a mature male and female. It might help you out. Good luck.

 

[Ravienne]

I've seen pictures of A. moderatum, and it looks gorgeous. I'd like to get one (or a few!) sometime soon. But today, as I was leafing through the Tarantula Keeper's Guide at Barnes and Noble, I saw a note regarding beginner species. It was talking about how the Aphonopelmas were generally quite hardy and docile, and a good choice for a first spider. But not A. moderatum. It specifically mentioned them as not a good choice for beginners, without really explaining why.

Any ideas why The Guide singles out moderatums? If it was an attitude problem, I could deal with that. I mean, I'm not planning on handling my spiders much, and I'm planning to get a P. murinus sometime in the near future. But if it's some kind of environmental deal, like specific humidity or something, I'd rather not have to deal with that until i get a bit more experience under my belt.

Anybody have ideas on why The Guide doesn't like A. moderatum for novices? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Joe1968]

Yes a pic would help, please post. welcome to the boards. what size is it? I got mine same timeframe as yours (June 2004) and has'nt molted not even once, their very very slow.

 

[siucfi]

I've seen pictures of A. moderatum, and it looks gorgeous. I'd like to get one (or a few!) sometime soon. But today, as I was leafing through the Tarantula Keeper's Guide at Barnes and Noble, I saw a note regarding beginner species. It was talking about how the Aphonopelmas were generally quite hardy and docile, and a good choice for a first spider. But not A. moderatum. It specifically mentioned them as not a good choice for beginners, without really explaining why.

Any ideas why The Guide singles out moderatums? If it was an attitude problem, I could deal with that. I mean, I'm not planning on handling my spiders much, and I'm planning to get a P. murinus sometime in the near future. But if it's some kind of environmental deal, like specific humidity or something, I'd rather not have to deal with that until i get a bit more experience under my belt.

Anybody have ideas on why The Guide doesn't like A. moderatum for novices? Any help would be appreciated.

I glanced through my copy of "The tarantula keepers guide" the other day and I believe it said that the A.moderatum tends to bite readily and that is why it is not recommended for beginners. Now in contrast to that I have an A. moderatum and have handled her many of times with no problems. I personaly would recommend this species, there only down side is that they grow VERY slowly.

 

[Ravienne]

Thanks for the info, Siucfi. That's what I wanted to hear!

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

Sounds like you have a mature male. The last time it molted it "grew up" so to speak and is now a sexually mature male. Glad you joined the board. Lots of great people here with good advice. Welcome! :clap:

No doubts about that. A. moderatum females will always retain their coloration into adult hood. This species never "browns out" or changes color/ markings after it gets them. Sure they may fade in and out becoming more distinct with age and molts, but never a drastic color change.

Greenbay1 said it all pretty much. Only males of A. moderatum will turn black after maturation. That's the funny thing with Aphonopelma of the USA. Males are usually either jet black with some color on the abdomen or brown with a contrasting tan carapace.

- Lonnie

 

[Deschain]

Mine hasn't molted in a long time...over two years. Hasn't eaten in over a year. Will bite before any of my other Ts...mostly O.W. species, but I like it's personality alot.

 

[siucfi]

Mine hasn't molted in a long time...over two years. Hasn't eaten in over a year. Will bite before any of my other Ts...mostly O.W. species, but I like it's personality alot.

Mine doesnt seem to bite but I am glad to know that I am not the only one with an a. moderatum that wont molt or eat.