Differences between Goliaths

[Kurt Baird]

As some of you might be aware I recently purchased a Goliath, and I have seen within the last few months that there has been some doubt as to whether the so called T.blondi's are the genuine article.

So what I want to know is, what is the difference between:

-T.blondi
-T.apophysis
-T.sp.Bergundy

Thanks all.

[Peter Lacey]

T. blondi:

http://thebts.co.uk/forums/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/227/ppuser/23

http://thebts.co.uk/forums/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/226/ppuser/23

T. apophysis:

http://thebts.co.uk/forums/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/575/ppuser/31

I don't think T. sp. Burgundy is a recognised species but hopefully someone can provide some more info for you.

[Kurt Baird]

Thanks Peter.

The reason I ask is because my T.blondi molted the day I bought it home (luckily I hadn't finished setting up its enclosure so I left it in its faunarium for 10 days after it molted before moving) and well, it doesn't look much like a Goliath to me...

I can't really get good pictures because it won't come out of its hide, but I'll do my best to describe it.

It is a very dark brown (almost black) with long red hairs on the abdomen and long red hairs coming from the legs. But before it molted, it looked like a regular Goliath.

Or is this common with T.blondi's?

[Peter Lacey]

Before my T. blondi moulted it looked like this:


but now its dark chocolate brown. I posed the question on here whether this was down to the level of moisture in the enclosure or a sign of adulthood but I'm still none the wiser. Most of the ones Ive seen have been on fairly dry substrates, mine was kept on moist, but not wet, substrate until prior to the moulting.
Whether this is an age thing or down to captive conditions I don't know but I'm keeping mine moist again to see if it goes back to those lovely rust browns.
Every video I've seen of them in the wild (and I recently put one up in the video board) they're rusty brown rather than dark chocoate.

[Kurt Baird]

I suppose dark chocolate is a good way of describing the colour of mine. Mine is Wild Caught, the place I got it from got it from their supplier about 2-3 weeks ago. Not sure how the supplier was keeping it, but the shop had it on very wet potting soil (had been in an open bag outside in the heavy rain) so it was almost dripping, and that is what it molted on.

I now have it on damp(ish) substrate (coco-foir that is freshly made, not cooked or anything) giving it a quick spray every other day.

It certainly is an interesting theory though. At the end of the day I'm not too troubled, I just wanted to know if it was definitely a T.blondi (or other Theraphosa sp.) and not something completely different.

I'll certainly be keeping an eye on the colouration.

[Grant Brown]

There could be slight regional variations in colour, although without detailed locality data I suppose I can't offer any more other than conjecture.

Could it be that damp conditions require a longer period for tanning after a moult, resulting in the difference in colouration? I forget how final colouration much is due to structural colours and how much is due to chemistry/pigmentation in tarantulas.

[wayne balcombe]

there are only 2 described species of Theraphosa and thats blondi and apophysis, its believed that "burgundy" is just a regional colour varient

i'm finding recently that most of the wild caught T.blondi available are the burgundy varient i would put this down to the area they are being captured.

[Kurt Baird]

I was thinking that the sp.bergundy was a color-variant.

What should I be looking out for in the burgundy variount though in comparison to the normal variety?

[wayne balcombe]

from what i've seen so far when they are a little older the burgundy colour varient has a darker "burgundy" overall colour on the carapace, also spiderlings and juveniles of this veriant have light almost white tarsus and metatarsus on the front 2 pair of legs but this fades as the spider gets bigger.

anychance you could upload some pictures of it?

[Kurt Baird]

I can try and get some tomorrow if I manage to coax it out of the hide it spends 99.9% of the time in! Won't be the best due to the appalling light in my bedroom, but I will try.

[Kurt Baird]

Ok, got a few shots. They have been taken with the flash (so things might be more highlighted than normal) on because the light in my bedroom is bad and the place I have the tank is set back and doesn't get very my light from the bulb in my room.

Click for bigger.

[Kurt Baird]

Bumping.

[Mrs Linda Street]

Hi Kurt, that looks like a normal Blondi to me, there is slight colour variations in them, there is in ours. The Burgundy var. looks slightly different imo, and is certainly our most aggressive Therephosa.

[Kurt Baird]

Thanks Linda.

As I said, I'm not too bothered either way really, its just nice to know!

For the record, I certainly haven't seen any aggression on behalf of this little chap. If I disturb it just scurries away back into its hide. Haven't seen it kick hairs at me once, which is quite nice!

[andy hood]

My recently moulted adult female Theraphosa sp Burgundy