netr
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- Sep 18, 2012
- Messages
- 158
I thought I'd start one of these threads, as the recent spike in my collection has resulted in a lot of enthusiastic documentation, and will continue to do so.
I've written most of this elsewhere so pardon the redundancy: a reunion with my Grammostola rosea who had been in my care for nine years stimulated a wider interest in this hobby that I've never felt before. It became a learning experience as I delved into more literature and became aware of the immense value of forums such as these. Trying my best not to get too carried away, I was nevertheless drawn to the world of spiderlings for economic reasons (plus a desire to see some tarantulas grow up). I've managed to accumulate quite a few new species in a short time; seven Cyclosternum fasciatum, fourteen Nhandu chromatus (originally five plus seventeen freebies, of which seven perished en route while one sadly escaped), two N. coloratovillosus, one Psalmopoeus pulcher and one Avicularia huriana. I've just agreed to trade five of the N. chromatus for two B. albopilosum and one P. irminia, and last of all will be purchasing a juvenile Poecilotheria formosa next week. And there I draw the line. That is ENOUGH. No more. I can feel the compulsive interest in new species becoming a troubling rather than fulfilling thing, something skirting the limits of control. Therefore it stops now. And at a highly handsome collection, if I may say so. I take comfort at least in the knowledge that by the time all these transactions are over I will have fewer spiders than currently; furthermore at least one C. fasicatum and N. chromatus are destined to go to a good friend when they are all sexed.
Anyway, enough exposition. On to the first batch of photos. I hope visitors to this thread enjoy the sights! Apologies for the varying sizes. I'll be more disciplined next time.
Shelf Clockwise: A. huriana, P. pulcher, x2 N. coloratovillosus, x 14 N. chromatus (within a larger escape-proof container because unfortunately I made the air holes slightly too big, and lack anything else in which to keep them), x 7 C. fasciatum, and lastly G. rosea in the terrarium
G. rosea. My dear Denise.
C. fasciatum. Perhaps they're really C. pentalore; I don't find it easy to tell at this stage, for the legs are still pretty dull. In any case I think these are among the most beautiful tarantulas, especially as adults. Looking forward to seeing deeper hues on mine.
C. faciatum, making itself at home.
A. huriana.
P. pulcher, during unboxing.
N. chromatus. I posted this and the following picture elsewhere, citing the dark areas as signs of pre-moult. I now know that to have been mistaken in itself. These forums really are a goldmine for a budding enthusiast, and I'm grateful for it.
N. coloratovillosus. The two I have are about two years old, and appear simply to resemble larger generic Nhandu slings at this stage. Very cute though. One of them is a prolific burrower, whom I now call Mole.
N. coloratovillosus, cowering in the tube in which it was posted.
That's about all I have for now. Should anybody wish to see more images of a particular individual I'd be more than happy to take some.
To finish, a brief feeding video featuring four of the N. chromatus spiderlings. Having suspected them to be in pre-moult until yesterday I didn't attempt to feed them, so they've been without food for at least a week and a half. Hence the generous portions they received today.
[YOUTUBE]SVBv8FeWmto[/YOUTUBE]
I intend to make future feeding videos more rewarding a) in terms of video quality, for at present I haven't any video editing software that can export HD files (anybody got any cheap/free recommendations?) and b) as an audiovisual experience: for my music and sound art projects I often use a pair of contact mics, which are capable of picking up quiet vibrations from surfaces. I hope next time I feed some of the larger spiders that viewers can expect all the substrate-rustling, chitin-squashing action you could wish to hear in a feeding vid.
Thanks for looking!
I've written most of this elsewhere so pardon the redundancy: a reunion with my Grammostola rosea who had been in my care for nine years stimulated a wider interest in this hobby that I've never felt before. It became a learning experience as I delved into more literature and became aware of the immense value of forums such as these. Trying my best not to get too carried away, I was nevertheless drawn to the world of spiderlings for economic reasons (plus a desire to see some tarantulas grow up). I've managed to accumulate quite a few new species in a short time; seven Cyclosternum fasciatum, fourteen Nhandu chromatus (originally five plus seventeen freebies, of which seven perished en route while one sadly escaped), two N. coloratovillosus, one Psalmopoeus pulcher and one Avicularia huriana. I've just agreed to trade five of the N. chromatus for two B. albopilosum and one P. irminia, and last of all will be purchasing a juvenile Poecilotheria formosa next week. And there I draw the line. That is ENOUGH. No more. I can feel the compulsive interest in new species becoming a troubling rather than fulfilling thing, something skirting the limits of control. Therefore it stops now. And at a highly handsome collection, if I may say so. I take comfort at least in the knowledge that by the time all these transactions are over I will have fewer spiders than currently; furthermore at least one C. fasicatum and N. chromatus are destined to go to a good friend when they are all sexed.
Anyway, enough exposition. On to the first batch of photos. I hope visitors to this thread enjoy the sights! Apologies for the varying sizes. I'll be more disciplined next time.
Shelf Clockwise: A. huriana, P. pulcher, x2 N. coloratovillosus, x 14 N. chromatus (within a larger escape-proof container because unfortunately I made the air holes slightly too big, and lack anything else in which to keep them), x 7 C. fasciatum, and lastly G. rosea in the terrarium
G. rosea. My dear Denise.
C. fasciatum. Perhaps they're really C. pentalore; I don't find it easy to tell at this stage, for the legs are still pretty dull. In any case I think these are among the most beautiful tarantulas, especially as adults. Looking forward to seeing deeper hues on mine.
C. faciatum, making itself at home.
A. huriana.
P. pulcher, during unboxing.
N. chromatus. I posted this and the following picture elsewhere, citing the dark areas as signs of pre-moult. I now know that to have been mistaken in itself. These forums really are a goldmine for a budding enthusiast, and I'm grateful for it.
N. coloratovillosus. The two I have are about two years old, and appear simply to resemble larger generic Nhandu slings at this stage. Very cute though. One of them is a prolific burrower, whom I now call Mole.
N. coloratovillosus, cowering in the tube in which it was posted.
That's about all I have for now. Should anybody wish to see more images of a particular individual I'd be more than happy to take some.
To finish, a brief feeding video featuring four of the N. chromatus spiderlings. Having suspected them to be in pre-moult until yesterday I didn't attempt to feed them, so they've been without food for at least a week and a half. Hence the generous portions they received today.
[YOUTUBE]SVBv8FeWmto[/YOUTUBE]
I intend to make future feeding videos more rewarding a) in terms of video quality, for at present I haven't any video editing software that can export HD files (anybody got any cheap/free recommendations?) and b) as an audiovisual experience: for my music and sound art projects I often use a pair of contact mics, which are capable of picking up quiet vibrations from surfaces. I hope next time I feed some of the larger spiders that viewers can expect all the substrate-rustling, chitin-squashing action you could wish to hear in a feeding vid.
Thanks for looking!
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