Augacephalus sp (golden baboons) - South Africa's fussy freak?

[charm271]

I was looking for information on this genus on youtube and I came across this video (skip to 26 minute mark).

[YOUTUBE]7cwO4708Bms[/YOUTUBE]

Some things in the video confused me. Should they really be so cavalier in handling this tarantula, does it have potent venom like other old world species? Second, they take 5 or more years to make their burrows? Would they really be that fussy about their homes? Would they be extinct by now if they took so long to make their homes and were as fussy as this video indicates? Does anyone have information/experience with this genus, I can't even find a care sheet for them.

 

[freedumbdclxvi]

My experience with them is limited, as I have only had them for a few months. That said, both of mine burrowed within a few days. I gave them around 7-9" of substrate and a water dish, and they seem to be thriving. As far as handling goes, since they are old world, I do not handle mine. I will say both *seem* to be less defensive than, say, an OBT or King (or even my M balfouri), but I won't risk a bite handling. Both are excellent eaters, too.

 

[Formerphobe]

I have zero experience with them, but am hopeful of changing that. If they are like most burrowers, they are constantly making improvements on their burrows. Especially if they stay in the same one they start out in as slings. As they grow, modifications have to be made. Another consideration would be soil consistency. If very hard-packed soil, it might take the hardiest burrower time to excavate to its liking.

Many spiders, once coerced out of their comfort zone (burrow), sort of chill out and are not so defensive. I don't know that I would want to risk a bite though.

 

[Ceratogyrus]

I didn't watch the video (will see if I get a gap tomorrow to do so), but they definitely don't take 5 years to dig a burrow.
As for the bite, these are generally not very defensive. I have handled them on numerous occasions (sometimes directly after being tickled from their burrows in the wild), and have only received one bite. It was an adult female that managed to sink her one fang into my thumb and the other fang penetrated the joint on my knuckle. She had her fangs in my thumb for a good 3 seconds before she calmly pulled them out and continued on her merry way. After about 5 minutes my thumb swelled to the point where I could not bend it. Here was mild pain for about an hour and the swelling died down a few hours later. Had pins and needles in the finger for a day and no other effects. Pretty sure it was not a dry bite, and I understand that venom could affect different people in different ways, but would not consider it a high venom potency.

 

[spiderengineer]

its not so much they are fussy about making a new home its more about how its not natural for them to move out of a burrow. burrowing T's are not like orb weaver that make new webs once the old ones is messed up. most burrowing T will stay in one burrow they make for the rest of their life and just make it bigger as the get older. I see this with my haplopelmas and trapdoors spider as they get bigger. so its not natural for them to ever leave it unless they are attack by predators and have to escape. also factor in that it doesn't rain all the time in Africa so the soil can be loosen up to make a new burrow. then you can understand how bad it is for an older T to wander around for a new spot to make a burrow when their are predators out their and its exposed.

as far as handling this guys life work is basically relocating these guys so I think we can safely say he has experience in dealing and handling these guys.

 

[Ceratogyrus]

Had a look at the video now.
Their range is a bit bigger than 300km (Radius 150km). As for the comment of the burrow taking so long to dig, think it may just have been worded wrong. These spiders apparently do stay in the same burrow for numerous years. Every year during the rainy season when the ground becomes softer, they would extend and widen their burrow as they moult. This would probably go on for their whole lives, so technically you could say it takes them 20 years to dig a burrow.

 

[spiderengineer]

Had a look at the video now.
Their range is a bit bigger than 300km (Radius 150km). As for the comment of the burrow taking so long to dig, think it may just have been worded wrong. These spiders apparently do stay in the same burrow for numerous years. Every year during the rainy season when the ground becomes softer, they would extend and widen their burrow as they moult. This would probably go on for their whole lives, so technically you could say it takes them 20 years to dig a burrow.

Yeah the show while technically explained it right in one sense did not make the understanding clear enough. Also he is doing what a lot of us do in regards for burrowing T's. that is making pre-made burrows for them in their enclosures. however the rain technique to get it to come up might be a good way for when burrowing T's need to be rehouse, might have to try that. obviously not with sling to dangerous but bigger ones definitely.

 

[Ceratogyrus]

The soil that they are found in here in SA is pretty hard and compacted compared to peat that most people use.
With the years of silk in the burrows and the hard soil, I think the water would force them out in the wild as shown in the video.
In captivity, I think that the peat would soak most of the water in, so you would need enough water to saturate all the peat in the enclosure and then it would only start pushing them out. Probably easier to just dig the spiders out in captivity when rehousing needs to be done.

 

[spiderengineer]

true but since we are not pouring around the burrow and instead pouring inside. you would be amazed how durable and how solid the burrow inside is compared to outside. so if you are only pouring it inside the burrow like he did then it might work. not to mention its not like he was flooding the whole hole he was just using like a trickle so it might be possible. the only way of course is to try and see.

 

[Ceratogyrus]

Yeah, might work. Usually just easier to dig out IMO.
Give it a try and let us know if it works.

 

[spiderengineer]

Yeah, might work. Usually just easier to dig out IMO.
Give it a try and let us know if it works.

honestly digging them out for me has always been problematic, but I guess some are better then other. I will give this a try, but it wont be for a while none of mine need to be rehouse