User Hydrazine's Spider Stooges

[Storm76]

Could be very early stages of premolt. Certainly would stop feeding that one nevertheless

 

[Hydrazine]

Thoughts on the enclosure? The hide is big, yes, but they didn't have smaller - and Adela sems to actually like it. Notice the excavation - the second entrance/exit she made in the 'upper right' corner.
Substrate is 'lignocel' - coco fiber and small chips. The bigger chips seemed to show up after drying up. Should I change the substrate?

My B.smithi is surely a puzzling creature. Colours are definitely faded but she doesn't show any behavioural signs of premoult - she even ate on Friday.

 

[Hydrazine]

somehow I always make shadow..oh well

Ozzy after moult - getting in a more spider-ish shape, not a butt with legs anymore!
Getting colours, it seems - especially the now gray legs with visible markings.

There is no such things as too "too many A.versi pics". Refuses/ignores food for two weeks, maybe more, and sits all day in a hammock (s)he made unless I try to feed - then it takes a stroll.

It's funny, actually. The only one who eats regularly, vigorously and viciously is from a genus known for fasting (Grammostola).

 

[Hydrazine]

I have no luck getting to photograph my B.smithi's butt for comparison (suspected premoult), she's skittish as ever now.

In the meantime, at least some pics of my little Grammostola fatty - (s)he's a tank!

A little bit over an inch, I reckon (dammit, you infected me with imperial measurements!)

Curious, this one is..and so cute

and here's one of my 1.5cm A.genic, who recently moulted into a furious tunnel builder

 

[Storm76]

I'd put a prekilled cricket in the versi enclosure maybe on a leaf and let it sit there. If it's still there 24hrs later, remove it as the T is certainly not hungry then.

Nice pics

 

[Hydrazine]

I'd put a prekilled cricket in the versi enclosure maybe on a leaf and let it sit there. If it's still there 24hrs later, remove it as the T is certainly not hungry then.

Nice pics

Thanks, I'm trying to improve with the camera.

Also, the versi sling moulted on saturday - I suspected it, most of the signs were there - food refusal, clumsiness, webbing, and I spotted it drinking long from a newly 'installed' water dish. Nevertheless, I hesitated to hope for moult because of abdominal size, which I thought to be insufficient. Oh well, I learn every day.

Waiting for the fangs to blacken now.

 

[Storm76]

In that case, congrats on the molt

 

[Hydrazine]

Checked on avic, still doesn't seem ready to eat, backed away from a cricket offered in tongs and upon closer inspection, the chelicerae, or fangs, more precisely, still don't look black.

It took its usual stroll when I opened the lid, so at least I got some pics

---------- Post added 11-28-2012 at 11:51 AM ----------

Paparazzi Photo of Possibly Premoult Posterior:

For comparison, the very same B.smithi earlier:

 

[Storm76]

Your smithi looks indeed like being in premolt Good luck!

As for that versi, just put a pre-killed cricket into the webbing and leave it over night. Some T's don't like being tong-fed and refuse food that way. *shrugs*

 

[Hydrazine]

Cool, can't wait till she actually gets on with it - she's been like this for about three days already. I know, it can take longer

I'm reluctant to leave a prekill there cause I'm leaving for the night and have no idea when I'll be back tomorrow, IF tomorrow - also Taz was VERY eager to tug the cricket from the tongs last time (s)he actually ate. Then again, T 'personality' can change through moult, yeah. I think I'll wait one more day for the fangs, they really don't seem completely black.

 

[Hydrazine]

Feeding time with Mr. or Miss Taz! (s)he was really hungry today and tugged the cricket from my tweezers immediately. There's really no such thing as too many versi pics.

Shake your booty! Happy dance with spinnerets

NOM. I just love the chelicerae-plunged-into-food shots.

Another "dance" shot, a bit blurry

Taz's classic pose, only this time with mouthful of cricket.

 

[Hydrazine]

Very bad ventral shots of my new G. pulchripes. Sort of thinking male but honestly, I have no idea

 

[Hydrazine]

A full body shot of the new acquisition. Pacing the walls but I guess it's a part of the accustoming procedure.

Would appreciate some sexing opinions (see post above)

 

[SuzukiSwift]

Your G.Pulchipres is beauitful! And I LOVE your versi, the colours seem much sharper than most I've seen! I think mine is different than most, she's very calm whenever she walks out, never runs fast unless she's chasing food (can't use a paint brush with her though, she tries to eat it every time!)

I would say female, but you should listen to someone with more experience than me haha

 

[Hydrazine]

Your G.Pulchipres is beauitful! And I LOVE your versi, the colours seem much sharper than most I've seen! I think mine is different than most, she's very calm whenever she walks out, never runs fast unless she's chasing food (can't use a paint brush with her though, she tries to eat it every time!)

I would say female, but you should listen to someone with more experience than me haha

Thanks would you believe that I got it for a price equivalent to a 3cm G.pulchra or B.smithi? Apparently they had it since it was a sling and they didn't want to change price! Just hope it'll get past the wall climbing stage..
I let the substrate (I use lignocel, which seems to be the same as eco earth) dry out before rehousing but apparently not enough.

I love my versi too (s)he also walks around casually if not disturbed / snatching food and somehow it also appears (s)he likes to be a photo model (yeah, I know tarantulas don't think/feel like that )

 

[SuzukiSwift]

Thanks would you believe that I got it for a price equivalent to a 3cm G.pulchra or B.smithi? Apparently they had it since it was a sling and they didn't want to change price! Just hope it'll get past the wall climbing stage..
I let the substrate (I use lignocel, which seems to be the same as eco earth) dry out before rehousing but apparently not enough.

I love my versi too (s)he also walks around casually if not disturbed / snatching food and somehow it also appears (s)he likes to be a photo model (yeah, I know tarantulas don't think/feel like that )

I am jealous right now! haha I'm sure it will, it may just not be used to the substrate yet and will come down eventually (it's probably just checking the plumbing ). Seriously, I think you've just sold me on these, I took one look at it and I'm like "Wow! I've got to get me one of those!" haha Hopefully for as good a price as you but unlikely!!

Oh... I dunno ae, sometimes it seems like they pull the perfect pose for a photo!

 

[Hydrazine]

It's as if (s)he was a reincarnated Avicularia I caught it webbing around the top a bit (probably just laying tripwires) and (s)he even shot poop out of the enclosure vents! Freaked me out a little bit when suddenly a liquid squirted out of the vents, before I recognized it as poop

---------- Post added 12-04-2012 at 01:33 AM ----------

I'm still curious what would the resident sexing experts say about him/her

 

[Hydrazine]

I think the G.pulchripes (still can't think of a name) is playing games with me. When I'm awake, (s)he behaves like an Avic - but when I go to sleep..
..well, woke up in the middle of the night and since I had a cam at hand, I managed to shoot him/her on the ground.
All pics taken with flash through the plexiglass.

I love frontal shots of this species..

this one is a bit too bright..

and a different angle..

 

[Storm76]

Sorry, not too sure on the pulchripes hence I don't want to put out a guess.

 

[Hydrazine]

Well, no hooks or gloves so at least it's not a MM meaning (s)he'll stick around for a while

I've read Sexing for dummies but haven't found anything conclusive.