What the HECK happened to my tarantula?

khil

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 5, 2010
Messages
316
I have a wild caught Aphonopelma (iodis?) from California I've had for about 7 years, always presumed it to be an adult female. She's always been completely brown, and never molted-color me SHOCKED when I recently found she had molted-and turned completely black! Initially I thought it might have been a male-but 7 years AFTER already being adult sized? Not only that, she doesn't have any tarsal hooks like the males do. I've seen the MM of this species in the wild, the legs are much, MUCH longer and larger. I don't think it's a female...but it's been a week since it molted and it's still black. What on earth? :O Any ideas?


 

corydalis

Arachnoknight
Joined
Jun 27, 2019
Messages
187
There are similar observations with other Aphonopelma sp. as well, sometimes they turn dark in captivity, and yes we are talking about adult females like in this case: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/california-brown-changes-color.11374/post-101972
Good evening!

I can absolute confirm to what Brandon said. In earlier times, when I had south american tarantulas as well, I also had Aphonopelma chalcodes which were very light in color and when I've kept them with lower temeperatures, they got a much darker coloration, nearly black, after a moulting. I suppose this color changing has something to do with the absorbation of sunlight to get a warmer body temperature in times of colder weather, because with a darker body they can absorb more sunlight and so they'll become a warmer body!
Just my two Cents!

Cheers, Volker
 

A guy

Arachnobaron
Active Member
Joined
Aug 8, 2020
Messages
510
Aphonopelma can be extremely variable in coloration, even for the same specimen, depending on where it is on its molt cycle.
 

TheraMygale

Accipitridae
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Mar 20, 2024
Messages
781
Sure you have the right species?
Paid for an Apho got a pulchra? Id be excited, only if i paid the Apho cheap.

Im not saying its a pulchra. Just being sarcastic. Or trying to be anyways.
 
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