Aphonopelma anax info?

[Larry Shone]

For some reason I'm intrigued by this genus, and from what I've read theyre semi desert Ts so prefer a low humidity. Sounds a bit like the Chile rose's preferences, but maybe higher temps?

[Joanna Pendleton]

Would this be that known as the texas tan? As far as I know most aphonopelma's have similar requirements re: humidity/temp. My A.chalcodes is from Arizona rather than Mexico and seems to prefer low humidity. Anything over 65/70 and she gets very upset and sticks like glue to her heat mat looking annoyed. Heat wise she is happy at 24, (so not over the top heat), alternating between time spent by the heat mat and time spent burrowing down the cool end.

Not sure if this does go for the A. anax, but considering very similar conditions in the wild of these species I would suggest this to be similar in captivity also?

all i can find on other boards is that the slings are sensitive to excess moisture so if you're thinking of going for a sling, DON'T increase moisture just before a moult and simply put a few drops of water on the side of the container every couple of weeks, no misting. Again it will be noted this is just from arachnoboards, someone who keeps these wrote it.

I am no expert, but as far as I can see most southern states Aphonopelma will be similar to keep.

J x x

[Larry Shone]

Yea thanks Joanna, that's probably the one though I'm useless with common names! Chalcodes sounds good to me! I must admit I've never used a heat mat with any of my Ts although I did sit Curly's container on the modem when she was a sling.

[Joanna Pendleton]

we have a fairly cold house, so I found it advantagous to have one. She was in a slightly colder room before and clung religiously by her heat mat then. Now she only ever even ventures out her hide of a night lol,

Aphonopelma's seem pretty easy to care for all in all, and very docile. Mine let me examine her feet when we were talking about the claws on the other thread, althoguh I ****** her off a little, some Ts prob wouldnt even let you examine any of themself in the first place lol!

Defo recommend, am giving serious thought to getting one of the two juvies on spider shop at the moment!

You thinking of getting a A. anax then Larry?

J x

[Larry Shone]

You thinking of getting a A. anax then Larry?

J x

Well I dunno, I'm like a kid in a sweet shop. I want this, I want that, I want a GBB, I want a B.boehmii etc etc but its not just up to me.

[Joanna Pendleton]

haha, you've summed it up well there Larry, I'm the same, I think I already have a list to work through, just waiting on some money to come through and then we're getting a few more. I was looking for ages for a sub-adult GBB, but could not find one anywhere, then out of nowhere we found one, just after getting our sling, so ive given in and we're getting the sub-adult too.

I think I might become on of those people that collects all from one genus though, as I want a few different Aphonoplema's (think we're getting a A. bicoloratum instead of a B boehmei, hopefully a little less flicky?)

oh and a G.pulchra. There's a few others Id love to own but they are fast and aggressive types and think i'd like to build up a decent sized collection and get very used to Ts before I attempt any like that!

I guess Im lucky as I live on my own (apart form the kids) and the kids love them, so are all for it! Are your family into Ts or do they just tolerate you having them?

J x

[Larry Shone]

haha, you've summed it up well there Larry, I'm the same, I think I already have a list to work through, just waiting on some money to come through and then we're getting a few more. I was looking for ages for a sub-adult GBB, but could not find one anywhere, then out of nowhere we found one, just after getting our sling, so ive given in and we're getting the sub-adult too.

I think I might become on of those people that collects all from one genus though, as I want a few different Aphonoplema's (think we're getting a A. bicoloratum instead of a B boehmei, hopefully a little less flicky?)

oh and a G.pulchra. There's a few others Id love to own but they are fast and aggressive types and think i'd like to build up a decent sized collection and get very used to Ts before I attempt any like that!

I guess Im lucky as I live on my own (apart form the kids) and the kids love them, so are all for it! Are your family into Ts or do they just tolerate you having them?

J x

I just really would like a GBB but they can be so expesive-my local shop, coast to coast, sells spiderlings for £40! Yet a guy on RFUK has some going for a tenner!
And no the others arent really into spiders-young katie used to like holding them, not sure she still feels the same, but my partner Helen doesnt really likes spiders. She doesnt freak out (tho she did the time that Hawk the P.cambridgeii got out!) and would never kill one but isnt a fan like I am. Best way to describe it is she tolerates their presence! And thats good enough for me!
I still would like a lot more tho (and a few trues!) and would love a pokie regalis but thats a no go-one mad fast arboreal was enough for her!

[Joanna Pendleton]

I really want a P. metalica, but then doesn't everyone? lol.

Wow, £40 for a sling seems excessive. Mine was £15 from an online dealer. She's lovely but have a feeling she's moulting as she has hidden in her hide for days now. She put some substrate at one end but the other end is next to the wall of the tub so I thought id be able to see down it. However she's webbed up already (didn't even know slings that small could do it lol) and I can't see very well so Im leaving well alone til she decides to come out.

Ive defo recommend any Aphonopelma, esp if the fambo not so keen on them as they are friendly and not threatening looking lol.

It's nice that your daughter likes holding them - have you ever thought of getting her her own one? The GBB sling is my daughters technically x

J x

[Larry Shone]

I really want a P. metalica, but then doesn't everyone? lol.

Wow, £40 for a sling seems excessive. Mine was £15 from an online dealer. She's lovely but have a feeling she's moulting as she has hidden in her hide for days now. She put some substrate at one end but the other end is next to the wall of the tub so I thought id be able to see down it. However she's webbed up already (didn't even know slings that small could do it lol) and I can't see very well so Im leaving well alone til she decides to come out.

Ive defo recommend any Aphonopelma, esp if the fambo not so keen on them as they are friendly and not threatening looking lol.

It's nice that your daughter likes holding them - have you ever thought of getting her her own one? The GBB sling is my daughters technically x

J x

Well Pip 'our' chile rose is really technically Katie's! When we decided to finally get a T back in 2006(4 years ago!) i chose a chile rose on the recommendations of others and she chose the name Pip!

As regards the GBB, i'm interested in how you keep them. Are they conventional terrestrial Ts or more fossorial? In other words is it one of those Ts you never see, or it a good display T like Pip?

[Joanna Pendleton]

Well, we haven't had her for long, and she's hid for most of the time, but I think she's coming up to a moult.

From what Ive seen of others they don't really hide too much, but the amazing thing about them (apart form the beautiful colours) is the webbing. Its really over the top, filling the cage, spreading everywhere type webbing, and they are ferocious eaters. They are semi-arboreal (and ive even seen people keep them in arboreal set-ups), and need some bark to web over. They don't like it too humid, and dont even use their water bowl, prefering to instead web over it! I think they must get all the moisture they need from their food. Quite a hardy species really Ive found from reading into it, which suprised me a little.

They are difficult to mate though apparently although we wont be doing that anyway.

J x

[Larry Shone]

Thanks fior the info Joanna, I still want one

[Joanna Pendleton]

No worries Larry, i'll keep you posted on the behaviours and needs my two Ts decide on so you know what to expect if you get one!
J x

[Larry Shone]

Ah nuts someone is selling Nephila slings for 1.50 each-now thats tempting!

[Joanna Pendleton]

are these a type of true spider are they?
I don't know much about true spiders.

J x

[Larry Shone]

are these a type of true spider are they?
I don't know much about true spiders.

J x

Yea they are. They're the ones from america that sit in their webs,and which the males are really tiny. I'm actually more familiar with trues than I am Ts!