B. Hamorii temperament and life expectancy after reaching 6"

[kerplunk]

Always dreamed of keeping a Mexican Red Knee even before entering the hobby so due to availability here in the Philippines, I am going with a B. Hamorii (true Smithi/Annita is very hard to come by). I have decided to go with an adult/matured female since reading about the archaic growth rates of this species. I'm also thinking its a good idea since my other T's are are sub adults, might as well try getting a full adult now. Given that, I have some concerns though.

I am going to be purchasing a B. Hamorii Female that literally just reached 6" after her molt last week. I just want to hear experiences as to how much longer they live after reaching such a size and if there are any changes to behavior/temperament.

For temperament, I know they are considered generally docile and more of a pet rock but I've been hearing lots of opinions that they become very defensive/skittish and flick hairs a lot more once they get this big. Temperament is very individual regardless of species yes, but I want to hear the findings of experienced keepers here.

As for the life expectancy, I did go through the thread discussing exactly this topic but didn't find anything about how much longer they live after reaching 6 inches.I know that females are very long-lived but about how many more years do they have after reaching 6"?

And just a side note on the growth rate, the seller also mentioned that he acquired her at 3 inches and was able to reach 6" in a matter of 8 months. We are in the Philippines so it is pretty warm here and she was powerfed according to him. What do you guys think about that?

 

[Greasylake]

true Smithi/Annita is very hard to come by

Well you're not going to find annitha because it's not a valid species anymore. Brachypelma are a pretty long lived species so you can expect to have her for many more years. As for temperament, that depends on the individual. She could be a pet rock or she could be threat posing and flicking hairs, you won't know until you get her. Generally they're not a very high strung species though. 3 inches in 8 months sounds unusually fast for a hamorii.

 

[kerplunk]

Well you're not going to find annitha because it's not a valid species anymore. Brachypelma are a pretty long lived species so you can expect to have her for many more years. As for temperament, that depends on the individual. She could be a pet rock or she could be threat posing and flicking hairs, you won't know until you get her. Generally they're not a very high strung species though. 3 inches in 8 months sounds unusually fast for a hamorii.

Thank you. Yeah, I'm just only starting to understand the changes to the names and from how I see it, Smithi used to be Annitha which is the Giant Red Knee am I correct? Wanted to go with Smithi but that's almost impossible here since availability is next to none. Everyone has Hamorii.. I was surprised about the growth rate he was able to achieve as well. When I read about that, I immediately took to this forum for validation. I've been reading that growth really tanks after reaching 3+ inches but then again, a lot of factors are considered. The only ones I can think of are temps since its pretty hot here and powerfeeding.

 

[Greasylake]

Smithi used to be Annitha which is the Giant Red Knee am I correct?

annitha became smithi and smithi became hamorii, I don't know what the common names for them are to be honest, I never bother to learn them.

Smithi but that's almost impossible here since availability is next to none.

True smithi are rare pretty much everywhere else, the species you see most often is hamorii.

I've been reading that growth really tanks after reaching 3+ inches but then again, a lot of factors are considered. The only ones I can think of are temps since its pretty hot here and powerfeeding.

As they get larger their growth rates do tend to slow down, I would expect like one molt per year. I've had a 3 or 4 inch hamorii for at least 6 months and it's showing no signs of premolt. I wouldn't worry so much about growth rate though, at that size it'll be an adult.

 

[kerplunk]

I would expect like one molt per year. I've had a 3 or 4 inch hamorii for at least 6 months and it's showing no signs of premolt.

That's what I've been thinking as well. How are the temps in your country though? And how frequently do you feed yours?

 

[Greasylake]

That's what I've been thinking as well. How are the temps in your country though? And how frequently do you feed yours?

My room is the mid 70s all year. I feed them when they look like they need food, which isn't often.

 

[viper69]

An AF could live 25-30 yrs. They are flicky, mine was quite a bit, but boehmei are the flickiest of them all.

 

[kerplunk]

An AF could live 25-30 yrs. They are flicky, mine was quite a bit, but boehmei are the flickiest of them all.

Thanks for the response. Wow, I thought they were the calmest of the Mexican species. I hope mine will be less flicky. Agree Boehmei are the worst of flickers.

 

[viper69]

Thanks for the response. Wow, I thought they were the calmest of the Mexican species. I hope mine will be less flicky. Agree Boehmei are the worst of flickers.

Nope, Brachy's are the most recognized T to the planet for sure, due to movies/TV. But, it's a total crapshoot as to what disposition you will end up with, and disposition can change over life cycle.

I saw an AF boehmei someone bought, that for whatever reason was not a flicker. I know the former owner, and he told me she never flicked, which is mind blowing.

 

[Vanisher]

I found most of the mexican brachys pretty chill (Exept that harmorii Grym reaper has!) Only Brachy i have seen that was very feisty was a B sabulosum. Yes they van live for 30 years, maybe more?

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Wow, I thought they were the calmest of the Mexican species

Someone please forward the memo that says this to my AF* because she's a psycho.

Update: Still Evil.

• The Grym Reaper
• Aug 10, 2018
• 2
• brachypelma brachypelma hamorii brachypelma smithi hamorii mexican redknee tarantula threat threat pose threat posture

Answering the important questions.

*On second thought, don't, I find her hateful behaviour adorable

I saw an AF boehmei someone bought, that for whatever reason was not a flicker. I know the former owner, and he told me she never flicked, which is mind blowing.

Mine's not a hair kicker either, the only Brachys I keep that have ever kicked hairs at me are my albiceps/albopilosum/vagans, and all three have only done it once.

 

[kerplunk]

Someone please forward the memo that says this to my AF* because she's a psycho.

Update: Still Evil.

• The Grym Reaper
• Aug 10, 2018
• 2
• brachypelma brachypelma hamorii brachypelma smithi hamorii mexican redknee tarantula threat threat pose threat posture

Answering the important questions.

*On second thought, don't, I find her hateful behaviour adorable



Mine's not a hair kicker either, the only Brachys I keep that have ever kicked hairs at me are my albiceps/albopilosum/vagans, and all three have only done it once.

Wow, that's the first time I've seen a Hamorii do a threat pose! The most defensive NW's I've seen so far are P. Cancerides, my Boehmei and my friend's G. Porteri. Were your albiceps/albopilosum/vagans skittish at all? My Boehmei is a pain to deal when doing maintenance. Extremely skittish, slaps at anything that comes near and hairs me the moment I open the enclosure to refill water. It's pretty much like an old world that has urticating setae. I've come to adjust to it though and since Viper69 mentioned its typical for this species. So much to learn in this hobby!

 

[Killertut]

my hamorii subadult female is a flicker.
my 2nd hamorii does not care whatever i do, really relaxed (sling that is starting to show adult colors)

 

[draconisj4]

This is my B. hamorii sling...I get this every time I open the enclosure. This tiny T is the one I get the most threat poses from.. and I have several OW including an OBT.

 

[kerplunk]

This is my B. hamorii sling...I get this every time I open the enclosure. This tiny T is the one I get the most threat poses from.. and I have several OW including an OBT.

View attachment 307264

That is the feistiest looking sling I've seen! Hoping its disposition changes throughout its lifespan.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Wow, that's the first time I've seen a Hamorii do a threat pose!

She used to be my most docile T and then she just had a complete personality switch after a moult, doesn't ever kick hairs, she just goes straight to threat postures/slapping/biting. She's nastier than a lot of my OWs.

Were your albiceps/albopilosum/vagans skittish at all?

The vagans is a skittish pet hole, the albopilosum is generally a sweetheart but does have skittish moments now and again, I've had one threat posture from the albiceps but it's generally just a tad skittish.

My Boehmei is a pain to deal when doing maintenance. Extremely skittish, slaps at anything that comes near and hairs me the moment I open the enclosure to refill water.

Mine is a tad skittish but that's it, she's generally pretty well behaved, I was half-expecting her to be bolting all over the shop and kicking herself bald every chance she got by the way people go on about them

 

[viper69]

Someone please forward the memo that says this to my AF* because she's a psycho.

Update: Still Evil.

• The Grym Reaper
• Aug 10, 2018
• 2
• brachypelma brachypelma hamorii brachypelma smithi hamorii mexican redknee tarantula threat threat pose threat posture

Answering the important questions.

*On second thought, don't, I find her hateful behaviour adorable



Mine's not a hair kicker either, the only Brachys I keep that have ever kicked hairs at me are my albiceps/albopilosum/vagans, and all three have only done it once.

Hogwash! JK, lucky..not me!

 

[weibkreux]

Luckily my hamorii is calm and doesn't flick much. I just need to watch for its feeding response, same with my albopilosum.

 

[Vanisher]

She used to be my most docile T and then she just had a complete personality switch after a moult, doesn't ever kick hairs, she just goes straight to threat postures/slapping/biting. She's nastier than a lot of my OWs.



The vagans is a skittish pet hole, the albopilosum is generally a sweetheart but does have skittish moments now and again, I've had one threat posture from the albiceps but it's generally just a tad skittish.



Mine is a tad skittish but that's it, she's generally pretty well behaved, I was half-expecting her to be bolting all over the shop and kicking herself bald every chance she got by the way people go on about them

Maybe she is schitzofrenic?