Largest Tarantula

[Robert Farmer]

We all know the T Blondi is heralded as the largest tarantula in the hobby, but I've heard of the top 3, usually 1st being T Blondi and 3rd going to L Parahybana, but I never can find what is commonly referred to as the 2nd largest.

Would this be T Apophysis or L Klugi per chance?

Sorry if this has been done to death but I couldn't find anything in the forum search!

Your opinions as always are valued!

[mary walters]

I have all 4 mentioned spiders anbd I would rate them, going by mine, as
1 T apophysis
2 T blondi
3 L parahybana
4 L klugi
Mine are all adult.

[Nicola Dolby]

largest spider

Hi Robert
Mary is right. The largest known spider in the world is the T. apophysis, followed by the T. blondi and L. parahybana. However I know of at least one individual who has seen a male P. ornata in the wild at 32cm and P. fasciatas have the reputation of growing to massive sizes as well. The impression I get is that the sizes we have are average estimates and in their natural habitat these creatures can be either far smaller or grow to be giants. Even in captivity there are exceptions, for example I have a male P. ornata who is only 17cm mature and a female A. metallica who has just moulted and is supposed to reach a size of 12-13cm. She was 14cm before moult (she hasn't come out of her web yet so I can't check the new size) and when I got her 16 months ago she couldn't have been more than a couple of months old.Also I was talking to a committee member about African tarantulas at the lectures earlier this year and he was saying that in the tropical central African countries such as Congo there may be some real monsters waiting to be discovered. However due to the vunerability of tourists in some of these countries it is unlikely that theree will be many expeditions in the near future (can't say I disagree, though I'd love to go there and have a look around). So all in all its a bit of a lottery but for now we'll have to settle for the pretty T. apophysis!

[Mikhail F. Bagaturov]

Hello Nicola!

Hi Robert
Mary is right. The largest known spider in the world is the T. apophysis,

Known to whom??? Reference please!
The largest known (= officially recorded) still Theraphosa blondi and the refference is Guiness book....
Where's Yours?

Russians told: "You can see a lot of things drawing on the wall, but if You look it very closer it is still only the wall..."

[KJ Vezino]

You mentioned L. klugi, and as far as I remember hearing it did have the record for being the heaviest T. And yes, as far as records go, legspan officially goes to T. blondi, but I have heard many people say that their T. apophysis are larger than their T. blondi.

[paul richard hill]

hi
L. Klugi did hold the record for the largest spider according to the guinness book of records in the late 1970's but has since been dominated by T. blondi

[Robert Farmer]

Dear me what a can of worms I seem to have opened lol

I've got both L Klugi and Parayhbana, thinking about a Theraphosa sp but can't decide between Blondi or Apophysis...

But c'mon isn't Apophysis such a cool name? Or is it just me?

Anyone care to shed light on the major (if any) differences between the two?

[Nicola Dolby]

Theraphosa

If you contact Lee at the spidershop (link on this site) he has both in stock now, or did earlier on today.

[LanceHutchings]

Last I remember was Dr.Robert Bustard held the world record for heaviest Tarantulas .. was one of his 'Airlie Brae' giants .... Theraphosa Blondi

Lance

[paul richard hill]

why not treat youself and get one of each rob then you can give your opinion on the differance, mine is apops are leggier and blondi's more heavily bodied

[Helen Roberts]

Lee has 1 T blondi less now Nicola as I bought one from him Tuesday for my daughter (I promised I'd buy her one for her birthday lol).

[Nicola Dolby]

Sounds like you're going to have a very happy daughter on her birthday Helen. I hope she has many years of enjoyment out of her tarantula. Good luck!

[Helen Roberts]

Her birthday isn't until December Nicola, but as Lee had one I thought I'd buy it for her early. As it was such a nice and impressive looking spider for his size I thought I might keep him and get her another nearer the time lol.

[Robert Farmer]

I'd love to get both, but unfortunately this month's a 5 weeker...

Wish those bank charges would hurry up and come back to me

[Nicola Dolby]

I know the feelng Robert. This is the one month when I'm having to take it easy, though its the North Indian Foxly Greys which interest me (where do they get these names from?) All I can say Helen is that you are very wise, maybe if yours is a male and you get your daughter a female, then this time next year you might have 60 or 70 of them to look after and two happy 8 legged parents (like I said, good luck!)