CA newbie and AZ Blonde

[beebhabie]

Hi everyone, new to the forum and hobby as well. After a few months of research (All you Tarantula YouTubers are my heroes) I finally pulled the plug and picked up my first T about 5 days ago - a beautiful Aphonopelma Chalcodes. I was told she is female and she’s a pretty big girl. If anyone can guestimate age based on her size that would be awesome. I read they grow extremely slow so I can only imagine how old she must be and I of course forgot to ask...
Her name is Sprinkles lol. Everyone in my household is terrified so I thought giving her a cute name would make everyone less scared
The first day she was exploring her enclosure, by night time I noticed she had already remodeled and created a giant dirt wall on one corner and a much deeper and more elaborate burrow than I had dug out for her. I understand this is normal behavior for them but she also has webbed up the entrance? I can still see through it so it’s not very thick, but I am curious if they normally do that for their burrows?

 

[glitchsixxle]

Hi everyone, new to the forum and hobby as well. After a few months of research (All you Tarantula YouTubers are my heroes) I finally pulled the plug and picked up my first T about 5 days ago - a beautiful Aphonopelma Chalcodes. I was told she is female and she’s a pretty big girl. If anyone can guestimate age based on her size that would be awesome. I read they grow extremely slow so I can only imagine how old she must be and I of course forgot to ask...
Her name is Sprinkles lol. Everyone in my household is terrified so I thought giving her a cute name would make everyone less scared
The first day she was exploring her enclosure, by night time I noticed she had already remodeled and created a giant dirt wall on one corner and a much deeper and more elaborate burrow than I had dug out for her. I understand this is normal behavior for them but she also has webbed up the entrance? I can still see through it so it’s not very thick, but I am curious if they normally do that for their burrows?

Hi! Nothing to worry about. She could either be in premolt (which means she'll just be camping out in there for a very very long time) or just sheltering for winter (hibernation almost).

 

[PanzoN88]

Hi everyone, new to the forum and hobby as well. After a few months of research (All you Tarantula YouTubers are my heroes) I finally pulled the plug and picked up my first T about 5 days ago - a beautiful Aphonopelma Chalcodes. I was told she is female and she’s a pretty big girl. If anyone can guestimate age based on her size that would be awesome. I read they grow extremely slow so I can only imagine how old she must be and I of course forgot to ask...
Her name is Sprinkles lol. Everyone in my household is terrified so I thought giving her a cute name would make everyone less scared
The first day she was exploring her enclosure, by night time I noticed she had already remodeled and created a giant dirt wall on one corner and a much deeper and more elaborate burrow than I had dug out for her. I understand this is normal behavior for them but she also has webbed up the entrance? I can still see through it so it’s not very thick, but I am curious if they normally do that for their burrows?

First off welcome to the forum and the hobby.

it is impossible to determine age based on size, as some specimens from the same sac can and will molt at different rates. As for what your A. chalcodes is doing, it’s just doing normal tarantula things.

 

[beebhabie]

Hi! Nothing to worry about. She could either be in premolt (which means she'll just be camping out in there for a very very long time) or just sheltering for winter (hibernation almost).

Thanks! That would be awesome if she is in premolt. I certainly wouldn’t mind waiting around to see her once she finally emerges

 

[beebhabie]

First off welcome to the forum and the hobby.

it is impossible to determine age based on size, as some specimens from the same sac can and will molt at different rates. As for what your A. chalcodes is doing, it’s just doing normal tarantula things.

Thank you! I had no idea about that, how interesting. I just immediately assumed she must already be a few years old. Very cool, mysterious little things!

 

[WolfSpider]

WC A. chalcodes grow fast to about 2 inch DLS. Survival tactic--get out of dangerous phase quickly. Then, they molt approximately once a pandemic. They are not voracious eaters since, for a T, their metabolism is slow. Bad news, they hibernate sometimes for months and refuse food. Good news, a healthy female can live for up to 30 years.

 

[m0lsx]

Welcome to the forum & the hobby. I also have an Aphonopelma chalcodes, they are lovely T's. I also have an Aphonopelma johnnycashi, so called because they were found close to Fulsom Prison & I also believe, because the males are black.

 

[Enn49]

@beebhabie Hello and welcome to the hobby and the forum

 

[ilovebrachys]

Hello welcome to the forum and hobby

 

[Lawrence b]

HI and welcome to forum

 

[Arachnoclown]

Welcome to the group.

A female Alphonopelma chalcodes that size is at least 5-6 years old minimum.

 

[Oursapoil]

Welcome to the forum, perfect choice for a safe and friendly tarantula (according to my son ).

 

[beebhabie]

Welcome to the group.

A female Alphonopelma chalcodes that size is at least 5-6 years old minimum.

Awesome! Thank you. Would that classify her as an adult? Or is that more based on size rather than age?

Welcome to the forum, perfect choice for a safe and friendly tarantula (according to my son ).View attachment 52542

That’s adorable! Glad I picked this species

 

[Arachnoclown]

Awesome! Thank you. Would that classify her as an adult? Or is that more based on size rather than age?

That’s adorable! Glad I picked this species

Unless your hands are super tiny I'd say shes a mature adult. They don't get much larger then that.

 

[octanejunkie]

Welcome!

Nice looking first T

My chalcodes is about the size of a nickel after a year or so (started at about 1/4") and mostly stayed burrowed.

What are your stats plans for an enclosure?