Michelle Howarth's Spider Picture Thread

[Michelle Howarth]

She's a stunner!

Thanks very much, I'm really pleased with her She seems to have settled into her new home well, and made mince meat of a cricket last night.

[Denny Teasdale]

She certainly is...it was the banding on the legs that threw me...but I'm learning....slowly....

[Michelle Howarth]

nice t's, i wish mine liked posing... my juves at the run like hell stage too! love the a. versicolor, might have to hunt one down.

Thanks Mark. I know that feeling I have a communal group of juvie p. regalis and they leg it at the slightest disturbance. Super fast!

They're slowly but surely out growing their tank, and I can honestly say I'm not looking forward to rehousing them *bites nails*

[Michelle Howarth]

She certainly is...it was the banding on the legs that threw me...but I'm learning....slowly....

Yeah, most pics of pokies are not of the underside, when I first saw the yellow leg banding they have I was amazed. They're one of those spiders a camera finds it difficult to do justice to.

Glad you like my new little spid, who has been Christened "Haru"

[Ian Hall]

I'm looking into a P. regalis colony next.

[Michelle Howarth]

I'm looking into a P. regalis colony next.

I set mine up about six months ago. I put three p. regalis from the same egg sac together at about 2cm. They have been fine so far, not seen any aggression. There is definitely a pecking order though, one is bigger than the other two, however I have seen all three sitting together and even walking over each other and even sharing prey.

I've never had communal spiders before so it's a learning experience for me. I have been warned that as they grow older they may become less tolerant of each other, and I have even read a couple of disaster stories. My plan is to move them to a bigger tank soon. Though, I am prepared to split them up if things between them get dicey.

Fingers crossed they can stay together.

[Ian Hall]

Michelle, what size is the colonys enclosure? Also how do you heat it?

Any photo's?

[Michelle Howarth]

Michelle, what size is the colonys enclosure? Also how do you heat it?

Any photo's?

They are only little at the minute with the biggest being about 5cm. Their enclosure is only small, but they have been in there since they were only 2cm and now I realise they have outgrown it. It's time to move them to something bigger.

I have read differing theories on how to size the enclosure. Some people advise that the enclosure is big enough to give each spider its own space, and others suggest you should ensure the enclosure is small enough to force the spiders to have some interaction with each other, or else you might get individual territories set up, which can lead to problems.

I'll probably go somewhere between the two so they have space but will come into contact.

Here are some pics of my little guys:



Two of them hanging out together.





And this is their little home, where the three of them share a web in the center near the cork bark.

The visible spider in the front is the biggest of the three. I'll have to move them to a bigger home soon.

As for heating, with a collection of over 60 tarantula I do not heat individually but use a halogen heater to keep the entire spider room warm.

Hope this helps, as I say I am learning, this is my first communal spider group, so I'm taking each stage as it comes.

[Ian Hall]

Cool pix. I really want to advance to the arboreal species. I can't wait to get my own place again and making some cool looking enclosures.

[Michelle Howarth]

Thanks. I love making the enclosures up, as I like to have my best spiders on display. Mind you I think they are all the best LOL so I end up trying to get them all out on view (which is impossible).

Forgive the Christmas cards LOL, but here's a little shot of my current display. As you can see it's rather crowded.

[Michelle Howarth]

Snap Happy

Took some more pics today

Psalmopoeus irminia (rare sight)



Pamphobeteus sp. "platyomma" (such a poser)



Juvie Brachypelma smithi*



Brachypelma emilia



Phormictopus cancerides*(in a bad mood)



Aphonopelma sp. (River Rust Rump)



and Aphonopelma sp. (Guatamalan Blue)

[Ian Hall]

Great pictures Michelle.

[Michelle Howarth]

Thanks Ian, I had a good time taking them.

[Ian Hall]

Which camera and lenses do you use Michelle?

[Michelle Howarth]

Which camera and lenses do you use Michelle?

I get asked this a lot, but I just point and shoot with a little digital camera, it's a Casio 10.1 mega pixel. I do however take the pictures in a room with subdued light and put the camera on full flash. I also set it to macro setting.