User Storm76's picture thread

[papilio]

Stunning shots Jan! I love this species!

 

[Storm76]

Stunning shots Jan! I love this species!

I do, too. Sometimes though just wished she'd calm down some. Pretty low threshold this one

 

[advan]

Nice updates Jan! Your Avicularia azuraklassi is nothing like what we have over here. It looks more like Avicularia braunshauseni to me! Beautiful spider none the less!

A. azuraklassi --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/26238310@N05/4056453180/in/set-72157617017643425/

A. braunshauseni --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/26238310@N05/4055710907/in/set-72157617017643425/

 

[Storm76]

Nice updates Jan! Your Avicularia azuraklassi is nothing like what we have over here. It looks more like Avicularia braunshauseni to me! Beautiful spider none the less!

Quite frankly, I've suspected the same already time ago. However, the one you pictured as A. azuraklaasi, is looking very much like A. geroldi, to me? The breeder I got this girl from swears it's an A. azuraklaasi but I'll look into the matter some - before I'm going to breed her!

 

[mcluskyisms]

I'd say A. braunshauseni too with the red setae on leg pair IIII, she'll also get quite big, whereas A. azuraklaasi are one of the medium to smaller Avicularia spp.

 

[Storm76]

I'd say A. braunshauseni too with the red setae on leg pair IIII, she'll also get quite big, whereas A. azuraklaasi are one of the medium to smaller Avicularia spp.

That's not entirely true - both azuraklaasi and braunshauseni are counting towards the larger Avics, mate. Even azuraklaasi can easily reach 6". I've measured this girl now eventually and she's currently ~5.5" spread out, so not fully grown yet. My hand itches pretty bad though after handling her for measuring. However, she wasn't defensive the least really, just a little skittish. Either way, I'll update on the matter once I can confirm one or the other, will talk and show some people here, too.


Now, spring-time is molting time as we all know and I've had some very nice molts the last few days. Here's the list:

* Heterothele villosella: No pics, I had to transfer her as she obviously had a wet molt and her legs are somewhat messed up - she's recovering from the molt now and I hope she'll be fine.
* Avicularia avicularia: No pics, this one had a wet-molt, too but it seemingly can walk pretty normal still (whew!) - she's recovering nicely and changed her red satae to red-grey which leads me to believe she's older than I thought when I bought her.
* Brachypelma smithi: Pics below - "Adena" molted into a beautiful 5"+ girl now and is still pretty skittish, though still not a big hair-kicker at all.
* Avicularia diversipes: Pics below - one of the couple molted and changed colors into the gorgeous blueish hues with tiny reddish stripes on the feet - looks amazing!

I'll also post a pic of my Psalmopoeus cambridgei "Moriko", the 6.5" girl basically threw her food bolus at the screen while I was filming her, much like "Here - take out the trash, I'm done eating!" - hilarious to watch (video follows!). What else is new? The A. geniculata "Medeia" is still hardening up and looks damn huge in comparison to before (I'll put a pic of her molt on my hand for size idea below) - she's easily scared currently though, which surprises me: After former molts, she was instantly going into threat-posture nevertheless if disturbed. Did some rehousings too, one of the A. amazonicas outgrew the infant container and has now more space to roam around. Both Chilobrachys fimbriatus are seemingly going to molt soon again, too - oh boy: NOT looking forward to rehouse them - these are lightning fast - my Psalms are a joke compared to these (I was warned before I got them luckily -certainly- not a species for beginners!).
A kinda interesting thing to mention is that one of the quadrouple Euathlus sp. "red" slings molted actually twice within 3 months - the others only molted twice ever since I got them in comparison! Size still 1" but starting to gain red patch, too. Cutiepies!


First batch of pictures....

A. diversipes, freshly molted - unsexed 2" sling


A. diversipes, freshly molted - unsexed 2" sling


A. diversipes, freshly molted - unsexed 2" sling


"Adena", Brachypelma smithi, 5"+ female - molted a couple days ago - stunning!


Size-comparison of the A. geniculata molt - frikkin' huge!



More pics to follow...

 

[Storm76]

Obviously, my Grammostola pulchripes is NOT in premolt, but she was actually just fasting She ate a cricket yesterday and looks great as ever. At least she's out and visible most of her time now again, although she does make use of her hide in between...


"Nyx", Grammostola pulchripes, 6" female - out and about


"Nyx", Grammostola pulchripes, 6" female - out and about


"Moriko", Psalmopoeus cambridgei, 6.5" female - after throwing the food bolus against the glass "Here, take out the trash - I'm done eating! Make yourself useful, keeper."



That's it for now - I'll edit in the videos once they're uploaded! Enjoy!

Video (available once done uploading)
[YOUTUBE]crTeyQlUMUY[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Marijan2]

I'm reading this and i'm holding my fingers crossed none of my T's ever experience bad moults. I had over 30 mous so far and every sigle went well. I really hope your T's end up fine. Your Nyx is gorgeous, now i want grammy oh:

 

[Storm76]

C. fimbriatus freshly molted - scared? NEVER!

I'm reading this and i'm holding my fingers crossed none of my T's ever experience bad moults. I had over 30 mous so far and every sigle went well. I really hope your T's end up fine. Your Nyx is gorgeous, now i want grammy oh:

Like I said, it's only their legs that got messed up. The H. villosella seems to cope with it, although the feet of her leg pairs I+II are totally bent upward (poor girl ) - same goes for the A. avic, although her legs are just somewhat weird bent. Hoping they both will fix it next molt


So, upon checking on some T's today, I found one of my couple C. fimbriatus molted a few hours ago apparently...and she was annoyed beyond belief! These certainly demand respect, respect, respect when hardened, but even freshly molted they retain their attitude: "I hate you!"


First off - Hera is indeed Hera - sexed female C. fimbriatus!


"Ares", Chilobrachys fimbriatus, ~2.5" unsexed - Hera's sac-mate looking good and possibly going to molt soon, too.


"Hera", Chilobrachys fimbriatus, ~2.75"+ sexed female - mighty p'ed off that I disturbed her...(damn it, I only removed the molt!)


"Hera", Chilobrachys fimbriatus, ~2.75"+ sexed female - mighty p'ed off that I disturbed her... (damn it, I only removed the molt!)


Here's the spermathecae pic of my "Avicularia azuraklaasi" / "Avicularia braunshauseni" - I can't really tell from the looks if it's either...they look pretty similiar...

 

[Shrike]

Nice pics Jan! Love that diversipes.

 

[Storm76]

Nice pics Jan! Love that diversipes.

Thanks, buddy! Appreciated!


Got my 6 new additions in today (exchanged these for the MM GBB)...
2x A. purpurea
2x A. velutina
2x C. cyaneopubescens (GBB)

Here's the housing vid:
[YOUTUBE]6Ua6lxTeuo0[/YOUTUBE]

 

[papilio]

Hey Jan, great pics of Hera and Ares, beautiful spiders!!

 

[Storm76]

Hey Jan, great pics of Hera and Ares, beautiful spiders!!

Thanks, Michael! They're one mean species for sure

"Medeia", Acanthoscurria geniculata, ~6"+ female - "Streeeeeeeeeeeeetch"


"Firali", Psalmopoeus irminia, ~5" female - molted yesterday and is in comparison to Phaedra mean as can be


Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (GBB) sling, unsexed - just one of the couple new ones


Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (GBB) sling, unsexed - just the other of the couple new ones

 

[papilio]

Love that shot of your genic!! hehe

 

[LuiziBee]

Very, very lovely pictures. Enjoying this thread a lot.

 

[Formerphobe]

Great pics, Jan! I love the crankypants C. fimbriatus - threat posing and her fangs haven't even begun to harden. LOL

 

[Balvala]

Here's the spermathecae pic of my "Avicularia azuraklaasi" / "Avicularia braunshauseni" - I can't really tell from the looks if it's either...they look pretty similiar...
View attachment 116950

In regards to your Avicularia sp. spermathecae photo above, here are a couple of the sources I used to attempt in comparing what you have there among the Azuraklaasi and Baunshauseni:

• http://terra-li-ma-en.de.tl/Spermathecaes.htm (just check the Avicularia section for reference)
• http://www.tarantulas.co.za/forum/sex-this-tarantula/337-species-spermathecae-gallery (check on the first group for Azuraklaasi and the others throughout the posts for comparison)
• http://www.exoticfauna.com/arachnids_reptiles/photo_pages/A_azuraklaasi_SP.html (Makes the Braunshauseni seem more plausible, but you decide since you have the molt to view)

From what I've noticed through your videos with coloration and the quality that allows me to see what I can, I'm almost more inclined to lean toward the Azuraklaasi label even with that illustration as a reference. It almost strikes an uncanny resemblance to the spermathecae of an A. Velutina, but I'd have to go back and view the anterior legs and subtle coloration of your specimen again. I just posted that to hopefully aid in allow you to form a better decision. If you could get any other photos from a bit different orientation, I might be able to tell more effectively.

Otherwise, wonderful photos thus far. Always a pleasure to view your video updates on the channel every so often.

 

[Storm76]

In regards to your Avicularia sp. spermathecae photo above, here are a couple of the sources I used to attempt in comparing what you have there among the Azuraklaasi and Baunshauseni:

• http://terra-li-ma-en.de.tl/Spermathecaes.htm (just check the Avicularia section for reference)
• http://www.tarantulas.co.za/forum/sex-this-tarantula/337-species-spermathecae-gallery (check on the first group for Azuraklaasi and the others throughout the posts for comparison)
• http://www.exoticfauna.com/arachnids_reptiles/photo_pages/A_azuraklaasi_SP.html (Makes the Braunshauseni seem more plausible, but you decide since you have the molt to view)

From what I've noticed through your videos with coloration and the quality that allows me to see what I can, I'm almost more inclined to lean toward the Azuraklaasi label even with that illustration as a reference. It almost strikes an uncanny resemblance to the spermathecae of an A. Velutina, but I'd have to go back and view the anterior legs and subtle coloration of your specimen again. I just posted that to hopefully aid in allow you to form a better decision. If you could get any other photos from a bit different orientation, I might be able to tell more effectively.

Otherwise, wonderful photos thus far. Always a pleasure to view your video updates on the channel every so often.

The last reference you listed there, is A. sp. "Peru Purple" - at least it looks exactly like it IMO. So I take that out of the choices. I'm aware, that A. azuraklaasi -as with most Avics- are kinda difficult to successfully ID, but considering that I got my girl from a respected breeder over here (H. Manstein) - I give him the benefit of the doubt. I do know, however, that he got this one as a sling (without the adult coloration she shows now) from a friend of his, so since I don't know from whom, that's the point where it starts me wondering. Either way, I'll see if I can take some pictures from different angles once she is in a spot where I can get her out easily. Don't want to destroy her webbing for that. I'm pretty sure, it's not A. velutina btw - those are one of the smaller sized ones with 4" - this girl is currently 5.5" (measured DLS). Her neat coloration is what throws me off...the red satae, the brown on the leg-pairs III+IV....oh well...gotta do more research on this subject. Guess before Fukushima finished her revision of Avics we'll just be left with doubting...

 

[Balvala]

The only reason that I posted the last photo was due to its corresponding nature to the illustration reference, and I can get behind Michael Jacobi with some things since he's been a part of the Exotic Fauna site for some time. I think it makes it difficult not knowing what stage of development some of those photos are in so I can compare exactly with your own. I knew you didn't have an A. Velutina either due to the size issue and me having witnessed your girl in a few videos. I was merely remarking on how incredibly similar some of the species within this genus tend to be when even examining sexual organs, as it can sometimes be with Haplopelma as well.

I've spent the past few months attempting to study the various subtleties within all genera among the Aviculariinae sub-family, and I've only surveyed the surface with the articles, images and videos I've been able to analyze. If only I had access to more personal documents, I might be able to quell some suspicions held toward certain the species I'm dying to compare. I, too, have an Avicularia sp. that I assume to be merely an Avic. Avic. female at about ≈5.5"-6" that has all of the right coloration (brownish setae on the legs, teal carapace and more blue among the femur) but lacks the more necessary redness in the setae above the pedicel. She won't really eat at all or web since I rehoused her a couple of weeks ago, so the chances of a molt anytime soon are quite slim. I suppose you're correct by suggesting the fact that we might not know the exact, subtle details to account for within the Avicularia genus until such research is finalized.

I look forward to a few more photos that you might be able to capture of her in the future however. Good luck with everything.

 

[Storm76]

Avic pics

Love that shot of your genic!! hehe

I got lucky being able to take that shot Not the best since it was through the glass, but it was worth capturing that moment

Very, very lovely pictures. Enjoying this thread a lot.

Thank you, M'am! Glad you like my picture thread!

Great pics, Jan! I love the crankypants C. fimbriatus - threat posing and her fangs haven't even begun to harden. LOL

These things don't fear anything really - not freshly molted, nor hardened up. In the latter situation they even chase you a little out of their enclosure...certainly my most defensive species. I have to admit though, if dealt with with a good amount of respect - no biggie!

The only reason that I posted the last photo was due to its corresponding nature to the illustration reference, and I can get behind Michael Jacobi with some things since he's been a part of the Exotic Fauna site for some time. I think it makes it difficult not knowing what stage of development some of those photos are in so I can compare exactly with your own. I knew you didn't have an A. Velutina either due to the size issue and me having witnessed your girl in a few videos. I was merely remarking on how incredibly similar some of the species within this genus tend to be when even examining sexual organs, as it can sometimes be with Haplopelma as well.

I've spent the past few months attempting to study the various subtleties within all genera among the Aviculariinae sub-family, and I've only surveyed the surface with the articles, images and videos I've been able to analyze. If only I had access to more personal documents, I might be able to quell some suspicions held toward certain the species I'm dying to compare. I, too, have an Avicularia sp. that I assume to be merely an Avic. Avic. female at about ≈5.5"-6" that has all of the right coloration (brownish setae on the legs, teal carapace and more blue among the femur) but lacks the more necessary redness in the setae above the pedicel. She won't really eat at all or web since I rehoused her a couple of weeks ago, so the chances of a molt anytime soon are quite slim. I suppose you're correct by suggesting the fact that we might not know the exact, subtle details to account for within the Avicularia genus until such research is finalized.

I look forward to a few more photos that you might be able to capture of her in the future however. Good luck with everything.

I very much appreciate your hints and tips and general thought of trying to help, Balvala. Honestly, it seems to me that the A. azuraklaasi in the US is different that the one in Europe. Probably because no one can really 100% tell what a real one looks like. Rick Wests pages shows an A. purpurea IMO even for that species? Anyways, I took some pics of some of the Avics today and while I wasn't able to coax my big female "azurklaasi/braunshauseni" out of her webbing, I thought I'd post at least the other pics I took. I'll update on that "special" T whenever I can convince her to show up ;-). As for your mentioning of A. avicularia - as far as I'm aware the correct ones hardly ever grow bigger than 4-4.5" overall. Any bigger ones are most likely different species of the genus - at least that was my impression after researching quite some.


Anyways, here goes the pics....

"Azure", Avicularia purpurea, 3.5" male - "You just -have- to blind me with that flashy thingie, yes?"


"Azure", Avicularia purpurea, 3.5" male - unbelieveable docile this one today! And leggy


"Sylva", Avicularia versicolor, ~4" male - pretty bitey, he instantly bit the straw when I tried to position him differently Left him alone after that! Crankypants!


Unnamed, Avicularia diversipes, ~2" unsexed - molted a couple weeks ago and changed colors looking -so- vibrant and awesome! Simply beautiful!


Unnamed, Avicularia diversipes, ~2" unsexed - on this one you can see the amazing coloration better even....