[Vancouver Pick-up] Aphonopelma chalcodes (Arizona Blonde)
The Arizona Blond Tarantula, Aphonopelma chalcodes Chamberlin, is a gorgeous gem native to the southwestern United States into Northern Mexico. These spiders are incredibly handsome, distinct, and robust, almost resembling a Lego toy or a tank. The chelicerae of mature females are proportionately massive, and, coupled with their short, stocky, legs, this spider proportionately gives Arnold Schwarzenegger a run for the money when it comes to US bodybuilding competitions. A. chalcodes reaches a 6" diagonal leg span and takes on a lovely blond to wheat tan coloration, with metallic, somewhat coppery, setae covering the carapace, chelicerae, and legs from the patella to tarsus. The femurs and abdomen sharply contrast through having a dark chocolate to black base color and beautiful reddish setae. These are hardcore arid land fossorial (burrowing) tarantulas that use their massive chelicerae to chisel into sandy, clayey, and silty desert ground or tunnel under rocks and logs. Typically, these spiders stay underground in their earthen tunnels, where temperatures remain more consistent and insulated from rapid fluctuations in temperature and humidity between day and night in the desert. Living in such a harsh habitat, the Arizona Blond Tarantula is exceptionally hardy and a fantastic species for beginners. A. chalcodes has a very slow growth rate, is generally quite docile, and is usually tolerant of handling. However, these spiders can occasionally become defensive and flick urticating hairs, so should not be handled unless necessary. A. chalcodes is known to fast for weeks to months on end. These spiders have evolved the ability to slow their metabolism for extended periods, which is advantageous for surviving through prolonged dry and/or cold seasons in the high desert unscathed. As an obligate burrower, A. chalcodes is best suited for a terrestrial enclosure with ample cross-ventilation that is wider than taller in dimensions. This species requires a deep soil profile of dry, airy, fluffy organic substrate as adults. Spiderlings should be provided with a deep, barely moist substrate and ample cross-ventilation. This North American gem of a tarantula is a hobby classic for good reason, and so worth adding to your collection!