T Blondi shedding issue

[tkn0spdr]

The last time my blondi shed, the tips of its first set of legs came out as spikes. I've never seen this before in all the Ts I've had over the years.
It appears to be doing fine. Eats like a pig and moves normally.

I'm just trying to figure out what might have caused the issue and prevent it next time.

 

[c.h.esteban]

These spikes are the Bulbs.
Normally the should bend backwards under the Cymbium.
All in all these Bulbs and the Cymbium looks a bit crippled.

 

[tkn0spdr]

Okay, Too wet? Too dry? Too humid? Not humid enough? Too cool?
This is not a mature male, so the palpal bulbs should not be visible.

 

[c.h.esteban]

This is not a mature male, so the palpal bulbs should not be visible.

Why not, what is your explanation?

 

[tkn0spdr]

I don't have an explanation, that's why I was looking for advice.

 

[goofyGoober99]

Wouldn't the precense of papal bulbs indicate by default that it is a mature male?

 

[fcat]

How long ago did he molt? Has he been making a lot of webs and then destroying them?

 

[NMTs]

Is this on the pedipalps or on different legs? If it's the pedipalps and leg 1 is there on the right side of the photo, I don't see tibial hooks. It also looks like the tarsal claws are present on the tips. If that's the case, it would appear that the pedipalps molted without the tarsal pads - no setae on the tips of the toes, which is why they look funny... Your guess is as good as mine as to why it happened. It will be interesting to see if the issue corrects next time it molts.

Edit: Never mind all this ^^, it's an MM. I've been schooled, see below.

 

[A guy]

That is a mature male. The fact that it has palpal bulbs literally seen on the picture makes it so.

I don't see tibial hooks.

Theraphosa blondi mature males do not have tibial hooks. So does Theraphosa stirmi, only T. apophysis mature males have tibial hooks.

I'm not sure about the two new species added to the genus though.

 

[NMTs]

What's showing in the photo above is this, then?

https://flic.kr/p/MM98kB

 

[A guy]

What's showing in the photo above is this, then?

https://flic.kr/p/MM98kB

Yes

 

[NMTs]

Yes

Cool, learned something new today!

 

[tkn0spdr]

Alright. I believe you. He's just a lot smaller than I would have imagined a mature T Blondi to be.

 

[c.h.esteban]

Here is a picture (T. blondi) showing the normal shape of the palpal tarsus (cymbium in adult males).
It´s visible that the Cymbium is commonly shorter, more rounded than in your picture and also the bulb is lying at the underside, not visible.
The bulb just turn sidewards (retrolateral) for the insertion but does not point striaght forwards like in your male.
Years ago i had a similar issue where the tarsus was not changed into the typical cymbium and at the top was a very smal crippled bulb. This male died later without another moult.

Th_blondi-mate090119-08+.jpg

• c.h.esteban
• Jan 14, 2025