The Spinnerette Issue 15: Cyriopagopus Lividus

THE SPINNERETTE ISSUE 15 C Y R I O PAG O P U S ADVICE, CARE TIPS, LIVIDUS INTERVIEWS C O B A L T B L U E1

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hello spiderlings! I cannot believe it's mid-year already, nor can I believe that we are still in this pandemic. It's been a pleasure and a big comfort to me to have the tarantula community during this time, and to be honest sometimes my spiders and cat are the things that get me by as all the days blur together and it feels there is no end in sight. This issue was very interesting for me to do - it's about the Cyriopagopus lividus, a tarantula I did not know much about but quickly learned is pretty intimidating! I was fortunate enough to get a bunch of interviews with some very brave souls who were kind enough to share their knowledge and expertise, and I hope it is just as interesting for you as it was for me! 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: Rushen / Flickr 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 TOP 10 WEIRD TARANTULA BEHAVIORS YOU THE NEW SHOULDN'T WORRY ABOUT! PODCAST!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 08 Cyriopagopus Lividus, The Cobalt Blue Tarantula By Michael Fantus 12 16 Cyriopagopus Lividus Care Tips By Patricia Colli Tips For Keeping The C. Lividus An interview with @TarantulaFreakSpain 20 The Cobalt Blue And Advice For Newbies 26 32 An interview with Michael Fantus 40 My Favorite Tarantula, Kashi (C. Lividus) An interview with Stefanie Hundögger / @Arachnonightmare Tarantula Community A collection of submissions from the Tarantula Heaven community References A collection of citations

CYRIOPAGOPUS LIVIDUS, THE COBALT BLUE TARANTULA By Michael Fantus Formerly known as Haplopelma lividus, the Cobalt Tarantula is not only a tempest in a teacup, each one deserves a hurricane name all their own. As feisty as they are fierce in appearance, the Let’s admit it, everyone gets overconfident in the Cobalt is easily reared and kept provided the handling of their tarantulas and then the thing utmost care is taken to stay on their good side figures out who is wearing the pants and while you and they don’t really have one. scream like a girl, it crawls too high or right out the door of the habitat, and then it’s too late. First imported from Myanmar and Thailand shortly after description by Smith in 1996, the With a Cyriopagopus lividus this is a serious Cobalt Tarantula has almost always been on situation, as they will bite. Practice caring for every commercial supplier’s price list. tarantulas for a year or two without dropping one, losing a runaway to the cat or dog, and have Most of us start with a docile Brazilian Curly Hair high comfort levels with how to transfer growing or Chilean Rose, and upon going into the deep specimens from smaller to progressively larger end, start considering exceptionally large and containers. aggressive species like the Cobalt, King Baboon, ] and Earth Tigers. Cobalts get big and they grow fast and are at their ]I don’t recommend the species worst behavior when they are disturbed from their burrows, but this must occasionally be done. If you for beginners, and here is my feel like a champion at performing transplants for litmus test for determining if maturing specimens, the Cobalt might be a growth you are a beginner or not: How step in your tarantula hobby worth considering. comfortable are you with the idea of an escape? Why do people keep dangerous pets? Xilong (2014) says it’s because we want to feel special and unique. Second is they think it makes 8

Photo credit: Adrien Afonso / Flick9r

C. Lividus, The Colbalt Blue Tarantula, cont'd them feel powerful, lastly because they are thrill Subkingdom: Bilateria seeking. My therapist and I had a discussion Infrakingdom: Protostomia about this once, too, and our conclusions were Superphylum: Ecdysozoa more big and dangerous tarantulas were not Phylum: Arthropoda going to be part of the treatment plan. Subphylum: Chelicerata Class: Euchelicerata Distribution Subclass: Arachnid Distribution: Myanmar and Thailand Order: Araneae s Habitat: Deep burrows of tropical rain forests. Family: Theraphosidae Thorell, 1869 – tarantulas Taxonomy and Description: Genus: Cyriopagopus Simon, 1887 Cyriopagopus lividus and Haplopelma lividus are Species: Cyriopagopus lividus (Smith, 1996) – both used. cobalt blue tarantula Kingdom: Animalia Status: C. lividus is not listed as an endangered or threatened species. Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

ABOUT MICHAEL Michael Fantus’ day job is marketing in a Washington DC Association. His hobbies include fiction writing, music composition, French horn playing, redwood bonsai, and tarantulizing. He is the author of a novel, the Rage of Ganymede and the Lightning Manifesto.  (Never ask a girl her age, and I have a partner named Stefen Styrsky who works in legal services, is a published fiction and technical writer, as well as a film critic. He avoids the tarantulas). Flip to the back to see references for this article! Photo credit: Adrien Afonso / Flickr

C y r io p a g olpiuvisdus CARE TIPS BASIC INFO Common name: Cobalt Blue Scientific name: Cyriopagopus Origin: Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Tarantula lividus formerly Haplopelma Cambodia and Vietnam lividium Type: Old World, Terrestrial, Life span: Females can live up to Fossorial Size: Body length: 3.5 / DLS: 5\" 18 years in captivity. Males approx. 5-6 years. Growth rate: Medium Experience level: Advanced APPEARANCE The Cyriopagopus lividus tarantulas are stunning and well known for their iridescent blue legs and light gray prosoma and opisthosoma, the latter of which may contain darker gray chevrons. BEHAVIOR Attitude: C. lividus have a reputation of being a Defensive behavior: Cyriopagopus lividus fast and defensive tarantula with potent venom. tarantulas are considered quite defensive and While they often are out of sight in their tunnels, can move quickly if they feel threatened. As this tarantula can feel threatened easily. they are an Old World species, they do not have urticating hairs and will bite as a defense. Bite danger: Bites from this species can result in severe muscle cramps and inflammation. Its Handling: Handling this species is not venom is very potent. recommended because it is an Old World tarantula with potent venom and high speed. DIET + NUTRITION This tarantula is a good eater with a decent feeding response. C. lividus, 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: COBALT BLUE TARANTULA (CYRIOPAGOPUS LIVIDUS) CARE AND INFO HOUSING Substrate: Adult C. lividus should Enclosure: C. lividus should be Temperature: C. lividus will do have several inches (at least 6) of kept in a terrestrial enclosure well at temperatures between 78° substrate so they can burrow. The however they should have enough - 84°F substrate can be kept damp. A mix room to burrow. of peat moss, vermiculite, coconut Ventilation: It's important to have fiber and dirt can be used. Humidity: 70% - 80% an enclosure with good cross ventilation. Decor: This species doesn't need Water: A water dish should be a hide, it will make its own burrow. provided for C. lividus. Substrate in Collection notes: C. lividus is a However, you can make a starter the terrarium should be kept moist. prized species in any collection hole for them. and is gorgeous. Unfortunately, it will spend the majority of its time deep in its burrow. OTHER IMPORTANT FACTS Due to deforestation, which has caused a strain on population, C. lividus' natural habitat is becoming smaller by the day. Cyriopagopus genus have been known to be eaten by people; which could be another contributing factor to their decrease within the wild. 13

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

C. lividus males and females look the same until the males' ultimate molt. At this point, the male exhibits sexual dimorphism in the form of a light tan or bronze coloration and legginess.

TIPS FOR KEEPING THE C. LIVIDUS An interview with @TarantulaFreakSpain Learning about tarantula keeping around the world is fascinating, and shows just how our different cultures impact our hobbies. Enjoy this interview with the T keeper behind the @TarantulaFreakSpain Instagram. Tell us about yourself! I have a lot of species, you can see some Well, I'm from Huelva (Andalusia, Spain), it is a place with a lot of history. Palos de la of them in my Instagram profile, but I have others like Cyriopagopus sp. hati Frontera is the town where Columbus went hati, Chilobrachys huahini, Cyriopagopus with three ships called carabelas to Indias, but he arrived at America, nice discovery schmidti, Linothele megatheloides, Avicularia avicularia, Poecilotheria subfusca, hahaha. I have some hobbies like video Harpactira pulchripes... And many more! games, music and painting miniatures, but I study amphibians and reptiles like a hobby. What inspired you to get a Cyriopagopus lividus? Well, it's obvious, its metal cobalt blue ] What inspired you to get into color. It's a nice burrow species, I love tarantulas? What other Ts do you have? \"hole that eats everything\" hahahahah but I love others species from this genus. For ]When I was a child I was afraid example, tomorrow I will get a Cyriopagopus albostriatus adult female. of spiders, I hated them hahaha; Have you ever done a breeding project but I decided to get over my with this spider? fears and I decided to learn some I hope to breed C. lividus soon. I'm going to about them; I bought a basic talk you about a breeder group that I have book of spiders and I fell in love with some friends. STBG (Spanish Tarantula when I saw Brachypelma emilia Breeders Group) is a group of friends who (wrongly called Chilean red leg love tarantulas, we breed species and tarantula). exchange those for other ones. We don't get money, only tarantulas, a free exchange of species guarantees a lot of people with different species. We have in this group 16

T.seladonia, and we got it for 0 euros. It's Photo credit: @TarantulaFreakSpain another form to feel this hobby, no money, only tarantulas hehehe. ventilation). If it feels comfortable, it won't What's been the most helpful tip you burrow a lot and you could see it easier. learned about caring for this tarantula? The best tip? Good humidity and not a lot What's been your experience with the C. of warmth (around 22°C or 24°C). If you lividus temperament? want to see this species, you can bring it a My experience with its temperament is nice, lot of substrate in a tupperware (with good I love dangerous experiences ahahaha. It's a joke, C. lividus can be defensive, but if you do things taking care, it won't run or get a defensive position. 17

Photo credit: @TarantulaFreakSpain Do you have a favorite tarantula? ] ]In Spain it's too difficult to have My favorite tarantula over all, Poecilotheria bara (subfusca \"lowland\") anything, politics are banning What's the craziest thing that happened to everything. I hope they don't you as a tarantula owner? ban exotics pets... They ban The craziest thing hmmmm I found a froot loops, cherry coke, lucky Grammostola pulchripes climbing a curtain in charms, pop tarts since 1998... my room. I had a few scrapes, but it was the This is Spain my friends! But we funniest. can enjoy this hobby yet. What is the tarantula hobby like in Spain? In your experience in hearing about the USA or other countries, is it any different? 18

Are there any ethical from CB. Tarantulas don't feel What is your favorite thing concerns about tarantula sad, happy or excited like about tarantula keeping? keeping in Spain? other animals like dogs, cats To love them! I think there are ethical or parrots, they are primitive concerns around the world by species and only have instinct. ABOUT @TARANTULAFREAKSPAIN veganism and animalism, but If you can get them good TarantulaFreakSpain is a tarantula owner these people must understand parameters and food, they will and animal lover from Spain who is that captive breeding is not feel good. I think animalism passionate about growing this hobby. To cruel. I don't have wild captive today is wrong in a lot of cases. see more from them and their tarantulas, tarantulas for example, but check out their Instagram page, we can get a lot of species @TarantulaFreakSpain! Photo credit: @TarantulaFreakSpa1in9

THE COBALT BLUE + ADVICE FOR NEWBIES An interview with Michael Fantus Michael Fantus is a novelist and tarantula enthusiast living in D.C. He's written so many amazing taxonomy articles for The Spinnerette, and so it's a pleasure to finally interview HIM for a change! Tell us about yourself! store to get live crickets at the expense of I’m a not for profit drop out turned pundit and all else. My employer said, “Please stop novelist. I’m really lucky to have survived shipping the deadly cargo to the front desk, and find myself - find myself not working for it really freaks people out. Really,” and my other not for profit professionals! partner said, “Do you guys have to scream I’ve always been into creepy crawlies and like that every time they eat?” strange plants, tarantulas are my favorite, Downsizing was in order. but I’ve been through tropical fish, marine One of the ways we decided which Ts to fish, orchids and carnivorous plants, keep and which ones were to go was based thankfully we never got into rearing birds, on how deadly and dangerous they were. hedgehogs or walking sticks. We needed Our Cobalt Blue was one. She’d gotten part of the house for cats and people. some size on her and started copping an attitude so we had to let her go. What inspired you to get into tarantulas? What does your T collection look like What inspired you to get a Cyriopagopus now? lividus? What was your experience with My son and I were in a pet store and we this T? saw one, a Brazilian curly hair and we talked After we raised the timid species up we ourselves into it. It escaped and we found started daring ourselves with more and her curled up in a corner. Mail ordered an more aggressive and complicated species appropriate container and another Curly like Nhandhu coloratovillosus, a Red Rump. hair from one of those BOGO deals on the A species I strongly recommend and one of internet and soon the house was infested. my favorites ever was a tiny purple Trinidad We eventually had one of almost every kind, tree spider, which never failed to impress and were making many trips a week to the me with her happiness to eat and after we

Photo credit: Tarantulaland / Flickr

The C. Lividus And Advice For Newbies, cont’d ]established these then came the Featherleg Germany or Australia tell you all about it. Baboons, Usambara Baboon, King Baboon, Use extreme caution and follow the rules in and the Cobalt. the care guides to the letter. ]At first you get a “pet hole”, the Where do you think this tarantula ranks as far as advanced Ts? little thing will dig a hole and While not a King Baboon or a Featherleg, it’s stay there. If you feed her well, right up there. They are easy to please and she will start molting frequently care for, but they live a long time and they and dump the carapaces up on get big and they are as dangerous as the the surface of her habitat. Then, literature claims. you think you need to take a look What do you think a tarantula owner and dig her out, and that’s when should consider or know before getting you realize who is wearing the this spider? shorts in the house. Everyone starts with a Chilean Rose or Curly Hair, and like all zealots and hobbyists, start collecting and collecting. I know this sounds I’ve seen only one meaner creature on nuts, but three tarantulas is about as many earth and that is a gorygorella. I mentioned I was under pressure to reduce our as anyone needs. Get a Cobalt Blue if you want to test yourself and add variety to your collection, and care and feeding was life, but it is kind of like owning a pit bull, you starting to take up more quality time than it was contributing and even though I was are taking a risk. impressed with myself for daring to rear a Haplopelma lividus, her behavior made my fear of an escape or mishandling What is the tarantula hobby/community like in D.C.? too palpable and we gave her to a more There are a ton of hobbyists in the DC and experienced and less sane human being than we were. Metro DC area, and they come in all shapes and sizes. I have been so glad to meet people that on the surface appear to be quite normal and are actually a lot weirder Have you ever had a scare with this than I am. spider? No scares and that was the plan, and why we got rid of ours. What's the best tarantula tip you would give to people just getting into the hobby? What's been the most helpful tip you It’s not a race. Take your time. learned about caring for this tarantula? Don’t watch a Youtube with some punk in

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons How do you feel about the growth of the You will never regret learning more about tarantula hobby? What's something you how living things fit into our world, the little think could be improved upon? ones of our personal lives and the global one Tarantula husbandry is critical to stoking our we must learn how to share more effectively enthusiasm for life on earth and maintaining and beatifically. Tarantulas help. and supporting the Life Sciences. It is the hobby, whether its for tarantulas, orchids, ABOUT MICHAEL goldfish, venus flytraps, lizards, tree frogs Michael Fantus’ day job is marketing in a Washington DC etc. that give the sciences and disciplines Association. His hobbies include fiction writing, music that inform us about them a practical place composition, French horn playing, redwood bonsai, and in real life. tarantulizing. He is the author of a novel, the Rage of Ganymede and the Lightning Manifesto. 

The venom of Cyriopagopus lividus is considered more toxic than that of many other species of tarantulas. Scientific studies report severe pain and inflammation with arthritic stiffness which can last for several weeks. Severe muscle spasms are also observed in some individuals when bitten.

Photo credit: Shanti Karabaich

MY FAVORITE TARANTULA, KASHI (C. LIVIDUS) An interview with Stefanie Hundögger / @Arachnonightmare Stefanie (@arachnonightmare on Instagram) is a tarantula owner and artist living in Austria who has a special spot in their heart for spiders! Tell us about yourself! male, which according to the breeder won't live My name is Stefanie, I am 28 years old and much longer. I felt sorry for him in his plastic cup live in beautiful Tyrol in Austria. When I'm and I wanted to give him a very nice evening not in the process of spreading paint on a of life. So I bought a second terrarium without canvas, I take care of my beloved spiders. further ado, set it up and relocated the spider. I currently have 26 spiders at home (the After almost a year and a half, however, he number is steadily increasing) and I am died and the terrarium was empty. So back to very happy to take care of every single one the breeder and ... how should I explain that of my little monsters. now? Hobbyists will understand me, others will What inspired you to get into think I'm crazy. Let's say it like this; I had to buy tarantulas? Do you have other a lot of terrariums after the visit. Many, many tarantulas or spiders? terrariums. I am happy to tell you something about My living room became a mini zoo and I liked myself and my hobby. About 11 years ago it. I learned a lot about plants, insects, soil and a good friend of mine went on a long stay parasites, but above all: I learned a lot about abroad and during his trip I was supposed tarantulas. It's good that you have such easy to take care of his spider. Today, 11 years access to a lot of information today. Regardless later, my uncrowned Queen -Kashi- a of whether it is books, online or trade fairs and Cyriopagopus lividus is sitting in her glass information events, you can get tips and tricks terrarium at my home. He never wanted about keeping a tarantula or other animals at the spider back. many corners. Yes, there are even many offers For a long time the blue Burma tarantula on Instagram and Facebook if you look in the was the only one I had to feed. But after right places. With so much responsibility, you about 7 years I wanted to get a second should definitely acquire a little knowledge. We tarantula. It was a Pterinochilus murinus all know that animals have individual needs and we do want to take good care of our pets. 26

Photo credit: Stefanie Hundögger / @Arachnonightmare

Photo credit: Stefanie Hundögger / @Arachnonightmare

What inspired you to get a spider. Which does not necessarily make it the Cyriopagopus lividus? What's your first choice of a newbie, but can definitely be favorite thing about this species? recommended to experienced owners. No matter how many spiders someone has, ]there is a secret favorite. My highlight was always -Kashi- (my C. lividus). Not only the Have you ever had a scare with this spider? stunning look, its nature fascinated me. This type of spider pauses for a very long time before or after molting. Even so long that I What I like about this species really wanted to see if “Ms. Schrödinger” was is that these guys are little still alive or dead. I dug it up and saw a fluffy tunneling geniuses. They love ball as, that second, she straightened up and to dig very deep and you should started running. I was so scared that I dropped definitely buy a very high everything and only had eyes for the fast legs terrarium if you are thinking of of my beloved spider, which was just about to getting this type of tarantula. cross my apartment. My husband helped me Mine lives in a cube with the catch it again, I don't know if I could have done dimensions: 40cmx40cmx60cm. it alone, the spider was very fast. About 40cm of it is filled with What's been the most helpful tip you soil. I gave her a cork tube and learned about caring for this tarantula? a few plants and of course a Back to the topic: If the spider is not shortly small cup that I fill up with water before or after moulting, it is actually almost always visible. She loves to look out of her ]every day. Every 2 days I spray tunnel or cork tube and sniff the fresh terrarium air. When the sun rises in the morning it disappears briefly but its usually back again at noon. I love Kashi's routine behavior. water into the terrarium with a spray bottle to keep the humidity What is the tarantula hobby/community like between 70-80%. in Austria? Sometimes I wonder what my neighbors would say if they knew how many legs there are crawling around in my living room. In Austria, Would you recommend this T for the tarantula community is still very small. Wild someone new to this hobby? spiders in Europe are very tiny, people are An unpredictable and, above all, very fast immediately intimidated by larger spiders - ha ha.

My Favorite Tarantula, Kashi (C. Lividus), cont'd No, joking aside; hardly anyone knows What's your favorite thing about tarantula about these fascinating animals because keeping? they are simply not confronted with them All in all, I can say for myself that I am a happy very often. I know a lot of people around spider owner and that this hobby is a lot of fun. I me who are even afraid of spiders or are think that I will keep sharing my apartment with disgusted. many spiders for a long time. Keeping tarantulas is very atypical and I usually get unpleasant reactions when ABOUT STEFANIE someone knows that I keep spiders. Hardly Stefanie is an artist and tarantula owner living in any breeder lives in Austria. I usually go Austria. To see more of their work and spiders, abroad when I want to visit a trade fair or check out their tarantula Instagram look for a new roommate. @Arachnonightmare or their art Flokati Facebook page and Instagram! Photo credit: Stefanie Hundögger / @Arachnonightmare

Photo credit: Stefanie Hundögger / @Arachnonightmare

tarantula COMM 32

a Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons MUNITY 33

P34hoto credit: Shanti Karabaich

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commo3n5s

Photo credit: Richard Adams / Flickr

Our friend Gremlin Designs on Etsy is making goodies for pets and kids (and she also made the amazing spider bags below). Visit her store and use discount code SPIDEY15 for 15% off! SHOP PET MERCH!

WEAR YOUR LOVE FOR TS On YOUR SLEEVE! SEE NEW TARANTULA MERCH! ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT MAGAZINE! 38

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! 39

REFERENCES Cyriopagopus lividus, the Cobalt Blue Tarantula Author: Michael Fantus Cobalt blue tarantula. (n.d.). Https://Hadybeydoun.Com/Effects-of-Genx/Cobalt-Blue-Tarantula-A0c0e4#:~:Text=The%20 Cobalt%20Blue%20Tarantula%20or,Rain%20forests%20of%20Southeast%20Asia.&text=Distribution%3A%20Myanmar%- 20and%20Thailand%3A%20Habitat,Slightly%20larger%20than%20the%20males. Retrieved May 20, 2021, from https:// hadybeydoun.com/effects-of-genx/cobalt-blue-tarantula-a0c0e4#:%7E:text=The%20Cobalt%20Blue%20Tarantula%20 or,rain%20forests%20of%20Southeast%20Asia.&text=Distribution%3A%20Myanmar%20and%20Thailand%3A%20 Habitat,slightly%20larger%20than%20the%20males. Cyriopagopus Lividus. (n.d.). Tarantupedia. Retrieved May 20, 2021, from https://www.tarantupedia.com/ornithoctoninae/ cyriopagopus/cyriopagopus-lividus (Smith. (n.d.). Cyriopagopus lividus (Smith, 1996). Https://Www.Gbif.Org/Species/9617405. Retrieved May 20, 2021, from https://www.gbif.org/species/9617405 Xilong. (2014, October 16). Reasons why people keep dangerous pets - Opinion - Chinadaily.com.cn. Https://Www. Chinadaily.Com.Cn/Opinion/2014-10/16/Content_18755979.Htm. https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/opinion/2014-10/16/ content_18755979.htm 4P0hoto credit: Brent Moore / Flickr

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commo4n1s

Tyohuarnkssupfpoorrat!ll Thank you for reading and supporting The Spinnerette and it's 15th issue! If you're a regular reader, words can't express how thankful I am and honored you'd take time out of your day to read this. 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. 42