Josh's Frogs' Tarantula Photo Thread

[Josh's Frogs]

This is how Trinity, a Venezuelan Suntiger (Psalmopoeus irminia) that lives at Josh’s Frogs, got her name. I was checking on one of our adult female tarantulas when I moved her hide log out of the way to get a better look at her. She must have been leaning from the side of her habitat onto the hide log when I removed it, because that left half of her body hanging in the air. This really annoyed her (it doesn’t take much) so she raised those legs in the air in a threat pose to warn me to back off! As she was frozen in the air like that, she reminded me of the famous shot of Trinity’s mid air kick, frozen in a dramatic shot in the movie, The Matrix. I just had to snap a quick picture. After that the name just stuck.

 

[Josh's Frogs]

Poecilotheria rufilata is commonly known as the Red Slate Ornamental Tarantula. In India, they are also known as Reddish Parachute Spiders or Travancore Slate-Red Spiders. The genus name, “Poecilotheria” comes from theGreek, "poikilos" (spotted) and "therion" (wild beast). The species epithet, “rufilata”, comes from the Latin word "rufus," meaning "reddish" or "red-haired”. I never understood that as this species spends most of its life in spectacular shades of green. This is Mindy, a member of the breeding team here at Josh’s Frogs. She is named after an OG Tarantula Keeper that was one of the very first members of the Arachnid Team.

 

[Josh's Frogs]

Have you ever meme-ified your pets? We all love to take pictures and we all love memes! Some of us have taken those two loves a step further by meme-ifying their own pets. Most people do it with their cats and dogs because most people have cats and dogs. That doesn’t mean that those of us with more exotic pets can’t get in on the fun! My Togo Starburst would almost look like she was begging, at the top of her cage for a cricket snack. She reminded me of the, “I can has cheezburger” cat of ancient meme fame. So, I gave her the, “I can has cheezburger” cat’s pleading eyes, via a little copy/paste, and made her into a meme. My Theraphosa stirmi always looked so happy and satisfied when I gave her earthworms that she reminded me of a dog with a bone. A few short minutes with photoshop and she was a meme, now, too!

 

[Josh's Frogs]

Avicularia avicularia Morphotype Six (M6 for short) is commonly known the Metallic Pink Toe. The mother of our baby M6 spiderlings is Tina (AvAvM6-014F). She is an excellent example of her kind. As adults, they tend to have an overall bright to dark blue color to their bodies and legs. They have white tips on longer, shaggier looking "hairs" (setae) that remind me of 90's Acid Washed Jeans. These are bold tree spiders that can often be found out sunning themselves when it is quiet. The babies look completely different! They are born with pink legs and black toes. They have a distinct pattern on their abdomen. This changes, over the course of 2 years, to their adult colorations with blue legs and their characteristic pink toes.

 

[Josh's Frogs]

Although most species of tarantula have one consistent look throughout each species, there are some that come in different varieties. Today we will look at the Trinidad Olive Tarantula, known scientifically as Neoholothele incei. This gorgeous dwarf species from the dry scrublands of Trinidad, Venezuela, and the Caribbean actually comes in two color forms. The original is a classic, the Trinidad Olive Tarantula has a metallic pale green hue as an adult female. There is also the Trinidad Olive Tarantula Gold Form, which, as it sounds, has a shiny golden hue. Here we see two adult females that live here at Josh’s Frogs. We call them Frick (the Gold) and Frack (the Olive). They are heavy webbers and it is not difficult to see why they are so popular. Under the correct conditions, this species can be kept communally.

 

[Josh's Frogs]

The Seven Dwarfs Part 1: When people think of tarantulas, they mostly think of giant spiders. While some of the largest spiders in the world are tarantulas, some tarantulas never get bigger than three inches. The term “Dwarves” only applies to Tolkien's fictional race and other fantasy creatures inspired by them. Dwarfism is a term denoting something, especially an animal or plant, that is much smaller than the usual size for its type or species. This week we will feature Seven awesome Dwarf species of Tarantula. This is day one! Today we feature Harpactira pulchripes, commonly known as the Golden Blue Leg Baboon Tarantulas. This tarantula is native to the arid scrubland of the eastern cape of South Africa. The habitat that this spider comes from is remarkably drab, mostly varying shades of brown. Remarkably, this spider with such flamboyant colors blends right in. When you see pictures of this species online, they look like they have been photoshopped. Then you see them in person and their blue is so intense that it still looks photoshopped. The intensity of their blue is explained because it comes from color that has been refracted by special scales on their leg. The refracted color comes out as an iridescent electric blue. The scientific species epithet of this species, “pulchripes” translates into English as, “Pretty Feet”!

 

[Josh's Frogs]

The Seven Dwarfs Part 2 This is day two! Today we will feature Cyriocosmus sellatus, commonly known as the Peruvian Dwarf Tiger Tarantula. Although these gems of the Peruvian Rainforest seem quite tiny next to the giants of the genus Theraphosa, they are actually quite large and bulky compared to their close relatives in the genus Cyriocosmus. Like many of their close relatives, they have a shiny heart shaped patch on their abdomen. This is interesting for two reasons. One is that, although it is not shaped like that, this spider’s actual heart runs right underneath this heart. The other is that this heart shape pattern is made up of specialized urticating hairs that fall off when disturbed by a predator or by them when they are angry. These urticating hairs are a nightmarish cross between poison ivy and fiberglass insulation and function something like a powdered pepper spray for the tarantulas protection. Well, they say, “love hurts”. ‍

 

[Josh's Frogs]

The Seven Dwarfs Part 3 Today we will feature Kochiana brunnipes, also known as the Brazilian Dwarf Pink Leg Tarantula. The species epithet for this species, “brunnipes” translates loosely to, “Brown Feet”. The Common Name says the feet are pink. I would say that they are more of a light red, but either way, this is a gorgeous tarantula! These tiny Brazilian Beauties rarely gets over two inches and are generally known to be very tolerant spiders.

 

[Josh's Frogs]

The Seven Dwarfs Part 4 Today we will feature Hapalopus formosus, also known as the Pumpkin Patch Tarantula. This tarantula earns its Halloween association with a bold black and orange pattern on its carapace and abdomen. This species is known for the females to get disproportionately large abdomens, compared to the rest of their body. The females are often 4 to 5 times larger than the males. I think even Linus would have to agree that this is one gorgeous Pumpkin Patch.
-Photo Credit; Joel Sartore from national Geographic took this picture of one of our Pumpkin Patch Tarantulas for National Geographic's Photo Ark and gave us permission to use it with proper credit given.
View attachment Hapalopus formosus (1) - Watermarked.jpg

 

[Josh's Frogs]

The Seven Dwarfs Part 5 Today we will feature Davus pentaloris, also known as the Guatemalan Tiger Rump Tarantula. This petite Guatemalan beauty rarely gets over 3 ½ inches in diagonal leg span. This fast growing species is known for coating everything in their habitat in silk and making silken tunnels underneath the resulting silken mat. I love that copper carapace!!

 

[Josh's Frogs]

The Seven Dwarfs Part 6 Today we will feature Cilantica devamatha, whose common name is the Psychedelic Earth Tiger. It has also been known as the Polychromatic Earth Tiger. Both of those names refer to the intensely iridescent blues, pinks, and purples that have metallic sheens. Its scientific name comes from Deva Matha Central School in Bangalore, India. This species is well known to be a pet hole. That just makes it all the more special the rare times that you do see this spider as she is absolutely breathtaking!!

 

[Josh's Frogs]

The Seven Dwarfs Part 7 Today we will feature Hapalopus guerreroi, also known as the Speckle Patch Tarantula. This species is the largest of its group, measuring up to four inches. And while that is pretty massive for your average house spider, the are still dwarfs among their kind. This species has only recently become available in the hobby. They have even more recently been taxonomized, or properly assigned a scientific name. Their species epithet, “guerreroi” is a patronym, named in honor of Dr. Roberto Guerrero Flórez.

 

[Josh's Frogs]

Meet Sith Lord, the Darth Maul Tarantula, Psalmopoeus victori. As this tarantula approaches maturity, she will be a more uniform black in the front and red on the back half of her body. Right now, at this stage in her development, she is also showing off some shiny, metallic greens on her carapace and abdomen. As a member of a species with an infamously short temper, I have to snap pictures of her quickly, before she either rises up in threat pose or bolts into her hiding space. But, I would say that her beauty commands as much respect as her attitude does!

 

[Josh's Frogs]

You mad, bro’? Some species of tarantulas are known to be easily provoked to give a defensive display. This is known as a, “Threat Pose”. They raise up their numbers one and two leg pairs, exposing their fangs. These are normally tucked up underneath them, to keep them out of the way. But, being oriented down, they can not bite directly in front of them. They have to raise them above their intended target and slam them down, reinforcing the bite by grabbing their target and bringing them towards them, driving their fangs deeper and with more force. While that all sounds impressive, or even maybe a bit intimidating, remember that anything that is not directly below their fangs are reasonably safe from them. For all the ferocity of their fangs, they are actually quite vulnerable, particularly from above and behind. They are frequently prey to birds and larger, predatory flying insects, like wasps. Most tarantulas do not want to be called out on what is usually a bluff, so they posture in place, striking at air. While the threat of a tarantula bite is easy to avoid when you are being careful and aware, too many careless keepers have found out the hard way that not being fatal is not quite the same thing as harmless. Be careful, read your tarantula’s body language and their threat pose will be nothing more than posture.

 

[Josh's Frogs]

Theraphosa blondi is the true Goliath Bird Eater Tarantula. While, even in the wild, this species would not ever be likely to eat a bird, this species is capable of having greater than a ten inch diagonal leg span. That is a wider stretch than a dinner plate! While they are young, they are an absolute fuzz bucket. It is also easy to tell the difference between them and their close relatives while they are young. Both of its close relatives have at least four, if not eight, pink tips to their feet as juveniles. T. blondi has never has pink tips to its feet.

 

[Josh's Frogs]

Togo Starburst Baboon Tarantula Not all spiders have to be brightly colored to be gorgeous! The Togo Starburst Baboon Tarantula is scientifically known as Heteroscodra maculata. As babies, they are a fawny, speckled brown. As they mature, those browns are traded out for high contrast black, white, and gray. I, personally, love the bold black triangles ordering their eye mounds. Appropriately enough, that gives them an angry look. I say appropriate because they are famous for a very short, often violently defensive, temper. This is not a spider to take lightly. They have what is called, “medically significant venom” While there has never been a human death from a tarantula, the symptoms of a medically significant tarantula bite include; pain, swelling, possible nausea, possible disorientation, and possible religion. Even then, these symptoms usually clear up in just a few days. The lesson of caution and respect hopefully lasts longer.

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

Togo Starburst Baboon Tarantula Not all spiders have to be brightly colored to be gorgeous! The Togo Starburst Baboon Tarantula is scientifically known as Heteroscodra maculata. As babies, they are a fawny, speckled brown. As they mature, those browns are traded out for high contrast black, white, and gray. I, personally, love the bold black triangles ordering their eye mounds. Appropriately enough, that gives them an angry look. I say appropriate because they are famous for a very short, often violently defensive, temper. This is not a spider to take lightly. They have what is called, “medically significant venom” While there has never been a human death from a tarantula, the symptoms of a medically significant tarantula bite include; pain, swelling, possible nausea, possible disorientation, and possible religion. Even then, these symptoms usually clear up in just a few days. The lesson of caution and respect hopefully lasts longer.
View attachment 75946

Possible religion as in you will be praying a lot after getting tagged by your H Mac??? And possibly swearing as well.lol. Sorry, couldn't resist being it was this species. Lol.

 

[Josh's Frogs]

Possible religion as in you will be praying a lot after getting tagged by your H Mac??? And possibly swearing as well.lol. Sorry, couldn't resist being it was this species. Lol.

"Possible swearing"! I love it! I will add that to my description of that bite from now on!

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

"Possible swearing"! I love it! I will add that to my description of that bite from now on!

Haven't been tagged by none of my T's yet but if I ever do I'm sure I will be asking for forgiveness no matter the species. Lol!

 

[Josh's Frogs]

Why do breeders pull tarantula egg sacs at around 30 days after they are laid? There are other reasons, but not having to remove each tiny baby by hand that just happen to be behind a very disapproving mother is a pretty good reason all by itself!! This is one of our Trinidad Chevron Tarantulas (Psalmopoeus cambridgei) that produced this sac, years ago.