Old timer in LPS

[ArachnidSentinl]

I've cultivated this nasty habit where whenever I pass an LPS, I just have to stop in and check for spiders. Today my bad habit paid off, and I scored a new female N. chromatus* (misleadingly labeled of course, in proper pet store fashion,"Venezuelan Black & White Tarantula"):

Next to the female was a shoddy 2.5 gallon enclosure containing this poor creature:

I spoke with the owner of the store for several minutes and commented on the sad-looking mature male that she had on the shelf. She mentioned that it had "taken a long time to molt," but didn't seem to understand that it was likely on its way out. I talked with her about postultimate molts and showed her how the male was missing his 'palps and two legs. I wasn't planning on taking him (he was priced at $45, lol), but in the end she asked me to take him home (for free) and see that he's comfortable in his last days. How could I refuse?

So, all in all, I get a free spider and a pet store owner learns something new.

*EDIT: Originally I put A. geniculata, but as FLAmoeba and xhexdx pointed out, I was mistaken. It should be N. chromatus.

 

[Amoeba]

The T in the first two pictures looks like a Nhandu chromatus and I can't even begin to recognize what species that third/fourth mangled mess is

 

[xhexdx]

I've cultivated this nasty habit where whenever I pass an LPS, I just have to stop in and check for spiders. Today my bad habit paid off, and I scored a new female A. geniculata (misleadingly labeled of course, in proper pet store fashion,"Venezuelan Black & White Tarantula"):


Next to the female was a shoddy 2.5 gallon enclosure containing this poor creature:



I spoke with the owner of the store for several minutes and commented on the sad-looking mature male that she had on the shelf. She mentioned that it had "taken a long time to molt," but didn't seem to understand that it was likely on its way out. I talked with her about postultimate molts and showed her how the A. geniculata male was missing his 'palps and two legs. I wasn't planning on taking him (he was priced at $45, lol), but in the end she asked me to take him home (for free) and see that he's comfortable in his last days. How could I refuse?

So, all in all, I get a free spider and a pet store owner learns something new.

LOL!

Paid off, huh?

FLAmoeba's right, that's Nhandu, not Acanthoscurria.

Make sure you check back next week to see what the pet shop bought to replace your 'rescues'.

 

[ArachnidSentinl]

...FLAmoeba's right, that's Nhandu, not Acanthoscurria...

Whoops! Thanks for the correction. I will edit the original for clarity. Forgive the noobishness.

 

[Amoeba]

The MM (Mangled Male)(I was going to say Mangled Mature Male but I couldn't seem to see any hooks so maybe this poor creature will have a chance to live) may be a Acanthoscurria due to the striping and carapace color.

 

[ArachnidSentinl]

The MM (Mangled Male)(I was going to say Mangled Mature Male but I couldn't seem to see any hooks so maybe this poor creature will have a chance to live) may be a Acanthoscurria due to the striping and carapace color.

He has hooks, it's just difficult to see it in the picture. He can barely support his own bodyweight and sits all sprawled out flat on the substrate.

 

[xhexdx]

Wouldn't surprise me if he's actually a post-ultimate molt survivor.

 

[le-thomas]

The female is absolutely beautiful. I really love the coloration, and she looks amazingly healthy. The male, of course, does not. Strange how they could take such good care of one but not realize that the other was completely mangled and dying. Anyways, good luck with the newly-acquired female. She is gorgeous.

 

[Amoeba]

There is still alot of butt on the male but you'd know better than me about post ultimates but the loss of pedipalps is one of those things that happens post ultimate if they survive so I see where you're coming from.

 

[xhexdx]

What does abdomen size have to do with post-ultimate molts?

 

[Amoeba]

Males generally don't eat while they are lookin' for ladies. It was just a thought based on peanut butt males

 

[xhexdx]

I don't recall ever having a mature male who never ate after his ultimate molt...

 

[Amoeba]

Males GENERALLY DON'T eat while they are lookin' for ladies. It was just a thought based on peanut butt males

Again I'm parroting info you've got experience but from what I've read males are pretty bad at hunting in ultimate/post ultimate correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[xhexdx]

In my experience, you're wrong.

 

[Amoeba]

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?211973-Do-mature-males-eat&p=1895092 A rather recent thread you posted in seems to agree with you.

 

[le-thomas]

In my experience, you're wrong.

I think I might sig this xD

 

[xhexdx]

It completely loses context when you remove the smiley.

 

[Amoeba]

Removing the smiley is like doing this

I like to dance in pretty dresses

:laugh::laugh::laugh: Just kidding Joe

 

[le-thomas]

It completely loses context when you remove the smiley.

yeah, you're right

 

[ArachnidSentinl]

The female is absolutely beautiful. I really love the coloration, and she looks amazingly healthy. The male, of course, does not. Strange how they could take such good care of one but not realize that the other was completely mangled and dying. Anyways, good luck with the newly-acquired female. She is gorgeous.

Thank you! She really is quite breathtaking. I was pretty taken aback by their disregard for the male, too. Not everyone knows much about Theraphosids, but you'd have to be pretty clueless not to realize that something's up with your oh-so-suddenly rickety and six-legged tarantula.

In my experience, you're wrong.

I lol'd hard.