A question for the INVERT specialists here...

[AneesasMuse]

I found a "Guatemalan Red Rump" in an LPS (local pet store) today. She was gorgeous! Very dark, black legs... dark, barely iridescent black carapace... and a fire engine RED abdomen. I don't mean JUST the hairs ON the abdomen either... her abdomen was RED!

Brachypelma vagans... sabulosum... angustum... auratum (spelling on that evades me now) ??? Any ideas? Or could she be an Aphonopelma?

I really would like to have a correct Latin name for her, so I can research her husbandry further. I never trust the pet store's "care sheets" :roll: cuz they often mislabel animals, etc.

Thanks in advance... :D

[IronDragon]

First time I've heard that Common name but Brachypelma vagans is probably it. Can you get a picture of it for us?

[AneesasMuse]

I can try to get a pic, but won't promise anything. My pc doesn't like my camera anymore. #-o

The more I read, the more I'm leaning towards B. vagans too. Maybe just a "locale" difference. She certainly kicks hairs like a Brachy... hence the bald RED spot on her abdomen. :twisted:

[Tokays_Unlimited]

Probably B.vagans.Really hard to say.Alot of animals are sold under false common names.( hence the reason i dont use them).
Chances are its just a locality thing.Chances are they have the name wrong or possibly it may be a locality thing.

[AneesasMuse]

I got her... err, him? Umm.. undecided with those big ol' "boxing gloves" :p

I went in today, to check on it again... I go in weekly.. and 2 legs are gone in a matter of 2 weeks. The abdomen is about the size of a dime, though I've seen it eat myself. Nearly completely bald for months... and no molt symptoms.

I put it in the largest KK they make, hydroton (clay balls) bottom and COIR about 3" deep. There's some live moss that I culture myself and a couple of cork bark hide areas.

I'll put in a water dish later, when it calms down some. I totally forgot to put it in before I released it... I was panicked cuz by the time I got the KK set up, the T was on its back in the deli cup.. so I just wanted it to be in its enclosure in case it was dying.

Now, it's sitting in a corner on fluffy fresh live moss, grooming. :D I hope it makes it. I really, really do.

If you have any suggestions, ideas as to what could be causing this leg loss and no molting... please let me know.

I'll try to get the camera from my neighbor again, later... and show pics of this beautiful tarantula.

Thanks!
~Aminah

[Tokays_Unlimited]

I would say ditch the KK and keep it in a ventalated tub to keep the humidity up.Got any pics?

[AneesasMuse]

You mean like a rubbermaid? I have some similar to a 10g in size.

The KK is holding humidity pretty well... I think. There's some condensation where the COIR is moist, and with the hydroton balls under the substrate... adequate drainage.

I have to borrow the neighbor's camera later for pics.

[Tokays_Unlimited]

You mean like a rubbermaid? I have some similar to a 10g in size.

The KK is holding humidity pretty well... I think. There's some condensation where the COIR is moist, and with the hydroton balls under the substrate... adequate drainage.

I have to borrow the neighbor's camera later for pics.
Coir fiber tends to dry out faster.Peat works alot better.There is no kind of tiny fungal growths on the T right?They could have been keeping it to moist causing some kind of mycosis possibly.

[AneesasMuse]

I don't see any fungal stuff on it. It was grooming a few minutes after I put it in the KK.

I have Peat Moss here, too. I just feel bad for rearranging its enclosure so soon. I'll see what I can do. I've had some success with keeping the COIR moist with the hydroton bottom, but I want to do what's best for this T.

Even if it does turn out to be a mature male, as someone has suggested, I'd like for it to be as comfortable as I can make it for its last days.

Thanks!
~Aminah

[AneesasMuse]

I have been trying and trying to get Grundo to pose for the camera, but s/he is just too darn ornery. Here s/he is in all of the "bald booty" glory! S/he makes quite a mess of the water dish, so just pretend you don't see that... I'll fix it AGAIN later. :D

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/aneesasmuse/IM000663Small.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/aneesasmuse/IM000662Small.jpg

http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/aneesasmuse/IM000661Small.jpg

Grundo eats very well.. hence the size of that bald butt :p and hasn't lost anymore legs since being in my care, but is NOT a laid back kind of spidey kid AT ALL... not even a little bit!


..and I'm no closer to figuring out gender than I was the day I brought Grundo home. It isn't that big of a deal to me.. as long as s/he is happy... err, healthy... oh geez! You know what I mean! :D

[AneesasMuse]

Grundo died today :(

He hasn't eaten a bug in weeks, but he was still drinking quite a bit everyday.

I just found him about an hour ago... gone to the Big Web, I suppose.

[HerpsinIN]

Are you sure he wasnt just molting? Mine will go off of feed for a while and then I will find them laying on their back to molt.

[AneesasMuse]

Yep, pretty sure. Grundo was a rescue... really bad shape when I first got him.. mature male already. For weeks now, he's been going from raisin sized abdomen (bald, at that) to about a dime size with a LOT of wrinkles still. The water seemed to plump him back up a bit, occasionally.

He wasn't eating anymore, at all... several weeks, with all kinds of bugs offered. Poor guy was so weak, he didn't even die on his back... he was right side up and absolutely STIFF.

He's gone.

Fortunately, he did not die in the hands of Petco. He's been here for some months and had a normal.. QUIET ..tarantula life. No one drumming their intrusive fingers on his tank.. no one poking at him with tongs ..or screaming blood curdling screeches...

I'll miss him.

[SouthernStyle]

I found a "Guatemalan Red Rump" in an LPS (local pet store) today. She was gorgeous! Very dark, black legs... dark, barely iridescent black carapace... and a fire engine RED abdomen. I don't mean JUST the hairs ON the abdomen either... her abdomen was RED!

Brachypelma vagans... sabulosum... angustum... auratum (spelling on that evades me now) ??? Any ideas? Or could she be an Aphonopelma?

I really would like to have a correct Latin name for her, so I can research her husbandry further. I never trust the pet store's "care sheets" :roll: cuz they often mislabel animals, etc.

Thanks in advance... :D

Brachypelma Sabulosum ;)