Rose Hair Question

[Cyris69]

I just bought a rose hair today, I'm not sure what color "phase" it is but I chose this one over a pink one.

It has this indentation in it's head and I want to know if it could be something serious enough that I should return it.

It seems very lively I have it in a 12gt sterilite with coconut fiber bedding about 1/2" deep, its moist but not saturated, temps are 75F-80F. I through in a very large dubia but it hasn't paid any attention to it, I think its just kinda stressed over the trip and housing ect..


Here are the pictures, I'd like an ID too make sure it's a Rose Hair, petco doesn't always get what they say they are. Plus these show the indentation.
I haven't owned a rose in a few years, man local prices have double since then.

 

[P. Novak]

Definately a G.rosea, the color phase is the normal vareity, and the indentation is normal. Congrats and welcome to the T world.

Just keep the substrate bone dry with a waterdish, she'll thank you. That's probably why she's moving around alot, G.rosea hate moisture. Good luck. Oh and how tall is the sterlite container you have her in?

 

[Cyris69]

Thanks, what is that crap in it though?
Maybe I should have gotten the other phase which was pink/red
Or are all phases pretty common?

Do you think it is an adult? If You need more pics I am more than willing to supply them.
She/He is pretty large for a juvie, looks a little thin to me though, I want it to be fat

 

[P. Novak]

It's probably just some kind of substrate in it. To me it's probably a sub-adult, if you can get a ventral pic I may be able to sex it for you. The Red phase G.rosea is the least common, but still not that hard to come by.

 

[Cyris69]

I have never held a T or any spider like this. I just placed it on a surface it couldn't get a grip on and grabbed it firmly but gently. Once in this position it kept still until I put it back into its tank.

If I did this wrong or could have injured him/her I'm very sorry and won't attempt it again.
I couldn't get that good of a shot of the abdomen, it felt like I had held it long enough in that position and didn't want to hold it there longer.

I will try and get a better shot where is needed if needed.

 

[Cyris69]

Ok, will let the substrate dry out and add a water dish(hadn't yet was going too)
So what the humidity level supposed to be? If dry I'd assume desert like conditions but without the heat.

Um here is a pic of the tub. I't approx 5.5" tall maybe 1.75' long
Not the best picture.

 

[P. Novak]

The enclosure looks fine, just let it dry out and it will be good to go. Yeah go with dry/arid conditions since they do come from a arid enviornment.

The method you held her is the way I pick up my Ts for ventral pics. You did it right. Good job. Your G.rosea appears to be female. Congrats!

 

[Cyris69]

Awesome, thanks for the sexing. Yeah, I'll take her out for a while and hold her while I use my IR to dry it out as much as possible this week.

Should I add more holes?

I hate how pet stores give 100% wrong info, not to mention put all their verts/invert in incorrect environments. and mislabel them.

I knew the lady was bsing but I just went along with it until I cam to the pros. She said just through them in anything and they'll like it. "Sand, dirt, coco, ect..."
However I have read many different care sheets and they all say different things. I'd rather go with what people like you say

I'm trying to get a job there to help my inverts out, plus 25% off everything isn't half bad

 

[penny'smom]

Welcome Cyris!

She's very pretty, does she have a name yet??

The stuff on the carapace will come off when she molts, no worries.

If you look on the index page for T questions, you will find a sticky for the care of roseas towards the top. An excellent source; I recommend reading it several times. I did when I brought Penny home, never having had a rosea before.

 

[Arachno_Shack]

Congrats!!!

Hope your Rosie isn't psycho!!! No really, good luck with her!

Take Care,

Tim

 

[Cyris69]

Thanks you guys, I will definitely give it a thorough read.

I have moved and turned her so many ways and no defensive measure were taken so I hope she doesn't turn out nuts.

I haven't named her yet, still considering a good ol' name.

Is this species communal? If so, to what degree?

Those are the last questions until i read that guide,

**Oh if she is sub-adult does that mean one more molt if not how many possibly?
Can I feed her dubia? I really don't want to use crix. This is one of the reasons I got her so she'd help eat my roaches and well I missed my old gal that died a few years back.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Is this species communal?

Not in the slightest. And as I always end up repeating since the day I heard someone say it ages ago: even the communal species only remain communal until they day they decide they aren't.

**Oh if she is sub-adult does that mean one more molt if not how many possibly?

The tarantula will keep molting for the rest of its life. Sub-adult just means it's not an adult yet.

 

[P. Novak]

**Oh if she is sub-adult does that mean one more molt if not how many possibly?
Can I feed her dubia? I really don't want to use crix. This is one of the reasons I got her so she'd help eat my roaches and well I missed my old gal that died a few years back.

Yup, like Mushroom said, Ts will molt throughout their whole lives, there is no set number like scorpions. B.dubia will be fine; roaches have more nutritional value then crickets anyway.

 

[Cyris69]

Thanks guys, I'll try and setup a feeding schedule soon too.

Exams have been killer right now I haven't had much time to think lately.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Returning to the original post (1):

I don't know if that's what you meant to be read out of the the second sentance, but the "indentation" in its head is normal. Nearly every species of T has it (except horned T's). It's the place inside the head (which every T has) where the "muscle tissue" of the legs is connected to the carpace. It acts as the ankerpoint so to speak, like the ridge on the skull of a cat/dog where muscles for the jaws are connected (might be kinda off their though on what type of muscles those are). The function is the same though.

 

[Cyris69]

See the red rosie didn't have one at all.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

See the red rosie didn't have one at all.

From some angles and in some lighting it may be very hard to see. I'd be most tempted to assume you missed it. Look here for example - an extreme closeup, though from this angle it's still not very pronounced:
http://susanrice07.files.wordpress.com/2006/09/she-is-pink.jpg

If you're sure though, would there be a possibility for you to go back and take a photo of said carapace?

(Only now do I realise I've always spellt carapace wrong )

 

[Cyris69]

Yes, I'm almost 100% that it did not have one. I will go back this week and take a photo.

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Yes, I'm almost 100% that it did not have one. I will go back this week and take a photo.

That'll be something new!

 

[Cyris69]

I guess it would be

Now, again, I'm not 100% but I will take a photo anyhow.