Whats your Lasiodora size ??

[Whitelightning777]

My L klugi is probably about 5.5 to just under 6 inches. She measured out to 5"but since has molted.

The Lasiodora genus typically maxes out at 7 to 8.5" with the occasional larger specimen. 10" individuals are extremely rare, probably the top 1% of the bunch.




She's molted once since then but seldom climbs the glass so getting another shot may not be possible.

 

[EulersK]

Post a pic of your geni with something that is 2.54cm next to it and post the pic.

I personally like to use bananas for scale. Or plantains in a pinch.

Seriously though, rulers. Rulers can't really be debated, measuring something with a coin can be.

 

[spookyvibes]

It interesting to see how everyone thinks that a LP can not get to 10 inches. Here is a pic of my LP next to a quarter just to give scale. We know a quarter is 1 inch in size. Here you can see that her legs are not fully spread out and she is easily over 8. Her last molt showed that she was just shy of 9. I am guessing many people are just going to say, I just happen to have a large LP. Well, I have seen larger. So for all you saying that 7- 8 is the average, I believe the average is 8+.

she’s seven quarters

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Smart-arse?? I believe I mentioned a quarter in an inch in length to give it scale.

Here is what you said exactly as you wrote it.

Here is a pic of my LP next to a quarter just to give scale.

That's like me saying "Here's my Theraphosa next to a £2 coin or a 50 pence piece for scale", nobody outside of The UK is going to have a monkeys as to what I'm on about unless they've seen one in person, this is why the object needs to be something universal (i.e. an instantly recognisable item available the world over in a uniform size that is not up for debate)

Post a pic of your geni with something that is 2.54cm next to it and post the pic. Im sure you got a coin there that is 2.54cm for scale. Lets see what you are talking about.

Like an actual inch? Or several of them arranged in a (arguably not so) pretty little line? Her last moult which is 6.5" DLS.



Both of my Lasiodora females are around 6"

Here is the difficilis at full strech.

View media item 43661
Measurement taken from the same points her opposite legs are at to get her DLS.



I'm not disturbing my parahybana to get pictures as she's currently in pre-moult, I'll happily post a picture of her exuvia next to a tape measure once she's moulted but she won't be bigger than the genic.

 

[Sarkhan42]

Best I could do is get her molt as she’s still recovering right now, and it was pretty brittle so this is the best shot I could get. It’s using the correct tool to measure a spider, and on top of a measuring tape

 

[Whitelightning777]

The only way that I know of to get a totally accurate molt is to gas them with CO2 (or cool to 55-60 degrees) and carefully fully extend the legs on a ruler.

The risk doesn't, strictly in my opinion, justify it.

 

[Mirandarachnid]

The only way that I know of to get a totally accurate molt is to gas them with CO2 (or cool to 55-60 degrees) and carefully fully extend the legs on a ruler.

The risk doesn't, strictly in my opinion, justify it.

I think ole' Jiminy Cricket* was trying to get through.

You can get an accurate measurement (of an adult specimen, as the gains in size are negligible) by measuring the most recent molt.

If you recognize a certain method (like knocking a tarantula out to measure it) as being risky to the health of the animal do not even mention it on the internet in the first place. It does nothing but give people bad ideas. Some people are very selective in the information they retain, and may very well gloss over the warning of, "the risk doesn't justify it."

Anesthetizing a tarantula is something that (IMO) should only be mentioned in the context of scientific articles or in dire emergency situations where you have to immobilize a tarantula to administer first aid.

Never underestimate the stupidity of your fellow man.


* Jiminy Cricket is a fictional character that represents the conscience of a puppet. In this context, Jiminy Cricket took control of Mr. Lightning777's fingers for as long as he was able in order to replace the word "measurement" with "molt" to remind us that collecting a molt is much easier and safer than gassing your tarantula.

 

[Whitelightning777]

I actually tried that with the molt. It was heavily damaged and shrunk to about 2/3rds it's original size. All the legs were broken.

Even though the tarantula is obviously 5 inches, the molt didn't really get past 3 inches and that was only if you sorta pieced it back together again.

Actually I've heard of breeders chilling them to 55 degrees or using CO2 to sex them. They put the T on its back and attempt to manipulate the epigastric furrow to see if there is an actual slit or to use a dissecting scope to look for those spinnerets that create the sperm web (forgot spelling)

The actual risk isn't very high. The mortality rate is probably less then 1%. The main risk is that it either isn't sedated or wakes up faster then you thought.

Handling a T for an extended period of time or letting it hang out on your shoulder while you watch the football game is 50x worse.

Given the choice, I'd rather sedate all 10 of my tarantulas then risk feeding one of them a mouse.

 

[Mirandarachnid]

I actually tried that with the molt. It was heavily damaged and shrunk to about 2/3rds it's original size. All the legs were broken.

Well, don't wait so long to get the molt out
Yes, I know you can't always reach it right away. This is what we call, "tough luck"

Given the choice, I'd rather sedate all 10 of my tarantulas then risk feeding one of them a mouse.

Oh, Mr. Lightning777, you tickle my gigglebox. In what world is this a choice that needs to be made?

I think that meets my quota for replying to you in a single thread. Until we meet again

EDIT to add:

Even though the tarantula is obviously 5 inches, the molt didn't really get past 3 inches and that was only if you sorta pieced it back together again.

That's why I specified "adult specimen" Your tarantula is still growing, and it is a Lasiodora sp., of course the molt is significantly smaller than your tarantulas current size. In this case, the best way for you to get an accurate measurement of your tarantula is to do exactly what you've already done. Wait for the spider to crawl on the glass and slap a ruler up there

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

I periodically toss the link to this application out when the question of measurement techniques arises. This being an older thread, I may have already done so, but I'll include it again anyway. I don't recall getting any feedback on it from other users, though. I find it to be fairly accurate when used correctly. It's a snake measurement tool, but not limited to that, of course.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/snakemt/

 

[Whitelightning777]

I have the tape measure ready to go but usually she never messes with the glass. 99% of the time it's eyes up fangs down like it should be.

 

[Mirandarachnid]

I periodically toss the link to this application out when the question of measurement techniques arises. This being an older thread, I may have already done so, but I'll include it again anyway. I don't recall getting any feedback on it from other users, though. I find it to be fairly accurate when used correctly. It's a snake measurement tool, but not limited to that, of course.

https://sourceforge.net/projects/snakemt/

That's interesting, I'll have to check that out on my potato laptop at home. Is it pretty self explanatory, or is there a bit of a learning curve?

 

[Whitelightning777]

Now I have to get WINE to run it on Linux....

 

[Tim Benzedrine]

That's interesting, I'll have to check that out on my potato laptop at home. Is it pretty self explanatory, or is there a bit of a learning curve?

Practically no learning curve at all, IMO. You just put something in of a pre-determined size with the critter being measured, (I use a small six-inch ruler these days) set the unit with a couple clicks, and then click the points on the critter you want to measure. Ten minutes of practice should do the trick, if that. There is a help menu that will explain it better than I am trying to do.

The only tricky part is that you need to do the best job possible of having the measurement object on the same plane as the critter. Which could take a couple tries especially for something that sees everything as food, so you have to be a bit stealthy at times. I've always gotten satisfactory results that were close enough for my purposes.

Keep in mind that because of the standard measuring method of tarantulas, you may not be able to get a straight diagonal line for measuring if the spider is not positioned perfectly. But you can make small tweaks and not lose too much accuracy. I'll include a photo showing what I mean...

As you can see by the number on the top left, at the time of the measurement, my LP was at 5.8 inches. You set the numbers as "units" but it's all the same as far as I can tell. Also, you'll notice the slight zig-zag that I had to use because the spider was not aligned perfectly, but I consider the variable negligible for my purposes. I'm satisfied to say that the spider is 5.8 inches and leave it at that

I also tested the program by setting the unit of the ruler and then measuring the ruler with the software, which resulted in the number I had entered for I, 6 units.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

My biggest lp is 7-7.5” female maybe near 7.7-8” stretching after molt , no were near the 10” insane sales tactics used by dealers . Has anyone seen a ligit female or male over 9”? With proof/ picture.
Still a very cool genus very hardy!! Not bulky like theraphosa tho.
Still hope they find some affordable colorfull lasiodoras!!!

 

[YellowBrickRoad]

Ultum is back!!! Bringing the knowledge and questions only a master can conjure!!!! My imaginary LP is the largest ever! No ruler, quarter, half piece, or metric system could ever measure.

No pics either, you'll just have to take my word for it.

 

[Venomgland]

Mine just molted this week and is about 3" now. Looking very leggy too

 

[MikeofBorg]

Mine is 0 inches at the moment, because I don’t have one yet =(. But I am hopeful I will have a Lasiodora parahybana sling by years end. I’m working my wife over real hard and making promises I’m going to regret in the future to get one. LOL

 

[Scolopeon]

Old post, but I feel it’s relevant to the topic, and made me laugh at the guys who were saying it wasn’t even 8”

 

[Wolfram1]

My understanding is that a more abundant food supply when young does help a t maximize its size. This is a quip from arachnologist Sam Marshall on the subject of feeding and its relationship to ultimate size:

"...you cannot over-feed a growing spider. In fact, the more you feed a young tarantula, the faster and LARGER it will grow."

well i will be putting that to the test with a friend

he is of the same opinion, and feeds them huge meals as well as keeps them warmer than me

the spiderlings he got from me are already leagues ahead of the ones i am raising myself, but i do wonder if it will impact their maximum size potential or if it is just a matter of reaching the size first


that said i have 2 females with molts that measured at or above 8", maybe you could strech them to 9" but to me a mesurement only counts if it is done on a molt in a legs spread out, but still natural position

any streching is faking it.

oh, i just saw this post was bumped from years ago... sorry