Advice on my first Old World
- Thread starter Karol31
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MainMann
Arachnosquire
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If you're confident with your abilities, then go ahead! Them bolting out of their enclosures during maintenance is very unlikely once they're settled in. Though trust me, rehousing a fossorial T is absolutely NERVE RACKING
Do you think a OBT would be a step to far ? as a first old world
jemc
Arachnopeon
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I'm also curious - are there many differences / things to watch out for in keeping OW once they've settled in?
EtienneN
Arachno-enigma
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Well, you really want to do cage maintenance with a pair of tongs and generally keep an eye on the T and what is is doing whilst you are poking around in its domain with the lid ajar. If they are safe in their burrow/web retreat, they won't come charging out at you like something out of a horror movie.
Andrea82
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I think my E.pachypus didn't get that memo.. If they are safe in their burrow/web retreat, they won't come charging out at you like something out of a horror movie.
When in 'relax' mode, she's in their signature position, her carapace and front legs in the burrow, her but and thicc hindlegs plugging the entrance. If I open her enclosure she actually will come out and head for where I am busy with front legs raised. She'd chase me beyond her enclosure if I gave her the opportunity. I think she also missed the memo that she is supposed to be an 'OW beginner species'
I have no experience with this species, but I do know African OW's (save for H.maculata and S.calceatum)are generally more recommended as first OW than Asian OW are. It also depends on what your starting position is. If you have raised and kept some Psalmopoeus or Ephebopus species with some Phormictopus species in the mix, you're in a better position to start with an Asian OW than when you have only three Psalmopoeus slings and some other tolerant NW.
Yes. Pterinochilus murinus is not a beginner Old World because of its volatile temper and spastic reactions to disturbances. But again, this depends on your starting point.
The main difference for me was being aware of the fact that a bite can be potentially disastrous. Not deadly, but definitely not something I would want to experience.
A lot of OW also have a pretty stable temperament, they're just perpetually defensive and/or flighty as heck. There are however some OW that are more calm than others.
Beginner OW in my opinion:
A.ezendami
Absolutely GORGEOUS spider. Golden/bronze coloured with specks of orange and black. I have been keeping my girl for three years now and I have never got a threatpose from here, not even when rehousing. She can be a bit flighty but only when she is not able to retreat to her burrow. Decent eater and grower and often sits at the mouth of her burrow.
E.pachypus
Mine seems to be broken but this species is generally considered a good starter OW. Eats like a horse, and as a female, has very distinctive thick fluffy hindlegs and abdomen in a dark mossy green, giving her the appearance of wearing pants. Grows very, very slowly.
Ceratogyrus species.
Again, mine seems to be broken since it is always pissed of when I open its tub.
More defensive than the other two but a striking genus because of the horns on most species' carapace. Eat and grow at breakneck speed so rehouses are a regular occurence. Is very visible and creates awesome web structures.
The Grym Reaper
Arachnoreaper
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Wouldn't be my first choice as a first OW but I got a Chilobrachys huahini sling as a surprise freebie after only being in the hobby for 4 months at the time. Apart from an incident during a rehouse last year, where she decided that doing a runner under my bed was preferable to a nice new enclosure, she hasn't given me much trouble.
Some better choices IMO would be P. muticus, A. ezendami, or anything from Ceratogyrus. If baboon species aren't your thing then get something from Ephebopus as they're great practice for Asian fossorials, they have similar husbandry/speed/temperaments but without the venom potency.
Some better choices IMO would be P. muticus, A. ezendami, or anything from Ceratogyrus. If baboon species aren't your thing then get something from Ephebopus as they're great practice for Asian fossorials, they have similar husbandry/speed/temperaments but without the venom potency.
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I got an orphnaecus sp as a first OW (freebie), and it's pretty simple to raise, and though I have no experience with the genus mentioned above, I would recommend anything in the Harpactira genus, as they are way more forgiving when it comes to husbandry errors.
Goopyguy56
Arachnoangel
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Chilobrachys makes me more nervous than obt I don't own any ow myself but I have seen chilobrachys move.
MainMann
Arachnosquire
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Hmmm. Best first time OW in my opinion is def a Ceratogyrus darlingi/marshalli. Way in the calm side of OW, though mine was very very bolty. OBTs aren't as bad as people make them out to be, trust me. As long as you don't mind lots of threat postures and can keep a cool head during rehouse, I'm sure you'll be able to handle it. Another plus point why i think Ceratogyrus darlingi/marshalli and Pterinochilus murinus make good first time old worlds is that they are hardy as all heck and aren't as moisture dependent like many other asian old worlds. Again, trust in your own ability, and usually if you still need to ask "am i ready?" Probably means you're not yet 100% ready. But everyone has to start somewhere, so if you wanna start keeping old worlds, go for it dude! And best of luck!!
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Horrible idea
Andrea82
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I considered posting P.muticus as well, but if OP gets a sling, she's going to be looking at a pet hole for the first five years or so considering their growth rate. Juvie/adults carry quite a heftie price tag here, not sure how it is over there.
Nonnack
Arachnoknight
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I don't know man... I have lot of OW and Chilobrachys are one of the worst when it comes to rehouse. Keeping it is pretty simple, but when you dig it up, its really crazy. Maybe start with something from Africa, just not Stromatopelminae sub family.
The Grym Reaper
Arachnoreaper
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That was kinda why I added it, there's basically no chance of it outgrowing your abilities as a keeper
They're not that expensive here tbh, slings go for around £7, juvies around £20 or so, I got mine as a freebie.
draconisj4
Arachnobaron
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I have 2 Chilobrachys species, a fimbriatus and a paviei. The fimbriatus was my second OW, neither has given me much trouble but they are very flighty. I'd recommend a Cerotogyrus marshalli as a first OW, also flighty but a bit easier to deal with I think. Care is also very simple. Having raised both the C. fimbriatus and one of my C. marshalli from slings to maturity, and just recently rehoused 2 marshalli juvies , all in all the marshallis were by far the easiest to rehouse. Of course caution is needed with any OW. I never take lids completely off, I always just open small gaps so that I can do what I need to and always keep an eye on the spiders though that doesn't always work, they can move so fast you don't see them do it.
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If one have lits of ecperience with old worlds, it is not nervewrecking, if one has no or little experience with old worlds, it usally is nervwrecking. You learn after some years how they are going to react. They have their threat displays, but often "their bark is worse then their bite" if you understand what i mean! One learn how to appriach them.when they are showing rage! I found their speed and bolting the worst, because ut is very easy that they escape and runs beneath furnitures and stuff, but i really dont get nervous by that eigher! But i have 17 tears experience with diffrent old worlds, and with experience comes skill and tricks!. But i absolutely understand that a newbee gets very nervous! That why i always suggest many types of tarantulas before buying a super defenssive spider!
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Goopyguy56
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I don't know what species you currently have but I think that an ephebopus or whatever they are called would be a good next step if you wanted a faster t. I don't own any but have been told they are pretty freaking fast and if you make a mistake with them it wontt be as costly as an Asian t
ShyDragoness
Arachnobaron
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Best advice is don't get bit, when you're rehousing or unpacking just put the catch cup/what its travelled in into the enclosure and close it, remove it later on after it's left to reduce unnecessary bolts.
Tongs all the way, know where it is before opening, always have a catch up and don't rehouse anywhere it can escape from (a clutter free sealed room).
I wouldn't recommend getting an OW unless you already keep fast NWs and feel confident in your ability and/or have preventative measures in place.
Tongs all the way, know where it is before opening, always have a catch up and don't rehouse anywhere it can escape from (a clutter free sealed room).
I wouldn't recommend getting an OW unless you already keep fast NWs and feel confident in your ability and/or have preventative measures in place.