Cyclosternum schmardae

[octanejunkie]

Got an 1/8" freebie back in September that has been burrowed the entire time I've owned it. I just dropped a roach nymph in every few weeks and didn't ask any questions.

This week, the bugger excavated more and is now visible, and 2-3x larger than when I got it.

 

[octanejunkie]

Coming up on a year, here's the little bugger now

 

[Poppy2020]

Wow— dwarf species? Little dude.

 

[Spotted Bull]

That's cool.

 

[octanejunkie]

Wow— dwarf species? Little dude.

From das internets:

Described in 1871 and the type species for the genus, Cyclosternum schmardae was collected in Ecuadorian Andes at 4000-5000 ft. [1] Distribution may extend north into Colombia and perhaps south into Peru.

Relatively uncommon in the hobby, little has been published on its behalf. Females mature at 4″ and may grow larger in adulthood. Colors vary depending on instar and stage in the molt cycle, but shades from light to dark brown dominate. Also present is faint striping at the knees and pale yellow banding at distal leg joints. C. schmardae does well with keeping parameters used for other members of the Cyclosternum genus.

Spiderlings here are eating newly hatched crickets and Drosophila hydei fruit flies.

[1] Ausserer, A. (1871a). Beiträge zur Kenntniss der Arachniden-Familie der Territelariae Thorell (Mygalidae Autor). Verhandlungen der Kaiserlich-Königlichen Zoologisch-Botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 21: 117-224, pl. I.

 

[octanejunkie]

Picked up a second C schmardae about the same size and now I have a pair

The new one might be a touch smaller than my first one... one molt behind, 1 suspect