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Vide-Ohs: Now that’s a Spider! – Sapphire Tarantula

Jeff

These Sapphire Tarantulas Are Losing Their Home

This true blue beauty is a gooty sapphire tarantula at the Dallas Zoo. Native to the forests of Gooty, a small town in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, these spiders’ bright coloring comes from tiny hairs that line their body. They are quick and extremely venomous—a single bite can leave a human in excruciating pain that can last over a week. Sadly, due to deforestation, the species is currently critically endangered.

 

Apparently collecting tarantulas or perhaps spiders in general is a hobby. Who Knew?!

The video below will provide some of the history, care and husbandry of the Sapphire Ornamental (Poecilotheria metallica) tarantula. The video explains all about arboreal enclosures, how to feed the tarantual and what other general care this particular species needs. I am not being factitious here, but there is so much to know if you want to own one of these arachnids!

I have/had no intention of owning or collecting spiders and when the video said: “Be sure to have a catch cup handy every time you are opening the enclosure,” that was enough warning for me.

PS – Don’t be turned off by the hard driving, pounding music at the beginning of the video. If you like this topic, the video will be very interesting!

 



 

I am not totally unfamiliar with tarantulas. We saw one in Peru that was not doing well as it was clinging to the side of a cabin.

 

And this beauty was found in our courtyard only a week or so after we had moved to Cave Creek, Arizona. I think it was quite pretty. We relocated it to the back yard. Interestingly enough, we saw this within a week of moving into the house in the desert and haven’t seen another one since; in more than ten years!

 

Arachnophobia anyone?

 

More Vide – Ohs

To See additional Interesting Videos Click HERE


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All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged #please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2021 – JBRish.com



Desert Garden Ablaze with Color

Jeff

The desert has been ablaze with color over the last two weeks reaching its peak perhaps just a few days ago. It is still stunning in the variety of colors and blooms brought on by more than the customary amount of spring rains thus far.

The Palo Verdes are always a treat, but this year they have outdone themselves.

The contrast of the yellow flowers against the blue sky is wonderful.



Here is a close up of the flower clusters on one portion of a branch in our backyard.



The color palette is expanded below when the Palo Verde in the foreground leads the viewer to the flowers of the Orange Jubilee or Orange Bells hybrid (Tecoma Hybrid).



Naturally a closeup of the Orange Bells is called for as well. The clusters are beyond vibrant in the early morning sun.



Each morning at this time of the year, I prepare my coffee looking out our family room window and I am blown away! (To the right and north of the saguaro, but out of view, is Black Mountain which adds even more wonderment to the scene.)



We have some performers starring in our front landscape too. This cactus was started from a cutting just a few years ago and when it blooms, it puts on quite a show. It will eventually grow arms and as a mature plant, may have a dozen or more flowers open at once. I can’t wait! While I am not able to make an absolute identification, I am fairly sure it is a Trichocereus hybrid.





Here is a picture of the mature mother plant from a friend’s house nearby!


Above picture courtesy of L. Herring


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All original content on this blog is copyrighted by Jeffrey B. Ross with ALL Rights Reserved. While reference links back to JBRish.com are appreciated and encouraged, please acquire approval for any reproduction of original content from this website.

©Jeffrey B. Ross 2014 – 2019 – JBRish.com