Avic webbing

[Bry]

I was wondering if avics always build webs, or if it varies depending on individuals. Do avics typically start right away with building webs when introduced to a new home? Or, do they just start building their webs after they're more familiar w/ the territory? I have a slab of cork bark in with her, and was going to add a fake plant, but I couldn't find anything small enough that didn't make the cage cramped. I have a particular fascination for the construction of spider webs, especially the intricate ones. That was part of my reason for wanting this species. I know I just got my A. avic a few days ago, but I haven't seen anything more than a couple strands. Don't worry, I'm not disappointed. I was just wondering what was normal for avics.

Bry

 

[sunnymarcie]

I've had my sub-adult avic since February.
The only time he made a web was when he molted.
Then he destroyed it. Now he just hangs out above his
hide on the side of the jar, or under the lid. Not a web in sight
just the little lead lines they leave behind when they walk about

 

[mdfic]

i have had my avic ZAZU for about three weeks. last night she started to build a web in the corner of her inclosure. i am so excited. she had quite a nice setup at the petshop and it bothered me that she didnt start right away, i think that she just needed some adjustment time. it seems that it might depend on the individual. the pet store had her for three months before she built a web and had it completed for about a week before i brought her home. i used construction paper on the outside of the aquarium to block out light and put a nice cork bark log and some fake plants in the same corner to aid in the hide for her it seems to be working. BTW the construction paper was only up for three days before she started to web.

 

[TheDon]

My 2 1/2" Pinktoe didnt start building a web for awhile but now its huge. The web is mainly in the corner but it extends along the top all the way from one corner to the other like a little escape passage attached to the ceiling. Its pretty crazy. Im still waiting for the little girl to molt also, i have had her for almost 3 months and no molt yet =/.

peace

TheDon

 

[Lostkat]

I have 4 Avics (versicolor, geroldi, metallica and purpurea) and they all web in different ways. However, they have all webbed to some degree.

I find that it takes anything from a few minutes to a few weeks before an avic T starts to web it's new container. My little A. purpurea took weeks to start webbing and I was extremely worried about him. His container is now full of messy web though. I'm very reluctant to move my Avics or clean their containers unless they outgrow them or get mites. I am happier once they have a network of webbing to live in, no matter how messy it looks. Spider happiness is of paramount importance

Just make sure you give them some bark or a plant to anchor their web to

 

[greensleeves]

Originally posted by Lostkat
I have 4 Avics (versicolor, geroldi, metallica and purpurea) and they all web in different ways. However, they have all webbed to some degree.

Hey, I know you! I was admiring your geroldi sling on spidertalk.net - seeing the pics you posted of your baby convinced me to get mine. He's 3/4 " and a real sweetie, likes to run all over me.

Yours must be older now - has he ever threat posed you or acted unhappy? Avics. are so cool!

Greensleeves

 

[Lostkat]

Originally posted by greensleeves
Hey, I know you! I was admiring your geroldi sling on spidertalk.net - seeing the pics you posted of your baby convinced me to get mine. He's 3/4 " and a real sweetie, likes to run all over me.

Yours must be older now - has he ever threat posed you or acted unhappy? Avics. are so cool!

Greensleeves

Well mine's certainly grown since I took those pictures. Think I need to update his mugshot on there now. He's about 2.5" now and he's lost all his baby colouring. He's still beautiful though, a gorgeous deep turquoise with an ink-coloured abdomen.

He's never shown me any aggression per se and I've seen no threat poses from him. He just gets a bit jumpy sometimes (usually when there's a draught coming from somewhere) and he'll fire crap a mile high if disturbed (he just did it now when I fetched him out for some pics. He's also the only Avic I have who will jump from hand to hand. I kid you not. I was amazed when he first did it on my boyfriend. If you put one hand about 10cm away from the other, you'll feel him tense up on your hand and vibrate before suddenly leaping to the other hand. It's amazing.

Here he is now anyway;

 

[greensleeves]

Originally posted by Lostkat
Here he is now anyway;

*drools* Simply gorgeous! So beautiful it hurts. My little Bungee is going to look like that some day? Wicked!

As for jumping, that's how my sling got his name. He likes to take flying leaps from my hand into his container and hang off the paintbrush I use to manipulate him by only two legs. He's a real acrobat! =D

Greensleeves

 

[Lopez]

He's actually far bluer than that in the flesh. I still don't think they are an entirely different species to Avicularia avicularia, but the blue is extremely noticable in natural light.

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

Hmm...... My Avic avic has that exact same coloration.....

 

[Lostkat]

Originally posted by HerpInvertGirl
Hmm...... My Avic avic has that exact same coloration.....

Doesn't suprise me - some taxonomists think that A. avicularia and A. geroldi are the same species. They do look very similar.

Leon's right though, he does look a lot bluer in real life. There's a bit of a green cast on the photo. I'll have to take some better photos of him in natural light to capture his true colour.

 

[greensleeves]

Originally posted by Lostkat
Doesn't suprise me - some taxonomists think that A. avicularia and A. geroldi are the same species. They do look very similar.

Hmm, has anyone tried breeding a geroldi and an avic, and then breeding the result with the offspring of another geroldi and avic? If they were the same species all their offspring would be capable of reproducing themselves, not sterile, right?

Then again, look at dolphins. Spotted dolphins and bottlenose dolphins will mate if they come upon each other in the wild, and yet their offspring is sterile because they aren't genetically similar enough.

This is all so complicated, it would be nice if people could decide what is what. Ah well, part of the mystery I guess.

Greensleeves

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

My Avic Avic isn't quite as brilliant, but I think it is smaller than that one too. When I get her in the sunlight her legs and carapace shine a beautiful deep blue green color. Could the difference be like the one between red phase and regular roseas? Just a color morph, same species? I never knew the taxonomy of tarantulas was so confusing. I guess we have a lot to learn yet.

 

[Lostkat]

Originally posted by HerpInvertGirl
My Avic Avic isn't quite as brilliant, but I think it is smaller than that one too. When I get her in the sunlight her legs and carapace shine a beautiful deep blue green color. Could the difference be like the one between red phase and regular roseas? Just a color morph, same species? I never knew the taxonomy of tarantulas was so confusing. I guess we have a lot to learn yet.

Yes it could just be the same species but a slightly different colour morph, that's the argument I think. Tarantula taxonomy is all over the place. Damn taxonomists keep disagreeing with eachother and changing their minds