Aphonopelma chalcodes

[johnlox]

Hey All,

I am wondering about the temperament of the Chalcodes. I was at the ATS conference a few weeks ago and we found a male in the wild which was readily handleable, did not once get into an attack pose, so it seems to me they are of a mild temperament. Does anyone have experience with them in captivity - male and female?

Thanks in advance,
John

 

[Vespula]

I've got a good bit of experience, seeing as they're my favorite species. Every one that I've come in contact with has been more than docile. They're awesome, temperament-wise.
Hope this helps!

 

[Bugmom]

Haven't met a mean one yet, and they are really great beginner tarantulas (caring for them is unbelievably easy) but like all things living, temperament WILL depend on the individual.

 

[BrettG]

Calm for the most part,but can be skittish.The amount of stuff on hotel grounds at the conference was amazing.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Calm for the most part,but can be skittish.The amount of stuff on hotel grounds at the conference was amazing.

why is my A Anax so vicous???!! lol different species I guess

 

[Vespula]

Why is my A. anax so vicious? lol. Different species, I guess.

Yes. Different species may have different personalities, just like individuals of the same species.

(p.s. I corrected your spelling and punctuation. I hope you don't mind.)

 

[Assaltwaffle]

My adult female A. chalcodes has a bit of an attitude on her. She will threat posture if I try to lure her out of her hide and kick hairs for seemingly no reason. She eats and drinks just fine and I have gone over my husbandry many a time to make sure it is correct. I guess she just has a bit of a defensive nature. Just goes to show how every tarantula has its own personality.

 

[Poec54]

My adult female A. chalcodes has a bit of an attitude on her. She will threat posture if I try to lure her out of her hide and kick hairs for seemingly no reason. She eats and drinks just fine and I have gone over my husbandry many a time to make sure it is correct. I guess she just has a bit of a defensive nature. Just goes to show how every tarantula has its own personality.

Right. You can't say that all members of a species have the same temperament. Chalcodes can be calm or temperamental, or just have moody days. Like most of the calmer species, they often leap on food, so if one mistakes your fingers for food...

 

[Tomoran]

My young adult female is quite skittish and prone to bolting and flicking hairs. A friend of mine has one that is apparently a "calm little ball of fluff." Although this species seemingly has a rep for being docile, it varies from specimen to specimen.

 

[MrsHaas]

My immature male is probably the "nicest" (for lack of a better word) t in my collection. He's the only one I would even consider handling, thought I don't bc I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate it.

 

[Roosterbomb]

I have an a Chalcodes by since I don't really mess with my tarantulas I couldn't say if they are mellow or not. I will tell you there was an old guy in a home and garden store that explained to me that their fangs can't pierce human skin and he knows this because as a kid him and his friends would pick them up and play with them. I didn't say anything cuz I work there but if kids are snatching them off the ground to play with them and there was no incident...

 

[Poec54]

I didn't say anything cuz I work there but if kids are snatching them off the ground to play with them and there was no incident...

They won't nail you every time, but Stan Schultz's collection was primarily 'docile' species and he was bitten 2 dozens times by his nice spiders. There's probably far more captive bites from Brachypelma and Aphonopelma than any other genera, because people treat the like toys and fail to give them the respect they deserve.

Is this guy extremely nearsighted? Tarantulas have grossly over-sized fangs, and I don't see how anyone could think they can't pierce skin. He needs to see what big South Americans do to mice.

 

[Methal]

I have an A Iodius, she is particularly picky, i wouldn't say mean but quick to strike and hair. Though her strikes are more like front paw taps. No fangs.

Like I said though, she is picky, will only eat crickets. hairs, and strikes everything else.