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miss moxie

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So, here is the stitch! I recently picked up an unsexed stirmi and to sate my own curiosity I was wondering if someone could tell me if this specimen is in 'need' of a molt.

My reasoning is that I've seen freshly molted stirmi pictures, where they are shiny and dark chocolate brown. My stirmi, on the other hand, is more of a red clay coloration and has bald spots on it's carapace and legs. I don't think it's in pre-molt, but I'm not sure how quickly that chocolate color fades to the red clay color.




So what is the verdict? Just an average stirmi, or is this a stirmi that will be molting at least somewhat soon-ish? I must confess, I'm really just eager to sex it's exuvium. It only set me back $90 so even if it's male I won't be but so disappointed, but of course it would be nice to find out I nabbed myself a female.

I may consider trying to get pictures of it's vents but I'd much rather avoid a potential hairing.
 

Poec54

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They fade as a molt approaches. Hopefully all of that missing fur on the abdomen wasn't sent in your direction.

Get some vent shots so we can sex it.
 

miss moxie

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They fade as a molt approaches. Hopefully all of that missing fur on the abdomen wasn't sent in your direction.

Get some vent shots so we can sex it.
No! Haha, I think I would be rolling around in a tub full of ice and rum instead of posting here if all those hairs were sent at me. No, I actually got it into it's enclosure without any threat postures or flicking-- but I got a welt on my right forearm that I'm assuming came from careless handling of the paper towels it was shipped in.

I just fed it, so I'll let it sit for a bit and then I'll try to get some pictures of it's vents. It's already so stocky for it's size. I knew stirmis were meaty, but you don't realize how meaty until you see them in person.
 

pyro fiend

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based off of troubles, i mean, Mr. possum's picture ;) it looks like it may need to get some new cloths and stop being nakie ;D but sheesh if those are beefy.. i need to see a adult stirmi irl cuz iv only seen 1" slings.. and my MF gbb seems bulky.. those must be walking pork chops ;D
 

rockpython

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Sep 23, 2014
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From my experience of keeping a stirmi, I remember the color fading within a few weeks of the molt. But that bald patch looks pretty dark compared to a bald spot on a reletively fresh molted specimen... just MHO
 

Chris LXXIX

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Amazing T. Probably the "T". Never had one because they cost too much for my pockets :)
 

Arachnomaniac19

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I've heard that their colour slightly changes after each molt. I don't know how true that is, but it could explain your problem. And yes, it looks to be in premolt.
 

Felidae

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Mar 29, 2015
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I think needs a bit more time, but the molt isn't too far. Hope will be a female :)

My subadult girl's "butt" in premolt:
image.jpg
 

miss moxie

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Here is a pic of the stirmi's vents. Poec told me I have a female! Which is exciting of course. I wouldn't mind taking a crack at breeding her once she matures. She's just over 4", closer to 4" than 5". So she's got quite a bit of growing to do.

What was the realistic adult size potential on these Ts? Is it 10"?
 

AphonopelmaTX

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What was the realistic adult size potential on these Ts? Is it 10"?
About 7-9 inches is about average. More so on the 7 inch side. I made a post about this not too long ago located here http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?276341-Theraphosa-stirmi-Molt-at-8-Inches. People will measure differently and make a size determination with the spider's legs at different positions so your 7 inch T. stirmi could be 6 inches to someone else. Even the 8 inch molt in my thread shrunk to 7-7.5 inches after it dried.
 

miss moxie

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About 7-9 inches is about average. More so on the 7 inch side. I made a post about this not too long ago located here http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?276341-Theraphosa-stirmi-Molt-at-8-Inches. People will measure differently and make a size determination with the spider's legs at different positions so your 7 inch T. stirmi could be 6 inches to someone else. Even the 8 inch molt in my thread shrunk to 7-7.5 inches after it dried.
Oh, gotcha. I knew they didn't get to 12" as is famously rumored, but I thought they were a little bigger than 7"-9". So at what size would a female stop being a sub-adult, and be considered mature?

That's one thing I still don't completely understand about tarantulas. Spiderlings, juveniles, sub-adult, mature-- it all is rather subjective in my head. For example, my 2" Xenesthis immanis is still a spiderling, but my 2" B. albopilosum is a juvenile.
 

dementedlullaby

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Oh, gotcha. I knew they didn't get to 12" as is famously rumored, but I thought they were a little bigger than 7"-9". So at what size would a female stop being a sub-adult, and be considered mature?

That's one thing I still don't completely understand about tarantulas. Spiderlings, juveniles, sub-adult, mature-- it all is rather subjective in my head. For example, my 2" Xenesthis immanis is still a spiderling, but my 2" B. albopilosum is a juvenile.
IMHO the divide between juvenile and sub-adult is silly.

Can it mate? Great it's mature/adult. If it can't...Juvenile. These are spiders, not angsty teenagers ;).
 

Poec54

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I've seen dozens at a local dealers, which is where I got most of mine. They seem to run 9-10", with adult males sometimes under or over that. From what I've seen, the odds are any much over 10" are probably males. A full size Theraphosa dwarfs anything else.
 

pyro fiend

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IMHO the divide between juvenile and sub-adult is silly.

Can it mate? Great it's mature/adult. If it can't...Juvenile. These are spiders, not angsty teenagers ;).
True, but myself i do use juvie and sub adult, but on species like this that to ke personaly juvie would only be 2"-3" and 3.5+ is sub till its spermethicae is dark or pushing 7-8" and would be of pairable size then id say adult (mf if ik its darkened) main reason is because i dont like the idea of someone saying "this is my 6in adult sex unknown" as maybe shes a monster 9" girl whos not ready ;) or "my 6.5in juvie" maybe shes already mature and maxed out ;) but yes tech a males not an adult imo till gloves imho

So i like sub adult it allows for others to know just how clueless you are ;D as each girl is a dif size and not all of us pull a molt intact lol
 
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Storm76

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Amazing T. Probably the "T". Never had one because they cost too much for my pockets :)
...that and the fact that I can't their urticating bristles! I love to look at them, but I can't keep one. Pity...
 

Slimdean

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Feb 5, 2011
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My metriopelma came in with those same symptoms. Took her about month to finally feel comfortable in her new enclosure to molt. Crickets weren't doing much for her so after awhile I feed her a super worm and that got things going.
 
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