A few fresh molts!

In the week, I had four tarantulas molt. I was able to sex two of them female via there Spermathecae from there exoskeleton. The four tarantulas range in size from 2″ – 4″+, all juveniles. Species include the following:

Acanthoscurria geniculata (Giant Brazilian Whiteknee)
Brachypelma smithi (Mexica Red Knee)
Brachypelma sabulosum (Guatemalan Redrump)
Brachypelma vagans (Mexican Velvet)

Acanthoscurria geniculata (Giant Brazilian Whiteknee)

Brachypelma smithi (Mexica Red Knee)

Brachypelma sabulosum (Guatemalan Redrump)

Brachypelma vagans (Mexican Velvet)

Valid comments on/about/experience are all welcome. Spam, hate, offensive, etc… will be ignored/deleted. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.

Video Tutorial of Blatta lateralis Care & Setup!

This video tutorial illistrates the way I keep, raise and breed my B. lateralis roaches. This species make a great feeder for Tarantula slings to average adults and baby to medium sized Scorpions. There about the size of an adult cricket, much more active and smell less, can’t climb smooth surfaces, don’t jump or make noise. No crickets here.

B. lateralis are a tropical species roach meaning they don’t survive well in cooler climates below 60°F. In turn won’t infest your home if you live in the USA, excluding Florida. B. lateralis are prolific breeders. The ootheca (egg case) the females (wingless/black) drop all through the bin hatch anyway from 3-20 weeks depending on temps and humidity levels. I have personally found that the ⅛” nymphs are a good alternative to pinhead crickets. My slings and baby scorpions eat them up. There is little to no oder depending on size of colony.

Comments always welcome. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.

An unexpected SURPRISE!

Pterinochilus lugardi gaurding egg sack!

I received this Pterinochilus lugardi a couple months back in a package deal.  “It” at the time was unsexed.  Later to find out it had layed an egg sack.

Prior to this wonderful event, I thought she was in premolt. She wasn’t very big when I received her. I would offer her B. lateralis roaches weekly. She was eating well up to just a couple weeks ago. First thing I’m thinking, “she in premolt”. Well to my surprise, an egg sack. My son had come over to feed. He checked on the Pterinochilus lugardi, looked at me and said, “this thing got smaller”. I said to my son, “is there a molt?”, he replied, “no”. So I took a look and noticed an orangish color under her and told my son, she layed an egg sack. I pointed it out to him.

Gravid Pterinochilus lugardi

Apparently the person that I got her from wasn’t aware she was gravid, non the less female. Good for me. Now this is my first clutch of eggs. The thing that puzzles me, is that all the videos I have seen related to this, the female rolls the eggs up into a ball. She hasn’t done that. She just sits over them. She is eating, cause I offered her a roach, and she excepted it. She hasn’t eatin the eggs yet, so I figure everything is good.

Now, if any of you readers out there have dealt with this species, is this normal for her not the roll her eggs into a ball and hold it? Please leave me a comment as to what to expect. I am preparing for new slings. Time will tell.

All comments are welcome, thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.

Grammostola rosea (Chilean Rose Hair) Care Sheet

Scientific Name: Grammostola rosea – Previously known as both Grammostola spatulatus and Grammostola cala, and the debate still drags on whether these are both the same species, but just different color morphs. Time will tell as science moves forward on Tarantulas in general.

Common Name: Chilean Rose Hair

Geographic Range: Chile, Argentina, Bolivia

Habitat/Species type: Terrestrial / New World

• Terrestrial refers to ground dweller, burrower.
• Arboreal refers to tree dwellers.
• New World species found in the Americas tend to be more docile, less venemous, kick urticating hairs for defense.
• Old World species found throughout the rest of the world, like Asia, Africa, Europe, etc… generally more aggressive, stronger venom, more apt to bite.

Temperature: 70*F-85*F Humidity: Low-Moderate

Growth Size: 5″-6″ legspan Experience Level: Beginner

Temperament: Docile, urticating hairs
Tarantulas vary from docile to very aggressive, skittish, nervous, urticating hair flicker. Read “WARNING” at the end of this care sheet!

Food: Crickets and roaches are most common in captivity. You can also offer mealworms, superworms, etc… DO NOT USE wild caught insects due to insecticides/pesticides and parasites threat.

Water: It is IMPORTANT to always keep an open water dish, full of water in your tarantulas enclosure at all times. This keeps them hydrated and helps keep humidity up! For slings, keep substrate moist. For juveniles and adults, water dish should be non-toxic, shallow and no wider than the body length of your tarantula. NEVER USE cotton balls or sponges to supply water or moisture, may promote mold and harmful bacteria that could be harmful to your tarantula and/or it’s enclosure.

Substrate: Peat moss, coco fiber or a mixer of peat moss, vermiculite.
Provide 4″-12″ of substrate packed down for burrowers. Tarantulas that require low-moderate humidity should be kept on a dry substrate.

Enclosure/Cage: Up to a 10 gal. tank.
Rule of thumb for enclosures is about 1½-2 times the width and length of your tarantula for terrestrial. For arboreal, they need more height then ground space, 1″-2″ of substrate. Provide long pieces of cork bard, branches, etc. to climb on for arboreal. You may provide a hide for a quick retreat if it is startled or feels threatened..

Longevity: Males once mature (2 Years) Females (up to 15 years).

Grammostola rosea

Description:
Grammostola rosea varies from light to dark brown/grey with pink hairs and a brown carapace that appears to be a pinkish/mauve color in the right light. Grammostola rosea lives in shallow burrows/scrapes in the wild’s of it’s native Chile. Grammostola rosea are considered average size tarantula, getting up to a 6″ legspan. Grammostola rosea are very slow growers, taking up to 7 years to become an adult. Adults will molt about once every 1-2 years. Grammostola rosea are also known to go on long fasts, not eating for months at a time. This tarantula is considered one of the slower species.

Keeping in captivity as pets:
For adults you can use medium to large Kritter Keepers, 5 gal tanks, etc… for juveniles, up to 10 gal. tank for adults. This species prefers the dry side, so moderate humidity levels will work and temps between 70*F-85*F work. Substrate can be peat moss, coco fiber or a mixer of peat moss, vermiculite mixture and should be at least 2″-4″ deep to provide adequate burrowing for slings and juveniles. Young Grammostola rosea may burrow, but once they become adults (5-7 years), they tend to just sit around on the surface. I refer to these as “Pet Rocks”. Grammostola rosea are considered the ideal starter Tarantula, due there forgiving nature and easy temperament. Grammostola rosea are generally considered a docile species, certainly handling is possible, but not considered, due to their urticating hairs.

WARNING: Tarantulas are unpredictable and can change there disposition at anytime and may bite. So handling is never advised unless you’re experienced. Old World species tend to be more venomous (stronger venom) than New World species who have urticating hairs. Take all precautions, do some research on the species you plan to own, etc…before handling these wonderful creatures.

DISCLAIMER: Information contained herin represents various resources and my own personal experience with this particular species. Comments on/about/experience are all welcome. There are still allot unknown about certain species, so if you feel this article needs correcting/clarification, please comment below and I will make adjustments where necessary. Spam, hate, offensive, etc… will be ignored/deleted. Thanks for reading, Greg Hagedorn.