Species Hysterocrates hercules

[wolfs79]

Congratulations, you have an amazing t. When I bought mine, I didn't expect to see it much but it comes up and get the food almost every time I feed. And they grow like crazy. ) this is my baby H hercules.

Nice T

She just came today I just through a medium dubia roach in her cage it went into her temporary hide tube and I heard a loud crunch man she hit that thing hard.

 

[wolfs79]

Congratulations, you have an amazing t. When I bought mine, I didn't expect to see it much but it comes up and get the food almost every time I feed. And they grow like crazy. ) this is my baby H hercules.

Looks a lot like my juvenile hercules I had few years ago which also came from Germany wish I never would have sold her here she is same color as yours.

 

[wolfs79]

Very nice spider. Hysteocrates is quickly becoming one of my favorite genera.

It's to bad there us so.much confusion in the Genus Hysterocrates are my favourite always have been they don't have much color but their size and agressiokn makes up for it.

Rick C West said back in the early 90s there was a guy I think his name was mark Hart something like that who reared up Hysterocrates gigas to massive size like 10 inches he said they were more robust than a goliath birdeater.

He said if hysterocrates were too get as large as the birdeaters he said they would be more robust and bulky.

 

[Venom1080]

It's to bad there us so.much confusion in the Genus Hysterocrates are my favourite always have been they don't have much color but their size and agressiokn makes up for it.

Rick C West said back in the early 90s there was a guy I think his name was mark Hart something like that who reared up Hysterocrates gigas to massive size like 10 inches he said they were more robust than a goliath birdeater.

He said if hysterocrates were too get as large as the birdeaters he said they would be more robust and bulky.

That'd be the dream.

 

[korg]

it's not gigas or crassipes or laticeps could be a hybred since the genus is such a mess.

Hysterocrates is one of my favorite genera as well. Very cool spiders in terms of appearance and behavior, in my opinion! Any reason in particular you feel so sure this isn't gigas, crassipes, or laticeps? To me it looks very similar to the hobby "gigas" one sees very frequently in the US (I have four myself). Nothing seems to indicate it's a hercules or really anything out of the ordinary in terms of size, proportions, leg IV tibial width, etc. Nice spider, regardless! Just saying.

Also not sure if this is being implied in some of the comments above, but generally speaking coloration of the spider has nothing to do with differentiating between Hysterocrates species as the color can vary between individuals and also varies significantly based on proximity to molt/premolt. Keepers of these species can readily observe that fact for themselves so I'm surprised it seems to frequently come up in these conversations about Hysterocrates ID. The actual method of differentiating between gigas, crassipes, laticeps, "hercules," etc comes straight from Richard Gallon, and involves examining the tibia of the spider's leg IV (back legs).

Thickened tibia only = gigas (though can be less pronounced in older females), entirely thickened Leg IV including tibia = crassipes, non-thickened leg IV (possibly even smaller than leg I) = laticeps.

Otherwise (per color, size, behavior, etc) these species are very difficult to tell apart, which unfortunately has led to a lot of misidentification, hybridization, and general bastardization of the genus for many years within the hobby as mentioned above. Most of what we're keeping is probably more of a mishmash than anything "pure." Still very fun to keep, fortunately!

 

[wolfs79]

Hysterocrates is one of my favorite genera as well. Very cool spiders in terms of appearance and behavior, in my opinion! Any reason in particular you feel so sure this isn't gigas, crassipes, or laticeps? To me it looks very similar to the hobby "gigas" one sees very frequently in the US (I have four myself). Nothing seems to indicate it's a hercules or really anything out of the ordinary in terms of size, proportions, leg IV tibial width, etc. Nice spider, regardless! Just saying.

Also not sure if this is being implied in some of the comments above, but generally speaking coloration of the spider has nothing to do with differentiating between Hysterocrates species as the color can vary between individuals and also varies significantly based on proximity to molt/premolt. Keepers of these species can readily observe that fact for themselves so I'm surprised it seems to frequently come up in these conversations about Hysterocrates ID. The actual method of differentiating between gigas, crassipes, laticeps, "hercules," etc comes straight from Richard Gallon, and involves examining the tibia of the spider's leg IV (back legs).

Thickened tibia only = gigas (though can be less pronounced in older females), entirely thickened Leg IV including tibia = crassipes, non-thickened leg IV (possibly even smaller than leg I) = laticeps.

Otherwise (per color, size, behavior, etc) these species are very difficult to tell apart, which unfortunately has led to a lot of misidentification, hybridization, and general bastardization of the genus for many years within the hobby as mentioned above. Most of what we're keeping is probably more of a mishmash than anything "pure." Still very fun to keep, fortunately!

Hysterocrates is one of my favorite genera as well. Very cool spiders in terms of appearance and behavior, in my opinion! Any reason in particular you feel so sure this isn't gigas, crassipes, or laticeps? To me it looks very similar to the hobby "gigas" one sees very frequently in the US (I have four myself). Nothing seems to indicate it's a hercules or really anything out of the ordinary in terms of size, proportions, leg IV tibial width, etc. Nice spider, regardless! Just saying.

Also not sure if this is being implied in some of the comments above, but generally speaking coloration of the spider has nothing to do with differentiating between Hysterocrates species as the color can vary between individuals and also varies significantly based on proximity to molt/premolt. Keepers of these species can readily observe that fact for themselves so I'm surprised it seems to frequently come up in these conversations about Hysterocrates ID. The actual method of differentiating between gigas, crassipes, laticeps, "hercules," etc comes straight from Richard Gallon, and involves examining the tibia of the spider's leg IV (back legs).

Thickened tibia only = gigas (though can be less pronounced in older females), entirely thickened Leg IV including tibia = crassipes, non-thickened leg IV (possibly even smaller than leg I) = laticeps.

Otherwise (per color, size, behavior, etc) these species are very difficult to tell apart, which unfortunately has led to a lot of misidentification, hybridization, and general bastardization of the genus for many years within the hobby as mentioned above. Most of what we're keeping is probably more of a mishmash than anything "pure." Still very fun to keep, fortunately!

I agree with everything your saying no one can say they have a hercules that's just what I bought as I know plenty about the hysterocrates I have kept the gigas crassipes laticeps as well who knows what mine is could be a mix and to me color does play a role in species of course most are dark right after a molt.
This girl is way different than anything I have kept she molted a month ago and still real dark. from what I have read hercules does have a somewhat swollen tibia leg four has an oval carapace olive brown hairs that have a gray sheen under reflected light I have the smiths baboon spiders book.

Also hercules really is not a monster tarantula like it has been blown up to be. Just only one specimen holotype! makes it interesting supposedly it may be merged with gigas since gigas has the senior name.

Doesn't really matter to me what it is just have to see how big she gets. I just like the hysterocrates sp.

 

[Rhysandfish]

Shes pretty. I love her color!

 

[korg]

Doesn't really matter to me what it is just have to see how big she gets. I just like the hysterocrates sp.

I hear you! These are very cool spiders and I always try to encourage more interest in them. Accepting the taxonomical ambiguity of our hobby Hysterocrates is really just another step toward learning more. It does get a bit shady sometimes if sellers try to charge higher prices for sp. "hercules" that are really just... nothing worth extra money from the buyer. Fun to keep regardless, though. You should post an update/photo here after a few molts!

 

[wolfs79]

I hear you! These are very cool spiders and I always try to encourage more interest in them. Accepting the taxonomical ambiguity of our hobby Hysterocrates is really just another step toward learning more. It does get a bit shady sometimes if sellers try to charge higher prices for sp. "hercules" that are really just... nothing worth extra money from the buyer. Fun to keep regardless, though. You should post an update/photo here after a few molts!

Sure I will keep you updated I didn't pay huge money for her knowing it was unlikely a real hercules Someone thought it was a gigas but I don't think so unless it's a mix time will tell thanks for all the responses.

 

[wolfs79]

Shes pretty. I love her color!

Thanks.

 

[mconnachan]

Just got this 4" female Hysterocrates sp hercules in today from Germany we all know that no-one can say they have a true hercules she does have some striking colors though very dark almost black with a grayish sheen strange it's not gigas or crassipes or laticeps could be a hybred since the genus is such a mess.

It looks like my H. laticeps, some subtle differences, but for the most part - it looks almost identical albeit mines are slings ATM - nice looking spider, congrats dude.

 

[mconnachan]

Looks a lot like my juvenile hercules I had few years ago which also came from Germany wish I never would have sold her here she is same color as yours.

Looks like a laticeps as well....I don't know how messed up the genus is, but I bought mines as an
H. laticeps, looks exactly like a laticeps does when fully grown, mine are slings - growing like weeds though, in the few weeks I've had them they have molted 3 times each, so that's 3 molts in 4-5 weeks per spider, I had to look at my diary to check - I can't believe the speed that these sp. grow.

 

[wolfs79]

Looks like a laticeps as well....I don't know how messed up the genus is, but I bought mines as an
H. laticeps, looks exactly like a laticeps does when fully grown, mine are slings - growing like weeds though, in the few weeks I've had them they have molted 3 times each, so that's 3 molts in 4-5 weeks per spider, I had to look at my diary to check - I can't believe the speed that these sp. grow.

Thanks for your reply don't think this is laticeps leg IV in laticeps is real thin if it's a true laticeps that is I have had laticeps as well this doesn't match but who knows.

 

[mconnachan]

Thanks for your reply don't think this is laticeps leg IV in laticeps is real thin if it's a true laticeps that is I have had laticeps as well this doesn't match but who knows.

Mine are slings - but the speed they're molting at they won't be small for long, that's 3 molts from the 3 laticeps this week alone.

 

[Venom1080]

Unfortunately she is a he. And a damn big he at that. Grew about 2" in one molt. Now about 8". Incredible spider. Redid his cage as it couldn't fit out of its old hide and there was some mold. Any id suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Unfortunately she is a he. And a damn big he at that. Grew about 2" in one molt. Now about 8". Incredible spider. Redid his cage as it couldn't fit out of its old hide and there was some mold. Any id suggestions would be appreciated. View attachment 248098 View attachment 248099 View attachment 248101 View attachment 248103 View attachment 248105

I don't have the exact idea of the species (at the end, at least here in Europe, the genus is a mess) but from the pics is the average Hysterocrates gigas (I mean, sold as) that I view on a regular basis in the trade/expo's here. Nonetheless, great spider

 

[Venom1080]

I don't have the exact idea of the species (at the end, at least here in Europe, the genus is a mess) but from the pics is the average Hysterocrates gigas (I mean, sold as) that I view on a regular basis in the trade/expo's here. Nonetheless, great spider

The whole genus is great

 

[wolfs79]

Here is a pick of my 5.5 inch female Hysterocrates sp hercules she lost both her pedipalps in her last molt but is doing good

 

[wolfs79]

Heres another pic of my Hysterocrates sp hercules.

 

[wolfs79]

One more picture