looking for a reference

[Christian Elowsky]

I'm sorry to waste anyone's time, but I simply can not find an article, or a picture in this case. There was an article in the Journal which compared the growth rates within a single sac in B. smithi. There was one picture that had the largest male and female compared to the smallest.

Does this ring any bells?

Thanks!

Christian

[Mark Lynes]

It's an old article by Sue Portman & lurks somewhere in one of the journals archived in the members section, unfortunately I can't remember which one off the top of my head.

Hope this helps.

Mark

[Eduard Johan Hijmensen]

Portman, S. 2003. Reply to Keith Smith's article 'Runt of the litter' in the BTS Journal Vol. 18, No. 2. Journal of the British
Tarantula Society, 18 (4): 109.

[Christian Elowsky]

Thanks, that's it!

[Christian Elowsky]

So the next question... does anyone know how to contact Susan Portman? I'd like to share that picture with others online.

[Peter Roach]

Can I be nosy and ask why you are asking ?

I have a few A geniculata that I got last year as 1cm slings, most are around 2.1/2 in legspan now but the largest is about 3inches and the smallest is 3/4 inch. They have all been kept EXACTLY the same in every way, I am curious if the 'runt' will grow up to be the same size as the others or will it always be small.

[Mark Pennell]

So the next question... does anyone know how to contact Susan Portman? I'd like to share that picture with others online.

Christian
Su Portman is not in the hobby at this time and contact with her is difficult, however if its been published by the BTS then we can give you permission to use use it. Drop me a email with what you need and I'll try and get it sorted for you.

Of course you still have to reference Su...

All the best
Mark

[Christian Elowsky]

Thanks Mark.

Peter, that is the question. Susan's image has both the largest and smallest male and female from a sac, which are staggeringly different in size!

I keep trying to explain this level of growth variation, but in the end it's so much easier with pictures! Unfortunately not all members of the ATS are also BTS members and vise versa, luckily the two groups share information.

Thanks for the input, I knew B. smithi was not the only species which did this.

Christian

[Peter Roach]

I'll try and get a picture this weekend if I have time

[Peter Roach]

Sorry about the delay (I forgot all about this )

I have 5 A geniculata's bought last year (probably Aug- Sept) approx size was 1cm when bought, average size now is 3 1/2 inch and 3 of the 4 are approaching a molt. I bought them from the same source at the same time and assume that they are from the same eggsac. They have all been kept in the same type and size containers, fed the same food once a week (crickets and lobster roaches).
One has not grown as fast as the others, I have even fed it slightly more often so as to get it to the same size as the others to no avail.
Picture shown of the larger genic is of the slightly smaller of the larger four as the other three are all in premolt and are in hiding.

[Payton MacDonald]

Hey Christian, fancy seeing you here! Hopefully some day we'll get to hang in the UK for real!

It is so fascinating how different the sizes can be. I got 10 G. rosea slings last month from the same egg sac and some of the little critters are twice as big as their brothers/sisters. We see variation in mammals, of course, but not to that extent.

Payton