The Spinnerette Issue 14: Grammostola Pulchra

THE SPINNERETTE ISSUE 14 GRAMMOSTOLA ADVICE, CARE TIPS, P U L C H R A INTERVIEWS BRAZILIAN BLACK1

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hey spider fans! Happy spring!!! Spring is particularly exciting for me (and perhaps many other tarantula owners) because after a long winter of my tarantulas basically not doing ANYTHING, they start to perk up and become a lot more active with the seasonal change - and I LOVE to see the curious things they do! (If you're interested in seeing their latest adventures, check them out on my YouTube). This magazine is focused around a tarantula I really love, the Grammostola pulchra. I LOVE these beautiful black spiders, and I'm so happy I was able to get some amazing interviews, tips and photos for this issue. I hope you like this magazine and are keeping well, healthy, and safe! Big thank you to the Tarantula Heaven community for contributing interviews/ photos and The Tarantula Collective for sponsoring this issue! If you are interested in submitting feedback, being a part of future issues, or contacting me for advertising, you can do so at [email protected]! Spider hugs, Patricia, Spidey + Blinky (my tarantula babies) Tarantulaheaven.com / Tarantula Tuesday Newsletter FOLLOW MY TARANTULA STUFF! Questions / Comments? Feel free to email me at [email protected] The cover image is credited to: Wikimedia Commons Copyright © 2021 Patricia Colli

This issue is sponsored by... TheTarantulaCollective.com get caught in the web Check out our website for merchandise and information. We have a new podcast, too! THE TARANTULA COLLECTIVE: CHECK OUT DEADLY TARANTULAS? TOP 10 TARANTULA THE NEW MYTHS BUSTED! PODCAST!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 08 Grammostola Pulchra, The Brazilian Black Beauty Tarantula By Michael Fantus 12 16 Grammostola Pulchra Care Tips By Patricia Colli My Experiences With G. Pulchras An interview with Shanti Karabaich (Tarantulas With Shanti) 28 My Highly Recommended + Most Docile T 34 40 An interview with Shauna Ann Dudgeon (@TarantulaGardens) 48 G. Pulchra - A Must For Every Keeper An interview with Jose Martinez Tarantula Community A collection of submissions from the Tarantula Heaven community References A collection of citations

GRAMMOSTOLA PULCHRA, THE BRAZILIAN BLACK BEAUTY TARANTULA By Michael Fantus The Brazilian black beauty tarantula, G. pulchra, was discovered in 1921 in the rainforests of Brazil by an explorer named Mello-Leitao, (Berger, 2020). It is one of eleven species in the genus, and has not been redescribed since the initial description was listed. Species in the Grammostola are considered “pet things into genera and species groups. rocks” by their owners, many who find the overly docile behavior perturbing. With fish we look at skin vs. scales, bones vs. cartilage, teeth, egg laying vs. live bearing, The Black Beauty, along with the Chaco Golden number and kinds of fins, etc. Color and shape Knee (G. pulchripes) which is often called the are not allowed as indicators of species. If you “sheep dog” of tarantulas due to their active have ever been to a pet store and seen black appetites and bizarre affection towards their neons, blue neons, green neons, glolights and owners, are the favorites in the genus. cardinal neons you would think you are seeing variations on a theme, but none of these fish are Regarding my note on redescription, you even closely related to one another based on the have no doubt heard of the need to publish or aforementioned categories. perish in academia. The easiest way to make a breakthrough and get a new paper published in Trees and flowering plants are classified by leaves the life sciences is to attempt a redescription. vs. needles, cones vs. flowers, how the seeds and pollen grains are encapsulated, number of pistils Description of a species requires gross field and petals, there is a long list. Hybridization and inspection and measurement of a fixed number backcrossing in the field make this process rather of characteristics that the discipline has said difficult as it can appear a plant has speciated or are keys to an organism’s identity. People who developed characteristics that are distinct from are new to taxonomy are surprised at how often those that have been published. Breeding the plant visual cues are just not enough to separate living with itself or specimens like it will reveal the truth- 8

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons9

Grammostola Pulchra, cont'd remember those Punnett squares in freshman Nature seems to think it has their design biology? perfected and favors inbreeding 100%. New descriptions are either due to a new observation If you plant out seeds from a selfed “new of habit or more accurate assessment of pre- species” and the offspring show characteristics of existing characteristics. ]a “true species” in a Punnett, you cannot publish a paper about a new species or new description We saw this in a previous issue with of an existing one. the Typlochlaena seladonia, where field Fortunately this never happens observations revealed the species searches with tarantulas. Tarantula hybrids for and lives and breeds in knot holes of trees are almost unheard of, though almost exclusively compared to others like it it happens, and they tend to be which tend to live in the aerial parts of trees sterile. Nature abhors hybrids and plants. The pervasiveness of this habit due to what is called “genetic was such it was used to further distinguish pollution” (Tom’s Big Spiders, the species from others that look or otherwise 2017). Plants and some animals behave similarly. benefit from hybridization as it tends to breed in strength Unfortunately, no one will be doing any additional work or publishing regarding the ]and resilience and excessive Grammostola as science considers the genus a case that is firmly closed. Tarantula taxonomy is difficult for the amateur inbreeding the opposite, but not in any case. Arachnologists look at the number with tarantulas. of spines per cubic millimeter, ratios and proportions of legs to each other and their various attachments, size of fangs, etc. and I have yet to meet a tarantula that wants to submit to having its fangs measured. It is far more fun to just take the genus and species names for granted and watch them jump on crickets. Distribution Grammostola pulchra is a terrestrial tarantula native to the Pampas (temperate grasslands covering some 777,000 square kilometers) in Brazil and Uruguay. The Uruguayan savanna is a subtropical grassland, also known as the Brazilian-Uruguayan savanna, one of three Pampa Eco-regions, lies east of the Uruguay River in the South Temperate Zone, and Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons includes all of Uruguay and the southern portion of Status Brazil's state of Rio Grande do Sul. The Brazilian black beauty tarantula is not listed as threatened or endangered in the wild at this time. Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia ABOUT MICHAEL Subkingdom: Bilateria Michael Fantus’ day job is marketing in a Washington DC Infrakingdom: Protostomia Association. His hobbies include fiction writing, music Superphylum: Ecdysozoa composition, French horn playing, redwood bonsai, and Phylum: Arthropods tarantulizing. He is the author of a novel, the Rage of Subphylum: Chelicerata Ganymede and the Lightning Manifesto.  Class: Euchelicerata (Never ask a girl her age, and I have a partner named Subclass: Arachnida Stefen Styrsky who works in legal services, is a published Order: Araneae fiction and technical writer, as well as a film critic. He Family: Theraphosidae avoids the tarantulas). Genus: Grammostola Simon, 1892 Species: Grammostola pulchra Flip to the back to see references for this article!

G r a m m o pstuollcahra CARE TIPS BASIC INFO Common name: Brazilian Black Scientific name: Grammostola Experience level: Beginner, this Tarantula pulchra tarantula has a reputation of being Origin: Brazil on the docile side. Type: New World, Terrestrial Size: Approx. 6-7\" fully grown, Life span: Females can live up to Growth rate: Slow - medium females tend to be a little chunkier. 30 years in captivity. Males approx. 6-7 years. APPEARANCE The Grammostola pulchra is an amazing species to have in your collection - not only because of its size and docile nature, but for its stunningly dark, velvet black appearance. Despite not being colorful or flashy, this tarantula's glossy and sleek appearance will take your breath away. BEHAVIOR Attitude: Grammostola pulchra have a Defensive behavior: G. pulchra are considered reputation of being slow moving, and beginner- to be a docile species and are not commonly friendly due to their tendency to be docile in reported as tarantulas that kick urticating hairs temperament. This tarantula also may like to be or threat pose often. out in the open. Handling: Always use caution when handling Bite danger: Grammostola pulchra tarantulas any tarantula. While G. pulchra may be slower are rather big, so a bite could cause a decent and more docile than others, handling tarantulas wound, venom may be irritating and painful. is not recommended unless necessary. DIET + NUTRITION This tarantula is a good eater with a decent feeding response. G. pulchra, like many tarantulas, can eat a variety of feeders such as cockroaches, fruit flies, worms, and crickets as long as the feeders are the appropriate size for the tarantula. 12

THE TARANTULA COLLECTIVE: BRAZILIAN BLACK TARANTULA (GRAMMOSTOLA PULCHRA/QUIROGAI) CARE Substrate: A few inches of HOUSING Temperature: G. pulchra substrate should be provided tarantulas will do just fine at room using materials such as peat Enclosure: Grammostola pulchra temperature. moss, vermiculite, potting soil, and tarantulas should be kept in an coconut fiber. enclosure that has more length Ventilation: Ventilation is needed, than height. as this species thrives in a dry Decor: The G. pulchra is an environment. opportunistic burrower, therefore it Humidity: 55%-70% will need a piece of bark or other Collection notes: This tarantula decor item for a starter burrow Water: A water dish should be is a great addition to any collection hide. provided. This tarantula does not due to its hardy nature, subtle need misting and substrate should beauty, substantial size, and be kept dry. tendency to be docile and out on display. FUN FACTS Grammostola pulchra are often confused with G. quirogai (Uruguay Black Beauty), as well as the Argentinian Black. Due to the visual similarities between these species, the only sure way to tell the difference is to study a DNA sequence or to look at the spine arrangement of the mature male tibial hooks. 13

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G. pulchra was originally described in 1921 by Mello-Leitão, the Latin name “pulchra” meaning “fine” – a reference to the fine “crushed-velvet” look of the hairs on this species.

MY EXPERIENCES WITH G. PULCHRAS An interview with Shanti Karabaich (Tarantulas with Shanti) Shanti is a writer who is also behind the beautifully designed enclosures and envy-inducing tarantula ] collection on the Tarantulas with Shanti Youtube channel and Instagram. ]My grandma helped me collect Tell us about yourself! insects and learn about them, but I spent a good portion of my childhood I was terrified of spiders. In fact, I living at the end of a county road suffered from arachnophobia for surrounded by forests, meadows, and four decades which I gradually mountains. We had a creek running overcame through curiosity. through our property, so my granddad dug I started researching spiders a pond with his backhoe. This became I’d find. After a while I stopped my pond. Over the years I watched the having night terrors and, finally, flora and fauna change in that ecosystem. at one point, started feeling My grandma had kept my uncle’s 1950s compassion for spiders. high school biology books. These were dense texts with amazing frog anatomy Then during my twenties I had two diagrams with illustrations on clear sheets companion rottweilers, snakes, and an that showed external features as well as amazing cat who walked on a leash and skeletal, muscular, and internal organs. went camping. During my thirties I kept I became involved in studying these ducks and geese, and still do. I didn’t acquire at an early age, which helped with my my first tarantula, a G. pulchripes named understanding of anatomy when it not only “Little Thing,” followed by my G. pulchra came to the growth stages of tadpoles and “Snotgurgle,” until Christmas 2017. the venom glands in spiders, but when drawing organisms, too. As far as other interests go, I am trained as a fiction writer and do have something Animals have always played a central part planned in that area. I’ve always enjoyed during every stage of my life. As a child we had a farm with everyone from sheep, horses, cows, and ducks to angora rabbits, goats, dogs, cats, and Guinea hens. As a teenager I bred tropical fish and fancy rats. 16

photography and at one time my work was prey, become gravid, lay their sacs, and shown in a couple of galleries in Seattle, expire. The season over, they were gone, WA. I love hiking and traveling as well. but I just wasn’t finished enjoying spiders, What inspired you to get into so I went on YouTube and started watching tarantulas? videos - whatever the algorithm fed me. I became interested in tarantulas Soon I was watching tarantula YouTubers. haphazardly. As fall of 2017 ended, I I had no idea there were so many species watched all four female orb weavers with so much variety within each. I still felt (Araneus diadematus) in my yard die off. afraid, of course, but I became fascinated I’d observed several generations of these with the methods used to unpack and garden spiders make their homes, catch rehouse, and by the way tarantula behavior could be (sometimes) predicted. All of this pulled me in. I think this is the story for many Photo credit: Shanti Karabai1c7h

Photo credit: Shanti Karabaich people who have come to enjoy this hobby. they sold fast despite being expensive. What other tarantulas do you have? My very first tarantula ended up being a I have over one hundred tarantulas right Grammostola pulchripes sling. But around now. Most of these I’ve raised from slings. the same time I placed that order I called Some are boarded for a friend who is short a local pet store and they told me they had on time and space. Included in my menagerie a “Brazilian Black” for sale. My boyfriend are several species of Brachypelma, bought her as a Christmas present for me. Phormictopus, Grammostola, Pamphobeteus, She was around $140 for a large sling of Poecilotheria, Chilobrachys, Phormingochilus, about 2”. Her next molt she turned the rich, Theraphosa, Cyriocosmus, Ceratogyrus. black velvet tone that is so coveted. Aphonopelma, Crypsodromus, Homoeomma, Would you recommend this tarantula for Tliltocatl, and many more. beginners? What inspired you to get a G. pulchra? Absolutely, and I do. While any tarantula In the beginning I researched which tarantula can be unpredictable at times and handling species would be right for me since I was them with care is always recommended, a bit hesitant still. I wanted a big, beautiful the Grammostola pulchra is my number tarantula with less erratic movements. G. one choice for beginners. The best way I pulchra was my first choice, but in 2017 they can describe the species is ponderous and were scarce. None of the online shops here laid back. I’m not a staunch disbeliever in in the U.S. carried them and when they did, refraining from anthropomorphism, and so entertain the idea that my G. pulchra, Snotgurgle, named after trolls who torture 18

forest gnomes, performs actions front of her before deciding to foot on a log, then sitting in the with intention. I’m fully aware bare her fangs and take hold. opposite corner by the end of that I’m anthropomorphizing, I’d like to think she’s making the day. I find it amusing to play but I don’t see the point in sure it’s not my finger, although a game called “Where’s Gurg?” taking the fun out of the her actions probably have because most tarantulas move experience. I can joke around nothing to do with me. I love infrequently, so it’s a big thing a bit and when the day is done the way she “takes the trash that she’s all over the enclosure the drier, scientific perspective out” by depositing her boluses like that. remains. and shed exoskeletons in the You have a beautiful video Was there anything that far corner of her enclosure. The of yourself handling your G. surprised you about this first year I had her, when she pulchra. In your experience, tarantula and its behavior/ was still a juvenile, she spent what's this tarantula's care? a lot of time inside her burrow, temperament like? Snotgurgle, “The Gurg,” is especially during the months Recently I’ve acquired a a charming tarantula. By before a molt. She would block juvenile male G. pulchra. He’s characterizing her, fondness herself off behind a curtain of an adorable little guy, calling my developed. Some tarantulas substrate and silk. Now she memory back to when The Gurg inspire fawning more than molts infrequently, so she’s was wee. During rehouse he others. One reason is that when out most of the time. I keep calmly, but hesitantly climbed I feed her, she touches the prey her in my office instead of the onto my hand. Snotgurgle will gently with “Legs I” and seems tarantula room. Throughout also climb onto my hand, but to get a good feel of what’s in the day she may be at her burrow entrance, later on, she’s standing with one little TARANTULAS WITH SHANTI: HANDLING SNOTGURGLE 19

My Experiences With G. Pulchras, cont’d like most tarantulas I cannot say that she any holes in furniture or walls that provide enjoys it. They all tend to touch human skin escape routes. This has saved me a number with the tips of their feet and then draw of times. Practice remaining calm. There are their feet back as if to say, Ew! But the G. times when it’s better to watch a tarantula pulchras, in my experience, is more tolerant run across the floor than it is to try and slap a to being touched lightly with a brush. catch cup down and damage their legs in the I’ve yet to experience setae process. flicking or threat postures from this species. I suspect this You make beautiful enclosures! Do you comes down to fearlessness in have a favorite hack or tip you use to this species. Is there something create good enclosures? about their natural environment I keep tarantulas in a wide variety of that causes this calmness? With enclosures. Some are in 5-10 gallon defensive tarantulas, especially terrariums with real plants, others are kept in Old Worlds, I’ve hypothesized modified food storage containers with cork that threat poses are fear driven bark and silk flowers, and still others are in - they want to be left alone. What plastic Sterilite boxes. makes Grammostola pulchra At first I felt averse to Sterilite containers. stoic? They inhabit the pampas Every tarantula had to have a naturalistic areas of Brazil and Uruguay, enclosure with live plants and pleasant which is a vast, temperate aesthetic. As my collection grew I started grassland. I have tried to figure using Sterilite boxes, which are easy to out if habitat plays a role in their ventilate, stack, and provide security without the fear of certain climbers, like my Lasiodora ]tendency toward docility, but parahybana, becoming claw-bound from mesh tops. A “good” enclosure is an enclosure that provides enough area to contain a large hide, water bowl, and substrate depth specific this is something that an expert to the species, not to mention adequate humidity/ventilation. There must be enough would need to study. room for the tarantula to wander around and construct hammocks for molting, sperm production, and egg sacs (if breeding). What's the best tarantula tip you would give to beginners? The tarantulas I’ve seen kept in inadequate Take your time learning how to read your enclosures tend to be Theraphosa stirmi/ tarantula’s body language. Predicting blondi/apophysis. These tarantulas will roam their next move can be tricky, even for a lot and require deep burrows. My T. stirmi experienced keepers. Preparation is key is kept in a 36x24” Exo Terra. Her burrow - always have a catch cup and other tools extends almost the length of the enclosure. ready when working with tarantulas. Scan She might spend months inside her burrow, the room where you keep your pet and plug but other times I find her wandering the

Photo credit: Shanti Karabaich TARANTULAS WITH SHANTI: BEAUTIFUL BRAZILIAN BLACK TARANTULA TONG FEED

My Experiences With G. Pulchras, cont’d enclosure for days, looking for prey. Because ] How do you feel about the growth of the she feels secure in her environment, she tarantula hobby? is less likely to kick hair, so she doesn’t Even without paying attention, it’s obvious have a bare abdomen like many kept in that there’s been an explosion of new small enclosures. Pothos is a good, hardy tarantula hobbyists. plant that tolerates trampling and low light. Another tip is an added layer of pumice I think this is both good and bad. beneath the substrate. This acts as drainage, Like with any pet, people can which is important for such humidity-loving impulse buy without knowing tarantulas like T. stirmi/ blondi. what they are getting into. I You have a YouTube channel full of worry about animals being beautiful and useful videos! Do you have neglected - dehydrating, or any interesting T projects in the works? starving due to people becoming Actually, I’ve all but stopped creating content bored with them, etc., but I also for my YouTube channel at the moment. have no control over all of this in I felt gung-ho about it for a couple years, the grand scheme of things. The and creating videos helped with my self- good is that tarantulas are often confidence, but I’m over that now. More and stigmatized, and more people are more I’ve been breeding tarantulas, gaining learning about them. Tarantulas experience in that area, which takes up a are relatively easy to care for lot of time. If I do create more content for my channel, I want to focus on harder to ]compared to most other pets, find information. Perhaps the fascination of rehousing, feeding, and all of that has run which allows people the pet- its course for me and now I find it hard to keeping option when they may understand why anyone else would want to otherwise lack time or space. see more videos of me doing those same things. What's something you think could be What's your favorite thing to film improved upon? regarding tarantulas? The illegal wildlife trade has always been a I enjoy macro shots, both video and still problem. I’m sure there is much that could photography. I think making a video with be done in that department. I don’t like to extreme close-ups and good lighting would think that it happens frequently, but I do feel like an achievement and something to hear stories regarding illegal import busts. consider in the future.

] Photo credit: Shanti Karabaich

My Experiences With G. Pulchras, cont’d Another area that can be improved is the maintenance and feedings, it’s almost availability of inexpensive acrylic enclosures. like meditation, this calm that settles over I hope that in the future we in the U.S. have me. It’s a practice that involves a lot of access to cheap, yet aesthetically pleasing detail and attention. I think having a job or enclosures that stack well. I love the look of hobby like this is good for one’s mind and the square glass enclosures used in Europe, much more beneficial for me to watching for example. television or staring at a phone. Equally Tarantula kits that include tongs, a water important for me is the opportunity to share dish, hide, and catch cups (offered in various information about these gorgeous creatures sizes), or specific combinations of these by posting photos and stories on social things, would be useful to the general public, media. I’ve been able to answer a lot of I’m sure. questions for people who may not have otherwise had a chance to overcome their fears or learn about tarantulas. What's your favorite thing about keeping ABOUT SHANTI tarantulas? Shanti and her work with tarantulas can be found online My favorite thing about keeping tarantulas on her YouTube channel and Instagram page, has been the immersive feeling I get during @TarantulasWithShanti! Photo credit: Shanti Karabaich

Photo credit: Shanti Karabaich TARANTULAS WITH SHANTI: GRAMMOSTOLA PULCHRA GOES IN FOR THE KILL

The Grammostola pulchra is one of the most requested tarantulas due to their size, hardiness, long lifespan, good feeding response and docile nature! Spiderlings tend to be brown in color and darken with age. When light bounces off this tarantula, it may look like white hairs are mixed into its darker coat. These tarantulas will be extra stunning and dark right after a molt.

Photo credit: B a y L e e ' s 8 Legged Art / Flickr

MY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED AND MOST DOCILE T An interview with Shauna Ann Dudgeon Shauna is a tarantula keeper and animal lover from California. Their very first tarantula and introduction to the hobby was none other than the G. pulchra! Tell us about yourself! ] How long have you been a tarantula keeper? I'm 28 years old and live in San Diego, What inspired you to get the Grammostola California. During the week I work at pulchra as your first tarantula? a preschool teaching 3 year olds. My I got my first tarantula when I was 26 and hobbies are very widespread. I love nature graduated college. It was a Brazilian black and animals. So I love to do activities named Cinders. I had done lots of research and that revolve around that: hiking, whale decided this would be a good starter tarantula. watching, going to the zoo, etc. I also love to read! Anything from fantasy to What's your favorite thing about the G. autobiographies. pulchra? Would you recommend this tarantula for beginners? What inspired you to get into tarantulas? ]Cinders is the most chill tarantula! I have always been fascinated by spiders. I think it started because my mom He very rarely hides and is so calm was terrified of spiders and I couldn't and docile. He is also a good eater! understand why something so small was He often goes to work with me to so scary. I ended up obsessed and would teach the children about spiders. catch all these spiders outside in little jars I would definitely recommend G. and bring them into my room. Which of pulchra to anybody, especially course freaked my mom out. beginners. As I got older I would read any book I could find on spiders. Through this research I learned about tarantulas. I always wanted one but my mother never let me. So I had to wait till I became an adult and lived on my own. 28

Photo credit: Shauna Ann Dudgeon / @TarantulaGardens

My Highly Recommended And Most Docile T, cont'd Photo credit: Shauna Ann Dudgeon / @TarantulaGardens What does your enclosure look like for this tarantula? Was there anything that surprised you Mine is pretty simple. It has about 5 inches about this tarantula and its behavior/ of substrate, a log, water dish, fake plant. care? I'm wanting to make Cinders a new custom I was surprised by just how simple it was designed cage in the future. But I'm waiting till to take care of Cinders. Another thing that he has to be rehoused. I try not to mess with surprised me is how much of a non-digger their home unless I have to. he is. He doesn't burrow at all. Just hangs out.

Photo credit: Shauna Ann Dudgeon / @TarantulaGardens Photo credit: Shauna Ann Dudgeon / @TarantulaGardens

My Highly Recommended And Most Docile T, cont'd What does your collection look like now? ] You never know what your Do you have a favorite tarantula? tarantula will be like. You can do I have a G. pulchra who is now 2.5 years research all you want and read old, a A. geniculata, and a H. pulchripes. typical behavior, but that's no Not sure which one I'd consider my favorite. guarantee. Just be prepared to They are all so unique and cool. Visually, my H. pulchripes is beautiful to look at. My ]be surprised! You never know A. geniculata is such a character and does some funny things. Cinders is such a sweetie. what you're going to get! Couldn't really pick one as my favorite. What's one thing new tarantula keepers ABOUT SHAUNA should know before getting a G. pulchra? Shauna is a teacher in CA, USA who loves the Is there anything you wish you would have outdoors, animals and tarantulas. You can see known? more on her IG account @TarantulaGardens! Photo credit: Shauna Ann Dudgeon / @TarantulaGardens

Photo credit: Shauna Ann Dudgeon / @TarantulaGardens Photo credit: Shauna Ann Dudgeon / @TarantulaGardens

G. PULCHRA - A MUST FOR EVERY KEEPER An interview with Jose Martinez Jose is a tarantula keeper who loves being outdoors enjoying nature. The G. pulchra was not his first T, but it soon be came one of the favorites in his collection! Tell us about yourself! My background, I'm a Latino male, 52 years old from New Jersey. My hobbies are many: Fishing, camping, hiking/backpacking, spelunking (caving), motorcycle riding cross country, hunting, skiing, riding bicycle just to name a few. What inspired you to get into tarantulas? I got into tarantula keeping back in 2019 when I was home stuck for winter and needed something cool to do... So I went to the Hamburg Reptile Expo and picked up a \"Brazilian Giant White Knee\" sling the size of my pinky finger nail... From there I was hooked. What other tarantulas do you have? I have about 27 Ts as we speak... Cobalt Blue, Singapore Blue, Brazilian Black, Brazilian Blue, Curly Hair, Pick Toe, Mexican & Guatemalan Red Rumps, Gooty Sapphire, Skeleton Knees, Arizona Blonde and a few others. Photo credit: Jose Martinez

What made you want to get a G. pulchra? the vibration of crickets. G. Pulchra is a must have for EVERY keeper... I had to get one because it is the What's your favorite thing about tarantula true BLACK BEAUTY in keeping Ts... They keeping? are long lived and many are docile. My favorite thing about keeping tarantulas is Would you recommend this tarantula for how easy they are to keep. beginners? They are simple in some ways, as long as I will truly say that this is a great beginner you follow the guidelines for each species tarantula for someone getting into keeping you plan on housing. them. My lil guy is always out - but when I go to feed \"Wednesday\" he/she runs out at What's the best tarantula tip you would give to beginners? Photo credit: Jose Martinez

Photo credit: Jose Martinez Photo credit: Jose Martinez Photo credit: Jose Martinez Photo credit: Jose Martinez

Photo credit: Jose Martinez

For any new beginnerG. Pulchra - A Must For Every Keeper, cont'd ]that plans to get into How do you feel about the growth of the this hobby... I strongly tarantula hobby? I think with all the information we see on YouTube and Facebook tarantula groups, I can say that it has grown soooo much recommend to check in the past 3 years for me... When I go to the Expos I see so many vendors and out YouTube videos customers buying Ts, so I have to say that the growth is there and still growing. So I'm very happy to see the tarantula get their from the hardcore T dues in the pet keeping trade. keepers and use their What's one way you think the tarantula information... That's hobby could improve? what I did as I went One thing that comes to mind for along, getting more improvement is big name companies making tarantula enclosures in different sizes. advanced tarantulas. ABOUT JOSE Jose loves spending time in nature and learning about/taking care of a variety of animals, including his 20+ collection of tarantulas! Photo credit: Jose Martinez

Photo credit: Jose Martinez

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a Photo credit: B a y L e e ' s 8 Legged Art / Flickr MUNITY 41

P42hoto credit: Patty Grindley

Photo credit: Tarantuland / Flic4k3r

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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learn more about tarantulas! 200+ PAGE TARANTULA LEARN EBOOK THAT COVERS TONS MORE OF INFO ON TARANTULA CARE HERE Do you sell tarantulas, feeders, enclosures and other tarantula items? Email [email protected] if you’re interested in purchasing ad space! 47

REFERENCES Grammostola pulchra, the Brazilian Black Beauty Tarantula Author: Michael Fantus Berger, E. (2020, December 2). Brazilian Black Tarantula | Grammostola Pulchra [ULTIMATE GUIDE]. Thepetsavvy. Com. https://thepetsavvy.com/brazilian-black-tarantula-grammostola-pulchra/#:%7E:text=Grammostola%20 pulchra%E2%80%93%20Originally%20discovered%20and,species%20in%20the%20Grammostola%20family. C. (2017, September 23). Tarantula Hybridization in the Hobby (Tarantula Controversies #5). Tom’s Big Spiders. https:// tomsbigspiders.com/2017/09/23/tarantula-hybridization/#:%7E:text=In%20many%20cases%20of%20species,the%20 genetic%20pollution%20stops%20there.&text=Even%20if%20a%20keeper%20was,future%20impact%20on%20the%20 hobby. Ecology and Biology. (n.d.). Gpulchra.Blogspot.Com. Retrieved March 8, 2021, from http://gpulchra.blogspot.com/p/ biology-and-ecology.html#:%7E:text=Grammostola%20pulchra%20is%20a%20terrestrial,and%20Uruguay%20(see%20 image). ITIS Report. (n.d.). Itis.Gov. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_ topic=TSN&search_value=857271#null 4P8hoto credit: Wikimedia Commons

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Tyohuarnkssupfpoorrt! It's hard to believe that we're still going through this pandemic, but I hope this magazine has given you a little distraction. Your support and interest in this magazine has been one of the biggest things that inspires me to keep going during this chaotic, scary time - and I can't believe The Spinnerette is already in its 14th issue! A big thank you to Richard Stewart and The Tarantula Collective for continuing to support and sponsor this magazine (and for continuing to advocate and move the tarantula hobby forward). If you have any feedback about how this magazine could be improved or things you’d like to see this magazine cover, please feel free to email me at [email protected]. As always, you can find me on Facebook in my tarantula group, or subscribe to my Patreon to see more behind the scenes content about this magazine and my life with my tarantulas. 50