World's biggest Spider?

[MaximusMeridus]

Thanks Rob

I have to say that regardless of whose is bigger or anything else - you had yourself a very beautiful girl there and I'm truly sorry for your loss.

 

[Tapahtyn]

I have to say that regardless of whose is bigger or anything else - you had yourself a very beautiful girl there and I'm truly sorry for your loss.

Here is a pic of her last molt:

Here is a pic of her molt next to my 5" B.smithi's molt:

I am just posting these for reference, I'm not about to get into another argument. LOL Trust me, someone will eventually say something about any pics posted, someone always does. But it doesn't really matter to me, they are both big spiders!

That is just plain crazy!!! Now the LP is there a chance it could be close to that size?

 

[robc]

That is just plain crazy!!! Now the LP is there a chance it could be close to that size?

She also gained a lot of size from that molt!!! I have a LP that is 9"....but not close to the bulkiness of zilla....rob

 

[robc]

Thanks Rob

You are very wecome....how old was she....do you by chance have a fang measurement?

 

[MaximusMeridus]

Hey Rob,

Yes 18mm. 3mm width in the middle... Interestingly enough, proportions change according to age. Blondi will in adulthood, just as Humans, thicken up over age. They get bulkier, heavier and wider, but not necessarily longer in leg span, but maybe a 2/3 mm or so per moult. So in the case of the fangs, it is unlikely that beyond 5 or so years, the fangs will get any longer BUT they will get thicker. Same is the case for the legs. Carapace also gets wider and a higher crest.

Attached is a picture comparing a moult of a 10in on the left and the 11in on the right. Although there is a wopping 30 grams different in weight, only difference in length of fangs is 1mm, however a 50% increase in the width of the fangs. Its hard to see in the photo, up up close there is a clear difference.

For all those who missed the moult on Tarantulacam.org here it is

(Go to the site link below for Full HD 720p and click on HD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAjdegwplaY

[youtube]BAjdegwplaY[/youtube]

Cheers Jacque

You are very wecome....how old was she....do you by chance have a fang measurement?

 

[Dave]

Hey Rob,

Yes 18mm. 3mm width in the middle...

Cheers Jacque

Great vid!! thanks!

 

[treeweta]

Hey Rob,

Yes 18mm. 3mm width in the middle... Interestingly enough, proportions change according to age. Blondi will in adulthood, just as Humans, thicken up over age. They get bulkier, heavier and wider, but not necessarily longer in leg span, but maybe a 2/3 mm or so per moult. So in the case of the fangs, it is unlikely that beyond 5 or so years, the fangs will get any longer BUT they will get thicker. Same is the case for the legs. Carapace also gets wider and a higher crest.

Attached is a picture comparing a moult of a 10in on the left and the 11in on the right. Although there is a wopping 30 grams different in weight, only difference in length of fangs is 1mm, however a 50% increase in the width of the fangs. Its hard to see in the photo, up up close there is a clear difference.

For all those who missed the moult on Tarantulacam.org here it is

(Go to the site link below for Full HD 720p and click on HD)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BAjdegwplaY

[youtube]BAjdegwplaY[/youtube]

Cheers Jacque

blondis do seem to change proportions quite alarmingly with moults, perhaps all tarantulas do but the relative baldness and size of the blondi exoskeleton allows this to be easily seen. A blondi at 9 inches could probably almost double its mass by the time it gets to 10.

all pending actual measurements of course. cool video, one of my fave things to watch is a spider moulting, esp a big one.

 

[robc]

blondis do seem to change proportions quite alarmingly with moults, perhaps all tarantulas do but the realative baldness and size of the blondi exoskeleton allows this to be easily seen. A blondi at 9 inches could probably almost double its mass by the time it gets to 10.

all pending actual measurements of course. cool video, one of my fave things to watch is a spider moulting, esp a big one.

I agree, they do put on a lot of bulk once they get to that size. Side note: one of my blondi females just molted last night - correction: one of our GRAVID blondi females molted last night. This female molts about every 5-6 months....difficult to get an egg sac that way. She was 9"+ according to her last molt and she looks massive now. We'll see what she's like now - she's still on her back so it'll be a little bit before I even get the molt out.

 

[Fran]

Congrats with your girls Rob...You will get your egg sack sooner or later


This is the largest spider I haver ever seen and owned
Female Theraphosa Blondi, leg span 11 inches, body lenght 5 + inches...Weight: A lot

Not gravid, she just loves to eat a lot

 

[Fran]

After a couple of hours of her death
She lost some liquds and girth, specially in the legs.

 

[treeweta]

After a couple of hours of her death
She lost some liquds and girth, specially in the legs.

wow.

fran, that is the largest actual measured blondi ive yet seen. I have a photo from Guy Tansley (tansy?) in the UK, his was 25cm but a very chunky one with incredibly thick legs, i wont post that measured picture only because i think i need his permission first. I will try and ask him for that permission. Is it possible the white background on that shot might have 'bled' into the leg edges, they seem thinner than i'd expect. that photo gives me an estimated carapace of 46mm! thats insanely big!

 

[The_Sandman]

the T blondi is whats motivating me into this new hobby of mine. these are some great pics .i cant wait to get mine. im a noob here but i have to say i wont argue with that statement its the biggest ive seen ,lol

 

[jbm150]

What a magnificent animal! How old was she, Fran?

 

[Fran]

Hi guys,

She was loosing quite a lot of "blood" while I was taking those shots and carefully spreading her in the page. (As you can see the liquid in the page)

Most certainly after the death she lost the thickness she used to have while she was alive.
Im not totally sure of her age . She was pefectly fine grooming in her burrow and some minutes later she was gone.
Im guessing she died because of age...But who knows?

I got her to acclimate very fast and well to her enclosure, never a nervous or climbing t blondi as they usually get in captivity.
Actually, She used to re arrange her burrow,and that was a first for me in over 15 T blondis I kept.

She was allways hungry, no matter what. She was the most agressive feeding T I have ever owned! Eating 7-8 large adult female Dubias in one sitting with no problems at all.

I have had 10 inchers, but this was the biggest I have ever owned .

Probably one of the biggest ever meassured, for sure. (I did not streched her legs totally to keep kind of a natural way in the pic)

 

[robc]

After a couple of hours of her death
She lost some liquds and girth, specially in the legs.

All I can say is :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: About the measurement....not what is quoted

 

[Fran]

I dont uderstand very well your post, Rob

 

[robc]

I dont uderstand very well your post, Rob

Yeah, I tried to basically quote that measurement pic - I thought it was great...but the way it quoted you was just messed up...made it look like I was happy and clapping that your T passed away. Totally not the case, hope you know that. Silly AB! LOL

 

[Fran]

hah lol

I know what you meant, yeah I was really upset when it happened...
It just happens. No matter how great we take care of them, it has to happen somtime.

and it was suddenly, I was looking at her while she was grooming herself in her burrowat lets say 12 pm, and at 2 pm she was dead...
I couldnt believe it.

 

[Only Exotics]

Holy Chalupas Fran that was one huge blondi!!! Sorry she passed away. Rob I'm glad yours is still doing well. That was a good year for getting some monster blondi in haven't been lucky to get them in that huge since.

 

[Fran]

Yeah, Rob is lucky!
If his "thing" molts again with no problems he might have to leave the house