Hello folks!!
Sticking with my "commonly found in petshops" beginnings I bring you this week's centerfold
Species: Aphonopelma Seemani
Common names: Stripe knee, Costa Rican Zebra, Stripe-leg
Hails from: Costa Rica, Nicaragua
General Description:
These beauties are another popular pet species. They are known for docility, but are quite nervous and bolt at the slightest disturbace therefore are not a recommended handling species. These guys are ROCKET fast in my experience!
These are easily identifiable by their grey/white/brown (I am a guy so I only see in 7 colours remember
) carapace and black stripes along the segments of their legs. These colour patterns are why they get the name Zebra.
Now here is the neat part about these guys... these are one of the few species of tarantula that have a distinct regional colour variation! You can tell whether you have a Costa Rican specimen or a Nicaraguan Specimen simply by looking at the underside of the spider. If it is a nice orange you have a costa rican spider... if it is more tan/brown you have a Nicaraguan
These are great eaters and pretty fast growers... mine have yet to refuse a feed! I have fed both crickets and f/t pinkies with ease.
Housing:
This is a burrowing species, therefore needs deeper substrate than non burrowing terrestrial spiders. I use a mixture of plain unfertilized potting soil with peet moss. I keep them in the large, deep style of Kritter Keeper and they settled in well.
This species will dig amazing looking tunnels and networks in the substrate too! They usually have 2 openings to the surface much like what groundhogs do.
Keep the substate moist but not wet... don't forget the water dish too!
Humidity: 70 to 80%
Temperature: I have kept them around 80F with great success.
Personal notes:
-These NW spiders are almost exclusively WC specimens, but I have heard many breeding success stories. (I am waiting for my male to mature so he can have a go at my females)
- Mine were quite shy when I first obtained them. They dug burrows and spent nearly all of their time in them. When they did come out, the slightest movment would send them zipping back inside to hide. Now the female has gotten quite accustomed to my company, for a while I was even hand feeding her because she was so gentle (I dont recommend anyone try this stunt EVER) She used to walk up to my hand and gently pick up the cricket from my fingers. Since her last molt she has been a terror though so I cannot do this anymore.
-Dont expect to see much of these guys except the legs at the opening of the burrow... this is their ambush position. This is a perfect emoticon for this species when they make a kill... :grab:
As always... feel free to share info and post photos of the species! See yuz next week
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