The Spinnerette Issue 12: Caribena versicolor

THE SPINNERETTE ISSUE 12 CARIBENA ADVICE, CARE TIPS, V E R S I C O LO R INTERVIEWS ANTILLES PINK TOE 1

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hey spider fans! I hope you've all been hanging in there. As COVID-19 cases rise again and we are encouraged to stay indoors, I have become so much more appreciative of my tarantulas and the wider tarantula community. It has been such a comfort to me, and I know I'm not alone in that. I hope this magazine can become a part of what helps you get through quarantine and the uncertainty before us. And, if you're looking for something else to do, check out my interview with The Tarantula Collective's Richard Stewart on The Exotic Pet Collective Podcast! This issue features the Caribena versicolor, an absolutely stunning spider. I hope you love the interviews and tips shared here! Big thank you to the Tarantula Heaven community for contributing stories/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 Robbie Mc Strummer Copyright © 2020 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 EASY LOW MAINTENANCE PET TARANTULAS THE NEW PODCAST!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 08 Caribena Versicolor, The Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula By Michael Fantus 10 14 Caribena Versicolor Care Tips By Patricia Colli Starting With C. Versicolors An interview with Robbie Mc Strummer (Robbies Talking Ts) 20 The Joys Of Pink Toe Tarantulas 28 34 An interview with Hollie (Princess Sophie Pink) 44 The Art Of Ts And Keeping Them An interview with Gao Jeff Tarantula Community A collection of submissions from the Tarantula Heaven community References A collection of citations

CARIBENA VERSICOLOR, THE ANTILLES PINK TOE TARANTULA By Michael Fantus Michael Fantus, a writer living in Washington D.C., gives us the rundown on one of the most popular tarantulas in the hobby. Caribena versicolor, Lamarck was first discovered Species: Caribena versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837) in 1818 in Martinique. The genus is rolled into the The final taxon means: “Caribbean Tarantula of Avicularia, has over 71 described species. Changeable Color.” Taxonomy and Nomenclature: Geography and Distribution: Caribena versicolor, originally Avicularia Antilles and Guadeloupe. C. versicolor lives in Versicolor is described by the following: palm treetops near its prey among fronds and silk funnels. Domaine: Biota Reign: Animalia Linnaeus, 1758 Like all Avicularia it is semi-colonial and tolerates Sub-Reign: Eumetazoa Bütschli, 1910 members of its own species and others. Clade: Bilateria Haeckel, 1874 Infra-Reign: Protostomia Grobben, 1908 Status: Clade: Cuticulata Caribena versicolor is not listed as an endangered Clade: Ecdysozoa Aguinaldo, Turbeville, Linford, or threatened species but like all life forms on earth Rivera, Garey, Raff & Lake, 1997 has an indefinite lifespan due to complications Clade: Panarthropoda Nielsen, 1995 associated with runaway climate change. Phylum: Arthropoda Latreille, 1829 Sous-Phylum: Chelicerata Heymons, 1901 ABOUT MICHAEL Class: Arachnida Cuvier, 1812 Michael Fantus’ day job is marketing in a Washington DC Sub-Class: Micrura Hansen & Sørensen, 1904 Association. His hobbies include fiction writing, music Infra-Class: Megoperculata Börner, 1902 composition, French horn playing, redwood bonsai, and Order: Araneae Clerck, 1758 tarantulizing. He is the author of a novel, the Rage of Sub-Order: Mygalomorphae Ganymede and the Lightning Manifesto.  Family: Theraphosidae Thorell, 1869 Genus: Caribena Fukushima & Bertani, 2017 (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! 8

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons9

Caribenvaersicolor CARE TIPS BASIC INFO Common name: Antilles Pink Toe, Scientific name: Caribena Experience level: Beginner Martinique Pink Toe, Martinique versicolor Red Tree Spider Life span: Females 12 years / Origin: Caribbean, Martinique, Males 2-3 years Type: New World, Arboreal Lesser Antilles Growth rate: Fast Size: Body length 2.5” (6cm), DLS 6” (15cm) APPEARANCE C. versicolor spiderlings are bright blue, with a black pattern on the abdomen. As they grow, they lose their blue coloration; the carapace turns green, the abdomen red, and the legs turn green with pink tarsi and a covering of purple hairs. Males are usually a little brighter and smaller than females. BEHAVIOR Attitude: Caribena versicolor is a docile and Defensive behavior: Caribena versicolor have visible bird spider. It has a reputation of being reputations of being docile and tend to be more very fast moving and flighty, especially when it is likely to flee however may bite when provoked. young. This tarantulas has urticating hairs, type II. Bite danger: The power of venom for C. Handling: Always use caution when handling versicolors is considered to be mild. any tarantula. Handling is not recommended for this species due to its fast nature and tendency to be jumpy. DIET + NUTRITION This species is a excellent eater. Caribena versicolor tarantulas can eat crickets, dubia roaches and other insects. Adults will eat crickets, flies, moths sometimes even lizards or a pinky mouse. 10

THE TARANTULA COLLECTIVE: ANTILLES / MARTINIQUE PINK TOE (CARIBENA VERSICOLOR) CARE & HUSBANDRY HOUSING Substrate: 1x body length of peat Enclosure: Caribena versicolor Temperature: Caribena versicolor moss, potting soil, or coconut husk tarantulas need a more vertical tarantulas do well at room substrate. Substrate should be enclosure so they can climb. temperature, upper 60s to mid-80 kept fairly dry. Fahrenheit. Decor: Drift wood or another Humidity: A fairly constant 70%. Collection notes: Death rates are vertical bark piece should be quite high amongst the spiderlings provided. Fake plants are good. Water: A small, shallow water dish if kept too humid. Cross ventilation should always be present. is extremely important for this Ventilation: Cross ventilation species and a damp enclosure can is a MUST for this tarantula as be fatal. an enclosure that is too moist or humid can be fatal. Ventilation FUN FACTS holes in top and bottom of the terrarium are a good idea. Caribena versicolors have been known to shoot poop far distances (much to their owners' dismay)! 11

C. versicolors can sometimes become fond of their enclosure lids and will make their webs here! Be careful that your spider doesn't make a big escape!

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

STARTING WITH C. VERSICOLORS An interview with Robbie Mc Strummer Robbie is a tarantula keeper living in England and the YouTuber behind the channel Robbies Talking Ts. Here, he's sharing his experience with the C. versicolor. Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer When did you get your Caribena versicolor tarantula? How many of this species do you have? So I got my 1st C. versicolor in May 2019, I believe it was my 3rd tarantula in my collection which is now nearly reaching 300 different species. At the moment I have 2 in the collection but have had many others which I've raised and given away to friends and subscribers to my YouTube channel. ]What inspired you to get a Caribena versicolor? My inspiration for getting this tarantula occurred when I first started collecting. ]I wanted an arboreal species that wasn't going to cause me a lot of drama or be defensive and bolty, so after seeing the way the colours change as they grow, and also learning they have a great temperament I decided it was perfect for me at that time.

Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer

Staring With C. Versicolors, cont'd ]What advice would you give to someone Was there anything that surprised you who was getting this as a first tarantula? about this species? What do you think is the most important Only the variety of colour changes these go care requirement for this tarantula? through in a life cycle. My advice for anyone getting this species This tarantula has been known to be and the most important care requirement jumpy and fast. Have they ever jumped, are exactly the same thing, make sure as run away, or escaped in your care? slings and juveniles they have plenty of My adult female hasn't jumped at me but cross ventilation and don't overly mist the has bolted out of the enclosure and onto my enclosure, once every 3 to 4 days is more tarantula room assistant's back and happily than adequate. sat there for a while. Caribena versicolors have been known There's a lot of bad care sheets to shoot poop across their cage. Has still floating around that these this ever happened to you? need very moist enclosures. Nope never been pooped at! ]Which is simply not true. ROBBIESTALKINGTS: CARIBENA VERSICOLOR DOUBLE REHOUSE

Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer

Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer

Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer What is your setup like for this species? no issues and no deaths in my time of What enclosure and decor do you use? keeping them. Like I said just make sure I have a large enclosure for my adult you have plenty of cross ventilation and female, it's 30x30x60 with lots of plants and be careful how many times you mist the cork bark for her to climb and hide behind enclosure and you should have a happy as well as make beautiful web tunnels long lived tarantula. in. They do perfectly fine in a 20x20x30 enclosure, I just wanted to spoil mine. ABOUT ROBBIE How does your experience with this Robbie is a tarantula YouTuber and a musician tarantula compare to others in your living in London. If you'd like to see more from collection? How different is its care? him, feel free to check out his YouTube channel These are pretty easy to care for, I've had or Instagram, Robbiestalkingts!

THE JOYS OF PINK TOE TARANTULAS An interview with Hollie (Princess Sophie Pink) Hollie, also known as Princess Sophie Pink, has been educating others about tarantulas while growing (and moving) a huge collection of tarantulas. Here, she talks about her experience with moving her collection, spreading tarantula education, and shares her knowledge about the Caribena versicolor. ] What is your experience with the ]Caribena versicolor are amazing Caribena versicolor tarantula? How did you get introduced to this species? the way they go from one colour I got my very first Caribena versicolor from to another during each moult. the amazing Peter Webster. I really love And it's nice to have a colourful this species. They are so fascinating the tarantula that is a bit docile. I way their colours go from blue to purple. have handled it sometimes and Mine was very fast and also liked to shoot it doesn't ever show aggression poo as a defense. to me although it can be skittish. What do you love the most about the They also walk differently than Caribena versicolor tarantula? terrestrial tarantulas and it I love their blue colouration when they are makes me laugh when they lift slings. It's so bright and beautiful. I also their front legs. They can also love the way they walk with their 2 legs at jump! It is very cool! the front, moving a bit like an octopus. How does the Caribena versicolor compare to your other tarantulas? What makes them special or unique? 20

Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh What do you think is the most important some tarantulas do this and it was very care requirement about the C. versicolor? funny. It's important to give them a high enclosure How long does it take you to care for because they are arboreal. They also need all your tarantulas? Do you have a lots of ventilation because if it gets too damp cleaning/feeding routine for all of them? in the enclosure, that can be bad for them. I don't have a strict routine but I will always Has your C. versicolor ever done check water dishes to keep them full. I anything funny or surprising? attempt to feed on a Saturday and this Shoot water poo at me. It has very good takes about 2 hours in total because I like aim too! It was the first time I ever knew that to film when I do it. 21

Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh You have dozens of tarantulas (plus Also don't expect to just keep 1. My mum other pets!). What’s a good tip you’d like is scared and only agreed to 1 and now I to pass on for those who have a lot of have more than 50! tarantulas and have trouble keeping up Have you ever had a loss in your with them? collection? Don't worry too much about a feeding Sadly I lost my beautiful C. versicolor schedule. If you are matching their natural because she had a really bad moult. I environment the best you can and ensure checked in on all of my animals and saw they have fresh water then they can survive her at the bottom of her enclosure. She a long time without food. had only 3 legs and no pedipalps. I was I try to feed once a week but sometimes it's hoping she would survive and I could hand been 2 or 3 if I have been on holiday. I just feed her to her next moult but she died 2 make sure to give them a bigger meal the days later. I was so sad because she was next time. one of my first ever tarantulas and she

was so special. With this moult, she would The Joys Of Pink Toe Tarantulas, cont’d have lost all of her blue colouration and enclosures and taped shut any lids that could was a beautiful purple colour so I wonder have maybe come off. I then packed them tightly if that was a harder moult for her. Going in the car using blankets and coats. My mum from sling to juvenile maybe that is a bit drove very carefully as she didn't want any to more difficult. Nothing had changed in her escape while she was driving! enclosure or feeding so I don't understand what happened. You’ve been doing quite a few interviews I will always remember her and maybe one lately. Do you have a favorite interview or one day I will keep another one. you were very excited about? Before coronavirus, I was filmed for a TV You and your family recently moved. program called HOW on CITV and that is going How did you manage moving all your Ts to be aired on 20th December 2020. I am very and pets? What advice would you give excited about that. for safely moving many tarantulas? I really enjoyed being interviewed on ITV, We moved 1.5 hours away and we put knowing so many people would be watching it them all in the car. I did a video about it. I meant I could show more people how amazing just made sure nothing loose was in any tarantulas are. Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh

The Joys Of Pink Toe Tarantulas, cont’d What have been the reactions to your fascinating they are. Even my mum is less interviews? scared of them now and helps me film and I have had mostly positive feedback from the maintain them. interviews but some people also don't think a child like me should be keeping animals Do you have any other major interviews like tarantulas. I don't listen to people like or big plans in the future? that because I love my animals more than I have a few more TV programs to be filmed anything and would rather have them than a for but I can't say what they are just yet but doll or something. it's going to be very cool! One of them will How do you hope your work with be for a children's channel so it will hopefully tarantulas and exotic pets will inspire help children be less scared of tarantulas others? and other creepy crawlies. I hope it makes people not scared of them. Once you get to know them you realise how ABOUT HOLLIE To see more from Hollie, you can check out her YouTube channel, Princess Sophie Pink or follow her Facebook page! Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh 24

Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh PRINCESS SOPHIE PINK: CARIBENA VERSICOLOR - INFORMATION AND HANDLING 25

Caribena versicolor is very often bred successfully in captivity (however the male doesn't usually survive...) C. versicolor will probably create up to 80-175 spiderlings in a sac!

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

THE ART OF TS AND KEEPING THEM An interview with Gao Jeff Gao Jeff, known as @Yichenerd on Instagram, is an artist passionate about developing his skill while raising awareness and sharing his passion for tarantulas as well as other animals. Tell us about yourself! ]also have pacman and tomato frogs, alone with I'm a high school student born in China but a pair of geckos. now study in CA. My father can draw well and started teaching me when I was at a Do you have a Caribena versicolor tarantula? very young age. Keeping tarantulas and If so, what inspired you to get one? drawing are my only hobbies and I enjoy I have a tiny sling. I did not buy it but instead got both of them a lot. it as a freebie, however I’d been wanting one for How did you get into the world of a long time since I’ve always loved their look. tarantulas? How long have you been keeping them? What is your favorite thing about tarantula I started loving invertebrates when I was keeping? 5-6. When a friend got a bearded dragon, I was very interested and she showed me ]My favourite thing about the exotic pet store that she got it from. I saw a T. vagans on a shelf and was tarantula keeping is that it amazed by how gorgeous it looked, soon gives me the opportunity to after I got my first T, a B. hamorii. I’ve been influence others around me into keeping them for over 2 years now. not fearing these creatures, What does your collection look like? Do along with many other kinds of you have other pets? ‘creepy crawlies’. My collection is mostly tarantulas, but I do 28

Photo credit: Gao Jeff

Photo credit: Gao Jeff

Photo credit: Gao Jeff

The Art Of Ts And Keeping Them, cont’d Is there one piece of advice in particular is always too thick for the effect I want. I lay that has helped you a lot in your journey out a simple outline with a mechanical pencil with tarantulas? lightly so it’s easy to erase without a mark if I My advice would be doing a lot of research make a mistake, then I color it with the lightest before buying any pets, and not commit color and add darker and darker color, layer on any impulse buys if possible. layers until it’s just the color and texture I want. How do you think the tarantula hobby What’s the most difficult part/aspect of could be improved? a tarantula to draw? How long does a I think that the hobby can be improved if drawing usually take? people stop catching wild tarantulas whose The hardest part is the hair, especially the specie is already well established in the ones on the abdomen. Usually one drawing hobby (A. chalcodes, A. seemani) even if takes 2-4 days. they have a very stable population in the wild. Do you have a favorite or goal tarantula? You have done some amazing drawings My goal tarantula is the Chilobrachys sp on tarantulas. Describe your medium electric blue. and technique/process when drawing these creatures. ABOUT GAO I use Faber Castell color pencils, a white To follow Gao and see more of his work, fine line pen to add hair details, along with check out his Instagram @Yichenerd. You can a nail to scape away extra white ink on check out stickers and merch of his art in his the paper since the line made by the pen Redbubble store! Photo credit: Gao Jeff

CHECK OUT GAO'S REDBUBBLE STORE FOR STICKERS AND OTHER T MERCH! Photo credit: Gao Jeff

tarantula COMM P3h4oto credit: Frosted Peppercorn / Flickr

a MUNITY 35

P3h6oto credit: Wikimedia Commons

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons 37

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

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! 42

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! 43

REFERENCES Caribena Versicolor, the Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula Author: Michael Fantus Caribena versicolor (Walckenaer, 1837). (n.d.). Ipmn. Retrieved November 15, 2020, from https://inpn.mnhn.fr/espece/cd_nom/845739/tab/taxo?lg=en Fukishima, C., & Bertani, R. (2017, March 2). Theraphosidae, Aviculariinae) with description of three new aviculariine genera. Https://Zookeys.Pensoft.Net/Article/10717/Element/4/4144/. https://www.gbif.org/species/9353037 Jacobi, M. (2010). Antilles Tree Spider Care Sheet. Tarantulas.Com. http://www.tarantulas.com/caresheets/A_versicolor.html 4P4hoto credit: Wikimedia Commons

Photo credit: Wikimedia Common4s5

later fang gang! I hope your holidays have been healthy, happy and full of tarantulas! Please continue to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic and take care of yourselves! Thank you for supporting The Spinnerette and its 12th issue! A big thank you to Richard Stewart and The Tarantula Collective for continuing to support and sponsor this magazine (and provide the tarantula hobby with amazing content and information!) 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]. You can also email me if you’d like to submit something to the magazine or pitch an idea for a future issue! 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. 46