A. Chalcodes completely changed color following molt.

[Tboltguy1000]

Hi all,

I woke up this morning to discover that my A. Chalcodes had molted, and completely changed color. Before the molt, she was the coloration of a typical female. Light tan, and slightly darker brown. However now, he/she's significantly larger and appears to be a very dark blue/black and dark brown. Is this normal? Are these her/his new permanent colors?

Any answers would be greatly appreciated.

 

[MBullock]

sounds like you were sold a male and it matured. a photo would be helpful.

 

[Tboltguy1000]

sounds like you were sold a male and it matured. a photo would be helpful.

I'll try to take a photo when he/she comes out of her hide. It is possible I was sold a male, however I thought males had the non-female color scheme throughout their entire life. Apparently I was mistaken.

 

[Tboltguy1000]

*Meant to say he/her, not he/she. Apologies for the typo.

 

[MBullock]

I'll try to take a photo when he/she comes out of her hide. It is possible I was sold a male, however I thought males had the non-female color scheme throughout their entire life. Apparently I was mistaken.

they can appear identical color-wise before the final molt

 

[Tboltguy1000]

they can appear identical color-wise before the final molt

I'm not sure if this is the final molt though, I hope not. I just got him/her last October. When I bought him/her, he/she was fairly small, I'd say 2 1/2". I'll see if I can get an updated measurement later.

 

[MBullock]

I'm not sure if this is the final molt though, I hope not. I just got him/her last October. When I bought him/her, he/she was fairly small, I'd say 2 1/2". I'll see if I can get an updated measurement later.

also keep in mind the entire iodius species complex is polymorphic. iodius itself can look really 'brassy', or sandstone-colored, or even with a jet black eye-turret greatly resembling brachypelma emilia, the same goes for eutylenum and johnnycashi- other members of the iodius complex. chalcodes is the only one that doesnt seem to get this 'mask' in this group.

 

[Tboltguy1000]

Here's a photo. Don't mind the weird gray blob in the photo where her/his carapace is, that's just a smudge on the glass of his/her enclosure.

 

[MBullock]

Here's a photo. Don't mind the weird gray blob in the photo where her/his carapace is, that's just a smudge on the glass of his/her enclosure.
View attachment 56771

it's a mature male

 

[Tboltguy1000]

it's a mature male

Oh wow, well that's unfortunate. How long would you estimate he's going to live for? Thanks very much for the help, by the way.

 

[MBullock]

Oh wow, well that's unfortunate. How long would you estimate he's going to live for? Thanks very much for the help, by the way.

with proper care they can live for quite some time, I have a mature male i collected last summer, he's still alive today, though no longer making sperm webs.

 

[Tboltguy1000]

with proper care they can live for quite some time, I have a mature male i collected last summer, he's still alive today, though no longer making sperm webs.

Got it, I don't plan to do any breeding or anything so the sperm webs won't be an issue. Currently I have him in a 12"x12" Exo Terra enclosure with 4" of substrate, a good sized hide, and fresh water always available. I feed all my tarantulas a couple of Dubia roaches once a week, and I also mist the soil and walls of the enclosure every day to maintain the proper humidity levels because the room I keep the enclosures in can get kinda dry. Is there anything about that stuff I should change for this particular tarantula?

 

[MBullock]

you will need a deeper waterdish for him, now. at least 3.5 oz mature males have issues with shallow dishes

 

[Tboltguy1000]

you will need a deeper waterdish for him, now. at least 3.5 oz mature males have issues with shallow dishes

Isn't it possible for them to drown in a dish like that though?

 

[Tboltguy1000]

Just looked it up, that's an old wive's tale. Would these dishes work? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0773DRF54/?tag=exoticpetnetw-20

 

[MBullock]

if they're deep enough, sure. i just use 3.5 oz plastic deli cups as water dishes