Dolichothele diamantinensis (Brazilian Blue Dwarf Beauty) Open Thread

jay444

Arachnosquire
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Messages
133
Thank you for your answer, I just got mine today and it was sold to me as a 1/2 '' sling as well, but it's a little bigger. I will rehouse him in a bigger vial (middle one) in the meantime.


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Colorado Ts

Arachnoangel
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
831
Thank you for your answer, I just got mine today and it was sold to me as a 1/2 '' sling as well, but it's a little bigger. I will rehouse him in a bigger vial (middle one) in the meantime.


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Your enclosures look nice and will serve you well.

You are going to love keeping this species. They have been challenging at times, but in the end...so worth it. Their behaviors are interesting, they are so dang fast...that was impressive to see first hand.

I remember thinking to myself, “How fast could these spiders really be, seriously?” Yeah...they are even faster than that...

So here’s a scary thought, “Spending time & studying these spiders, learning how insanely fast they are, and knowing that there are spiders out there...that are faster.
 
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Jess S

Arachnobaron
Joined
Mar 10, 2019
Messages
572
Here's a few more pics (will make an effort to take some better ones with better lighting too soon though!). Also he's done a load more webbing since these were taken.

After moulting last year

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One of his tunnel entrances are visible on this one

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Capable of taking down oversized prey

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Love the red setae

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jay444

Arachnosquire
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Messages
133
Your enclosures look nice and will serve you well.

You are going to love keeping this species. They have been challenging at times, but in the end...so worth it. Their behaviors are interesting, they are so dang fast...that was impressive to see first hand.

I remember thinking to myself, “How fast could these spiders really be, seriously?” Yeah...they are even faster than that...
Thanks :)
I think I will! They look so beautiful and have an interesting behavior.
Finally I've decided to rehouse my sling directly in my 4x4x4 since he has almost 1'' leg span, I don't want to deal with rehousing him in the bigger vial lol in which I don't think he would last long in terms of size.

Here is a picture of its enclosure

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Jess S

Arachnobaron
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Mar 10, 2019
Messages
572
My one last moulted 174 days ago. Hoping he'll moult soon. The last moult very much looked male. Would be wonderful if I'm wrong though lol Will update the moult section here when I get the next and let you guys know, with a new photo of my fresh moulted beauty :)
 

Colorado Ts

Arachnoangel
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Oct 16, 2019
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831
Anyone know how much a sac produces?
This would be great information to include in this thread. I've contacted several people, heck even the seller where I got my 8 slings...nothing. No one seems to know or have any idea how many slings are in a typical D.diamantinensis egg sac.

Bummer.

Anecdotally on the internet, I can find reports of 93 slings, 94 slings...up to ~200 slings. So I would venture to say that this species will produce on average 100 to 125 slings per breeding.
 
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SquidStina

Arachnopeon
Joined
Dec 11, 2017
Messages
48
This is my pretty lady. Raised her from a 1/2" sling. She's webbed up everything in her enclosure. Very beautiful T, but she's very speedy and hides a decent bit. She also slaps at things (food, water pipette, etc) a ton more than my other Ts. Every time I go in to do anything she smacks things around with her front feet. She's a cute little grump.

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Colorado Ts

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Oct 16, 2019
Messages
831
These slings seem to be so much happier in the 4X4X4 AMAC boxes. They have really calmed down, and aren't nearly as skittish when I mess with their enclosures. I’m loving them more every day. They are certainly more frail and dainty, compared to my other spider species. They can flatten out and virtually disappear in the creases of the cork bark, of their hides.

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Each time I open an enclosure, the webbing is getting more intricate...little web tunnels running every which way; layers of thin filmy webbing freshly added over previous layers. Each one now has a chamber room deep in their webbing, usually protected under their hide, but not always. 3 of the 8 slings have located their chambers next to the hide, instead of under the hide.

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Sorry guys, it is so hard sometimes, through all that webbing, to get a clear image. Using my cellphone to take images has its limitations, I thought the focus on these two images was better than it was... :bag:
 
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Colorado Ts

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Oct 16, 2019
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831
Webs & Dirt Curtains

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These slings are happy. Everyone of them is actively webbing up their enclosures. Some of them are thin and whispy...several of them are starting to add layers, thickening their webs considerably.

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Some of them are incorporating substrate into their webs, turning them into dirt curtains. One of the slings is even digging an intricate tunnel system in its enclosure.

Love this species.
 

Colorado Ts

Arachnoangel
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
831
Container Shipment has Arrived

So in a series of previous posts there was a discussion about appropriate container size for adult specimens of Dolicholethe diamantinensis. This took place on the first page of this thread, posts #4 through #6.

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I ordered a case of 4X4X8 AMAC boxes. And I pulled out 8 boxes for my current slings. The boxes are carefully packaged and arrived undamaged. At the case price, the boxes were less than $2.00 each.

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To drill air holes, I marked the boxes along the long edge. The holes are spaced 1 cm apart.

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The holes were drilled using a 5/64” bit and a small compact cordless drill. Lots of holes to drill for each box, tedious and time consuming.

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The finished product is well worth the effort. I really enjoy that there are so many little projects in this hobby. I enjoy working with my hands, building, assembling, and appreciating the quality appearance of the finished product.

These boxes are not really designed to be used as an enclosure for keeping spiders. They are moredesigned to be used as display boxes, so there is a bit of a trick getting the lids on and off...without damaging the boxes.

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When you are replacing the lid, or removing the lid from the box...pinch the long sides in a bit. The lid will then more easily pop on and pop off, without damage to the enclosure.

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I have a fairly complete list of Tarantulas that I plan on purchasing and adding to my growing collection. Several species on my list are dwarf species. Now that I have a group of D.diamantinensis slings, I can now put forward thought and energy into acquiring a couple more dwarf species that I have under consideration.

The overstock of these containers are being stored in my display case, until they are needed for the eventual arrival of these dwarves, down the road.

So...at what size would it be prudent to move my slings into their adult enclosures?

Thoughts?
 
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Colorado Ts

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Oct 16, 2019
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Tonight I sat down for nice quiet picture taking, I looked at everything...all my slings were examined. So those images will be popping up in other threads.

My Dolichothele diamantinensis slings have been webbing like crazy. I’ll shoot some webbing images in a week, but honestly yhe changes are daily, these little things are webbing machines.

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A couple are looking like they may already be heading into premoult...again. They seem to moult every 3 or 4 weeks at this size.

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Of the 8 slings, most of them are blue fuzzy little spiders...all except 2. There are 2 slings that are showing green hues on the carapace. Post #36 has images of the other sling that has a green carapace. I wonder what it is, is size...are these 2 slings just a bit ahead of the others? Is genetics, they are showing been ahead of the others because they are genetically predisposed? I’m keeping track of these 2, it might or might not be a trait to promote.

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The slings are all right around the 3/4” size length. I’d say 4 are 3/4”, 2 are just under; while the remaining 2 are just over.As I stated when I first started this post, it feels sort of quick for any of them to be headed into premoult, most of them moulted just around a month ago..the rest were just before then.

my first dwarf species, maybe this is a thing...
 
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Mrjuve

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 12, 2020
Messages
1
Friday Feeding

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The slings’ feeding response in the 4x4x4 AMAC containers is so different than when they were being kept in the soufflé cups. This sling was so excited to grab the prey item, it flipped over onto its back. The emerald green carapace is just beginning to be evident, with this last moult. These are a pretty cool dwarf species.

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Since moving into the 4x4x4 AMAC enclosures, they really hit the prey items hard. Their feeding response is definitely stronger, and they seem to be much calmer then they were when they resided in the soufflé cups. When I open the enclosures, I’m no longer moving all their webbing and tearing everything apart.

I also get to look at them and enjoy them much more in this larger enclosure. I’m beginning to see hints on certain slings of the metallic coloration that they will develop with each future moult. They are a very beautiful species.
This post is great. As a beginner in the hobby it is perfect for me to see how this cracking little dwarf reacts and develops. I have this one on my list as I narrow down to 3or 4 for my first T.
My list is now: Avicularia minatrix,Homoeomma orellanai(impossible to find), Dolichothele diamantinensis and Thrixopelma cyaneolum. I will continue to research each.
Thank you for these great updates.
I look forward to more.
 

Kitara

Arachnodemon
Joined
Jun 21, 2019
Messages
761
@Tomoran has a really good writeup and video here about this species. They are just the cutest little things and I'm definitely on the lookout for one to add to my collection.

 

Colorado Ts

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Oct 16, 2019
Messages
831
Patience Wins

This species is not my easiest to capture images. The slings tend to spend their time on the edges of their webs, sitting in their web tunnels. Any disturbance sends them deep into their webbing and safety.

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I was able to capture 2 of the 8 slings in exposed positions so that I could get clear images.

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They’ve now been in their 4X4X4 AMAC enclosures for a few weeks. They have really settled in to their new environment...GONE is their skittish bolty bolty behavior, when I had them in the 3.5 oz soufflé cups. They have an incredible feeding response, considering their size as a dwarf species.

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And I found this little guy in the cabinet trying to gain access to one of the sling enclosures. Not sure what species, but it wastes no time pouncing on small B.lateralis roaches.

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