New Chaco golden knees

[ErikElvis]

Hey guys. Just received 2 Chaco golden knee slings. Got them from backwater reptiles which I now learned wasn’t such a good idea. They look healthy and are moving around. One had a molt in the container. Waiting on a Dubia colony so I don’t have to keep ordering food for them. Now I’m waiting on 3 more slings from Jamies tarantulas. 2 Brazilian giant white knees and a Mexican red knee. I think I’m going to order one more from fear not. Waiting for a Brazilian black to come in stock. I had a rose hair years ago that I got from someone and it was apparently pretty old. She is now gone. Really trying to resist buying a full grown one as it might take the fun out of watching the slings grow. Been reading up on care. Any tips for the T’s mentioned?

thanks
Erik

 

[Colorado Ts]

The Chaco Golden Knee (Grammostola pulchripes) like to burrow as a sling. They tend to block off their burrows for no reason, then days or weeks later they will emerge. Feed them small portions in a steady fashion, so that their metabolism is able to keep pace with food intake. Even then they may still take extended breaks and have prolonged moulting periods. Growth will be moderate and steady. Once they reach 1.75” to 2” they will tend to spend more time above ground, maybe even blocking or even burying their burrow entrances. Beautiful spider, getting more stunning with each moult as they approach adulthood.






The Brazilian Giant White Knee (Acanthoscurria geniculata) is another Tarantula that likes to burrow as a sling, probably even more so than the G.pulchripes. Some of my slings have created quite extensive warrens within their enclosures. Very strong feeding response, if something in their enclosure moves...it’s instantly considered food. They act like they are always starving to death and behave as such. Growth of a Acanthoscurria geniculata is impressive. Once the sling gets much beyond an inch in size length, growth between moults is surprising. The only time I've had an A.geniculata block it’s burrow entrance was for moulting. They really don't seem to take breaks and block burrow entrances randomly...they're too hungry for such foolishness. As these slings gain size they will take on the beginnings of their adult coloration beginning at a small size, but once they've reached their adult coloration, they are visually stunning with an attitude to match.





Mexican Red Knee and Brazilian Black are on my list...have not purchased them as yet, so my direct personal experience is lacking. I'd just be spouting what I've read about them, what others have said, or what I've heard. Since the OP implied personal experiences, I will refrain from commenting.

 

[Poonjab]

What do you mean as far as tips? You had mentioned you’ve been doing research on how to care for each species, so me being an analytical thinker, that tells me you should already know what to expect? Or are you asking like what to expect from each species behaviorally as they mature?

 

[mack1855]

No comment on T,s your getting.Sounds fun,but why the dubia colony?.Mealworms would be better suited for these slings.Chances are real good the slings will not
be used to or willing to take the dubias,unless you know the slings were taking them.Dubias can be difficult to breed readily,and you will probably need nymphs,and
that could take a while to get produced.Mealworm pieces for slings are easy.Best of luck on your new kids.

 

[ErikElvis]

Yeah any insight on behavior or growth. I have a good idea on housing. Will be using Jamies small and medium enclosures for now. I originally thought the medium enclosure would be good for these slings but just received them and they seem too big. So have some small enclosures coming. Help on Dubia and lateralis colonies would be useful. I wanted to chose T’s by handlability (is that a word) but couldn’t pass up on the giant Brazilian white knees as they are beautiful and apparently fast growers. A shame they’re not so docile. I hear Chacos are slow growers and I’m not the most patient person.

Colorado that last pic of the white knee is stunning!

No comment on T,s your getting.Sounds fun,but why the dubia colony?.Mealworms would be better suited for these slings.Chances are real good the slings will not
be used to or willing to take the dubias,unless you know the slings were taking them.Dubias can be difficult to breed readily,and you will probably need nymphs,and
that could take a while to get produced.Mealworm pieces for slings are easy.Best of luck on your new kids.

As far as the Dubias I like the idea of a self sustaining food source. I do have some pinhead lateralis coming to feed. I’m not opposed to anything so I’ll try cut up mealworms too. I’m over crickets from when I had a bearded dragon. They’re just a mess and get all over the place.

 

[mack1855]

Gave up on dubias a long time ago.Not that they are not good,but the frustration of them burrowing,and the number of T,s that seem uninterested,especially slings,just
got me to give up on them.The only dubias I use now are full adult males,that go to my big T.blondi.I have gone to B.lats,and never looked back.But,they need to be
handled differently than other feeders,because of their invasive nature.

 

[fried rice]

Scientific names:
Grammostola pulchripes (chaco golden knee)
Grammostola pulchra (brazillian black)
Acanthoscurria geniculata (brazillian giant white knee)
Brachypelma hamorii/smithi (mexican red knee)

I just thought this might help.

 

[mack1855]

I’m over crickets from when I had a bearded dragon

Oh ya!!.Never again.Noisey/smell like crap/and die if you look at them wrong.

 

[ErikElvis]

Yeah the lateralis scare me. I’d hate for some to get loose. But I read the T’s really like them because they are movers. I’ll prob keep them in the garage.

 

[Colorado Ts]

Yeah any insight on behavior or growth. I have a good idea on housing. Will be using Jamies small and medium enclosures for now. I originally thought the medium enclosure would be good for these slings but just received them and they seem too big. So have some small enclosures coming. Help on Dubia and lateralis colonies would be useful. I wanted to chose T’s by handlability (is that a word) but couldn’t pass up on the giant Brazilian white knees as they are beautiful and apparently fast growers. A shame they’re not so docile. I hear Chacos are slow growers and I’m not the most patient person.

Colorado that last pic of the white knee is stunning!

Yeah...it’s a beautiful image, but sadly not one of mine. Someone here posted it and like a vacuum, I sucked it up. It is one of the most beautiful tarantulas I have ever seen.

 

[mack1855]

Yeah the lateralis scare me

I understand ya.I didn't go to lats for years,because of that very issue.BUt,,,,,I found out that they are easy to contain.Dont climd smooth surfaces,breed easier than dubias.
This is my setup,one of two colonys i have.

 

[ErikElvis]

Terrible pick but here’s one of the little guys. Just got an email notification that fear not has Brazilian blacks in stock. Ugh I guess I can spend a little more money..... I have multiple tortoises that are great but I wanted something I could keep close to look at that didn’t require so much effort.

Scientific names:
Grammostola pulchripes (chaco golden knee)
Grammostola pulchra (brazillian black)
Acanthoscurria geniculata (brazillian giant white knee)
Brachypelma hamorii/smithi (mexican red knee)

I just thought this might help.

Yeah I’m slowly picking up on the scientific names. The common names are just so much easier.

 

[Kitara]

Acanthoscurria geniculata (brazillian giant white knee)

HAHA! That did help. I saw Colorado Ts pictures and thought, "Hey, that looks like my A. genic.' I didn't know that was a Brazilian Giant White Knee.

Yeah the lateralis scare me. I’d hate for some to get loose. But I read the T’s really like them because they are movers. I’ll prob keep them in the garage.

Yep, me too until a couple weeks ago when it happened and 100 escapees had a field trip around my office. And... I lived! I'm not scared anymore haha. Even living through my nightmare, B. lateralis are still, by FAR, my favorite feeder. They are SO easy. They don't burrow, they don't play dead, they don't stink, they don't die after 8 seconds, they don't make noise, they don't climb AND I don't have to chop anything or crush anything.

 

[EpicEpic]

The Chaco Golden Knee (Grammostola pulchripes) like to burrow as a sling. They tend to block off their burrows for no reason, then days or weeks later they will emerge. Feed them small portions in a steady fashion, so that their metabolism is able to keep pace with food intake. Even then they may still take extended breaks and have prolonged moulting periods. Growth will be moderate and steady. Once they reach 1.75” to 2” they will tend to spend more time above ground, maybe even blocking or even burying their burrow entrances. Beautiful spider, getting more stunning with each moult as they approach adulthood.

View attachment 343944

View attachment 343945


The Brazilian Giant White Knee (Acanthoscurria geniculata) is another Tarantula that likes to burrow as a sling, probably even more so than the G.pulchripes. Some of my slings have created quite extensive warrens within their enclosures. Very strong feeding response, if something in their enclosure moves...it’s instantly considered food. They act like they are always starving to death and behave as such. Growth of a Acanthoscurria geniculata is impressive. Once the sling gets much beyond an inch in size length, growth between moults is surprising. The only time I've had an A.geniculata block it’s burrow entrance was for moulting. They really don't seem to take breaks and block burrow entrances randomly...they're too hungry for such foolishness. As these slings gain size they will take on the beginnings of their adult coloration beginning at a small size, but once they've reached their adult coloration, they are visually stunning with an attitude to match.

View attachment 343946

View attachment 343948

Mexican Red Knee and Brazilian Black are on my list...have not purchased them as yet, so my direct personal experience is lacking. I'd just be spouting what I've read about them, what others have said, or what I've heard. Since the OP implied personal experiences, I will refrain from commenting.

SHHHHHHHHH!!! Taco my G. pulchripes might hear you!!! He's my tiniest sling and has not moved a morsel of dirt yet. A wonderful tiny display T haha!

You're going to have fun with the genic!

I got one this week and fed it today for the first time. It snapped a good sized crick before it hit the substrate. That's a genic for you! Or as @cold blood calls them...8 legged stomachs

 

[cold blood]

The Chaco Golden Knee (Grammostola pulchripes) like to burrow as a sling. They tend to block off their burrows for no reason, then days or weeks later they will emerge. Feed them small portions in a steady fashion, so that their metabolism is able to keep pace with food intake. Even then they may still take extended breaks and have prolonged moulting periods. Growth will be moderate and steady. Once they reach 1.75” to 2” they will tend to spend more time above ground, maybe even blocking or even burying their burrow entrances. Beautiful spider, getting more stunning with each moult as they approach adulthood.

View attachment 343944

View attachment 343945


The Brazilian Giant White Knee (Acanthoscurria geniculata) is another Tarantula that likes to burrow as a sling, probably even more so than the G.pulchripes. Some of my slings have created quite extensive warrens within their enclosures. Very strong feeding response, if something in their enclosure moves...it’s instantly considered food. They act like they are always starving to death and behave as such. Growth of a Acanthoscurria geniculata is impressive. Once the sling gets much beyond an inch in size length, growth between moults is surprising. The only time I've had an A.geniculata block it’s burrow entrance was for moulting. They really don't seem to take breaks and block burrow entrances randomly...they're too hungry for such foolishness. As these slings gain size they will take on the beginnings of their adult coloration beginning at a small size, but once they've reached their adult coloration, they are visually stunning with an attitude to match.

View attachment 343946

View attachment 343948

Mexican Red Knee and Brazilian Black are on my list...have not purchased them as yet, so my direct personal experience is lacking. I'd just be spouting what I've read about them, what others have said, or what I've heard. Since the OP implied personal experiences, I will refrain from commenting.

Housed in 2oz condiment cups, its highly unlikely any of these slings will do much burrowing. The only pulchripes slings I EVER had burrow, were ones housed in over sized enclosures.

Will be using Jamies small and medium enclosures for now

Say good bye when you get them, cause they will burrow away in those...they are significantly over-sized for a NW terrestrial sling.

 

[viper69]

One had a molt in the container

Im surprised they arrived at all given who you bought them from. As you know, they are the SLEAZE KINGS of T world. Just burn your money.

so me being an analytical thinker

WHOA, listen critical thinking is overrated.. Just list your questions like you are ordering take out, and hope the answers provided are accurate.

 

[Vanessa]

@The Grym Reaper should post his artwork again of the three, I haven't had a really good laugh in a while.

 

[viper69]

Any tips for the T’s mentioned?

Too many tips to mention, ask specific questions.

Main tip- watch their abdomens like a hawk to gauge hydration.

 

[Colorado Ts]

Housed in 2oz condiment cups, its highly unlikely any of these slings will do much burrowing. The only pulchripes slings I EVER had burrow, were ones housed in over sized enclosures.

I didn't get it as a tiny sling, 3/4” it went into a 4X4X4 AMAC Box.

The soufflé cups are awesome for slings 1/2” or smaller.

But yeah, really enjoyed digging and filling the water dish with debris.

 

[cold blood]

The common names are just so much easier

Not at all...in fact its the common names that are so confusing.....these made up names over lap, as many different species share the same or very similar common names....learning scientific names is not only more specific, but knowing them will instantly help you understand a wide range of related ts similar care needs, growth rates and general behavior. If you don't know the common name, you don't really know what you actually have.

Common names are also known (by many) as stupid names...lol.