Introductions!

[Arron Hooks]

According to the tarantulas keepers guide they are blind except around 500nm (blue-green spectrum) and 370nm (ultraviolet), so it suggests using a red light to view them without disturbing them.

[Peter Roach]

Im pretty well versed on the ventilation, and would like to think I won't fuss over it too much -

Errrrr . . . . wanna think again about that ?

I was speaking to a freind at a local pet store who also keeps Ts (with a considerably larger collection) when I said I had been looking at arboreals and that the p Metallica and av were my short list he suggested the p Metallica for sheer enjoyment of its colour - advising both are similar in habit and temperament.

To advise anyone that any Avicularia and Poecilotheria are similar in temperament is putting it plainly is just plain stupidity and shows a total lack of knowledge of either genus. Likewise the habitat is different for both species.

Two questions really, is it worth using fan assisted ventilation systems, or are these just carnage for the spiders habitat and web?

In my opinion, thats unnecessarily complicating things for no reason other than for the sake of it.
Not needed at all, if the size and more importantly the placement of the holes are correct.

Secondly, on a lighting front, what is best ? Iv got LEDs - red and blue moon glow, I'm not convinced my sling "can't detect" that there's a whopping great light on...

Tarantulas are as you know, nocturnal. So of what use are lights of any type apart for you to see the spiders ?
I have tried red lights in my spider shed at night and they could definitely detect that i was moving about.

Did you know that P metallica's are supposedly the most photophobic of all the Poecilotheria species ?

I try and keep the environment as natural as is possible! (Plus I work far too much...)

Snap !!!
In fact, there are sometimes when work comes first so I dont get the spare time that i need to check on my middling sized collection (450 -500 ?) for a week or two . . . or sometimes three. No big deal as long as the small slings have slightly damp substrate and going without food for a few months is no big deal either.

[Kate Arbon]

To advise anyone that any Avicularia and Poecilotheria are similar in temperament is putting it plainly is just plain stupidity and shows a total lack of knowledge of either genus. Likewise the habitat is different for both species.

Yeah this gave me a bit of a surprised chuckle.

To elaborate Rob, avics are generally known for being relatively docile. Pokies... not so much Skittish and fast and can be defensive, though I've heard in pokie terms metallicas are one of the calmer species.

Also expect to drop a LOT more money on a P. met than on an avic.

[Raymond John Gerber]

Introductions!

Hi all. Not that im an expert at tarantulas, but relatively new for at least the last year building my collection and learning from all the tarantula experts out there 😊i work for South African national parks working with all African animal and plant species and love working with my T's every night i get home. I have avics and pokies and pokies being my favorite one o them all. I can say this ,that avics are much much more docile in terms of its temperament in comparison to any other pokie!! My metallica's are aggressive and actually tag that brush all the time when i work inside the enclosure,but with the T's in general i dnt handle any by hand because all T's are so sensitive and know when they on another living animal hence they want off. Working with avics no problem I've never been shown aggressive behavior from them.


Ray-Nature Conservator

[Arron Hooks]

Anyone familiar with the differences between B. Smithi and B. Annitha? Bought her from a pet shop for £60 as a SA female B. Smithi, guy told me they sexed her from the moult. From what I can gather online the distinction between the two is an absolute mess! If I ever breed her it would be nice to know! Picture taken with my phone, don't have access to a proper camera sadly.

http://i.imgur.com/J7z1c.jpg

Edit: it is the carapace that is throwing me off, I expected to see more black but doing some more reading I honestly don't know any more. It is a can of worms I wish I never opened.

[Raymond John Gerber]

Introductions!

Who is the breeder from S.A?? Usually one sends the molt with as proof of sex, but with no molt thats always an indication the sex is unknown most of the time chap! I've been suckered a few times with one or 2 guys here and if u ever need to buy please let me know as I can point u in the right direction with some honest guys😊


Ray-Nature Conservator

[Arron Hooks]

I meant Sub-Adult not South African . I am a bit more confident that this shop knew the sex, the one I went to just before looked at 8 wild caught rose hairs he had and said 'yep, they all look female'. I shall wait until the molt before I am 100% sure.

More concerned on the Smithi/Annitha thing though, but I doubt I will ever get to know. Official line is Annitha is a separate species. Other side are saying the guy who described it is a joke and many consider Annitha to be a colour morph of Smithi. Most of the threads I read date back to 2006 so I wondered if there was any recent development.

[Peter Lacey]

mf annitha Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997....................Mexico [urn:lsid:amnh.org:spidersp:001853]
B. a. Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997a: 9, pl. 1-6 (Dmf; N.B.: specific name considered a noun in apposition rather than a patronym).
B. a. Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997b: 2, pl. 7-8, 11 (m).
B. a. Peters, 2000a: 64, f. 205-207 (mf).
B. a. Peters, 2003: 108, f. 428, 435-436 (mf).
That's good enough for me!

[Arron Hooks]

mf annitha Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997....................Mexico [urn:lsid:amnh.org:spidersp:001853]
B. a. Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997a: 9, pl. 1-6 (Dmf; N.B.: specific name considered a noun in apposition rather than a patronym).
B. a. Tesmoingt, Cleton & Verdez, 1997b: 2, pl. 7-8, 11 (m).
B. a. Peters, 2000a: 64, f. 205-207 (mf).
B. a. Peters, 2003: 108, f. 428, 435-436 (mf).
That's good enough for me!

That would be too but then http://www.cites.org/eng/cop/11/doc/11_04_02.pdf "b) B. annitha and B. harmorii are synonyms of B. smithii." hence the confusion. I guess I will leave it until the molt and see if I can get it sent off to someone experienced in differentiating the two.

[Peter Lacey]

That paper is from 2000, whereas the information above is from Platnik's list and clearly states more up to date, peer reviewed papers

[Arron Hooks]

Fair enough. Now to find out if I have a Smithi with a light carapace or an Annitha.

[Peter Lacey]

The carapace of B. smithi should be completely black with orange/red fringe whereas B. annitha should only have a black triangle on predominantly orange/red carapace with some stridulating lines all pointing towards the centre.

[Arron Hooks]

From the picture I linked it is not completely black with the fringe or the triangle, its kind of 50/50 black/orange, although the triangle seems more prominent.

[Kate Arbon]

Could be a hybrid? I imagine with species that look so similar an inexperienced breeder might easily cross-breed them.

[Arron Hooks]

Could be a hybrid? I imagine with species that look so similar an inexperienced breeder might easily cross-breed them.

Aye, one possibility but my least favourite one. Guess I can only wait for a moult now. I don't like disturbing her in the enclosure too much.