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aphonopelma chalcodes female

.MIC

Member
3 Year Member
Messages
46
Location
Chicago, IL
Hey guys I have a female chalcodes who is give or take about 4 in a half inches big and wanted to know what would be considered as a matured female or Is the appropriate time and size for breeding. I tried looking online and in books about it but there isn't much info about this species.
 

MatthewM1

Well-Known Member
3 Year Member
Messages
639
Location
Cortland, NY
The best way to tell if a female is mature is to look at the spermatheca inside the last molt. With a mature specimen it will be completely dark, before maturity there will be softer lighter colored parts to it.
 

.MIC

Member
3 Year Member
Messages
46
Location
Chicago, IL
Oh ok thanks!! Well that unfortunately will be a long wait because its been almost a year and she has not molted lol but I'm sure she's up for one soon.
 
Last edited:

Egon

Member
3 Year Member
Messages
57
Hey Miko,

This species is high on my list of possible first tarantula. What's been your experience with the species? Fun and interesting to keep? Or dull pet rock? I'm looking for something docile that is also active in its enclosure. This species doesn't seem to get a lot of love from many keepers. Thanks.
 

.MIC

Member
3 Year Member
Messages
46
Location
Chicago, IL
Hey Miko,

This species is high on my list of possible first tarantula. What's been your experience with the species? Fun and interesting to keep? Or dull pet rock? I'm looking for something docile that is also active in its enclosure. This species doesn't seem to get a lot of love from many keepers. Thanks.
I had her since birth and she is definitely one of my favorites. I will say that they can fast for awhile. She has refused food for about 6 months now, it's common for this species maybe not that long, but they do refuse food occasionally. She is the tarantula I show people especially for people getting into the hobby or are trying to get over their fears of spiders. She is my most well behaved and has never given a threat pose. She will however barely move in her enclosure, she'll sometimes only move to eat, drink water which I have seen her do, or getting ready to molt. A great beginner species, they can be active at times but can act like pet rocks as well. If you are looking for a very active tarantula that is known for being a well behaved species from other T enthusiasts I would recommend a Curly hair or Mexican red knee, both are very popular and roughly get the same size they do flick hairs but overall my experience with them have been awesome. they are consistently moving around in their cage, digging, moving the decor around a lot and their appetites are great mine have never refused food except during pre-molt . A green bottle blue would be a stretch they can be a little skittish, but with practice and patience comes a great reward their colors are beyond beautiful. Very very active species they love to Web up their enclosures and holy cow can they eat!! Their feeding response is ridiculously fast. And these are just a few of what I actually have and experienced. There are many great T's that are in your interests.
 

Poec54

Active Member
3 Year Member
Messages
322
Location
South Florida
They get to be a fairly big spider (I have some 6" girls), I wouldn't breed one until it hit 5". If you rush it with a female that's just hit puberty, you're much more likely to get a small sac with a poor survival rate. Young females are still growing and would have the competing demands for growth vs egg production, and may do neither one well. There's no rush.

With US Aphonopelma, the species are in a state of mass confusion, and are difficult to identity. They're are often misidentified ('chalcodes' is almost a generic name given to any blond desert tarantula). You should make every effort to get a male from the same area your female (or her parents) were collected from to avoid creating hybrids.
 

.MIC

Member
3 Year Member
Messages
46
Location
Chicago, IL
They get to be a fairly big spider (I have some 6" girls), I wouldn't breed one until it hit 5". If you rush it with a female that's just hit puberty, you're much more likely to get a small sac with a poor survival rate. Young females are still growing and would have the competing demands for growth vs egg production, and may do neither one well. There's no rush.

With US Aphonopelma, the species are in a state of mass confusion, and are difficult to identity. They're are often misidentified ('chalcodes' is almost a generic name given to any blond desert tarantula). You should make every effort to get a male from the same area your female (or her parents) were collected from to avoid creating hybrids.
Wow, okay so she still has some growing to do. Thank you soo much!! I can't express How difficult It Is To Get Accurate Care Information on this species.
 

Poec54

Active Member
3 Year Member
Messages
322
Location
South Florida
Wow, okay so she still has some growing to do. Thank you soo much!! I can't express How difficult It Is To Get Accurate Care Information on this species.

They're pretty hardy spiders, as long as you keep them on dry substrate. They also appreciate good ventilation. My main spider room isn't under a/c and gets 90 degree daytime/80 degree nights for half the year, down about 15 degrees on both the rest of the year. Helps cycle them. The warmer you keep your spiders, the higher their metabolism, the more they eat, and the faster they grow. They won't pop. 2 or 3 feedings a week is good for small ones, and you can gradually reduce that as they grow. With slings, their fat reserves are lost every time they molt; with adults, they just stay fat and that stretches their abdomens and makes them more susceptible to injury.
 

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