Size perspective view of the larger B. smithi spiderling. Double-click image to magnify.
Last Monday I ordered two young, captive-bred 1½”-2” Mexican red knee tarantulas from Jamie Lessee.
The tarantulas arrived via the US Mail after my last class on Friday. A number of the subfreshman cross county team members heard of their arrival and enthusiastically participated in set-up and preparation of enclosures.
Within several minutes each new enclosure was prepared. I carefully unwrapped each tarantula, placed each in its shipping tube, and photographed the kids with the tarantulas and the enclosures each group prepared.
Both tarantulas are nice, healthy individuals who are settling in well. With each molt they will develop the brilliant red, black and yellow markings characteristic of their species.
B. smithi adult showing the size and docile nature typical of this species. Photo courtesy of Animal Diversity Web.
One year too late, Mr. Stone.
[...] tarantulas went from a fairly uniform brown to the color pattern you see above during the first molt. Colors should be brighter and more [...]
[...] two Mexican red knees arrived. They are siblings who were about a year of age when they arrived. Both were brown at that time, and both molted a little less than two months after their [...]