"True" B.albopilosum and H.gigas

[Ziad ElGuneid]

I'm looking at getting some new slings, and while looking through thespidershop.com I saw they have B.albopilosum listed as well as true B.albopilosum bred from wild caught stock listed as well as true H.gigas. I was wondering if anyone has heard that these species are commonly hybridised or if there is any reason they might have to be distinguished. The description of the H gigas I found interesting as I have 2 H.gigas already and though they are still ~2 inches dls they sound slightly different than the description.
"Stock imported in 2014 from Cameroon was labelled as sp. Cameroon 2014 whilst the true identification was made on the spiders. After examination, these spiders match the description of the real Hysterocrates gigas Pocock, 1897 and must be kept pure and not mixed with hobby stock with no solid origins. These are sometimes still traded as sp. Cameroon 2014 - just to distinguish them from the unpure hobby mutt gigas.

Average legspan is 6-7in but exceptional specimens can reach 8in These spiders are a deep black with rusty red hairs. They are a very large species and live up to their latin specific "giant". When in premoult these spiders go into a very orangey brown colour much like the colour of P. muticus" (thespidershop.com)

 

[Draketeeth]

This thread may be of interest to you if you haven't seen it yet. The pictures of Hobby form vs. wild B.albopilosum are really quite interesting.
~THREAD~

 

[Ziad ElGuneid]

This thread may be of interest to you if you haven't seen it yet. The pictures of Hobby form vs. wild B.albopilosum are really quite interesting.
~THREAD~

Excellent, thank you. It looks like the visual difference is if the hair is curly on the abdomen. worth spending the extra £3. know anything about the Gigas?

 

[Draketeeth]

I don't know anything about the Hysterocrates gigas. A quick search doesn't really bring up anything I can find about hobby vs. wild forms of that species. Hopefully someone who knows about them will be able to chime in on that matter.

If you have found one for an inexpensive price, I agree that the different appearance is indeed worth the extra bit to get the wild form albo. They're quite beautiful.

 

[korg]

Hysterocrates is another screwed up mess of a genus in our hobby because of mislabeling, ID problems, and resulting hybridization/continued mislabeling over a long period of time... I don't really take any species labels seriously when it comes to that genus. Sounds like your seller feels they've made a more certain than usual ID on this batch of slings and wants to keep them out of the taxonomical black hole... for now.

 

[Ziad ElGuneid]

Hysterocrates is another screwed up mess of a genus in our hobby because of mislabeling, ID problems, and resulting hybridization/continued mislabeling over a long period of time... I don't really take any species labels seriously when it comes to that genus. Sounds like your seller feels they've made a more certain than usual ID on this batch of slings and wants to keep them out of the taxonomical black hole... for now.

Worth getting in your opinion?

 

[korg]

Kind of depends on your intentions... basically asking whether it's worth it to buy a "pure bred" over a "mutt." Are you planning on breeding? Are you going to put in the effort to keep that bloodline pure? Are you really into the taxonomic/scientific aspect of the hobby? If so, might be worth it. If you just want a nice looking spider to appreciate for a few years then maybe not.

 

[viper69]

Check this out to further make you wonder...

http://www.theraphosidae.be/en/brachypelma-albopilosum/

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Hysterocrates is another screwed up mess of a genus in our hobby because of mislabeling, ID problems, and resulting hybridization/continued mislabeling over a long period of time...

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Thistles]

I swear it's a hercules guys, honest.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I swear it's a hercules guys, honest.

"Hercules Minimus, amphorae merchant" from Asterix?

 

[Thistles]

"Hercules Minimus, amphorae merchant" from Asterix?

Not quite what I had in mind, but I think you've just named my H. gigas.

 

[Envoirment]

I'd definitely get the WC x WC sling - I bought one (and one hobby form) so will be interesting to see how it develops as it grows.

 

[Ziad ElGuneid]

I'd definitely get the WC x WC sling - I bought one (and one hobby form) so will be interesting to see how it develops as it grows.

Already got 2 when they first gotem. and a 5 inch sexed female stirmi cheaper than a sling from other sellers,

 

[Envoirment]

Already got 2 when they first gotem. and a 5 inch sexed female stirmi cheaper than a sling from other sellers,

Shoulda figured that out after just realising what your profile picture is! And nice deal - will have to sniff out those other sellers of yours...

 

[Ziad ElGuneid]

Shoulda figured that out after just realising what your profile picture is! And nice deal - will have to sniff out those other sellers of yours...

thespidershop. I had to get the m balfouri cuz its the only T from Yemen (I am) and i ordered a smaller Stirmi, I think they were advertised as 4-7cm, and asked politely for a female on the off chance they would sex them. instead got a big beautiful Stirmi. I do all my ordering from them now, great service and prices.

 

[Envoirment]

thespidershop. I had to get the m balfouri cuz its the only T from Yemen (I am) and i ordered a smaller Stirmi, I think they were advertised as 4-7cm, and asked politely for a female on the off chance they would sex them. instead got a big beautiful Stirmi. I do all my ordering from them now, great service and prices.

Nice! Yes, they have great prices/service. Their tarantulas always end up being bigger than advertised. They just have a stanadard advertising thing per species, but it's usually not correct most of the time. Particularly in the case of fast growing and large species. Damn it, speaking to you is making me want to order more tarantulas from them!

Speaking of Yemen, I believe Chaetopelma olivaceum also inhabit Yemen.

 

[Ziad ElGuneid]

Nice! Yes, they have great prices/service. Their tarantulas always end up being bigger than advertised. They just have a stanadard advertising thing per species, but it's usually not correct most of the time. Particularly in the case of fast growing and large species. Damn it, speaking to you is making me want to order more tarantulas from them!

Speaking of Yemen, I believe Chaetopelma olivaceum also inhabit Yemen.

I think they're from northern Arabia.

 

[Ziad ElGuneid]

Nice! Yes, they have great prices/service. Their tarantulas always end up being bigger than advertised. They just have a stanadard advertising thing per species, but it's usually not correct most of the time. Particularly in the case of fast growing and large species. Damn it, speaking to you is making me want to order more tarantulas from them!

Yeah I'm in a bit of a dilemma, I really like the idea of ordering a mystery/surprise box but I don't know weather to order from thespidershop or tarantulasbristol.

 

[Paulhodgkinson]

thespidershop. I had to get the m balfouri cuz its the only T from Yemen (I am) and i ordered a smaller Stirmi, I think they were advertised as 4-7cm, and asked politely for a female on the off chance they would sex them. instead got a big beautiful Stirmi. I do all my ordering from them now, great service and prices.

A great service with spidershop and their prices are really good compared with other places such as bugs.co.uk

Ordered a couple of Ts off them, great looking T, well packaged, prompt delivery and good price. What more do you want?....