By Tooth or by Hair- Old Worlds or New Worlds

[Beary Strange]

From the title I thought this would be a 'would you prefer to be bitten or haired' thread.

I love both Old and New Worlds. I don't get the collections that are pigeon-holed into a specific type; I like variety. Looks and behavior are both traits I look for in a tarantula, so while I love Poecs, I could never have just Poecs or even just OWs. I couldn't do without the big personalities a lot of the NWs have.

 

[Storm76]

I have mostly NWs, most of which the kind with urticating bristles. However, a good bunch of them rarely (if ever) kicks hair:

* B. smithi
* B. auratum (even during maintenance, she usually just moves out of the way - unless I have to prod her away, that's a recipe for her kicking)
* Homoeomma sp. "blue" (only seen my female kick once, the rest of the time she either runs or tries to bite )
* E. sp. "red"
* Obviously the Avics usually don't kick, except for my A. versicolor female who has become experienced to do so after the dud-sac she had

The few OWs I keep are, admittedly, without the "annoyance" of getting haired, but in comparison I'm being double cautious when dealing with them. I'd rather avoid a bite from either of them, since those I do own are the "medically significant" venom-type


Overall, I really think it comes down to a) what you can endure and b) are willing to risk. In any case - with respect and enough caution you won't get haired or bitten really IMO. The times I got haired, usually were the times I had to rehouse one particular stubborn specimen. Or looking funny at my B. boehmei - he's moddy like hell: Sometime he'll kick just because I do look at him, sometimes I can literally shove him out of the way and he doesn't even move.

 

[Enn49]

We have both OW and NW and up to now we have had no bad experiences with either.

OW
P. vittata (6.5") - is extremely calm and has never shown any defensiveness.
P. metallica (1.5") - has no fear but never threatens.

NW
OBT (4") - spends most of her time hidden away in her web but if she is out she'll dart away when her viv is open rather than kick hairs.
G.rosea (3") - very placid
2 x L.parahybana (1") - one is quite bold but runs to hide if disturbed and the other is very shy, spending most of it's time in it's burrow

They were all chosen for their looks but all respected for the harm they could do.

 

[edgeofthefreak]

To Enn49: Your OBT (Pterinochilus murinus) should be under OW in your list.

 

[Rayenicole]

I have a varied collection of 39 OW and NW. I love the variety offered in the hobby and every time I try to pick a favorite type I find that I love them all.

I go in cycles when I purchase, I typically try and obtain a tarantula that is different from what I already have (or repurchase a species if my slings turned out to be males). I was originally uninterested in dwarf species or Pelinobius muticus but now I want to purchase both.

So far my OW T's haven't been too troublesome, except for my P. metallica juvenile. She's a monster and has tried to take me out on a few occasions.. lol. My NW terrestrials only make me itch when I do something silly, like dig out a container after rehousing with bare hands. My Theraphosa stirmi did cause a lot of problems for my eyes and allergies but I stuck through it and now I find that I have grown fairly resistant to their bristles.

 

[cold blood]

NW
OBT (4") - spends most of her time hidden away in her web but if she is out she'll dart away when her viv is open rather than kick hairs.

OBT has no hairs to kick, as it is OW, not NW. Its also got pretty potent venom, too.

 

[Enn49]

To Enn49: Your OBT (Pterinochilus murinus) should be under OW in your list.

Oops, silly me

---------- Post added 08-02-2014 at 10:07 PM ----------

OBT has no hairs to kick, as it is OW, not NW. Its also got pretty potent venom, too.

I know about the venom and treatment needed in case of a bite. As for the hairs, I didn't think they had any until my son got some in his nose as he moved her into her viv the day she came.

 

[Beary Strange]

I know about the venom and treatment needed in case of a bite. As for the hairs, I didn't think they had any until my son got some in his nose as he moved her into her viv the day she came.

If he really got hairs up his nose, it wasn't from your OBT. They do not have urticating hairs, period.

 

[lacrosse5001]

In regards to being bitten over being haired, I'd have to choose the bite, but not for the reason you think. Being bitten is something, like Poec54 said, that can be much more reliably avoided with proper precautions. However, being haired is a lot harder to avoid, as it can happen during less than strenuous circumstances, like feeding or minor tank maintenance. Yes, being bitten sucks, but it's a lot easier to avoid if you're careful and respectful.

In terms of old world vs new world, I'd have to say old. My experience in the old world is limited, but I love the variation they have. Yes, NW's have big color variation, but it seems to me that OW's have many different shapes as well as colors. Some have fat legs, skinny legs, lots of fur, velvety exoskeletons, round abdomens, oval abdomens, horns, etc. I love NW's for all their colors, but the form differences from H. maculata to a king baboon to a P. ornata just fascinates me.

 

[Enn49]

If he really got hairs up his nose, it wasn't from your OBT. They do not have urticating hairs, period.

It puzzled me, we only had the P.vittata at the time and the tiny C. fasciatum that came with the OBT but I dealt with that one.

 

[Jones0911]

Tell me folks, which do you prefer? The colorful, wild, but dangerously bitey Old Worlds? Or the large, facinating, and "hair raising" New Worlds?

Me personally, I'd rather dodge fang over fire. I'm a tad frightened by those flying fiberglassish hair spikes! Plus, the Old Worlds are so beautiful, I'm a big fan of baboons and all the mean and beauty they have to offer.

I've never been able to decide which group I love better., since I've never felt the effects of hairs or fangs first hand I've never been turned off by either group.

How can any one not love those bright orange OBTs but then on the other hand you have all the gorgeous red/oranges in the bracky family.

That's just an example, there seems to be an equivalent to every hair kicker in the old world species.

 

[viper69]

but I love the variation they have. Yes, NW's have big color variation, but it seems to me that OW's have many different shapes as well as colors. Some have fat legs, skinny legs, lots of fur, velvety exoskeletons, round abdomens, oval abdomens, horns, etc. I love NW's for all their colors, but the form differences

A person can find all those traits in NW too, even horns

 

[David VB]

I just seem to like all of them..

 

[Poec54]

A person can find all those traits in NW too, even horns

Not horns; one Central American species has a little smooth black button on it's carapace, nothing as developed and protruding as a Ceratogyrus marshalli or darling has.

 

[GPWSGM]

I prefer both old and new world. The old world variety are more vicious in my opinion.

 

[Storm76]

Not horns; one Central American species has a little smooth black button on it's carapace, nothing as developed and protruding as a Ceratogyrus marshalli or darling has.

You referring to Sphaerobothria hoffmanni?

 

[Poec54]

You referring to Sphaerobothria hoffmanni?

Yes. The one NW I know of that's at all like Ceratogyrus, but it's pretty scarce and pricey over here.

 

[freedumbdclxvi]

OW. While I have both, I prefer not dealing with the hairs.

 

[Pociemon]

The choice for me is not an optional one. I cant deal with the hairs, so i go with the other ones with the more nasty bites..... It is ok as it is the ones i like the most, but there are some NW´s i would like to have though.

 

[Poec54]

OW. While I have both, I prefer not dealing with the hairs.

It does get old at times. Certainly can see how it works well for them in the wild. Ever since I unpacked 200 w/c Avics for a local reptile dealer a month ago (heretofore known as the 'Avicularia Incident'), my wrists have been itching daily, even when I don't work with my NW's, and even on the odd day I don't work any spiders. Once you get sensitized, things can change.