Baboons and Ceratogyrus?

[viper69]

I'm curious. I've only owned 2 species from Africa. An OBT, as gorgeous as it was "mean", and Ceratogyrus genus (the rear horned facing species). In general, do all the baboon species out of Africa have the same temperament, w/the exception being the OBT as most defensive/aggressive?

 

[Poec54]

They vary, different degrees of speed and defensiveness. Old World T's don't have urticating hairs, and there are a lot of predators that eat tarantulas. If they were slow and docile like most Aphonopelma and Brachypelma, they would have been extinct long ago. Tarantulas have adapted to every part of their habitat. Their behavior and physical characteristics have all been fine-tuned over thousands of years. It's what works.

 

[McGuiverstein]

From what I have read, Ceratogyrus are supposed to be good starter baboons because they are generally less defensive than other African species, and have reportedly (emphasis on "reportedly" for those who like to throw around the "where are your peer reviewed scientific publications" crap) weaker venom than other OW species. My female would beg to differ where defensiveness is concerned. Our last rehousing session was an entertaining hey-let's-bite-and-slap-everything-within-range-and-run-around-like-an-idiot game. My other two darlingi slings are still up in the air, although my ~1.5" supposed male gave me a full threat pose when it was a .5-.75" sling.

Compared to my large darlingi, my larger murinus is a sweetheart. I've only gotten one full display from him, and that's after he ran and hid and curled up into a little ball. My younger (suspected female) seems to be a runner too, although I haven't had to deal with her much yet.

So I guess what I'm saying is individuals vary greatly, and "general" attitude isn't always so general.

From what I have read, however, P. murinus is not considered to be the worst of the baboons. Its well known reputation for a nasty temperament may be largely due to the fact that it is so prolific in the hobby. From what I understand, species in the Stromatopelminae subfamily (e.g. S. calceatum and H. maculata) are reported (there's that word again) to have the worst venom of the baboons. They are also incredibly fast, and prone to defensive behavior. I can't speak on them from personal experience though, having never owned either species.

P. muticus is the baboon that I have seen consistently described as excessively nasty. While they're more brutes than anything else, they're very defensive and unlikely to back down from a threat. Their venom is described as extremely strong, and the size of the fangs of a larger individual are enough to give them my respect. My 1.5" juvie hasn't shown me a threat yet, but it's still young. Just want to throw in that the little guy is already one of my favorite spiders in my collection.

Hope that helps.

 

[viper69]

They vary, different degrees of speed and defensiveness. Old World T's don't have urticating hairs, and there are a lot of predators that eat tarantulas. If they were slow and docile like most Aphonopelma and Brachypelma, they would have been extinct long ago. Tarantulas have adapted to every part of their habitat. Their behavior and physical characteristics have all been fine-tuned over thousands of years. It's what works.

Yeah I've read that hypothesis as well re: disposition and lack of urticating hairs for the OW species

---------- Post added 11-06-2013 at 09:09 AM ----------

From what I have read, Ceratogyrus are supposed to be good starter baboons because they are generally less defensive than other African species, and have reportedly (emphasis on "reportedly" for those who like to throw around the "where are your peer reviewed scientific publications" crap) weaker venom than other OW species. My female would beg to differ where defensiveness is concerned. Our last rehousing session was an entertaining hey-let's-bite-and-slap-everything-within-range-and-run-around-like-an-idiot game. My other two darlingi slings are still up in the air, although my ~1.5" supposed male gave me a full threat pose when it was a .5-.75" sling.

Compared to my large darlingi, my larger murinus is a sweetheart. I've only gotten one full display from him, and that's after he ran and hid and curled up into a little ball. My younger (suspected female) seems to be a runner too, although I haven't had to deal with her much yet.

So I guess what I'm saying is individuals vary greatly, and "general" attitude isn't always so general.

From what I have read, however, P. murinus is not considered to be the worst of the baboons. Its well known reputation for a nasty temperament may be largely due to the fact that it is so prolific in the hobby. From what I understand, species in the Stromatopelminae subfamily (e.g. S. calceatum and H. maculata) are reported (there's that word again) to have the worst venom of the baboons. They are also incredibly fast, and prone to defensive behavior. I can't speak on them from personal experience though, having never owned either species.

P. muticus is the baboon that I have seen consistently described as excessively nasty. While they're more brutes than anything else, they're very defensive and unlikely to back down from a threat. Their venom is described as extremely strong, and the size of the fangs of a larger individual are enough to give them my respect. My 1.5" juvie hasn't shown me a threat yet, but it's still young. Just want to throw in that the little guy is already one of my favorite spiders in my collection.

Hope that helps.

Thanks, this was helpful. I heard the same thing regarding Ceratogyrus as a starter genus too. Mine was decent, just defensive, but nothing to speak of. I may be getting a C. marshalli. I can't imagine disposition across the horned baboon species varies all that much, but I could be wrong.


Good point on OBTs being more prolific as possible reason for its rep! I've heard the same about maculata too..shame because they are beautiful!

Eh, I don't care about individuals being good or not, I know that. I'm interested in the general consensus, that's more important to me.

Quite helpful..thanks

 

[Poec54]

Yeah I've read that hypothesis as well re: dispostion and lack of urticating hairs for the OW species

It's not a hypothesis. It's a fact. Most OW's are more defensive, faster, and have stronger venoms than than majority of NW's. Some of the fastest and most defensive NW's are Psalmopoeus (which also have a more painful bite than most NW's), and interestingly they have no urticating hairs.

 

[viper69]

It's not a hypothesis. It's a fact. Most OW's are more defensive, faster, and have stronger venoms than than majority of NW's. Some of the fastest and most defensive NW's are Psalmopoeus (which also have a more painful bite than most NW's), and interestingly they have no urticating hairs.

This is a fact > "Most OW's are more defensive, faster, and have stronger venoms than the majority of NW's"

This is a "hypothesis"/speculation > OW's have the above features you mentioned because they don't have urticating hairs.

That's what I was referring to, not OW T traits.

As for NW Ts, don't forget, Psalmo's aren't the only NW Ts without urticating hairs.

 

[Poec54]

As for NW Ts, don't forget, Psalmo's aren't the only NW Ts without urticating hairs.

No, there's also the closely-related Taps.

 

[Ceratogyrus]

I find my Augacephalus and C.darlingi are the least prone to bite (And their venom is not bad at all)
All of my marshalli are generally skittish compared to my other Ceratogyrus species.

 

[viper69]

No, there's also the closely-related Taps.

Correct, all of the species within the New World theraphosid subfamily, Ischnocolinae, and some of the Aviculariinae, lack
urticating hairs. All species within the aviculariine genus Psalmopoeus and Tapinauchenius lack urticating hairs

---------- Post added 11-06-2013 at 10:49 AM ----------

I find my Augacephalus and C.darlingi are the least prone to bite (And their venom is not bad at all)
All of my marshalli are generally skittish compared to my other Ceratogyrus species.

Thanks for the help!