had to buy a Theraphosa sp. Big Freaking T

[Bazzgazm]

LPS had this guy for sale dirt cheap (well, for you online people... it was almost the cost of LAG)

measured legit 8.5" legspan.. little rough around the edges.. i heard they fed it a rat and couldn't deal with thinking about that again. so i had a big cage left so i figured why not.. I'll make this little one happy for a good while.

I've always wanted one but locally, they're 100-199, and online of course, similar, and anything over 6 inches is big.. i have a vagans i thought was big for a long time, until i really look at the cd in the picture.

Anyway. not sure of sexing blondis either. But i figured even if it's a male and maybe not matured, i could keep him a while until he does and then let someone who knows what they're doing breed.

Now this is the hairless patella theraphosa species that has come of recent. the petshop owner knows quite a bit about the hobby.. Even stating about the locals of where these are originating vs. the old ones he used to get which he said seemed bigger..

As far as the rat goes.. this is not the first, nor the only time someone has done this.... so i wouldn't bash him too much for it.. it's just not something I'll do.

here's pics.

 

[jbm150]

Good looking T, has some really beefy legs! Looks to indeed be male

 

[xhexdx]

When you compare your ventral to this one:

It makes it much easier to sex.

Yours is female.

 

[Bazzgazm]

best picture i've seen so far
Definitely doesn't have that..
at 8.5" i'm guessing a hisser once in while should be fine... I don't hae access to dubia right now or anything close, not until i get back to vabeach.

crickets just don't seem substantial enough.

 

[James Quinton]

Lovely buy! And yours is a female get her a mate

 

[photobuggirl]

How cool! I did the exact same thing only yesterday. I bought a T. blondi (about 8 or 9", but I didn't measure...should've), LPS, unsexed, a little beaten up. You're story is also really similar to mine in the fact that I also had a huge cage sitting around and the T was being sold at an awesome price.

I'm envious of your ventral shot. They had this T in a container with substrate (which is obviously tons better than not), so I wasn't able to get under him/her that way.

 

[Scoolman]

Nice find! Definately looks female. Looks to be very healthy.

 

[jbm150]

Oookay...the second pic definitely looks male, no question. But isn't that arch of dark hairs over the epigastric furrow in the first the epiandrous fusillae? It does look puffed out, is that how you can tell its female?

 

[Scoolman]

Oookay...the second pic definitely looks male, no question. But isn't that arch of dark hairs over the epigastric furrow in the first the epiandrous fusillae? It does look puffed out, is that how you can tell its female?

The epiandrous fusillae, found only on males, form a semi-circular or triangular shape that suggests an "arch" of more dense, shorter, darkened hairs or setae just above the epigastric furrow. Don't let coloration fool you. you are looking for the 2-4 rows of distinctly shorter "hairs".

 

[Bazzgazm]

I think that's where i was confused, but after going through countless pictures.. the males have a DEFINED high arch of hairs vs. the females.. this one is still gonna bug me though.. but The people who have said female have been trustworthy people. specially hedx

 

[Bazzgazm]

How cool! I did the exact same thing only yesterday. I bought a T. blondi (about 8 or 9", but I didn't measure...should've), LPS, unsexed, a little beaten up. You're story is also really similar to mine in the fact that I also had a huge cage sitting around and the T was being sold at an awesome price.

I'm envious of your ventral shot. They had this T in a container with substrate (which is obviously tons better than not), so I wasn't able to get under him/her that way.

Got her yesterday at 5pm... and i just moved her to that clear container to get those shots.. She's VERY good.. Kicked hair for just a second... scurried a little... i've held H.MACS and Chilobrachys... This thing is a baby compared to those two

 

[Pennywise]

T Blondi has always been my favorite species. They are so massive, alert,
edgy and active. Best of luck with yours! PS Don't get haired!!!

 

[Scoolman]

Ventral Sexing Diagram

Ventral Sexing Diagram

 

[Bazzgazm]

Very well tempered tarantula.. just as skittish as my b.vagans.. no signs of threats.. what freaks me out is the stridulation or scratching sound when she walks, which i've read was pretty normal in large tarantulas like this... but when she runs off to the other side of the tank.. it's kind of a shock, im allowing her a bit to burrow and i have a bark hide too, substrate isn't as deep as they'd probably like it. but it's moist and comfy...

she'll be a happy.. Just gotta work on the bigger food supply

 

[photobuggirl]

what freaks me out is the stridulation or scratching sound when she walks, which i've read was pretty normal in large tarantulas like this...

Yeah, I hadn't read about that beforehand and was fairly surprised when I heard it, very strange sound.