aphonopelma sp. carlsbad green??

spider720

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Sep 21, 2015
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ive searched all over the internet for info on this species and do not have much to show for the amount of time ive searched . ive acquired two unknown sex aphonopelma sp. Carlsbad greens which are native to the area i live in here in north eastern new mexico . ive seen a lot of these guys on roadways and even in my back yard but never considered having them as pets . a friend called me and said he was moving and had two tarantulas that he needed to get rid of . im not sure where he acquired them but said they were bought from a pet store . so my questions are
1. is it ok to raise a wild caught tarantula? (if he did get them from his back yard )
2. if so is there anything i need to look for as far as stress or illnesses ?
i have been able to handle both of them for short periods of time . they don't seem to mind it but do get slightly ski-dish . they have not thrown any urticating hairs or went in to any defense poses . i do know they are a burrowing species and are in most cases docile from what i gathered. but any advice or any knowledge that could be passed to me would be very much appreciated.
 

Psyrocke

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May 25, 2015
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You could always get an ID from people here to confirm the type of tarantula if he got them from a petstore. it seems common that petstores often mislabel tarantulas. However, other than suggesting confirmation of the kind of tarantula you have, I can't be much more help.
 

cold blood

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WC tarantulas are bought and sold daily, it shouldn't be a concern. That said, most of the time its better to leave the nature in nature.....but if they're that abundant by you.....


you can ship one of those carlsbads my way anytime!!!
 

spider720

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thank you i plan on uploading pics as soon as i can so i can get a positive ID

---------- Post added 09-29-2015 at 03:12 PM ----------

they are crazy abundant around my area i have at least 12 counted burrows in my back yard alone . ive always have been intrigued by them and i make sure my dogs leave their burrows alone
 

Cavedweller

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Sounds like you've been doing your research, kudos!

US Aphonopelmas are highly underrated starters, these two shouldn't give you any problems. Carlsbad greens aren't common in the hobby, but their care is the same as any other US Aphono, a box of dirt with a water bowl and a hide. This site should answer most questions you might have http://www.mikebasictarantula.com/A-hentzi-care-sheet.html

Since they've already been in captivity for some time, they shouldn't have any problems from being WC.

Now if you have second thoughts, I wouldn't have any qualms about taking them off your hands lol (though I guess I'd have to fight Cold Blood for em)
 

tjstrayer

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Mar 16, 2015
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I'd be very interested to see if they are true sp Carlsbad greens. So many actually end up being hentzis or something else. Aphono genus needs cleaning up sooo badly. I've had 3 so far that were other mislabeled species. Does anyone know if this is the gabeli now? I would absolutely provide them a great home if you didn't want them. And if you live near so many, hey, maybe it's time for a road trip west! No native t's in PA- wish I could see burrows when I looked in my back yard!
 

spider720

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20150929_193021.jpg 20150929_193458.jpg
on top is my slightly larger aphono named Saturn . and on bottom is Stitch which is slightly smaller .
 
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Exoskeleton Invertebrates

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View attachment 139272 View attachment 139273
on top is my slightly larger Carlsbad Green named Saturn . and on bottom is Stitch which is slightly smaller .
That's not the Aphonopelma sp. "Carlsbad Green".

---------- Post added 09-29-2015 at 09:31 PM ----------

This is Aphonopelma sp. "Carlbad Green".




---------- Post added 09-29-2015 at 09:36 PM ----------

I'd be very interested to see if they are true sp Carlsbad greens. So many actually end up being hentzis or something else. Aphono genus needs cleaning up sooo badly. I've had 3 so far that were other mislabeled species. Does anyone know if this is the gabeli now? I would absolutely provide them a great home if you didn't want them. And if you live near so many, hey, maybe it's time for a road trip west! No native t's in PA- wish I could see burrows when I looked in my back yard!
A couple of years ago I heard that Aphonopelma sp. "Carlsbad Green" will be under the identification name of Aphonopelma gabeli.
 
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Cavedweller

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I wouldn't call that devastating news. Hentzi's are still great, underappreciated Ts. Very cute.

The tanks look like they need a lot more dirt though. The general rule of thumb is that the distance from the top of the tank to the surface of the substrate shouldn't be more than the legspan of the tarantula. They'll die if they fall more than a few inches.
 

Exoskeleton Invertebrates

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Definitely not devastating news. You found two wild caught specimens that some day may be giving the chance to reproduce. New bloodlines are always a plus, plus, plus.
 

jiacovazzi

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I have a true female A. gabeli, amazing looking species with huge chelicerae, as Jose's picture shows.
 

AphonopelmaTX

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sad to find out so i basically have a aphonopelma hentzis??
A. hentzi and A. sp "Carlsbad Green"/ A. gabeli are sympatric (share the same distribution) in east and south New Mexico and west Texas so with a little effort you may find the "Carlsbad Green."
 

scott308

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Those are nice looking hentzis. I have a tiny hentzi that is going to take forever to get that size. Enjoy, those are still a nice species.
 

Poec54

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Those are nice looking hentzis. I have a tiny hentzi that is going to take forever to get that size. Enjoy, those are still a nice species.

It will speed up some if you keep it warm, and as far from the floor as possible. Feed it 2 or 3 times a week.
 

spider720

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A. hentzi and A. sp "Carlsbad Green"/ A. gabeli are sympatric (share the same distribution) in east and south New Mexico and west Texas so with a little effort you may find the "Carlsbad Green."
thank you i will keep my eyes out but wont bother a wild one . if i see one in a pet store , or maybe one that is in a bad area i will try to add it to my collection .
 
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