T. Blondi “what’s going on?”

[MyTsKeeper]

My Tarantula has eaten recently and has a pale abdomen and almost no hairs. Everything I’m reading says pre-molt, but I thought they don’t eat and dig a den or try to hide. I just got her from a family owned pet store in my town. I moved her into a new habitat before I asked them when the last time she molted was. They told me to be expecting one. I am worried that I messed up a cycle or something. Idk her age. Or even if it’s a female. The store told me it’s a female.

I should add she ate 2 large dubias in a 10 hour period.

Here’s more pics

 

[NMTs]

1. Just because the abdomen is bald doesn't mean it's in premolt. Search the forum for reasons T's will get bald spots (loss of urticating setae) for more info. A dark abdomen is an indicator that a T will molt soon, not a pale abdomen.
2. If it's eating, then it's not likely to molt in the very near future. Even though feeding it is entertaining, avoid the temptation to overfeed it. A T like that really only needs to be fed every 2 weeks or so.
3. This specimen is 100% male...

 

[A guy]

First of all, that's a T. stirmi and it's a male.

Second, a bald abdomen is never an indication of a premolt.

 

[viper69]

You haven’t read enough- keep reading

 

[MyTsKeeper]

1. Just because the abdomen is bald doesn't mean it's in premolt. Search the forum for reasons T's will get bald spots (loss of urticating setae) for more info. A dark abdomen is an indicator that a T will molt soon, not a pale abdomen.
2. If it's eating, then it's not likely to molt in the very near future. Even though feeding it is entertaining, avoid the temptation to overfeed it. A T like that really only needs to be fed every 2 weeks or so.
3. This specimen is 100% male...

Do you have any idea how old he may be? And how you can tell he’s male? Please enlighten me for future reference.

You haven’t read enough- keep reading

Thank you. Will do.

First of all, that's a T. stirmi and it's a male.

Second, a bald abdomen is never an indication of a premolt.

How can you tell? Please enlighten me.

 

[NMTs]

Do you have any idea how old he may be? And how you can tell he’s male? Please enlighten me for future reference.

No idea on age - there are too many factors that could influence growth rate (feeding frequency, temperature, husbandry, etc.) to determine age by size alone.

As for telling it's a male, you can clearly see in the photo you posted of it's underside a dark spot just between the forward set of book lungs. These are the epiandrous fusillae, male reproductive organs.

 

[MyTsKeeper]

Should I tell the pet store they were wrong?

 

[A guy]

How can you tell? Please enlighten me.

T. blondi have thick setae or hairs on the patella, yours does not.

Theraphosa are pretty easy to ventrally sex out. See that dark belly button looking thing on it's abdomen? That's where the sperm comes out.

Should I tell the pet store they were wrong?

Depends on if you paid for a FEMALE Theraphosa blondi, then yes

 

[MyTsKeeper]

Depends on if you paid for a FEMALE Theraphosa blondi, then yes

I paid $159 for this spider

 

[NMTs]

I paid $159 for this spider

That's way less than you would have paid for a confirmed female blondi. You can find unsexed T. stirmi slings for $115 + shipping online right now, so ultimately you didn't get screwed. It might be worth mentioning to them if you think it will help them be better in the future, but if it doesn't seem like they'll care, then may not be worth the time...

 

[A guy]

I paid $159 for this spider

That's not a price for a T. blondi.

A female blondi at that size , you'll know what you're paying for.

 

[MyTsKeeper]

That's way less than you would have paid for a confirmed female blondi. You can find unsexed T. stirmi slings for $115 + shipping online right now, so ultimately you didn't get screwed. It might be worth mentioning to them if you think it will help them be better in the future, but if it doesn't seem like they'll care, then may not be worth the time...

This has been extremely helpful. Thank you very much. I feel a little better about things now.

That's not a price for a T. blondi.

A female blondi at that size , you'll know what you're paying for.

What price range is that?

This has been extremely helpful. Thank you very much. I feel a little better about things now.

So to be clear I have a male T. Stirmi. Or is this a male T. Blondi?

 

[A guy]

What price range is that?

About 5 or 6x what you paid.

So to be clear I have a male T. Stirmi. Or is this a male T. Blondi?

Male T. stirmi

 

[Hardus nameous]

You may be interested in these:

Ventral sexing - guessing or knowing?

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arachnoboards.com

Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

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.....and since you have a Theraphosa stirmi:

Theraphosa care and info

We have had so many threads lately on Theraphosa, and I find myself repeating the same thing time and time again. This thread will cover most of the common questions, hopefully it should be useful to some of the newer keepers, and may even save a few spiders from neglect. I'll start by going...

arachnoboards.com

 

[Matt Man]

First of all, that's a T. stirmi and it's a male.

Second, a bald abdomen is never an indication of a premolt.

My first thought as well. "Looks like a stirmi"

When bald spots turn black is heading towards a molt. Bald spots just mean they kick a lot of hairs, which for a theraphosa is painfully common