Arachnids!

In addition to reptiles, my other passion is Arachnids!  Mostly Tarantulas and Scorpions.

These are pictures of the ones I currently have.

Grammostola rosea

I've had this Rose hair tarantula for close to 10 years now. I used to handle her a lot but not anymore. She did bite me one time, but that has nothing to do with me not handling her. Just don't have a reason too.

Hysterocrates gigas

Currently this Cameroon Red Baboon tarantula is my largest one. She is just over 5 inches long. I asked someone from Cameroon what these were called and he said it was a "tdaou tdaou" and the td was pronounced like a hard "g".

Hysterocrates gigas

Here is the working end of a Cameroon Red Baboon Tarantula.

Theraphosa blondi

Here it is. The famous Goliath Bird Eating Tarantula. Mine is still fairly small, about 4 inches long, but growing fast!

Grammostola aureastriata

This is the Chaco Golden Stripe Tarantula. It is a fairly newly discovered species from South America.

Pterinochilus murinus

A Mombasa Golden Starburst tarantula. She is very fast and super aggressive.

Lasiodorides striatus

This is a Goliath Stripeleg Tarantula. She is a very slow grower.

Cyclosternum fasciatum

This is a Costa Rican Tiger Rump Tarantula. This is one of my favorite. The colors on her are just incredible.

Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens

This is a close second to my favorite tarantula. It is a Greenbottle Blue from Venezuela. Here in Alabama, I like to tell people its an Auburn Tarantula.

Avicularia versicolor

This is the juvenile Antilles Pinktoe Tarantula. Notice the extreme color change.

Avicularia versicolor

This is a maturing Antilles Pinktoe Tarantula. Note the color difference between this one and the baby picture. It is the same tarantula.

Avicularia avicularia

This is my female Pink Toe tarantula. This is the second tarantula I've owned.

Haplopelma lividum

I picked up a baby Cobalt Blue at the last reptile show. It was a price I couldn't pass up. I'm glad I took some pictures the first day, because it dug a deep burrow and hasn't come out yet. Typical cobalt!

Aphonopelma chalcodes

Here is my Desert Blonde tarantula.

Vaejovis carolinianus

These are Southern Unstriped Scorpions. I've been stung by these little buggars a few times. Doesn't really hurt though, only like a pin prick. The are native to the Southeastern United States.

Smeringerus masanensis

Dune Scorpion of the Southwest US.

Hadrurus arizonensis

This is the largest scorpion in the US, the Arizona Desert Hairy Scorpion.

Centruroides exilicauda

This is the most dangerous scorpion in the US, the Arizona Bark Scorpion. You can also see a bunch of babies on her back.

Opistophthalmus ecristatus

I think this is a South African Tri-color scorpion. I bought it and it was just labeled African Scorpion.

Heterometrus longimanus

I had a really difficult time getting a picture of one of these (I have 3 but no need to show all of them). They are all still quite small (less than 1 inch). The one pictured here is the largest. I went through about 20 pictures before I had one that looked OK.

Pandinus imperator

This is my Emperor Scorpion. Nothing special, just a big scorpion.

I also have an Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator) and 3 Asian Forest Scorpions (Heterometrus longimanus).  I just haven't taken good pictures of them yet.

 

Here is a funny story.  The door on the cage for the Pinktoe tarantula broke off one day and wouldn't you know it, she decides to go for a walk.  I wasn't too concerned about her being out.  The room was secured and I knew she would go high, find a place to hide and make a web.  About a week later, she did just that.  Here is where I found her.

I though about leaving her, but I decided against it.  The box below her is where I keep my tarantulas molts.  The aquarium on the right is for my White-spotted gecko.

 

 

Here is a little help for all of you who are worried about the spider you found in your house.  Below are pictures of two Black Widow Spiders.  The one on the left is a female.  The other one is a male.  Females are not the fairer sex in Black widows.  In fact, it is the female that is dangerous.  The Black widow spider has a neurotoxic venom.  To be bitten by one of these spiders, you would practically have to place you hand on it or lie on top of one.  They do have very small fangs.  If you are bitten, you may not feel the effects of the venom for another 48 hours.  The effects include nausea, vomiting, tremors, leg cramps, abdominal pain, elevated blood pressure, heavy sweating and loss of muscle tone.  If you feel you have been bitten by a black widow, seek medical attention immediately.  It is worth noting that a bite to a healthy adult is rarely fatal.  A young child could have complications.

                                                           

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