User Josh's Frogs Picture Thread

[Joshs Frogs]

This is Debbie Harry, a Desert Blonde Tarantula that is part of the breeding team here at Josh’s Frogs. The scientific name of this species, Aphonopelma chalcodes, is derived from the roots “aphono-” meaning without sound, “-pelma” meaning foot, and “chalco-” meaning copper or bronze, a reference to the coloration of this tarantula's hairs. While this species can sometimes be quite tolerant, Debbie is a spitfire who tolerates no shenanigans in her habitat. In this picture, Debbie is raising her abdomen high in the air striking an intimidation pose commonly used by many species that share her genus, Aphonopelma.

 

[Joshs Frogs]

This is the greenest red spider that I have ever seen! Poecilotheria rufilata is commonly known as the Red Slate Ornamental Tarantula. In India, they are also known as Reddish Parachute Spiders or Travancore Slate-Red Spiders. The genus name, “Poecilotheria” comes from the Greek, "poikilos" (spotted) and "therion" (wild beast). The species epithet, “rufilata”, comes from the Latin word "rufus," meaning "reddish" or "red-haired”. I never understood that, as this species spends most of its life in spectacular shades of green. This is Mindy, a member of the breeding team here at Josh’s Frogs. She is named after an OG Tarantula Keeper that was one of the very first members of the Arachnid Team.

 

[Requiem4aSpleen]

This is the greenest red spider that I have ever seen! Poecilotheria rufilata is commonly known as the Red Slate Ornamental Tarantula. In India, they are also known as Reddish Parachute Spiders or Travancore Slate-Red Spiders. The genus name, “Poecilotheria” comes from the Greek, "poikilos" (spotted) and "therion" (wild beast). The species epithet, “rufilata”, comes from the Latin word "rufus," meaning "reddish" or "red-haired”. I never understood that, as this species spends most of its life in spectacular shades of green. This is Mindy, a member of the breeding team here at Josh’s Frogs. She is named after an OG Tarantula Keeper that was one of the very first members of the Arachnid Team.
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I don't have an Ornata, but from what I hear, the Rufilata is the "Good Son or daughter" lol. My girl has always been super chill

 

[Joshs Frogs]

A while back I shared pics of Bagheera, one of our Brazilian Blue Tarantulas (Lasiocyano sazimai) right after a molt and referred to him with a generic female pronoun. This is a common practice when keepers are referring to their unsexed tarantulas. I had several sharp eyed keepers point out something that I had missed when taking those pics. That was that Bagheera was not only a male, he had molted into his mature form! Once he had finished sclerotizing he started forming sperm webs to load his emboli. These are special glands that develop on mature males on the end of their pedipalps and are used to deliver their genetic material. The male has to encounter the female head on, lift her up, and deliver his genetic material to the back half of her underside. All the while, he has her fangs dangling over his head like the Sword of Damacles. Here we see Bagheera doing just that with his new girlfriend, Baloo! Hopefully they give us a sac full of precious little babies that will grow into living sapphires in their own time. Wish them luck!

 

[Joshs Frogs]

This Bonita. She is a Mexican Red Leg Tarantula (Brachypelma emilia). This species is found in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Sinaloa and Nayarit in Mexico All species of Brachypelma were placed on CITES Appendix II in 1994, thus restricting trade. Nevertheless, large numbers of tarantulas caught in the wild continue to be smuggled out of Mexico, including Brachypelma emilia. As such it is considered to be threatened by capture for sale to the pet trade. However, these days, the trade in B. emilia largely involves captive-bred spiderlings. This species is found in the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Sinaloa and Nayarit in Mexico. This is a very dry and sparse environment. As a result of adapting to that environment, Brachypelma emilia is a desert survivalist. They have been known to go shockingly long periods between meals, as adults. They also have a potential three decade life span!

 

[Joshs Frogs]

Meet Mary, a Venezuelan Suntiger Tarantula (Psalmopoeus irminia), who lives at Josh’s Frogs as a member of the breeding team. She was born here. A little over a year later, she had grown to nearly 2 ½ inches. That is less than half of the size and age generally associated with maturity in her species. I point that out because, despite that, I looked into her habitat and found her carrying a tiny egg sac! She had never been paired with a male, so it was guaranteed to not be fertile. It was also a fraction of the size of an egg sac that an adult P irminia would lay. Still I was so impressed with her drive to become a mother that I adopted her into the breeding team right away! She is coming up on three years old now. She will get an opportunity to be a mother, the next time we get a mature male in. Even if she was in a rush to grow up and be a mother, we wanted her body to finish maturing before moving into that next stage in her life. She is an absolute stunner!! I think she will make beautiful babies!!!

 

[Joshs Frogs]

The Singapore Blue Tarantula, also known as Omothymus violaceopes, is a beautiful and enigmatic tarantula. This leggy (7+ inches) beauty is part of a group known as the Asian Arboreal Tarantulas. As many people who have kept this species can tell you, for an arboreal tarantula, it spends a heck of a lot of its time underground! The mystery of why an arboreal tarantula is mostly a pet hole in captivity does have a potential explanation! This species is typically found in old growth forests, where falling, decomposing foliage builds up where the tree branches fork out, creating a floating biome where orchids and bromeliads can grow, many feet above the forest floor. Young Singapore Blues dig burrows into these biomes and find shelter and protection there. Lacking those unique micro-ecosystems in their captive habitats, these spiders are able to make satisfactory burrows directly into their substrate. That does mean that you rarely see a well adjusted, well fed Singapore Blue out and about, especially during the day. However, the effect of this is that the rare times that you do see your Singapore Blue out, it is an absolute event! Here we have a juvenile that is just starting to grow into its blue and out of the gold guard hair and abdomen colors of a youth.

 

[Joshs Frogs]

The Costa Rican Red Leg tarantula was, until recently, known scientifically as Megaphobema mesomelas. The genus "Megaphobema" is derived from the Greek words Mega- (Large) and -phobema (Fright/Terror). Their genus has recently been changed to “Abdomegaphobema” which basically translates to, "removed from Megaphobema" reflecting that this species was previously grouped with Megaphobema but distinguished by its darker coloration compared to other species. By whatever name this spider is known as, it is a rare and breathtaking beauty!!!

 

[Mike41793]

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Awesome shot. I just picked up a half inch sling a month ago. A species of pokie I've never kept before. Excited to raise it up.

 

[Requiem4aSpleen]

The Costa Rican Red Leg tarantula was, until recently, known scientifically as Megaphobema mesomelas. The genus "Megaphobema" is derived from the Greek words Mega- (Large) and -phobema (Fright/Terror). Their genus has recently been changed to “Abdomegaphobema” which basically translates to, "removed from Megaphobema" reflecting that this species was previously grouped with Megaphobema but distinguished by its darker coloration compared to other species. By whatever name this spider is known as, it is a rare and breathtaking beauty!!!
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It

Awesome shot. I just picked up a half inch sling a month ago. A species of pokie I've never kept before. Excited to raise it up.

Mike, Did you pick up a Rufilata?

 

[Mike41793]

Mike, Did you pick up a Rufilata?

I tried to quote the picture haha. But yes, rufilata! It is only like half inch too small for any good pics yet. We're you the one I talked about that species with? I recall Stu M. posting his and commenting I wanted one at some point

 

[Requiem4aSpleen]

I tried to quote the picture haha. But yes, rufilata! It is only like half inch too small for any good pics yet. We're you the one I talked about that species with? I recall Stu M. posting his and commenting I wanted one at some point

This is Stu haha I changed my name. Glad to hear that man! Youre gonna love them. Male or female are impressive with this sp

 

[Mike41793]

This is Stu haha I changed my name. Glad to hear that man! Youre gonna love them. Male or female are impressive with this sp

Ahh! Makes sense. I had wondered what happened to you man. I will post pics for you once it looks like something. Will be awhile before mines as nice as yours and Josh's tho^^^

 

[Requiem4aSpleen]

Ahh! Makes sense. I had wondered what happened to you man. I will post pics for you once it looks like something. Will be awhile before mines as nice as yours and Josh's tho^^^

In 1.5 years youre gonna have a large T. They put on more size much quicker than your average pokie. And their footpads blow up like boxer gloves early on. Never got a single threat posture from her either.