Austin S. Breeding Thread

[Austin S.]

Now, this has nothing to do with breeding tarantulas, however I want to share something with everyone.

Some good friends and I made a trip this week to South Texas to do some research on Aphonopelma moderatum.
The outcome was very good! Here are some pictures from our trip:
Aphonopelma moderatum habitat:

1.0 Aphonopelma moderatum penultimate male burrow:

0.1 Aphonopelma moderatum (1.5")

0.1 Aphonopelma moderatum (2") burrow

0.1 Aphonopelma moderatum (3.5") burrow

0.1 Aphonopelma moderatum (2")

0.1 Aphonopelma moderatum (2.5") burrow

0.1 Aphonopelma anax (2.5")

0.1 Aphonopelma anax mature female

0.1 Aphonopelma anax mature female

0.1 Eucteniza rex?

Scolopendra heros (but not true heros heros I don't think?)

Schistocerca sp.

Melanocanthon sp.

Extremely large ants? We saw thousands of these things under a large light at night, digging holes together. Anyone have any idea what they are?? I was thinking they wee queen leaf cutter ants, but no way were there this many.

A baby rattle snake that was almost stepped on in the middle of night research

 

[Austin S.]

Omothymus sp. 'hati hati' mating

Insertion was the fastest I've ever seen, did not even have time to click the button on my camera to capture it.

1.1 Poecilotheria metallica mating:
https://vimeo.com/179610027

 

[Austin S.]

Few last night matings:
Chilobrachys fimbriatus

Brachypelma smithi

Such a privilidge to own this beaut - 0.1 Aphonopelma sp. 'diamondback' (working on locality right now)

0.1 Brachypelma sabulosum

0.1 Ephebopus murinus

0.0.1 Haploclastus nilgirinus

0.1 Lyrognathus giannisposatoi

0.1 Gorgyrella sp.?

0.1 Harpactira pulchripes

0.1 Avicularia purpurea (and Houdini, the dubia)

0.1 Xenesthis intermedia

0.1 Mated female Brachypelma klaasi, NOT laying a sac..

 

[Kymura]

Check images on black carpenter ants hun. That's what they look like to me with the banded abdomen.
Not any sort of an expert though.

 

[Austin S.]

Check images on black carpenter ants hun. That's what they look like to me with the banded abdomen.
Not any sort of an expert though.

We confirmed that they are in fact ALL queen leaf cutter ants.
The queens have wings in order to search for nesting grounds. Once that is found the wings detach. However, these were found in the middle of no where, around a bright, bright light that lit up the drive way to a ranch. They were all attracted to it, and then began digging together. You couldn't even tippie toe step around these without smashing them, there were literally thousands.

 

[Kymura]

That's amazing! Ants and bees have such an interesting behavior anyway.

 

[Austin S.]

That's amazing! Ants and bees have such an interesting behavior anyway.

One of the coworkers on this trip with me has some video footage of it all, I will see if I can find it!

 

[Kymura]

Awesome I'd love to see it

 

[Austin S.]

Updated pictures!
1.1 Brachypelma vagans

0.1 Nhandu chromatus - Post mated female, lol.

1.1 Ephebopus murinus

1.1 Avicularia versicolor

1.1 Harpactira pulchripes

Last, but not least, something I am very excited about in the near future:
1.1 Aphonopelma moderatum - subadult pair (female top, male bottom)

 

[Austin S.]

Been a while since an update.
Shouldn't be much longer for her :/

0.1 Brachypelma vagans

0.1 Theraphosa stirmi

Closest I could get as of right now

Nice video of E.murinus mating:
https://vimeo.com/181801116

 

[Austin S.]

Could mated females.
Xenesthis intermedia

Avicularia sp. 'Colombia' (However seller may have mislabeled, as I believe it to be sp. 'Ecuador'.)

Candling a few mated females
Omothymus sp. 'hati hati'

Tapinauchenius gigas

Future breeding project
1.1 Thrigmopoeus psychedelicus

0.2 Theraphosa stirmi sacs

Nhandu chromatus-process of constructing egg sac

 

[Redacted]

Could mated females.
Xenesthis intermedia

Avicularia sp. 'Colombia' (However seller may have mislabeled, as I believe it to be sp. 'Ecuador'.)

Candling a few mated females
Omothymus sp. 'hati hati'

Tapinauchenius gigas

Future breeding project
1.1 Thrigmopoeus psychedelicus

0.2 Theraphosa stirmi sacs

Nhandu chromatus-process of constructing egg sac

Congrats on your projects! Really liked the murinus pairing seauence. Would you explain how candling works? Could be very helpful.

 

[Austin S.]

Congrats on your projects! Really liked the murinus pairing seauence. Would you explain how candling works? Could be very helpful.

Some believe in it, some do not. However, every mated female I have candled, and has the transparent yellow glow, I get a successful sac.
Once a mated female gains a lot of weight, grab an LED flash light, wait for her to be up against the side of the tank or container, turn the lights in the room off, and put the flashlight up against her abdomen. It will show if shes carrying eggs or not. Keep in mind, that a lot of unmated females can still carry eggs. If provided with the correct conditions, the female will gestate.

You can only candle certain species. It does not work on Aphonopelma, Brachypelma, Grammostola, etc. Mostly arboreals, with a few exceptions like Euathlus.

Just because you see it glow yellow, does not mean she will drop, and it does not mean it would be a successful sac at that. However, with my findings of everyone I've done it to, its been successful.

 

[Redacted]

Some believe in it, some do not. However, every mated female I have candled, and has the transparent yellow glow, I get a successful sac.
Once a mated female gains a lot of weight, grab an LED flash light, wait for her to be up against the side of the tank or container, turn the lights in the room off, and put the flashlight up against her abdomen. It will show if shes carrying eggs or not. Keep in mind, that a lot of unmated females can still carry eggs. If provided with the correct conditions, the female will gestate.

You can only candle certain species. It does not work on Aphonopelma, Brachypelma, Grammostola, etc. Mostly arboreals, with a few exceptions like Euathlus.

Just because you see it glow yellow, does not mean she will drop, and it does not mean it would be a successful sac at that. However, with my findings of everyone I've done it to, its been successful.

Thanks very much.

 

[Austin S.]

Brachypelma vagans

Omothymus sp. 'hati hati'

Harpactira pulchripes mated female

1.1 Brachypelma boehmei

0.1 Xenesthis intermedia has begun silking over the entrance. Bowl shape indention towards the back of her burrow

 

[Kymura]

awesome!

 

[Austin S.]

Hey everyone! Been a while!
Two very mated females
Harpactira pulchripes

Avicularia metallica

Cyriopagopus sp. 'hati hati'

Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens sac

Another female got yet again, another MM. However it was successful.

1.1 Brachypelma smithi

1.1 Brachypelma boehmei

1.1 Brachypelma auratum

1.1 Harpactira pulchripes

 

[Austin S.]

Now some regular non pornographic photos!
0.1 Grammostola pulchra

1.0 Grammostola pulchra - MM

0.1 Idiothele mira

0.1 Poecilotheria metallica

Her new home

0.1 Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens

Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens carapace

Cell phone photos :/
0.1 Poeilotheria rufilata

0.1 Brachypelma sabolsum

0.1 Euathlus sp. 'blue' (However I think it is something different)

 

[MassExodus]

Jumpin jesus, impressive collection, and pairing. And a special congrats on the moderatum. Ive looked for them but I dont believe I'm far enough south. Or im just unlucky..

 

[Austin S.]

Jumpin jesus, impressive collection, and pairing. And a special congrats on the moderatum. Ive looked for them but I dont believe I'm far enough south. Or im just unlucky..

Thank you!

We have come to the conclusion that moderatum are only seem during a few months of the year (adults). If you want more information in finding them, please PM me, as I do not want to disclose the information in public. No offense everyone.