Meet Courtney!

[Dragoon]

Hi all!
Just wanted to show off my new T. :D

I got her from a friend, she's really immaculate, not a hair out of place. I've had her a week, she's a T. blondi.

<IMG SRC="http://varanid.mvd2.com/files/dragoon/Courtney.JPG">

She came with this tall tank, which I re-decorated.
Like it?...

Well, it sucks, big time. Not enough floor space, and I'm very worried she will fall from that great height if she ever did climb. So I'll be buying her a 20 G long soon and use this tall tank for some arboreals I'm getting.
Oh well, I tried...
Hope you liked the pic.
D.

[Emily-Fisher]

Ooooh she's very pretty! Cute name for a T too... Courtney... I like it!!
Congrats on the new addition and good luck with her!

Oh and BTW, when's that white spider that you were talking about coming? I'm eager to see what she looks like!!

[SaIiLdVaEnR]

I've never heard of the white spider but would love to see it too.

[JeffT]

Nice T and cage. Just a question though, is that seran rap at the top of it? Is that all thats keeping her in there?

[Dragoon]

Hahaha, the tank is a Miracles tank, and has a locking lid with wire screen...pretty secure...the saran is to limit airflow so all my humidity doesn't escape in a day.

It is too cold to ship me my 'white' T or red scorps right now, I will get them when its warm enough in your area Emily...since its always tons warmer where I am than where you are! *nyah, nyah*
If this link works, its a pic of the Heteroscodra maculata (Togo Starburst)...not all of them are this white, and I haven't determined yet whether its variation between individual animals, or just a factor of how close to molting the spider is. I've seen specimens on the net range from light brown/grey to very white.

<IMG SRC="http://theraphosidae.netliberte.org/myg/photos/Heteroscodra_maculata_fem_1.jpg">

This is not my picture, BTW. I found it on the net.
D.

[Dragoon]

Gee, now that I look at it...I fall in love all over again...

Which made me think of Emily..
I just had to add to my post, that this spider is semi-hot, and insanely fast, from what I have read. (Think pokie...) I'm probably taking a chance getting one??who knows? but I am a very cautious person, and have been reading everything I can find on these animals...I'm starting with a baby, and won't be doing anything overtly stupid.
Darn, I hope so, hahahaha

Anyway, yeah, its pretty, but I won't be taking it lightly.
D.

[Dani33]

Congrats on the new addition!

[Emily-Fisher]

Ooooh, it looks like a pokie too... I want!!!

Do you know just about how potent their venom is and just about how aggressive they are?

[manville]

Dragoon i am jealous..i really want a T Blondi!!!....ARGH!!!....really nice display...!!!;)

[Tarcan]

Venom from specimens of the sub-family stromatopelminae is pretty much as bad as it gets amongst theraphosid spiders (with Poecilotheria spp. as you all know...)

Some will say that their venom has an even stronger effect then pokes because it really seems to affect the heart... but that is normally reports from Stromatopelma spp. specimens...

Heteroscodra maculata is reputed to have a very nasty bite but supposedly a little less strong then it's bad *** buddy S. calceatum...

They certainly are more shy and have "milder" dispositions then the S. calceatum, I have never been "attacked" by the specimens I kept and they are normally pretty shy, they like to leave and hide in a cornor when disturbed...

Even if they have quite short legs for an arboral, do not be fooled, they can move really fast...

This is certainly a species recommended for more advanced hobbyists... but it is a "commonly" available species that often finds it's way into petshops as WC imports... I think major problems are unheard of...

I hope this helps...

Martin

[reverendsterlin]

I would suggest 3-5 more inches of substrate.

[Dragoon]

If that comment is for me, Rev, thanks for the advice!

If that was my only option for housing her, I would try to cut down on the vertical space with more substrate. However, I am getting more T's that will actually require the height that this one does not, so they will get this tall tank. Court will get a larger and lower one.

She seems pretty comfortable in here, regardless. She is out every morning sitting on the raised patch of dirt, and when the sun comes up, trundles off to her clay pot to hide the light of day. So, I get to see her everyday, she is a real nice spider to have.
D.