THE SPINNERETTE ISSUE 8 TAGKBEBOVER! CHROMATOPELMA ADVICE, CYANEOPUBESCENS CARE TIPS, G R E E N B OT T L E B L U E TAXONOMY 1
hello T lovers! I hope all of you are keeping safe, clean and healthy during this time of uncertainty with COVID-19. It can be times like this where we come together as a community to lean on each other and find some comfort, and we can be thankful to be part of a hobby that can take us so far away from our problems. This issue focuses on the Green Bottle Blue tarantula, one of the most beautiful tarantulas in the hobby! Great for beginners and more experienced owners alike, this is a great spider to add to your collection and I certainly hope that this magazine will provide you with a much needed distraction but also good information in case you want to learn about this spider or get one yourself! 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 Pixabay Copyright © 2020 Patricia Colli
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TABLE OF CONTENTS 06 Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens Tarantula 10 14 By Michael Fantus Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens Care Tips By Patricia Colli Caring For GBB An interview with Robbie Mc Strummer of Robbiestalkingts 21 Cerberus The Green Bottle Blue Tarantula 28 36 By Cheyanne (with help from BillieJo Champagne) 50 52 My Journey With My Very First GBB By Hollie of Princess Sophie Pink Community (tarantula photo submissions) An amazing collection from tarantula lovers like you! Discovery The latest discoveries and news about spiders Sources + References A list of sources and references from articles in this issue
CHROMATOPELMA CYANEOPUBESCENS TARANTULA By Michael Fantus Chromatopelma is a monotypic genus of South American tarantulas containing the single species, Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (the Green Bottle Blue tarantula). History animals by method of rearing their young, The Green Bottle Blue tarantula, like many fish by types of teeth and egg laying or live- tarantulas, has undergone revision many times bearing, bony or cartilaginous, skin or scales… since its discovery. Classification is never done taxonomy is never done by what you see, though visually even though amateur hobbyists of all fortunately biologists and their proponents like sorts are visually motivated. Everyone wants the Funk and Wagnalls, National Geographic, and Big Blue One, or the Pretty Pink One, no one the Department of the Interior have made sure we says “that feller with three spines per millimeter is have luxurious access to programming that helps much cuter than the one with four.” us learn about and interact with the diversity of life on earth and instantly recognize almost all of Plants are judged by the method of reproduction, it by common names. P6 hoto credit: PxFuel
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons7
Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, cont’d Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens was Class: Arachnida discovered in 1907 on the Paraguana Order: Araneae Peninsula, Venezuela by Embrik Strand, (d. Suborder: Mygalomorphae 1947) a famous entomologist and biologist. He Family: Theraphosidae originally described it as a kind of “bird spider”, Subfamily: Theraphosinae one that likes to inhabit profusely webbed Genus: Chromatopelma habitats above the ground, and described it as Species: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens Erypelma cyaneopubescens. Type: Terrestrial bird spider Category: New world tarantula In 1939, Petrunkevitch re-classified the genus Urticating setae: Yes, type III and IV as Delopelma cyaneopubescens, but we now (abdomen) call it Delopelma Genus Aphonopelma, and Venom: Probably mild. No valuable scientific Green Bottles do not resemble Aphonopelma research has been done yet (be my guest!) ] in any way so then…Gunter Schmidt, in 1995 Origin: Noord-Venezuela, peninsula finally revised them into their own single-type Paraguaná. The spider has been seen in Punto genus, Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens. Fijo as well ]The specimen I kept was Body length: ≤ 7cm Span width: ≤ 15-16cm docile and was far from a fussy eater, and from day one to Conservation and Status his last kept his vibrant and Most tarantulas are considered threatened, eye-catching color. He lived and it is a crime to collect them from the wild around three and half years. without a permit. C.I.T.E.S., the Congress on Shortly after he displayed his the International Trade of Endangered Species, reproductive organs, like most is updated regularly and has details on which male tarantulas, he passed species of plants, animals, and microbes can away. Fortunately, the prices be collected without permits and from which and availability of the species locations and how to legally gain access to make replacement someday a sites, collect, and transport specimens of interest based on current population levels and the end-use. C. cyaneopubescens does not appear to be red listed at this time. clear possibility. ABOUT MICHAEL Michael Fantus’ day job is marketing in a Washington DC Taxonomy Association. His hobbies include fiction writing, music The Green Bottle Blue tarantula composition, French horn playing, redwood bonsai, and tarantulizing. He is the author of a novel, the Rage of Ganymede and the Lightning Manifesto. Previous names: Eurypelma (Never ask a girl her age, and I have a partner named cyaneopubescens Strand, 1907, Delopelma Stefen Styrsky who works in legal services, is a published cyaneopubescens Petrunkevitch, 1939. fiction and technical writer, as well as a film critic. He Kingdom: Animalia avoids the tarantulas). Phylum: Arthropoda Flip to the back to see references for this article! P8hoto credit: William Turner
Photo credit: Richard Adams / Flickr www.keepingexoticpets.com9
Cchyraonmeoaptuobpeeslmcenas CARE TIPS BASIC INFO Common name: Green Bottle Scientific name: Chromatopelma Experience level: Beginner Blue tarantula cyaneopubescens Type: New World, terrestrial Origin: Venezuela, northern coast Life span: Males can live up to 4 years. Females could live up to 12- Growth rate: Medium - fast Size: Up to 6\" or 16 cm span width. 14 years. Males tend to be smaller. APPEARANCE Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens are known for their vibrant colors, which are even evident from the time they are spiderlings. Green Bottle Blue tarantulas have metallic blue legs, bright orange abdomen and a bluish-green carapace. BEHAVIOR Attitude: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is Defensive behavior: The Green Bottle Blue considered docile however somewhat skittish, tarantula will try to flee at first, however if it feels which may take some beginning tarantula especially and repeatedly threatened, this spider keepers aback. will use its urticating setae, and perhaps bite next. Bite danger: A bite from the Chromatopelma Handling: Handling tarantulas is not cyaneopubescens tarantula could cause some recommended. While Green Bottle Blue irritation to humans. As with any tarantula, tarantulas are considered docile, they are easily precaution should be taken. scared and can move very quickly. DIET + NUTRITION Green Bottle Blue tarantulas can eat crickets, superworms, locusts, grasshoppers, and roaches. 10
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons HOUSING Substrate: Substrate should be Enclosure: This tarantula should Water: A small water dish should kept very dry. Dry coconut coir have a terrestrial terrarium with always be present. or 50/50 sphagnum peat moss/ a water dish, hide and a few vermiculite is suitable. plants for webbing anchor points. Temperature: Green Bottle Blues However they also tend to do ok in do well in warm temperatures, Decor: A hide, bark and plants will an arboreal style enclosure as well. approximately 70-78°F. be much appreciated by this spider as they will use them as anchor Humidity: The Chromatopelma Collection notes: This species points for their webs. cyaneopubescens tarantula is an amazing display tarantula does not need regular misting or throughout its life span, from sling Ventilation: The Green Bottle Blue overflow of the water dish. The to adulthood. tarantula needs a good amount of enclosure should be kept very dry. ventilation. FUN FACTS The Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is well known for making beautiful, intricate webs often resembling a funnel shape! They use their webs to protect them against the sun, harsh weather and to trap prey! 11
Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens will use their webs and burrow to avoid heat. Though they thrive in warm temperatures, using any heating on the floor of an enclosure will not be an appropriate solution. If using a heating pad (using safety precautions), attaching it to the side of the tank will be more suitable.
Photo credit: Monika Reniero Photo credit: Monika Reniero
CARING FOR GBB 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 is experienced with the Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens tarantula, and shares his wisdom here! Tell us about yourself! In your experience, what is their My names is Robbie, I'm 35 from London, temperament like? Is this a tarantula you England and I'm a musician and Youtuber. My believe is docile enough for handling if done hobbies are music, movies and video games. safely? I personally never advocate the handling of any What has been your experience with the tarantulas, there's too many variables that could Green Bottle Blue tarantula? result in the injury of yourself or the tarantula. My experience with the GBB has been And as temperament can vary from specimen awesome, I have an adult female and a 3cm. to specimen and in some cases with each molt, Both are great eaters, grow fast and I've never calm or not I wouldn't suggest handling. had any issues with them. How does care for this spider differ from Do you think this is a tarantula that is well others? suited for beginners? This species are amazing webbers. They build I'd definitely recommend it as a beginner an amazing home of web tunnels so don't be species if you are just starting out in the hobby. surprised if they spend most of their time hiding away until they sense a prey item knocking at ] What care advice would you give someone the front door. who is thinking of getting a GBB? ]My only advice really is keep them How do you decorate your enclosures for dry, this species is prone to death the GBBs? Do you have any strategies to if kept moist. Other than that I've help them web or get comfortable? found you can't really go wrong Lots of anchor points. I use plants/plastic plants, with them. pieces of cork bark, etc. The species will even use the glass to anchor its web to. 14
Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strumm1e5r
All About GBB, cont'd ROBBIESTALKINGTS: CHROMATOPELMA CYANEOPUBESCENS REHOUSE What are some things to look out for with ]]My favourite thing about the this spider? Things to look out for with this species is species is everything I've definitely the color changes as they grow from mentioned previously from slings to adults. Like a Caribena versicolor, it's all the webbing they do, the definitely a highlight of the species. dramatic colour changes and ferocious appetite. Everything How long does it generally take before you someone could possibly hope start noticing the GBB's signature coloration for in a tarantula. coming through? In my experience the gorgeous blues, greens ABOUT ROBBIE and orange start to really come through once Robbie is a tarantula YouTuber and a musician the slings reach a size of about 1 1/2 inches. living in London. If you'd like to see more from him, feel free to check out his YouTube channel What's your favorite thing about this or Instagram, Robbiestalkingts! tarantula? 16
Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer Photo credit: Robbie Mc Strummer
READER SOUND OFF What is your bucket list tarantula? Let me know what your ultimate dream tarantula would be! I'd like to make an issue featuring that spider in the future! Email me at [email protected]!
Photo credit: Senior Airman Carlin Leslie / Whiteman Air Force Base
Photo credit: PxFuel KIDS CO
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CERBERUS THE GREEN BOTTLE BLUE TARANTULA By Cheyanne (with help from Mom, BillieJo Champagne) This amazing informational article is about my favorite tarantula, Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens or also known as the Green Bottle Blue tarantula. Embrik Strand, an entomologist and arachnologist first described this tarantula species as Eurypelma cyaneopubescens in 1907. The current genus name Chromatopelma, can be translated to mean beautiful blue color. After doing lots of research and looking at Cerberus gets crickets twice a week. With a pictures of tarantulas, I became obsessed with tarantula that has a fast appetite such as the the Green Bottle Blue tarantula. I found out Green Bottle Blue, there shouldn’t be any that this tarantula is what is known as a hardy problems with feedings. I learned that juveniles species and was ideal for a beginner hobbyist should be fed twice a week and older tarantulas such as myself. Most of the research I did as a once a week as their appetite is not as strong. beginner stated that this type of tarantula is for a confident beginner who won’t panic when the When you watch a tarantula kill skittish spider moves. I purchased my GBB from something, it turns out to be a Fear Not Tarantulas as a beginner package cool show, especially if you see and received a sling less than ¾” in legs span. the booty shaking dance after I decided on the name Cerberus, but also call it they take down their prey. (I my little monster. guess to some people it’s cool, others not so much!) Green Bottle Blue tarantulas are supposed to be a docile species of tarantula with a skittish, The Green Bottle Blue tarantula originates nervous nature. Cerberus is speedy and from a very harsh and dry climate located in ferocious when feeding and will take down the desert regions of northern Venezuela and crickets within five seconds of feeding! I still get a little scared when Cerberus lunges at the cricket. The GBB tarantula feed frequently,
Photo credit: Cheyanne and BillieJo Champagne
Cerberus The Green Bottle Blue Tarantula, cont’d the Paraguana peninsula. This arid desert, In one article I read about juvenile coloration, grassland habitat has a temperature of 70-78 someone had stated that “spider babies look degrees Fahrenheit, with a very dry relative like they have a batman symbol on their butts.” humidity level of 30-50%. Green Bottle Blue Cerberus now has a coloration that is a bluish- tarantulas do not do well in damp climates and green carapace, bright orange abdomen, and can perish in damp environments. The GBB metallic blue legs. The current coloration of tarantula are considered semi-arboreal (which Cerberus is what many people find attractive are land and tree dwelling tarantulas) and will for this species and makes it a very sought- sometimes build their homes a few inches off after tarantula. the ground or substrate material. Cerberus lots of times can be found hanging out on the The unique coloration also aids in locating this enclosure walls displaying the Green Bottle species within its enclosure, as it also likes to Blue's awesome coloration. hide within its webbing. When I first purchased Cerberus, the coloration The Green Bottle Blue tarantula will make was different from the now full-grown coloration I webbings around the entrances of their found attractive in my research. Spiderlings don’t enclosure, which many people consider develop their full blue coloration until adulthood. tunnel or tube-like. Cerberus used to have a Juvenile coloration was a dark colored carapace, SpongeBob pineapple full of webbings! The pink legs, and a dark abdomen striped in red. webbings and tunnels serve as protection Photo credit: Cheyanne and BillieJo Champagne
Photo credit: Cheyanne and BillieJo Champagne Photo credit: Cheyanne and BillieJo Champagne
Photo credit: Cheyanne and BillieJo Champagne
Cerberus The Green Bottle Blue Tarantula, cont’d against climate in the natural environment, as Photo credit: Cheyanne and BillieJo Champagne well as a form of trap for prey. The Green Bottle Blue mostly likes to dine on prey such as small ABOUT CHEYANNE roaches, crickets, super worms, or crickets. I am 11 years old, entering 6th grade and I just recently fell in love with tarantulas. My mom When researching the Green Bottle Blue (who owns 4 tarantulas herself) let me pick out tarantula as I stated before, they are an my first very own tarantula last month and I extremely timid and anxious spider. The GBB decided on the GBB, which I named Cerberus. is known to rarely show aggression, but when (Yes, after the mythical creature.) Besides my worried or aggravated they may tend to bite or tarantula fascination, I take lessons riding horses flick urticating hairs. If you are bitten by your and belong to the show team at the stables I GBB, the venom is not known to be dangerous attend. Besides my GBB, I have a dog named to humans, unless you are found to be allergic Raptor (who I am attempting to train for agility to it! Then you need to seek medical help right tricks) and a cat named Raven. Other than away. Most people who are bitten find the venom tarantulas I love giraffes and llamas. to be similar to a bee sting, with slight irritation, tingling, and possible pain. Cerberus The research I did when purchasing my GBB did not recommend handling due to the skittish nature and potential risk of being bitten or dropping the spider. Cerberus has displayed a defense pose one time when we filled the water dish and has also flicked hairs when spooked by crickets. Otherwise, Cerberus displays calm behavior and has never bitten anyone in my household. The Green Bottle Blue tarantula has a medium growth rate, and an adult female may reach a leg span of 6 inches. I haven’t had Cerberus a full year yet, but it has around a 3-4” leg span. I am hoping Cerberus is a female as they can live longer than males! Males living 3-4 years and females possibly 12-13 years. Females are also known to be larger than males with leg spans reaching 6” and males 4-4.5”. Green Bottle Blue tarantulas are a great starter tarantula that I highly recommend and are an active species with a fast growth pace. They are docile and not known to bite often but are very skittish. Vibrant colors mark this species of tarantula and are not easily forgotten!
MY JOURNEY WITH MY VERY FIRST GBB By Hollie (Princess Sophie Pink) Hollie, also known as Princess Sophie Pink on YouTube, was gifted a Green Bottle Blue tarantula by fellow YouTuber Peter Webster. Here, Hollie shares her knowledge and experience with this species PLUS a very interesting molting issue she encountered! I got my first Green Bottle Blue tarantula when I had been in the hobby for about 3 months. I was lucky enough to be sent one as a gift from Peter Webster. I always wanted a GBB because if the colouration. They are beautiful. I thought it was a male so named it Webster. But he is a she now!! I have still kept the name Webster, though. Since owning Webster she has been good to watch. She has webbed up all of her enclosure. Sometimes she gets a bit skittish but has never threat posed me. This is because other than feeding and maintenance, I leave her alone. I wouldn't try to handle her just because of how fast she is and you never know what mood she is in. She thinks everything is food and I wouldn't want her to mistake me for a locust! Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh
Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh
My Journey With My Very First GBB, cont’d Her enclosure is one of my She just did a big pull away from She recovered well from it and it favourites, it has a colourful her moult and then there were 2 didn't affect her at all only having dragon and a bridge in the bubbles of cloudy liquid (tarantula 6 legs. She moulted upright again enclosure. It's like a dragon's blood called hemolymph) where the next time and I was really really cage. It gives lots of anchor points her legs should have been. worried. for the web. It didn't bleed very much but it was But she grew her back legs back! I feed her locusts mainly but really scary to watch. Her legs She can't actually use them sometimes wax worms and I give were just left in her moult. After because they are bent funny so her water and make sure to give that we made sure she had a bit she kind of drags them along but the enclosure a little mist every more moisture than usual to help she is doing fine and hopefully next now and then. her recover. We were worried she time she moults she will be good wouldn't make it but she did and as new. They are really good to keep now she is extra special. because of the amount of webbing they do. It is so nice to see. When Regrowing her legs... As you can see they're bent I get up at night for the bathroom but it doesn't affect her. it is always out wandering around making webs, it is so cool. She is really skittish though and has flicked hairs a few times so I have to be careful of that when opening the enclosure. A few months ago she moulted upright and got stuck in her moult so she amputated the 2 back legs! It just shows how clever she is. ]She would have probably died if she hadn't done that. Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh
Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh The moult where Webster pulled away from her exoskeleton, legs still attached. PPhhoototoCCreredditi:t:RRaacchheel lGGrereeennhhaalglghh
My Journey With My Very First GBB, cont’d ] A SPECIAL THANK YOU I hope to buy a GBB sling as I really like the David Andrzejewski is ALWAYS colours and pattern changes they go through there to answer any questions with each moult. we have. He helped us and advised us what to do through ABOUT HOLLIE the bad moult. He is just To see more from Hollie, you can check out her YouTube channel, Princess Sophie Pink or follow her Facebook page! ]awesome x PRINCESS SOPHIE PINK: TARANTULA UNBOXING & REHOUSING - A GIFT FROM THE AMAZING PETER WEBSTER!!
Photo Credit: Rachel Greenhalgh
BREEDING NOTES Green Bottle Blue tarantulas are notorious for cannibalism when it comes to mating and it's common for the male to be attacked and eaten by the female. The female should be extremely well fed before you are introducing her to a potential mate.
Photo credit: Monika Reniero Photo credit: Monika Reniero
tarantula COMMU 36
Photo credit: PxFuel a In this section we highlight tarantula owners from around the world and share their experiences. To make a submission, email [email protected]! UNITY 37
38 Photo credit: Monika Reniero
Photo credit: Gao Je3f9f
Photo credit: Christian Sabo \"Agatha\"
Photo credit: Monika Reniero Photo credit: Monika Reniero
Photo credit: Monika Reniero
Photo credit: Nathaniel Flaugher
Photo credit: Monika Reniero
Photo credit: Gaia Faust
Photo credit: John / Flickr Photo credit: John / Flickr
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WEAR YOUR LOVE FOR TS On YOUR SLEEVE! SEE NEW TARANTULA MERCH! ADVERTISE IN THE NEXT MAGAZINE! 48
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! 49
DISCOVERY THE LATEST SPIDER DISCOVERIES SEVEN New Species Of Peacock Spiders scientists) and spent countless hours in the lab Have Been Found! studying them. Some welcome news in tough times.\" An Australian arachnologist has just discovered seven new colorful species of the peacock Schubert discussed the new peacock spider, one of which actually resembles a spiders, particularly the one named Maratus famous Vincent van Gogh painting! constellatus, due to its resemblance to 'Starry Night': Melbourne Museum arachnologist Joseph Schubert tweeted on March 26, \"Meet Australia's \"The patterns on the abdomen to me look so seven newest species. Last year, I traveled much like Starry Night by Vincent van Gogh. the country collecting specimens of these new Hence the name constellatus, which means peacock spiders (some discovered by citizen starry in Latin.\" 5P0hoto credit: Joseph Schubert/Twitter
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