Brachypelma albopilosum

[rosehaired1979]

Hi I am getting a Curly Hair (Brachypelma albopilosum) in the next couple of weeks (if it molts its in premolt now) and I was wondering if anyone had any personal experience its between 2" and 2.5" but unsure how big it will be on its next molt and hopefully the Dealer I am getting it from can tell me what sex it is. We are also getting a Fringed Ornamental (3rd pokey),T.Blondi (we gonna try another one) and maybe a GBB and something else my husband has not told me yet but more than likely a King Baboon

 

[Code Monkey]

They are pretty remarkable in how much they grow betwen moults. It will probably be over the 3" mark by a good bit after the next moult.

 

[rosehaired1979]

I am hoping its female

 

[Harmeke]

Our curly just molted last month, and she got HUGE! I couldnt believe the size difference. She definately wins the prize for most growth in a molt. Shes a brat though...just for looking at her shell kick hairs at ya, try to move her and shell fly across the cage at about 100 miles and hour and then go right up the side. I have had to (on two occasions) had to chase her around the living room (Youd think Id have learned from the first time!) But shes great, a vicious eater...Ive seen her pounce on a cricket with one already in her fangs!

Patty

 

[abstract]

I got mine at about 1", and it's about 3" now, 3 molts later. This guy is a molting machine too...

He triggers the rest of my spiders into a molt i think too - right after he does, I've got a L. Difficilis and a P.Irminia that are usually within the next week.

My curly is real weird though - big feeder, but if I ever try to handle it it just ignores me. If i brush it's abdomen, it's like it freezes up and doesn't move AT ALL - even with a "firm" brush - where most of my spides would at least skitter forward a little bit. For that reason, I mostly just let it hang out in it's keeper, livin' life.

 

[MizM]

My curlies eat amazing amounts for little 2" Ts! And GROW amazing amounts! They are funny lttle critters, they have the best feeding waltz of any of my species. And take the best "baths" afterwards!

I think the lack of response you are getting from yours is just extreme docility! My three are like little "Gumbys". You can do WHATEVER you want with them and they play right along!

Way underrated species... they are FUN T's!=D

 

[Bry]

Rosehaired, you picked out a good choice in T's. I love my female B. albo, she's about 4.5" and is quite a character. She is a voracious feeder, and quite docile, although a tad shy. They may not be as colorful as some of the other Brachys, but they make up for it in personality. I agree with MizM, they are underrated.

Bry

 

[Inuleki]

Originally posted by MizM
they have the best feeding waltz of any of my species.

yeah, ours does a pretty neat little waltz... we call it the cricket dance but my fasciatum does a very neat little cricket dance too...

 

[rosehaired1979]

Thanks all I can't wait to get it now. I am hoping to get it Fri. (2 weeks from now) but the Dealer thinks its in premolt so we hope it molts before we have to ship it because I don't want it to die. I am hoping its female She/He will be my first juv. t as well.

 

[manville]

good luck with it im getting some in in about 3-4 days..

 

[rorika]

my curly is a little weird too.. he's abt 1" and a cricket smaller then him crawled into his burrow and instead of eating it the bugger ran out and the cricket made the burrow his new home.. has anyone has trouble with crickets overtaking the tarantula's tunnel? i think now my curly is scared and he just built a tunnel of web without digging.. pretty cool and i can see the spider anytime unlike like previously where it is always in it's burrow..

 

[Code Monkey]

You want to get that cricket out of there. If a B. albopilosum refuses food it's a good bet that either the food was too big or it's in pre-moult. You stated the cricket was smaller, so fear of the prey is unlikely, that leaves pre-moult. Alternatively, it may just be full because you're feeding it more than it can eat, but without a more detailed description of your feeding habits, I prefer to err on the side of caution with this advice.

While rare, crickets do sometimes kill or otherwise harm moulting Ts.

 

[rorika]

i'm not very sure my curly acts very strange on it's eating habits. he prefers mealworms i guess. when i first bought it (1") i feed it a mealworm each day until i decided to buy crickets. i threw in 2 crickets. a larger one 1 " and a smaller one. he ate the bigger one,everything of it, but the smaller one went into it's burrow. i guess it was full and it didn't attack it and the spider came scrambling out. after 4 days i feed it a small cricket and it did ate but only abt 1/4 of the cricket.. i wonder why is my curly hair eating habits not so huge as everyone has stated.. it's not in premoult stage as it didn't "lose" it's colour and still quite active at night.

 

[Gillian]

Hi,
Due to size restrictions, I was forced to thin my collection down DRASTICALLY. Caught in the crossfire were my curly slings from Joy, and my nearly juvie male. I really miss them. Awesome t.
Peace,
Gillian
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