User Basin's Tarantulas

FrDoc · Feb 12, 2019

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I can’t decide between my H. maculata and my S. calceatum which is more fun to observe. These are “full package” species, beauty, disposition, webbing, eating, they are tremendously interesting to observe. They are starting to nudge P. murinus out of my top spot as best all around species.

Crone Returns · Feb 12, 2019

mack1855 said: ↑

Very impressive,at about 1:01,it looks like she gave you a little charge, "get that camera outa my face!".
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Paparazzi

basin79 · Feb 13, 2019

Thanks to someone on Instagram providing me with the information regarding the differences between a Brachypelma smithi and hamorii she's now been identified. I bought this lass years ago as a juvenile female Brachypelma smithi. Then came the name change so she went to Brachypelma hamorii. Turns out she wasn't a B.smithi in the first place so is now. Aye, crazy. She'll always be my favourite no matter though.

basin79 · Feb 13, 2019

Brachypelma hamorii.

EtienneN · Feb 13, 2019

Can I use some of your photos as references for drawing and painting?

basin79 · Feb 13, 2019

EtienneN said: ↑

Can I use some of your photos as references for drawing and painting?
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Aye. If you show the pics though please use Basin79.

dangerforceidle · Feb 13, 2019

basin79 said: ↑

Thanks to someone on Instagram providing me with the information regarding the differences between a Brachypelma smithi and hamorii she's now been identified. I bought this lass years ago as a juvenile female Brachypelma smithi. Then came the name change so she went to Brachypelma hamorii. Turns out she wasn't a B.smithi in the first place so is now. Aye, crazy. She'll always be my favourite no matter though.

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Do you have an old moult available still? I'm not so sure she's a B. smithi, but if you have a moult you can check some of the physical features of the spermatheca.

Check @AphonopelmaTX's post here: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/s...d-kneed-tarantulas.287508/page-2#post-2619024

But this post by @Exoskeleton Invertebrates seems to indicate she could be B. smithi: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/b...lma-smithi-additional-characteristics.306802/

Perhaps either of those two could weigh in.

basin79 · Feb 13, 2019

dangerforceidle said: ↑

Do you have an old moult available still? I'm not so sure she's a B. smithi, but if you have a moult you can check some of the physical features of the spermatheca.

Check @AphonopelmaTX's post here: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/s...d-kneed-tarantulas.287508/page-2#post-2619024

But this post by @Exoskeleton Invertebrates seems to indicate she could be B. smithi: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/b...lma-smithi-additional-characteristics.306802/

Perhaps either of those two could weigh in.
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Possibly although I'd have to look. I was told that Exo had said only B.smithi had the eye spike/hairs.

My poor head.

AphonopelmaTX · Feb 13, 2019

basin79 said: ↑

Possibly although I'd have to look. I was told that Exo had said only B.smithi had the eye spike/hairs.

My poor head.
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Checking the shape of the spermathecal base plates is the only reliable way to distinquish between B. smithi and B. hamorii females if coloration doesn’t make it obvious.

Post a picture of the dissected spermatheca from a molt in ventral view if you need help or a second opinion. You have to photograph it in ventral view so the uterus externus does not obstruct the view of the baseplates.

basin79 · Feb 13, 2019

AphonopelmaTX said: ↑

Checking the shape of the spermathecal base plates is the only reliable way to distinquish between B. smithi and B. hamorii females if coloration doesn’t make it obvious.

Post a picture of the dissected spermatheca from a molt in ventral view if you need help or a second opinion. You have to photograph it in ventral view so the uterus externus does not obstruct the view of the baseplates.
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Bloody Nora. So the eye spikes/hairs are enough? Arrrgggghhhh.

I'll see if I can find a moult of her and soap and water it. If I can I'll need directions please on the above because I'm clueless on things like that.

basin79 · Feb 13, 2019

AphonopelmaTX said: ↑

Checking the shape of the spermathecal base plates is the only reliable way to distinquish between B. smithi and B. hamorii females if coloration doesn’t make it obvious.

Post a picture of the dissected spermatheca from a molt in ventral view if you need help or a second opinion. You have to photograph it in ventral view so the uterus externus does not obstruct the view of the baseplates.
Click to expand...

Have you got a pic of a confirmed B.hamorri by moult identification WITH the hairs on/over the eyes? That would be the easiest way to show the hairs don't matter.

AphonopelmaTX · Feb 13, 2019

basin79 said: ↑

Have you got a pic of a confirmed B.hamorri by moult identification WITH the hairs on/over the eyes? That would be the easiest way to show the hairs don't matter.
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I don't have a picture, but I took a peek at my B. hamorii and it definitely has long hairs on the ocular mound. The number and length is different from its last molt compared to what it looks like now. I'm not going to take a picture of it and post it here because I do not want to take part in proving or disproving such ludicrous notions. Such images have a tendency to be referred back to and argued over.

The best way to identify tarantulas is to use published identification keys, when available, which took one or more biologists years of work to sort out. Identification keys exist for Brachypelma hamorii and Brachypelma smithi which is what I used to confirm the species of my B. hamorii linked to previously. If you find the molt of your's then send me a PM and I will help you anyway I can to nail down the ID based on the spermathecal basal plates. Generally speaking, identifying tarantulas to species takes some work and there is no short cuts in getting there.

basin79 · Feb 13, 2019

AphonopelmaTX said: ↑

I don't have a picture, but I took a peek at my B. hamorii and it definitely has long hairs on the ocular mound. The number and length is different from its last molt compared to what it looks like now. I'm not going to take a picture of it and post it here because I do not want to take part in proving or disproving such ludicrous notions. Such images have a tendency to be referred back to and argued over.

The best way to identify tarantulas is to use published identification keys, when available, which took one or more biologists years of work to sort out. Identification keys exist for Brachypelma hamorii and Brachypelma smithi which is what I used to confirm the species of my B. hamorii linked to previously. If you find the molt of your's then send me a PM and I will help you anyway I can to nail down the ID based on the spermathecal basal plates. Generally speaking, identifying tarantulas to species takes some work and there is no short cuts in getting there.
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Thank you very much. I'll have a look and see if I can find a moult. Surprised that the hairs don't do it as I've seen hamorii without them but you've got first hand evidence of them.

basin79 · Feb 14, 2019

First off apologies. I was given the wrong information. The best way to determine if you have a Brachypelma hamorii or smithi is by using a moult and looking at the shape of the spermathecal baseplate.

Outer differences are the presence of cheliceral bands and long white hairs on the legs of B.hamorri.

Although I've kept tarantulas for over 20 years I've never bothered to learn "about" them apart from care. I keep tarantulas just because I love big hairy spiders. It's never really appealed to me to sit down and read papers and books.

This is the thread I made here. There are far more knowledgeable keepers on it that explain better.

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/we-meet-at-last-brachypelma-smithi.316518/

basin79 · Feb 14, 2019

basin79 · Feb 14, 2019

FAO of @Chris LXXIX behold!!!!!!!

basin79 · Feb 14, 2019

Nabbed some pics of this lass. Juvenile Poecilotheria ornata. She seems to spend an equal amount of time on the floor as she does on the sides. Her carapace just floors me.

basin79 · Feb 14, 2019

Juvenile Poecilotheria ornata.

basin79 · Feb 14, 2019

Grammostola iheringi. This lass hits like a bulldozer. Her eyes seem tiny to me compared to my other tarantulas. She's also the original punk. Look at those red abdomen hairs!!!!!!!!