The Spinnerette Avicularia Metallica Issue

THE SPINNERETTE ISSUE 7 TAINNSKPO! AVICULARIA ADVICE, METALLICA CARE TIPS, TAXONOMY 1

it's T time! Happy New Year, fang gang! I hope you all had a wonderful series of holidays between Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Years, and I hope that you and your spiders are starting off 2020 with some beautiful enclosures, full abdomens, healthy molts and renewed energy! I myself have made the new year's resolution to give Spidey a beautiful tank redesign soon, so I'd love for you guys to give me some suggestions! This issue of The Spinnerette focuses on the Avicularia Metallica tarantula - a popular starter tarantula and one that is commonly kept by both new T owners and more seasoned keepers. I hope you find the information in this mag useful and interesting :) Big thank you to the Tarantula Heaven community for contributing 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 © 2020 Patricia Colli

This issue is sponsored by... TheTarantulaCollective.com get caught in the web Check out our website for merchandise and learn about all the other cool stuff we're doing! THE TARANTULA COLLECTIVE: GOLIATH BIRDEATER CARE & HUSBANDRY SUBSCRIBE!

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

TABLE OF CONTENTS 06 Avicularia Metallica, Pink Toe Tarantula 10 14 By Michael Fantus Avicularia Metallica Care Tips By Patricia Colli Avicularia World An interview with Robbie Mc Strummer of Robbiestalkingts 18 Avicularia Advice 26 38 An interview with Kimberly Gonzalez 40 Community (tarantula photo submissions) An amazing collection from tarantula lovers like you! Upcoming Events Upcoming tarantula conventions and expos around the world Sources + References A list of sources and references from articles in this issue

AVICULARIA METALLICA, PINK TOE TARANTULA By Michael Fantus Avicularia means “little bird” but the taxon has come under intense scrutiny in recent times and it is probable this terminology will fall out of use as will its erroneous common name of “pink toe”. The proposed (and accepted) revisions to the Avicularia metallica did not either get excluded Taxon, which used to include 47 species, has from the Avicularia or get a new name…which been collapsed down to 12: means biologists are still trying to figure out what it is. So, for the time being “The Metallic Pink Toe” Avicularia avicularia is still valid and is appropriate for this particular Avicularia glauca species. Avicularia variegata Avicularia minatrix Avicularia taunayi Avicularia juruensis Avicularia rufa Avicularia purpurea Avicularia hirschii Avicularia merianae Avicularia lynnae Avicularia caei And now includes three new genera and six species: Avicularia rickwesti is now Antillena rickwesti Avicularia laeta is now Caribena laeta Avicularia Versicolor is now Caribena versicolor Avicularia gamba is now Ybyrapora gamba Avicularia diversipes is now Ybyrapora diversipes Avicularia sooretama is now Ybryapora sooretama 6 Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Photo credit: William Turne7r

Avicularia Metallica, cont’d Current Taxonomy: a reliable and reputable supplier. Kingdom: Animalia Division: Metazoan Taxonomy is critical in modern times because Symmetry: Bilateral the planet earth is in a pronounced state of Clade: Protostome despeciation. We must know at all times the Phylum: Arthropoda number and population density of the creatures Class: Arachnida that make up and depend on the web of life in Order: Aranaea order to gauge the urgency and trajectory of the Family: Theraphosidae planet’s climate change crisis. Genus: Avicularia Species: Metallica Habitat/range: This arboreal species is native to Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean The best way to translate all of this jargon is Sea, off the coast of South America. to think of tarantulas as organisms with 12 jointed limbs not 8, (there are two feeding limbs Status: Even though this species is one of the and two fangs, also considered limbs), that most popular tarantulas by hobbyists, they are feed through a mouth that is like a squid or an not endangered and they are not assessed for octopus, that use venom – not poison- and the IUCN Red List. have nerve endings that are like hair on the external carapace. Once these characteristics ] are defined, individual characteristics are used to name the species and genus. ABOUT MICHAEL Michael Fantus’ day job is marketing in a Washington DC ]In the case of the Metallic Pink Association. His hobbies include fiction writing, music composition, French horn playing, redwood bonsai, and Toe, scientists are still at odds tarantulizing. He is the author of a novel, the Rage of with one another how to classify Ganymede and the Lightning Manifesto.  the species accurately enough to (Never ask a girl her age, and I have a partner named be accepted 100% by the scientific Stefen Styrsky who works in legal services, is a published fiction and technical writer, as well as a film critic. He avoids the tarantulas). community. Flip to the back to see references for this article! Elements as granular as 4 vs. 5 hairs per cubic millimeter can be used to separate one species from another, but a critical mass of data across a wide range of geography and sampling of specimens has to be completed in order for what is called “description” to be accepted. Fortunately, hobbyists are less demanding and you can still ask for, and obtain an Avicularia metallica and get what you are expecting from P8hoto credit: William Turner

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons9

Avimcueltaarlilaica CARE TIPS BASIC INFO Common name: Metallic pinktoe, Scientific name: Avicularia Experience level: Beginner Antilles pinktoe metallica Type: New World, arboreal Life span: Males live for 3-4 Origin: Guadeloupe, Dominica and years. Females could live 12+ Growth rate: Medium Martinique in the Caribbean Sea. years. Size: 5” + APPEARANCE The Avicularia metallica is fuzzy with iridescent shades of blues and greens over its entire body. They get their nickname \"pinktoe\" from the pink coloration that exists at the ends of each leg. BEHAVIOR Attitude: Avicularia metallica tarantulas are Defensive behavior: Avicularia metallica are generally docile however they are easily known to run and bolt quickly when startled startled and have been known to bolt or jump - or threatened. Most notably, the pinktoe has a particularly when they are younger. unique defense mechanism by which they will shoot feces when they feel threatened. It can Bite danger: The venom of the metallic pinktoe go as far as 2 or 3 feet. This species also has tarantula is not very potent. However, as with urticating hairs. any tarantula, caution should still be taken. Handling: Due to their speed and ability to jump, handling this species is not recommended. DIET + NUTRITION Avicularia metallica tarantulas can eat insects such as crickets, mealworms, superworms, houseflies 10 and other small insects.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons HOUSING Substrate: Slings will be ok with Enclosure: This tarantula should Water: A decently sized water dish 1\" of substrate, adults can have have a tall enclosure that includes must always be present. two. Substrate can be a mix of substrate, a water dish, and decor peat moss, vermiculite, coconut to assist in climbing. Temperature: This species can be fiber and dirt. Substrate can be dry. comfortably kept between 70-90 Humidity: You can mist the degrees Fahrenheit. Decor: An Avicularia metallica will enclosure about once per week appreciate cork bark and a variety to supply a little humidity to the Collection notes: This species is of plants and branches with anchor enclosure however you must have an amazing display tarantula. points for webbing. cross ventilation to avoid too much humidity or mold growth. Ventilation: Cross ventilation is key for metallica pinktoes. FUN FACTS When an Avicularia metallica tarantula molts, they usually do so in a web nest high up in the enclosure - which is very different from the ground-dwelling molts we usually see! 11

The genus Avicularia is one of the most common and beloved in the tarantula community. The caribena versicolor (formerly known as avicularia versicolor and pictured to the right) is particularly cherished in the hobby for its bright coloring and docile nature.

Photo credit: Monika Reniero Photo credit: Monika Reniero

AVICULARIA WORLD An interview with Robbie Mc Strummer Robbie is a tarantula keeper from England who shares his journey in tarantula keeping on his YouTube channel Robbiestalkingts. He has owned a variety of Avicularia genus over time and was kind enough to share his expertise with us! Tell us about yourself! How did you get into the tarantula hobby? My names is Robbie, I'm 35 from London, I've had a fascination with tarantulas ever since England and I'm a musician and youtuber. My I saw the brachypelma hamorii in India Jones hobbies are music, movies and video games. and the temple of doom, then years later I saw The Dark Den on YouTube and figured I can do How long have you been keeping that too, so I purchased a brachypelma hamorri tarantulas? What does your collection look as that's where my first interest came from as like right now? well as being a great beginner species. And the I have been keeping tarantulas for a year now, rest is history. and I'm up to over 100 in my collection. What inspired you to get an Avicularia ]metallica? If you have other Avicularias, do you notice a difference in care between species? I don't have an Avicularia metallica but I do have Avicularia avicularia, Avicularia purperea and 2 Carabena versicolors. I do think they are a good beginner species but temperament does vary from specimen to specimen. ]And they can be tricky to keep as most people believe they need high humidity, which I have found tends to be the biggest cause of death in avics. 1P4hoto credit: WRoikbibmieedMiac CSotrmummmonesr

Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strumm1e5r

] ROBBIESTALKINGTS: ESCAPED POECILOTHERIA REGALIS REHOUSING Have you ever been bitten by one of these spiders? Or have they ever escaped/bolted? If so how did you deal with this? No I've never been bitten but have had several bolt on me, if you watch my YouTube videos (above) there's one that specifically shows how I dealt with a Poecilotheria regalis that escaped during a rehouse. What’s your favorite thing about them? My favorite thing about avicularias and all tarantulas in general is how easy to keep they are, and how no two tarantulas are the ]same. They all have their own personalities. 16 Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer

Avicularia World, cont'd What’s the most important thing you’d Do you have a YouTube channel? When and like to tell someone who is thinking about how did you start it? getting into Avicularia metallicas? As I said I do have a YouTube channel Anyone thinking about getting into avicularia as Robbiestalkingts, and much the same way I got a pet, the most important thing to do before you into the hobby really. I saw Petko's videos (The get one is do as much research as you can on Dark Den) and as I'm a very creative person, their requirements. I thought I'd give it a try. And I've been lucky enough to make friends with all the members What's your favorite thing about the of the tarantula YouTuber community. They are tarantula community? all amazing. My favorite thing about the tarantula community is how friendly and helpful people are especially ABOUT ROBBIE providing information about different species. Robbie is a tarantula YouTuber and a musician I'm also lucky to have amazing YouTube living in London. If you'd like to see more from subscribers that like to gift me species I don't him, feel free to check out his YouTube channel have or would love to see on the channel. or Instagram, Robbiestalkingts! ROBBIESTALKINGTS: MY COLLECTION PART 1

AVICULARIA ADVICE An interview with Kimberly Gonzalez Kimberly is a tarantula keeper and employee at an exotics/reptile shop called Miami Reptile Company. She has been keeping Avicularias for years, so we are excited to share her knowledge! Tell us about yourself! tegus, two bearded dragons, two researching and watching other Well, to start off, my name is leopard geckos, and a sand boa. people interact with these animals, Kimberly Gonzalez and I’m 18 I was dying to have one. years old. As my last name How did you get into the suggests, my entire family is from tarantula hobby? I feel like education on arachnids Cuba, many of them are actually Honestly, I’m pretty sure it was and insects is the most important still living there. When it comes because I ran into a video on thing in helping people get over to hobbies I like to draw and of YouTube, by Jon3800 feeding his the fear of these animals. I was course spend time with all of my collection! I used to be terrified always really into animals, even as pets. Aside from that I ride horses of spiders in general, but after a little girl, but I never thought I’d be competitively in the show jumping ring. I consider that more as my lifestyle than a hobby because I do train almost every day and compete very often. How long have you been keeping tarantulas? What does your collection look like? I have been keeping Ts for around 6 years now, currently I have a G. Pulchra (MM), A. Metallica, P. Irminia, A. Chalcodes, and a P. Murinus. In the past I have kept red knees (hamorii), A. hentzi, and A. Versicolor. Another arachnid in my collection is my emperor scorpion. Aside from the inverts I also have two 18 Photo credit: Kimberly Gonzalez

Photo credit: Kimberly Gonzal1e9z

Avicularia Advice, cont’d owning tarantulas! It has been one of the best how much every animal is cared for. Cleaning things in my life so far haha. cages and feeding/giving fresh water to EVERYTHING in the store is done daily. It’s the How do you like working at a reptile/exotics one thing that gets done no matter what. My store? What is that experience like and what favorite part is of course the interactions I get to is your role there? have with these animals. I can go from working I absolutely LOVE working at the shop! I actually with boas to working with leopard geckos, and became a customer of Miami Reptile Company of course, my favorite, working with the inverts. when I got my first T (B. Hamorii) years ago. I always wanted to work there and finally at 18 I Do you feel pet stores do enough to was able to get a job with them and it’s so great. educate their employees and customers on proper invert care? What are some things During the course of the day, I clean enclosures, you try to communicate when working with feed animals, and help customers. The constant customers you know will be first time T interaction with the huge variety of animals and owners? the opportunity to share knowledge about them In all honesty I don’t believe that many pet to other people makes it so much fun. stores do well in informing people on many animals they sell. Fortunately at the shop, Another thing that I love about the store is Photo credit: Kimberly Gonzalez

even before I worked there, there was always actually really hard losing him, especially since someone that knew about inverts. Now I also he was my second tarantula ever. So, when work there haha. I saw that the shop got in some A. metallica slings, I knew it was time to give his old home I will always give people to a new baby. The one I have currently is still information on the proper way to maturing. The name is Orion for the time being. set up an enclosure depending on the species, and will also tell Are there differences in behavior and care them how to keep the humidity that you notice between Avicularia species? for the T they choose. We always For this, I have noticed quite a few differences have red knees available as between the A. versicolor and the A. metallica. that is what I recommend most I feel like my Versicolor was a lot more skittish beginner keepers. I let them know than my current Metallica. I also think that that even though they are not the Versicolor moves a lot quicker when they very inclined to bite, they might bolt. When it comes to care, I don’t think much still kick hairs and a bite may changes, although the Metallica species does occur. I make sure they know get bigger than the Versicolors, so enclosure what they’re getting into before sizing might be a good thing to keep in mind if hand. This is the reason why I someone plans on getting one. research many species, including Ts I don’t keep and even true Have you ever been bitten by one of these spiders, plus other arachnids spiders? Or have they ever escaped/bolted? like scorpions, centipedes, If so how did you deal with this? amblypigids, and solifugae. I have been bitten by a T before, but not an Avicularia. It was actually an Aphonopelma seemanni who mistook my finger for a cricket. Honestly it was not the tarantula's fault, I should have been more aware. At the end of the day, I had no reaction to it, although the initial fang action did hurt a bit haha. What inspired you to get an Avicularia My Avicularias have never threatened to bite metallica? Did you raise it from a sling? nor have they ever escaped. However, when Like mentioned above I used to have an A. it comes to bolting, both species have done it. Versicolor, Blaise, that I raised from a sling I feel like the most important thing to do when smaller than my finger nail! He ended up they bolt, especially if they bolt when they are maturing into a male, and lived his full life on your person, is to stay calm and be aware expectancy of three years. of where they are going. Tarantulas are very sensitive, so you don’t want to freak out and About a year after his passing I felt like I needed risk dropping them by accident. another Avicularia species as my experience with him was so wonderful. To me, even my If I were to give advice on them escaping, I Ts feel like such a big part of my life, so it was would say to remember they are going to want

Photo credit: Kimberly Gonzalez

Avicularia Advice, cont’d to be high up, being an arboreal species, so somewhere near the ceiling might be your best bet to find them! What’s your favorite thing about them? My favorite thing about the A. metallica species is that they still get all the striking coloration of most arboreal tarantulas, but tend to ditch the aggression typically seen in Poecilotherias, for example. They’re also on the larger side, so it’s Photo credit: Kimberly Gonzalez quite an impressive T that can still be handled fairly easily if one wished. It’s also pretty cool Do you have a favorite tarantula (and why is to show off too, not many people expect a blue it your favorite)? tarantula! Although I love ALL of my Ts, I do have a Do you think they are as beginner friendly as favorite, and that is my G. pulchra, Sirius. I their reputation portrays? feel it’s because I saved him after a faulty molt I honestly think they are! If threatened they tend with a tarantula ICU (basically a heated, high to just point their butt at you and wiggle it haha. humidity container). He also matured about Even the ones that have been brought into the three years ago and is STILL going strong! His shop tend to be friendly even as new arrivals! personality is also amazing. Their care is pretty basic, the only thing that Looks wise, my favorite would definitely be my makes them a little more high maintenance P. irminia, she’s absolutely gorgeous and her is the humidity, but that can be easily appetite never fails. A dream species to own is accomplished by a good misting every other day a P. rufilata, though. Either way, I adore every depending on the enclosure. species and love all of my Ts, past and present, What’s the most important thing you’d like to so much. ]tell someone who is thinking about getting What's your favorite thing about the into A. metallicas? tarantula community? ]I feel like the most important My favorite thing about the tarantula community is the amount of knowledge that can be shared thing I would say is to make from one keeper to another. I feel like anyone sure you’re comfortable with who owns a T is always so willing and excited Ts first. As I said before, to share info and experience with anyone who these guys can bolt, and to a asks! first time owner, it might be a little intimidating. Other than ABOUT KIMBERLY that, they make amazing pets Kimberly is originally from Cuba! When she is that come with a wonderful not working at Miami Reptile Company, she is personality and look! a competitive horseback rider and artist. To see more from Kimberly and her spiders/pets, you can follow her Instagram page @kimbo0417!

Humidity has long been considered a major threat to the Avicularia genus. There is a condition known as Sudden Avic Death Syndrome (SADS), thought to be the cause of many unexpected avic deaths. We are still learning much about this, but keepers stress the importance of good cross ventilation to prevent issues with humidity.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

In this section we highlight tarantula owners from around the world and share their experiences. To make a submission, email [email protected]! tarantula COMMU 26

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons a UNITY 27

At the end of 2019, I held an enclosure design contest in my Tarantula Heaven Facebook group to find a winner for a spider bag. Lots of tarantula owners participated, and the winner, Jonathan Roark, was announced. Here are all of the inspiring entries! 28

\"Zeva\" \"The Dutchess: Photo credit: Jonathan Roark Photo credit: Jonathan Roark Photo credit: Ashley T. 29

Photo credit: Rob K. Photo credit: Steven T. Photo credit: BillieJo C. Photo credit: Kat K.

Photo credit: Tamara C. Photo credit: Rob R. Photo credit: Amy F.

Photo credit: Sarah H. Photo credit: Edward V. Photo credit: Yichen G.

The winner of the tarantula enclosure contest won a spider bag from Gremlin Design! You can still get a spider bag if you like - visit her store and use discount code SPIDEY15 for 15% off everything! SHOP PET MERCH!

Davus Pentaloris Photo credit: Zak Agar Instagram: @thetarantulad

Photo credit: Monika Reniero

WEAR YOUR LOVE FOR TS On YOUR SLEEVE! SEE NEW TARANTULA MERCH! ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT MAGAZINE! 36

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! 37

UPCOMING EVENTS UPCOMING 2020 GLOBAL EXPOS WITH TARANTULAS EUROPE DATE EVENT LOCATION May 17 2020 Warwick, United Kingdom 35th British Tarantula Society Exhibition 3P8hoto credit: Wikimedia Commons

DATE UNITED STATES LOCATION February 1-2 Columbia, SC February 22-23 EVENT Denver, CO Repticon Columbia San Diego, CA March 7-8 Reptilian National Expo Ontario, CA March 28-29 Reptilian National Expo Manchester, USA Reptilian National Expo Las Vegas, NV April 5 New England Reptile Expo Long Beach, CA May 30-31 Reptilian National Expo Daytona Beach, FL June 20-21 Reptilian National Expo August 22-23 31st National Reptile Breeders' Expo Photo credit: Wikimedia Commo3n9s

REFERENCES AVICULARIA METALLICA, PINK TOE TARANTULA Author: Michael Fantus Avicularia metallica. (2018, September 17). Retrieved January 8, 2020, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Avicularia_metallica. Cancerides, /. (2017, July 14). Avicularia Genus Revision – A Quick Breakdown. Retrieved January 8, 2020, from https://tomsbigspiders.com/2017/03/20/avicualaria-genus-revision/.Cancerides, /. (2017, July 14). Avicularia Genus Revision – A Quick Breakdown. Retrieved January 8, 2020, from https://tomsbigspiders. com/2017/03/20/avicualaria-genus-revision/.Cancerides, /. (2017, July 14). Avicularia Genus Revision – A Quick Breakdown. Retrieved January 8, 2020, from https://tomsbigspiders.com/2017/03/20/avicualaria-genus- revision/. Dallas World Aquarium. (n.d.). Antilles pink-toed tarantula. Retrieved from https://dwazoo.com/animal/antilles- pink-toed-tarantula/. Hughes. (2003). Understanding Adaptations of Biodiversity to Climate Change using Taxonomy. Retrieved January 9, 2020, from Understanding Adaptations of Biodiversity to Climate Change using Taxonomy. University of Michigan. (n.d.). Animal Diversity Web. Retrieved January 9, 2020, from https://animaldiversity. org/accounts/Avicularia_metallica/classification/. P4h0oto credit: Wikimedia Commons

Photo credit: William Turn4e1r

til next time! Thank you for supporting The Spinnerette and its 7th issue! A big thank you to The Tarantula Collective for sponsoring this magazine and for doing amazing work to make the tarantula keeping community an informed and positive space. 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. 42