Best Dwarf Species?

[zsiciarz]

Hard to pick, but I'd say ritae. The rarest of the genus here in Poland and quite a display spider

To prove the point, her hide is too shallow for her after last molt, so she hangs out like that all the time.


Bonus photo - my Kochiana brunnipes emerged after another 2.5 months in the lowest depths of Moria.

 

[klawfran3]

Im surprised that no one mentioned Cyclosternum sp. "cundinamarca". This spider has insofar been my favorite dwarf, possibly my favorite T, and I've kept a lot of dwarfs.

They have great colors, a distinctive "lycosid" look, and the defensive behaviors are adorable and second to none. When startled they'll either bolt like a regular T, or they'll stand up on their tiptoes and lift their opisthosoma up into the air to show off the bright orange underside (their common name is the Bolivian Orange Belly for a reason) and then rotate it side to side. Its absolutely adorable! Their bodies seem to be a bit shinier and seem to look "harder," similar to how a lycosid spiders carapace does which is quite unusual and pretty.

Ive heard that they only get 2-3", the female I have is currently only 1.5" and her spermatheca is starting to sclerotize so I think that's an accurate guess. I just ordered a few more in the hopes one is a male to breed, since I'd be heartbroken if they disappeared from the hobby. Fear not has them currently, and they've been on their site for quite a few months so I assume they're not too popular, which is a shame because they're truly a delightful little spider.

 

[FlamingSwampert]

Im surprised that no one mentioned Cyclosternum sp. "cundinamarca". This spider has insofar been my favorite dwarf, possibly my favorite T, and I've kept a lot of dwarfs.

They have great colors, a distinctive "lycosid" look, and the defensive behaviors are adorable and second to none. When startled they'll either bolt like a regular T, or they'll stand up on their tiptoes and lift their opisthosoma up into the air to show off the bright orange underside (their common name is the Bolivian Orange Belly for a reason) and then rotate it side to side. Its absolutely adorable! Their bodies seem to be a bit shinier and seem to look "harder," similar to how a lycosid spiders carapace does which is quite unusual and pretty.

Ive heard that they only get 2-3", the female I have is currently only 1.5" and her spermatheca is starting to sclerotize so I think that's an accurate guess. I just ordered a few more in the hopes one is a male to breed, since I'd be heartbroken if they disappeared from the hobby. Fear not has them currently, and they've been on their site for quite a few months so I assume they're not too popular, which is a shame because they're truly a delightful little spider.

View attachment 459970

Wow, I've never heard of these guys! I wonder if they're new to the hobby, because their price and popularity (or more accurately, lack thereof) indicates that. Good luck on your quest for a male.

To prove the point, her hide is too shallow for her after last molt, so she hangs out like that all the time.
View attachment 459959

Bonus photo - my Kochiana brunnipes emerged after another 2.5 months in the lowest depths of Moria.
View attachment 459960

2.5 months... gotta love fossorial ts

 

[FlamingSwampert]

I’m phobic and can tell you while incei’s are fast they are awesome. I prefer the olive color form over gold but that‘s my taste. They web amazingly and often see mine out and as soon as I touch the enclosure they dive bomb into their web fortress.

Not gonna lie that the speed took some getting used to, you do get accustomed to it as you grow with the spider. Every time I open the enclosure they hide so it makes things easier to deal with. Great eaters to.

Every spider can be hell on wheels fast, that just comes with the package. Incei’s are dirt cheap and fairly hardy to live through most husbandry mistakes IMO. Short lived, so keep that in mind as well.

Anyone here have experience with n. incei? Are they bolty and a pain to deal with?

 

[Wenzer]

Alright, I'm heavily biased at this point... Dolicothele diamantinensis is easily turning into my favorite dwarf (so far). Such gorgeous colors!! Mine was skittish in the beginning but since gaining size she has mellowed out a lot, hardly reacts when I go to open the enclosure, but still has strong reactions to prey and hunting. The crazy webbing is also one of my favorite things about them.

Adding a couple pics from her rehouse tonight, first is raw image just cropped for size. Second image is cropped and has whatever automatic enhancement my phone added to it, but it actually looks closer to what she looks like in person. The raw image is a little lighter/ washed out in comparison to what I see.

 

[SpookySpooder]

Anyone here have experience with n. incei? Are they bolty and a pain to deal with?

Love N. incei. IME they are quite skittish and have a very strong feeding response. It's a very bipolar reaction.

They are quick to shy away from disturbances and will immediately hide rather than bolt. But if a feeder or tong or even water drops so much as twitches their web they immediately turn around and pounce.

I haven't had either one try to run away, but I don't try to poke them either. In terms of flightiness I'm more afraid my OBTs will take off. Luckily they haven't.

 

[sparticus]

My N incei are the same. Very fast, run for their web holes when disturbed. Web up the enclosure pretty thoroughly. Also very hungry, charge at pretty much anything that moves. I haven't found them difficult at all, but mine are both still slings, although they are growing rapidly. I would highly recommend them, they are super active and fun to watch.

Alright, I'm heavily biased at this point... Dolicothele diamantinensis is easily turning into my favorite dwarf (so far). Such gorgeous colors!!

Love my D. Diamentinensis. She is gorgeous, out pretty consistently, webs up everything and is a great little hunter. And such gorgeous color! What's not to love? She's one of my favorites too.

 

[FlamingSwampert]

Anyone with kochiana brunnipes see their ts out in the open at all? I know they're a fossiral t but I wonder if they are out in the open occasionally like some other fossorial ts.

 

[Wenzer]

Anyone with kochiana brunnipes see their ts out in the open at all? I know they're a fossiral t but I wonder if they are out in the open occasionally like some other fossorial ts.

I have one, since her last rehouse I never see her at all. Very secretive!
Prior to rehousing, I would see a leg or something occasionally during feeding, but for the most part mine stayed hidden.

 

[FlamingSwampert]

I have one, since her last rehouse I never see her at all. Very secretive!
Prior to rehousing, I would see a leg or something occasionally during feeding, but for the most part mine stayed hidden.

Good to know, thanks!

 

[zsiciarz]

Anyone with kochiana brunnipes see their ts out in the open at all? I know they're a fossiral t but I wonder if they are out in the open occasionally like some other fossorial ts.

Purchase & rehouse -> 5 months hidden -> two weeks out in the open, took a couple roaches -> 3 months hidden. Now is her second period of visibility this year.

 

[FlamingSwampert]

I think dwarfs are still underrated but now seem to be growing in popularity... perhaps their smaller size coupled with a price usually greater than most "mainstream" ts makes them a "tough sell."

Some breeders out there say they specialize in dwarfs, but they all seem to have at least half of their offerings be "normal" ts... I wonder if it isn't very profitable to exclusively sell dwarf ts. Maybe if there's enough interest this could become a megathread for dwarfs, or at least the go-to thread to raise awareness about dwarf ts.

 

[l4nsky]

I think dwarfs are still underrated but now seem to be growing in popularity... perhaps their smaller size coupled with a price usually greater than most "mainstream" ts makes them a "tough sell."

Some breeders out there say they specialize in dwarfs, but they all seem to have at least half of their offerings be "normal" ts... I wonder if it isn't very profitable to exclusively sell dwarf ts. Maybe if there's enough interest this could become a megathread for dwarfs, or at least the go-to thread to raise awareness about dwarf ts.

IMHO and why I've refrained from attempting to breed dwarf species until now is they take more effort to establish. Feeding a 1/8th inch sling is a PITA and usually involves prekilled prey, which absolutely have to be removed the next day otherwise fungus/mold quickly becomes established and can kill slings that small. Feeding hundreds will be a nightmare.

 

[FlamingSwampert]

Today I got two dwarfs... one n. incei "gold" and one h. formosus "klein". Gotta say, many people skip over the klein for the larger form (which is too large to really be a dwarf) but my 1" juvie seems pretty neat. It's already out 'n about even though it's still in the enclosure the seller kept it in.

 

[FlamingSwampert]

Today I got two dwarfs... one n. incei "gold" and one h. formosus "klein". Gotta say, many people skip over the klein for the larger form (which is too large to really be a dwarf) but my 1" juvie seems pretty neat. It's already out 'n about even though it's still in the enclosure the seller kept it in.

Update: My n. incei sling seems to be out near the opening of it's burrows often, I wonder if this behavior continues into adulthood?

Also, my h. formosus klein has been hiding ever since the night I got it. Has anyone else had this experience? I checked under it's hide when I added a water dish (because I had to move some substrate around) and it looked find, so I wonder if they hide a lot at this size. I've heard that the adults are out often, so I was surprised to discover this behavior.