Help for a new Pink toe owner

[Colin D Wilson]

I assume you just took the crickets and have gone home to think about what to buy, i mean, that was some comprehensive list they had eh?

[Alexander Ramsey]

Stunned

I was that shocked and over whelmed with the variety I bought crix and a large tub of water gel instead of medium!!
I also noticed the extortionate price of wood chips / vermiculite / etc. Worth a look around if you need this, wilko had a load of cheap stuff if you can filter out which ones are "additive free".

To the thread though, despite what you have / may have / think you have, as long as you're happy with your T that's what counts and I'm sure, like probably all of us, you're looking in on him all the time and will soon build that knowledge of what he actually prefers and likes as apposed to what any person or book can tell you is what he should like.

You're obviously not one of these morons that goes into a shop to buy one knowing nothing about them and having done no research, so I'm sure your T is in good hands and remember they are quite resilient creatures so as you learn what is best the T'll look after itself!

And all is calm again!

Look forward to the pix.

[Craig Mackay]

I thought only New World terrestrial species were equiped with urticating bristles on their opisthosoma??

I think members of aviculariinae possess Type II urticating hairs which can't be propelled through the air, instead requiring direct contact to press them into the threat.

[Chris Sainsbury]

I think members of aviculariinae possess Type II urticating hairs which can't be propelled through the air, instead requiring direct contact to press them into the threat.

Hi
Although true what you say, there is a paper where it shows that in the case of A. versicolor it able flick it's urticating hairs in an airborne mannor.

BERTANI, R., T. BOSTON, Y. EVENOU & J. P. L. GUADANUCCI (2003). Release of urticating hairs by Avicularia versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837) (Araneae, Theraphosidae). Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 12 (9): 395-398.

You can find an abstract here:-

http://www.cababstractsplus.org/google/abstract.asp?AcNo=20043014922

All the best
Chris

[Peter Lacey]

Alex, I don't mean to pick up too much on what you say but to my mind the first stage in providing any creature with the correct environment is getting a proper identity. Doesn't really matter how much effort you put into looking after it if its totally inappropriate.
A pink toe without pink toes to my mind isn't a pink toe.
A wet environment provided for the likes of an A. versicolor would immitate at least some of the natural seasons where flooding occurs. The same environment for the likes of a G. rosea or B. smithi would likely result in a very short life. Lets take a little analogy here, if I put you in amongst the eskimo's or living with high altitude tribes of the Himalaya's you'd certainly suffer, and yet we're all human. Hope I'm not labouring the point here, lets get an identity.

[Craig Mackay]

Hi
Although true what you say, there is a paper where it shows that in the case of A. versicolor it able flick it's urticating hairs in an airborne mannor.

BERTANI, R., T. BOSTON, Y. EVENOU & J. P. L. GUADANUCCI (2003). Release of urticating hairs by Avicularia versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837) (Araneae, Theraphosidae). Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 12 (9): 395-398.

You can find an abstract here:-

http://www.cababstractsplus.org/google/abstract.asp?AcNo=20043014922

All the best
Chris

Thats interesting Chris. Cheers. I wonder why only that species in the sub family developed that capability.

[Jane Mitchell]

Photo of my unknown T

I've managed to take a good photo of my T. I hope it shows enough detail of the markings and the bald patch.

In answer to some of the questions you've been raising.
He's about 3.5 inches long, the body about 1.75 inches long.
He doesn't seem to mind the vermiculite as he spends most of the time on the floor anyway (does this seem to suggest that he may not be an arboreal species?!?!) He spent some time up on the cork and the plant but seems to be in hiding at the moment. Maybe he's camera shy? Is there any rule of thumb as to how active they should be? He was moving around in the late afternoon but for the last couple of days has barely moved from behind the plant.
I agree with the general consensus that most pet shops are rubbish with spiders. Looking at the prices on the spider shop website, we were definitely taken for a ride!

[Peter Lacey]

Well that pretty much answers the arboreal issue, well done. Certainly not a pink toe and I'd very much doubt a Goliath pink foot (T. apothysis) either. In my opinion I'd say its Salmon Pink Birdeater (Lasiodora parahybana): http://www.thebts.co.uk/gallery_images/eating1.jpg
If so, its terrestrial, it grows to the third largest tarantula, approx 10-11". From Brazil, great eater, will adopt a burrow but will also be on display lots. It will kick quite irritating hairs all over its enclosure and these are airborne so don't get too close, watch your eyes and throat. Its likely to cover its substrate in these so you'll find when you get into the substrate you'll feel the itching sensation. That explains the bald patch, so its probably not been too happy where it came from, but on the next moult it will be back to a full haired abdomen and looking brand spanking new!
I'd suggest, you renew the substrate with a mix of more peat than vermiculite, put in a plant pot or cork bark providing a hide, continue with the water bowl and overflow once a week.
Hopefully someone can confirm or provide a better identification.

[Peter Lacey]

I should add, you shouldn't encourage this to climb too much or at least not too high. Limit how high it can climb by raising the substrate so there's no danger of it falling more than twice is legspan and try to make sure there are no sharp objects for it to fall on. Surprisingly tarantula are quite delicate creatures and a fall can rupture their abdomens which often results in a painful death.

[Craig Mackay]

Yep, does look very like a salmon pink. That would explain where the pet shop was getting pink from. It's definately not an arboreal thats for sure.

[Craig Mackay]

Also, doesn't look like there's an imminent moult coming. The pink skin you can see on its abdomen will darken.

[Oli Dodds]

Thats an L.Para, no doubt about it.
Take a molotov and throw it through the pet shop window (save the animals first though)
Well identified Peter.

[Phil Rea]

Thats interesting Chris. Cheers. I wonder why only that species in the sub family developed that capability.

Avicularia is the genus Craig, not the sub-family. The family is Theraphosidae, and the sub-family is Aviculariinae

Although I suspect your statement its still true, and I could also have misunderstood your post.

[Chris Sainsbury]

Thats an L.Para, no doubt about it.
Take a molotov and throw it through the pet shop window (save the animals first though)
Well identified Peter.

Wo betide the farmer that sells you a Belle de Boskoop under the name of a Beauty of Bath!

[Oli Dodds]

Wo betide the farmer that sells you a Belle de Boskoop under the name of a Beauty of Bath!

LOL now im just confused Chris hehehehe