My First T!!!!!

just got a Chilean rose tarantula he/she has a beautiful pink colouring on her head just moved into a small living accommodation while i wait for a much bigger tank to be delivered. I am going to upload some videos on youtube very shortly, quick question tho, how do i tell what sex i have as the store did not know( their T guy is away for a few weeks ) what do i need to look out for?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxbQn9T5ZdM&feature=youtu.be

Congrats on the new addition!

First off, I strongly recommend that you purchase the third edition of "The Tarantula Keeper's Guide."

It will answer all your questions.

As for the sex, adult males will have bulbous pedipalps and hook like structures on the front legs, however, immature males will not have these characteristics.

You can sometimes tell by looking at the underside of the abdomen, but this isn't very accurate.

The best way to tell is by looking at a molt. I really don't have time to explain it at the moment but if you search "sexing tarantulas" it should come up.

Also, if it's large (say, 4 inch legspan or more) and bulky then it's almost certainly a female. From your video, I'd say female. (Which is good, you don't want a male T.) I can't be 100% of course but it's my best guess.

i have some photos but i dont know how to upload lol

the head is abit pinker than the photo shows.

Beautiful Rosie, and I would take a guess and say it's female.

Thank you, she is amazing. might have to rename if it is a woman as she is called gandalf at the moment

I think u have a female

my male is more "leggy" than my female

my male also has more of a pink head, but u cant always go by the color of there head.

your tarantula has the same body type as my female

males have hooks on there front legs

and black bulbs on there pedipalps

ah brilliant im going to stick with the name but tbh i was hoping for a female. added some more videos on youtube

emperor5 wrote:

I think u have a female

my male is more "leggy" than my female

my male also has more of a pink head, but u cant always go by the color of there head.

your tarantula has the same body type as my female

males have hooks on there front legs

and black bulbs on there pedipalps

Leggy is an excellent way to put it;)

But only adult males have their sperm emboli (bulbs)
That's the issue with their terminal molt, they can't molt again because the bulbs hinder them from molting completely hence their life cycle is shorter than a female.

And may or may not have tibial hooks. ( not all T' species males have tibial hooks)

But I agree the males tend to look more "stretched " . I really think this is a female.

grats on your new T!

can anyone recommed a good heating pad, the 1 i got with my setup does not seem to get to the right heat. i have moved the tank next to the radiator with the heat mat as she diddnt look happy this morning.

A heat source isn't really necessary for a G. rosea.

Here's a good caresheet: http://people.ucalgary.ca/~schultz/roses.html

thank you, alot of people are saying i dont need a heat mat so im going to take it off tonight hoping she will use the hole i built for her.

would a brazilian white knee need a heat mat?

Tarantulas in general don't need heating pads. There are a few species that do better at higher temps (Theraphosa) but really whatever temp you prefer will be fine for your T. Would it harm the T to have a higher temp? No, it's just unnecessary.

Once again, I recommend you purchase the book, "The Tarantula Keeper's Guide." (The third edition.)

Beautiful T!

Thank you guys, she is amazing. have not held her yet but tbh dont think i will. going up to the store on sunday. going to see if they have any slings as i would love to raise some from birth.