Are there any tarantula species too delicate to keep?

[moshpitpanda]

While learning about species of tarantula, I sometimes hear about how people thought some species were too delicate in the past because of incorrect husbandry but now this has been corrected and the species thrives. Are there still some species today that remain too delicate to keep or is that a misconception of the past?

 

[antinous]

Some species are more ‘forgiving’ than others. Ones that need more care include a couples species within the Megaphobema genus as well as Avicularia. I’ve also heard from a couple people, as well as a breeder, that Lampropelma violaceopes are a bit more fragile as slings and juvies as wel.

 

[moshpitpanda]

Some species are more ‘forgiving’ than others. Ones that need more care include a couples species within the Megaphobema genus as well as Avicularia. I’ve also heard from a couple people, as well as a breeder, that Lampropelma violaceopes are a bit more fragile as slings and juvies as wel.

The avicularia is one I always see on the forums. I dont know if I would want to mess with something so delicate

 

[antinous]

The avicularia is one I always see on the forums. I dont know if I would want to mess with something so delicate

They’re not ‘so delicate’ they just require a bit extra care. Wouldn’t advise them for someone new, but many people keep them without any problems who are a bit more experienced.

 

[moshpitpanda]

They’re not ‘so delicate’ they just require a bit extra care. Wouldn’t advise them for someone new, but many people keep them without any problems who are a bit more experienced.

Yeah I can see myself changing my mind in a few years if I am still in the hobby.

 

[Mini8leggedfreak]

Don’t be worried about avics. I have lost only 2. One was bad from the start and the other one was stupidity bc I was freaking about it haveing enough humidity.
Throw that bull crap out the window. All I do is make sure they have a water dish(I’ve started glueing the dish up high) and put a few drops of water on the web or side every few days, my room is dry so it works well for me.

I will say that u do need to make sure they have water bud don’t freak out and drench them bc then u will kill them...like I did with one.

They are really amazing and shouldn’t be avoided. I’ve started collecting every kind I can find and they are amazing.

 

[moshpitpanda]

Don’t be worried about avics. I have lost only 2. One was bad from the start and the other one was stupidity bc I was freaking about it haveing enough humidity.
Throw that bull crap out the window. All I do is make sure they have a water dish(I’ve started glueing the dish up high) and put a few drops of water on the web or side every few days, my room is dry so it works well for me.

I will say that u do need to make sure they have water bud don’t freak out and drench them bc then u will kill them...like I did with one.

They are really amazing and shouldn’t be avoided. I’ve started collecting every kind I can find and they are amazing.

I agree that they probably are amazing. I am super inexperienced though so probably beneficial to the animal that I hold off on anything advanced for a while.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Some are less forgiving of husbandry errors than others, H. maculata spring to mind, one of mine died because I kept it too dry (ironically because I was worried about keeping it too wet).

Avics and their ilk are actually pretty hardy if you get the ventilation right.

 

[weibkreux]

Can an Avic survive at a constant 26-30 degree Celsius temperature? Same with the C. versicolor? Especially in the summer when temperatures go up here in the tropics. Just curious.

 

[Rittdk01]

I’ve never had any problems with avics. I also have 2 T stirmi, which are supposedly hard to keep, but are as easy as all my others. Granted I made special Rubbermaid enclosures and really studied up at the beginning, but they couldn’t be simpler ime.

 

[moshpitpanda]

I’ve never had any problems with avics. I also have 2 T stirmi, which are supposedly hard to keep, but are as easy as all my others. Granted I made special Rubbermaid enclosures and really studied up at the beginning, but they couldn’t be simpler ime.

Right now anything that requires a lot of consistantly moist sub spooks me out..just seems so delicate. Would love a t stirmi in the future though, I hear they are fast growers!

 

[Dennis Nedry]

It’s probably more of a case of hobbyists having not perfected their care. Apparently some of the Phrixotrichus don’t seem to do well in captivity but it’s probabky just down to how people keep them

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Can an Avic survive at a constant 26-30 degree Celsius temperature? Same with the C. versicolor? Especially in the summer when temperatures go up here in the tropics. Just curious.

Yeah, I used to keep mine at a constant 28°C through winter. Ventilation is the main thing to get right.

 

[lostbrane]

Some are less forgiving of husbandry errors than others, H. maculata spring to mind, one of mine died because I kept it too dry (ironically because I was worried about keeping it too wet).

I may have just gotten lucky but my H. mac seems to be a tank and I was keeping it lightly moist for a while there. When I read up on their care before I got it I must have missed the posts saying they are less forgiving . Anyways, it’s fine I have given it more moisture since then and I’ve gotten 3 molts out of it so yeah...

Right now anything that requires a lot of consistantly moist sub spooks me out..just seems so delicate. Would love a t stirmi in the future though, I hear they are fast growers!

Can at first but with more time/experience and research moist sub isn’t that scary

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I may have just gotten lucky but my H. mac seems to be a tank and I was keeping it lightly moist for a while there. When I read up on their care before I got it I must have missed the posts saying they are less forgiving

I have seen several posts on here saying they're pretty fragile as slings (might be mentioned more in "should I get a Togo Starburst as my first tarantula" posts), I know someone said they'd had trouble keeping them alive on anything other than dry sub but I can't for the life of me remember who.

 

[MetalMan2004]

My versicolors are picky eaters and one is a picky drinker. They don’t like to come out of their webs for eating or drinking which makes it tough sometimes. Never had an issue with stirmis. Moisten sub once a week or so and no problems. I have an H Mac coming Friday so we’ll see how that goes!

 

[Venom1080]

There's definitely some species that die more frequently, even in the hands of experienced keepers. Lampropelma being one.. but you have to wonder if it's the spider, or if there something special we don't know about the husbandry.

Some extremely high elevation species like Hapalotremus, or Euathlus sp that experience very cold weather would be hard to have thrive in captivity.

@OP, just err on the dry side with them. I keep them completely dry even as slings. Full water dish and overflow once in a while will do it just fine.

 

[EtienneN]

I lost an Avicularia avicularia that got stuck in its moult even with appropriate humidity and plenty of ventilation. I honestly think it was just a weak sling even though it behaved normally. Sometimes tarantulas through no fault of the keeper just don’t make it to adulthood. It doesn’t mean that the whole species is too delicate to keep just that Nature has its way.

 

[FrDoc]

If you pay attention to the folks here, even just perusing the forums that interest you, you will find T keeping is not rocket science. If you’re going to lay down the cash for a spider, I’m thinking you should be interested enough to research the particular specimen of interest. It is apparent you care by posting this thread. The only thing I suggest is not falling into the group of keepers who set up enclosures that look like an ICU room, monitors, gauges, lights, etc.. However, although not practical for keeping spiders, they are still pretty funny to see.

 

[Sarkhan42]

T. seladonia took a while to get down from my understanding. They require Lichen etc to build their trapdoor, and did not do well without it. Regrettably have not kept them myself, so I can't comment from experience how they are.