5/22/2013 8:46PM I have loved Poecilotheria rufilata for a long time. Although their blue cousin Gooty always seems to steal the spotlight, P. rufilata's shamrock green hue with yellow accents, and fiery hot pink hairs woo me every time I see her. I have tried to breed her for three years now, and she has finally produced her first eggsac. Jon and I opened it the other day after the most difficult and stressful eggsac pull we have ever experienced. "Momma Rufilata" would not let it go! There was one bad egg in the bunch, all the rest look very healthy. If they continue to develop as they have been we'll have babies in about a month :)
Momma rufilata was on the door of her enclosure and upon opening the
door she scurried back into her hide. Sometime soon I'll get a
better picture of mother. This one
was taken at least a year ago on our old camera and does not do her
justice.
Pictured below is a pen-ultimate male. As handsome as this boy is, the male of this species can never compete with the vibrant color, contrast and size of a female specimen. It is rumored a P. rufilata female can reach 10" in length! Although I have never seen one of that size, I can attest that they do indeed achieve a respectable size. I have never gotten a measure on Momma Rufilata. However, my P. ornata residing next to her is 7 1/4." Momma Rufilata is noticeably larger than oranta! If I had to guess, I would say she is near or over 8" That's one big spider!
9:36PM Guess who came out? It has been nearly a year since she last molted, and some of that time was guarding an eggsac. Compared to her "normal self" she is incredibly dull. Even so, this girl still shines! As soon as she molts again I'll get more pictures so you too can enjoy those fiery pink hairs. -Jamie
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