Arboreal or Fossorial?

[NaCon]

I’m thinking of getting another spider (or 2) to go along with my purchase of the Euathlus Sp.Red, but cannot decide which to get an arboreal or Fossorial, what are your recommendations for each and which is better?, NW is a MUST , as I’m no where near experienced to deal with OW, and preferably one that is more suited to a beginner.

Cheers all

 

[basin79]

Not fossorial but terrestrial I'd go for a Grammostola iheringi or a Pamphobeteus sp if you want a large adult tarantula. Grammostola pulchra or Brachypelma hamorii for a medium sized tarantula.

Aboreal Caribena versicolor.

 

[Greasylake]

Some of the ones that stand out to me are
Fossorial: the Ephebopus genus. Guys are gorgeous and can have an attitude. Pretty good eaters from what I've heard but you might never see them.

Arboreal: Psalmopoeus or avics and their cousins. Psalmos are going to have some stronger venom and can really get moving when they want to. Some individuals hide a lot and some like to sit out in the open so you may not see yours very much. Avics and their cousins look great and are a little slower. They'll be arboreal pretty much throughout their entire lives unlike psalmos who will burrow through sling and probably juvenile stages.

 

[nicodimus22]

Aboreal Caribena versicolor.

^ This so much. They are amazing.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Fossorial: the Ephebopus genus. Guys are gorgeous and can have an attitude. Pretty good eaters from what I've heard but you might never see them.

Another thing to add about these, they are ridiculously fast.

As for visibility, I hardly saw my E. cyanognathus, my E. rufescens is a lot more visible however.

arboreal or Fossorial

I'm also going to co-sign Caribena versicolor, they're just a joy to raise IMO.

 

[StampFan]

I’m thinking of getting another spider (or 2) to go along with my purchase of the Euathlus Sp.Red, but cannot decide which to get an arboreal or Fossorial, what are your recommendations for each and which is better?, NW is a MUST , as I’m no where near experienced to deal with OW, and preferably one that is more suited to a beginner.

Cheers all

You want an Avic/Caribena. Color, activity level, size, temperament, all perfect for a first Arboreal.

 

[Liquifin]

I vote C. versicolor. But there is one drawback to having one, it's trying to get a molt that isn't wrecked to shreds LOL

 

[Socfroggy]

I also recommend C. versicolor, I don't see mine too often during the day anymore though

 

[MetalMan2004]

Definitely versicolor. Save fossorials for later once your collection has grown. They’re cool but you obviously won’t see them near as much as an arboreal.

 

[Arachnophoric]

Between the two, I'd recommend going arboreal. Most fossorial species will be, as the name suggests, pet holes. That and iirc a good majority of fossorials are OWs, save Ephebopus and Megaphobema. My M. robustum is a ghost, but I see my E. murinus a lot. They're a bit testy and may be intimidating for a newer keeper.

Put Some Meat On Those Bones

• Arachnophoric
• Jul 10, 2018
• ephebopus ephebopus murinus murinus skeleton tarantula

Sans enjoying a super worm. This species always looks so lean no matter how much you feed them.

You'll have more options friendly to your experience level with arboreals - several that have been mentioned here. Avics are great, just be sure to read up on their care on here since misinformation is quite rampant online. Although common, I think the classic A. avic is far more beautiful that people give it credit for.

Ebrietas

• Arachnophoric
• Jun 30, 2018
• 6
• avicularia avicularia avicularia pinktoe tarantula

The Daughter of the Cosmos molted for me about a month back, she sat pretty for me today while I...

Caribena versicolor are absolute delights to have, fuzzy bright blue slings that turn into fluffy teal, purple, and red adults. Really a must-have for any collection. Their care is the same as any Avic.

I won't recommend Psalmos just yet since you specify something more beginner friendly and Psalmopoeus is basically an OW in a NW body. They're fast, defensive, and have more potent venom than the average NW, but they're my favorite genus and if you're wanting to keep OWs in the future they'd make a fantastic step in that direction.

Love-Psalm

• Arachnophoric
• Jul 16, 2018
• 4
• irminia psalmopoeus psalmopoeus irminia suntiger tarantula venezuelan suntiger tarantula

Pretty girl is getting a rehouse tonight.

 

[NaCon]

Between the two, I'd recommend going arboreal. Most fossorial species will be, as the name suggests, pet holes. That and iirc a good majority of fossorials are OWs, save Ephebopus and Megaphobema. My M. robustum is a ghost, but I see my E. murinus a lot. They're a bit testy and may be intimidating for a newer keeper.

I have looked at a few feeding and care videos for both E. murinus and M.robustom, E. murinus especially was extremely defensive, I’m more concerned for my wife rather then me when it comes to keeping them, as she’s terrified of spiders but claims of be okay with Tarantulas or spiders as long as they have “fur”. Though he is on my wish list for the future the legs are stunning!
The Caribena on the other hand so far seems perfect, especially with the colours which are just stunning, and may even help with her fear due to it but I’ll Deff have a look at others and find more about the care but at a glance and a few videos does seem the best one so far, and I’d love to go OW and own a Colbalt Blue, but right now my experience level is enough to keep a Woodlouse alive a few days

 

[MikeyD]

What about Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens? They are highly visible, beautiful, and have no special care requirements other than lots of anchor points so they can web up their enclosure. I find mine to be very receptive as far as feeding goes, it’s out and about all the time and even if it retreats to its hide or webbing it comes out again soon enough. Dry Substrate, some twigs, branches or other support for webbing, and a water bowl and you’re set. None of the potential problems that new keepers can run into with Avicularia or Caribena species. They are quite fast but mine has never made a break for it and always retreats into its webbing instead.

I would think it would be much easier to learn with than some of the larger insular species that were mentioned. From Euathlus sp Red to Psalmopeus or Pamphobeteus seems like a huge jump as far as the range in temperament is concerned. I guess it depends if you are comfortable with potential threat displays and attitude or would rather have a T that is a little more easy going. Maybe a terrestrial like Brachypelma or Grammostola would be even better than the Green Bottle Blue?

 

[Nightstalker47]

I’d love to go OW and own a Colbalt Blue, but right now my experience level is enough to keep a Woodlouse alive a few days

Good call, these are hyper defensive spiders with a nasty bite, they hide all the time too....theres a fantastic NW terrestrial species that looks very similar and happens to be much better suited for beginners.

Look into P.sazimai, gorgeous blue tarantula, hardy, great eater...my female is one of my all time favorites.

 

[Sinned]

I won't recommend Psalmos just yet since you specify something more beginner friendly and Psalmopoeus is basically an OW in a NW body. They're fast, defensive, and have more potent venom than the average NW, but they're my favorite genus and if you're wanting to keep OWs in the future they'd make a fantastic step in that direction.

Can't agree from experience, pretty new myself, just only from what I read/learned here. I *really* love how they look and love that they are feisty. But they are the NW's that didn't get the memo about chilling out (relative) and just adopt uricating hairs. Think of them as the NW's that really didn't want to give up their 2nd amendment rights.

I been eyeing ( )Megaphobema robustum ... Not really fossorial, but *really* likes to burrow and you might not see it a lot. Added bonus, they also present(lift) their abdomen when warning you to back off.

Note: I can't speak from experience with these, but I do believe they like to spend more time underground and dislike rehousing, so you can set them up in a larger enclosure from the start.

Arboreals get on my nerves because I don't like working in those kind of enclosures, but I love the looks of the avics .. fuzzy little T's with great colors combo's.

 

[Venom1080]

You could keep exclusively Psalmopoeus and Tapinauchinius and have a great time in the hobby. Many species with beautiful patterns, colors, and everything else. They have everything a arboreal keeper would ever want.

P irminia, cambrigei, pulcher, reduncus, are all cheap and cool to keep.

T gigas, cupreus, violaceus, sp union island(Caribbean diamond), are also cheap and fun.

C versicolor are relatively delicate and can be worrisome for newer keepers. But I don't think you'd have too much trouble with the resources here.

Only fossorial NW genera that come to mind are Ephebopus and Megaphobema, both are cool. But yeah, I don't know if I like them as much as the Psalmos and tappies. Quite reclusive, but some are stunning.

 

[Sinned]

More so for me, then others maybe, but again a Psalmopoeus is being recommended. Maybe I'm mixing things up, but isn't that a big step up from Euathlus Sp.Red? I thought these T's are the gateway-drug to OW's

edit: Duh, I can't read it seems. Not really recommendation from @Venom1080, more of an explanation about Psalmopoeus. I'll still leave this here, and my question. They are the "feisty" ones right?

 

[Venom1080]

More so for me, then others maybe, but again a Psalmopoeus is being recommended. Maybe I'm mixing things up, but isn't that a big step up from Euathlus Sp.Red? I thought these T's are the gateway-drug to OW's

edit: Duh, I can't read it seems. Not really recommendation from @Venom1080, more of an explanation about Psalmopoeus. I'll still leave this here, and my question. They are the "feisty" ones right?

Yep. Feisty, fast, some quite defensive, etc. Big step up from a E sp red. However. Op didn't say if it was their first or fiftieth. I don't have a sp red and have a sizable collection myself

But they are amazing spiders, and I totally recommend them to anyone ready. No hurt taking your time op they're not endemic to Brazil.

 

[NaCon]

What about Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens? They are highly visible, beautiful, and have no special care requirements other than lots of anchor points so they can web up their enclosure. I find mine to be very receptive as far as feeding goes, it’s out and about all the time and even if it retreats to its hide or webbing it comes out again soon enough. Dry Substrate, some twigs, branches or other support for webbing, and a water bowl and you’re set. None of the potential problems that new keepers can run into with Avicularia or Caribena species. They are quite fast but mine has never made a break for it and always retreats into its webbing instead.

I would think it would be much easier to learn with than some of the larger insular species that were mentioned. From Euathlus sp Red to Psalmopeus or Pamphobeteus seems like a huge jump as far as the range in temperament is concerned. I guess it depends if you are comfortable with potential threat displays and attitude or would rather have a T that is a little more easy going. Maybe a terrestrial like Brachypelma or Grammostola would be even better than the Green Bottle Blue?

I can fully understand where you’re coming from and I agree with the huge jump, I’m okay with the threat displays, all Ts can throw up a threat posture if needed, however, breaking myself in with more manageable Ts such as the Sp.red, and so on, building my experience as a keeper will surely make the time caring and dealing with threat postures from more attitude Ts easier for both me and the Spider.

How would you say Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is in terms of temerment and being general beginner species? As the colours look amazing! And I am wondering if I’m wasting my time with making the Sp red my first T into the hobby, I don’t mind the growth but it’s the fact no one sells them online, been looking for years to no avail.

 

[NaCon]

Good call, these are hyper defensive spiders with a nasty bite, they hide all the time too....theres a fantastic NW terrestrial species that looks very similar and happens to be much better suited for beginners.

Look into P.sazimai, gorgeous blue tarantula, hardy, great eater...my female is one of my all time favorites.

She’s a beauty, will certainly look into that, thanks man

 

[MikeyD]

I can fully understand where you’re coming from and I agree with the huge jump, I’m okay with the threat displays, all Ts can throw up a threat posture if needed, however, breaking myself in with more manageable Ts such as the Sp.red, and so on, building my experience as a keeper will surely make the time caring and dealing with threat postures from more attitude Ts easier for both me and the Spider.

How would you say Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens is in terms of temerment and being general beginner species? As the colours look amazing! And I am wondering if I’m wasting my time with making the Sp red my first T into the hobby, I don’t mind the growth but it’s the fact no one sells them online, been looking for years to no avail.

Mine is very enjoyable because every single time I look into it's enclosure it's sitting in it's web just being the gorgeous Tarantula that it is. It has never been defensive yet it is very aware and can catch a cricket before it even hits the ground. It is very quick but it always chooses to retreat into cover, be it the web tubes it builds along objects or the side of the enclosure or some sort of hide it has smothered in silk. So far rehousings have gone well too, using the pop bottle method.
When I got my first Tarantula I choose a dwarf because it was less intimidating (I was at one time an arachnophobe). I have a number of dwarf species and really enjoy them. The GBB was my first venture into medium/large sized Ts and I don't regret it for a moment. It has be very easy to care for, feeding is a breeze, it's highly visible, creates a heavily webbed and interesting looking enclosure, and it starts as a very beautiful sling and goes though a pretty dramatic colour change into adulthood. It's not like a pet rock though, no accidentally leaving the lid off the enclosure because its probably not gonna stick around. LOL
I think it would make a fine choice for someone who has a little experience. It's only concerning habit might be its speed but just be cautious of that during any feeding or maintenance. So far I have seen no threat displays or flicking/kicking hairs, only a speedy retreat until it decides that danger has passed.
If you don't have any other Tarantulas you could always start off with a slower terrestrial to build your confidence. I would start off with a species that tends to be more visible as reclusive species are just going to bore you. One thing that the GBB has going for it though, they are as attractive as slings as they are as adults and that can't be said for many of the slower growing terrestrials that are common as first Ts. As far as finding a species that is of a similar temperament as the Euathlus, well I'm not too sure there. I didn't start with one of the more popular beginner species but my choices only differed by being considered faster, they still weren't defensive species though and I haven't has any problems or surprises along the way.