Can the Tanzanian chestnut baboon tarantula be kept by a cautious beginner?

[Flyingdrull]

I am new to the tarantula caring hobby and was wondering if I could take care of a Tanzanian chestnut tarantula. I have read that they can be quite skittish and nothing has really be able to tell me if they are ok or not for starters. I am already getting a mexican fireleg and would rather have another tarantula that is not red and faster growing.

If you think i can take care of one with the right precautions, do you have any tips of taking care of one. If you don't think i can take care of one, then can you suggest another tarantulas that i can take care of that are not as red or slow growing?

 

[SlytherinAway]

I'm always the cautious type, so I usually tell newbies to avoid old worlds just because they can be much faster and have more potent venom. Is there a particular reason why you're looking at H. villosella and not a faster-growing new world?

 

[Flyingdrull]

I'm always the cautious type, so I usually tell newbies to avoid old worlds just because they can be much faster and have more potent venom. Is there a particular reason why you're looking at H. villosella and not a faster-growing new world?

well uh... it is just Fear not tarantulas has a thing where you automatically qualify for a freebie of any kind... I think.... correct me if I am wrong. Also I do like that look of them... don't know exactly why I just like them. Also i can't find anything about a bite report so there is nothing I know about its venom

 

[SlytherinAway]

so all old worlds are going to have more potent venom than new worlds. some that can be excruciatingly painful, though none that i've heard of are deadly. I'd recommend getting a new world freebie over an old world, something like a Brachypelma, Tlitocatl, or a Grammastola. If you're looking for a quicker growth rate, maybe something like a T. Vagans (mexican red rump) or a T. albopilosum. I have both and they have a pretty good growth rate for a new world terrestrial

 

[cold blood]

well uh... it is just Fear not tarantulas has a thing where you automatically qualify for a freebie of any kind... I think.... correct me if I am wrong. Also I do like that look of them... don't know exactly why I just like them. Also i can't find anything about a bite report so there is nothing I know about its venom

I'm sure they offer other freebies (what are the other choices). Maybe talk to them and ask, my understanding is that they are pretty reasonable.

 

[Flyingdrull]

so just do all old world have potent venom no matter what? Makes me kind of sad but I will be find with another tarantula.

 

[draconisj4]

so just do all old world have potent venom no matter what? Makes me kind of sad but I will be find with another tarantula.

Yes all old worlds have potent venom. H. villosella is not really a great choice for a beginner. All spiders are individuals and I don't know if this is normal behavior for the species but I raised mine from a tiny sling and I literally never saw it until it emerged from its web castle as a 1.5 inch mature male 6 months later. Old worlds aside, I would think a beginner would like a T they might actually see for a while. I looked through Fear Nots list of freebies and they do have P. cancerides listed as one. While they can have a bit of an attitude they are great spiders. I got one when I was a beginner and I liked him so much I had to get another one.

 

[SlytherinAway]

I'm sure they offer other freebies (what are the other choices). Maybe talk to them and ask, my understanding is that they are pretty reasonable.

https://fearnottarantulas.com/product-category/freetarantulas/

they have T. albo, epicureanum, vagans, and verdezi (why i recommended the vagans and albo) and Brachypelma auratum, boehmei, and smithi. Though if OP is only getting the boehmi (fireleg) they would only qualify for a 50 dollar tier freebie, which is just a T. vagans or a T. albo.

 

[SonsofArachne]

Yes all old worlds have potent venom.

Actually, Orphnaecus philippinus are reported to have mild venom (for a OW), not scientifically tested though so I don't know for sure if this is accurate.

OP - I have 3 Heterothele gabonensis slings, once I got them housed the only time I ever see them is for about 1 second while I'm feeding them. So take that into consideration before getting one

 

[Vanisher]

I am not sure all OW have strong venom? There may be some NW with stronger venom than some OW? I dont know, but this is what i think.

About H villosella. They are a favourite of mine. I would say that for an OW they are the perfect first OW. They are relatively non defenssive and they are small, so whatever ammount of venom they inject IF they bite should be relatively small?. They are fast though, and can be bolty. I dont suggest this speicies for a pure beginner, but after some experience, and the keeper go for his/her first OW, i think they are perfect

 

[jrh3]

I am new to the tarantula caring hobby and was wondering if I could take care of a Tanzanian chestnut tarantula. I have read that they can be quite skittish and nothing has really be able to tell me if they are ok or not for starters. I am already getting a mexican fireleg and would rather have another tarantula that is not red and faster growing.

If you think i can take care of one with the right precautions, do you have any tips of taking care of one. If you don't think i can take care of one, then can you suggest another tarantulas that i can take care of that are not as red or slow growing?

My advice before getting into old worlds would be. Get a few rehouses and transfers under your belt. This is when there is the potential differences from new world and old world. Maybe start with P. Cambridgei, if wanting to go to old world, they are pretty fast. The problem with Old Worlds and beginners is the room for error is less forgiving. GBB is also a fast new world to start with.

with that said, people do start with old worlds as their first Tarantulas, if you live in Australia you have no choice.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Although there are a few beginners that start with OW tarantulas, in general it's really not recommended. There are plenty of new world species that are really beautiful and fascinating, which won't carry the same potential for a serious bite. It's a good idea to at the very least get experience with a few new world species. I actually recommend possibly getting a lasiodora species, since they are more active, and skittish, yet are also hardy and relatively tolerant of mistakes. Of course it all comes down to what you feel comfortable with. Just understand that OWs are much faster and have a more powerful bite since they lack urticating hairs.

 

[RezonantVoid]

I had no choice but to start with old worlds due to location but if i could have, i would definitely have preferred to start with even a single new world. I havnt had any issues yet but MANY close calls

 

[PidderPeets]

As a public service announcement, using the scientific name instead of the common name is much more preferred, since there is no confusing the scientific name, whereas a common name can be made up or be the same for multiple species. For example, I have at least 4 species that can be called "birdeaters", and not one of them is the same species, or what the general population calls a birdeater (Theraphosa blondi)

Just a few of the species available on Fear Not! that are good/acceptable for beginners, faster growing than B. boehmei, and are not red:

Tlitlocatl albopilosum
Grammostola pulchripes
Kochiana brunnipes
Hapalopus sp Colombia large*
Neoholothele incei*
Psalmopoeus cambridgei*

Anything with a "*" is faster than the standard beginner species, but should still be manageable with proper care, and will offer much needed experience for if you ever get into old worlds such as H. villosella

If you're willing to go for species that still have some red in them, Tlitlocatl vagans and Nhandu chromatus would also be good species that are available on Fear Not!. And if you're willing to look on other sources, Lasiodora parahybana would meet your fast growing and not red requirements, as well as being exceptionally cheap

 

[Asgiliath]

Well, technically yes but I wouldn’t recommend it tbh.

I started with common beginner species and then got into the more feisty ones to see what I could get comfortable with (theraphosa, ormictopus, psalmopeus etc.)

I got my first two OW’s last Repticon and I have to say, they still make me sweat at times.

I’d suggest going slow.

 

[Brachyfan]

Well, technically yes but I wouldn’t recommend it tbh.

I started with common beginner species and then got into the more feisty ones to see what I could get comfortable with (theraphosa, ormictopus, psalmopeus etc.)

I got my first two OW’s last Repticon and I have to say, they still make me sweat at times.

I’d suggest going slow.

My slings make me sweat sometimes:wideyed:

 

[Asgiliath]

My slings make me sweat sometimes:wideyed:

I have a hamorii sling of all things that ends up on my hands almost every time I open their condiment cup. I dread maintenance with that one lol

(And I meant PHormictopus obvs. I dunno what happened there.)

 

[Duke1907]

Actually, Orphnaecus philippinus are reported to have mild venom (for a OW), not scientifically tested though so I don't know for sure if this is accurate.

OP - I have 3 Heterothele gabonensis slings, once I got them housed the only time I ever see them is for about 1 second while I'm feeding them. So take that into consideration before getting one

I know this is an older post, but I have an H gabonensis sling about 1/2" to 3/4" inch that I got roughly three months ago. If you are still monitoring these boards, I could use some experience advice with this species. The info seems to be terribly conflicting on them.
Semi arboreal? Terrestrial?Drier sub? Moist? Taller or shorter enclosure? Water dish? No?
The spood seems to be working out decently well in my care, I just want to know if I can help it thrive and if I'm in the ballpark.
Keeping semi arboreal in a 4 oz deli cup with lots of top and cross vent. Water dish. It has web tunnels though not extensive, plenty of anchor points. Seems to take food reasonably well. I know they are lightning fast.
Please help. Any advice welcome, from any experienced keeper.
Thank you.

 

[jrh3]

I know this is an older post, but I have an H gabonensis sling about 1/2" to 3/4" inch that I got roughly three months ago. If you are still monitoring these boards, I could use some experience advice with this species. The info seems to be terribly conflicting on them.
Semi arboreal? Terrestrial?Drier sub? Moist? Taller or shorter enclosure? Water dish? No?
The spood seems to be working out decently well in my care, I just want to know if I can help it thrive and if I'm in the ballpark.
Keeping semi arboreal in a 4 oz deli cup with lots of top and cross vent. Water dish. It has web tunnels though not extensive, plenty of anchor points. Seems to take food reasonably well. I know they are lightning fast.
Please help. Any advice welcome, from any experienced keeper.
Thank you.

Mine are smaller than 1/2” right now but I keep them dry with a water dish in a 5 oz. deli cup.

I set them up like this kinda arboreal. You can see they use the whole space top to bottom.


When they hit 1 inch, I plan to move to a 32 oz deli cup and just mimic this 5 oz but on a larger scale.

From what I have noticed, they are something like a bush webber. If you know what I mean, if they have a lot of anchor points they will probably web it up like crazy. Mine seem to live in the webbing at all times.

 

[Duke1907]

Mine are smaller than 1/2” right now but I keep them dry with a water dish in a 5 oz. deli cup.

I set them up like this kinda arboreal. You can see they use the whole space top to bottom.
View attachment 411000

When they hit 1 inch, I plan to move to a 32 oz deli cup and just mimic this 5 oz but on a larger scale.

From what I have noticed, they are something like a bush webber. If you know what I mean, if they have a lot of anchor points they will probably web it up like crazy. Mine seem to live in the webbing at all times.

Fantastic! Thanks for the info. I got some 32 oz deli cups at the ready. I also got a 4x4x6 acrylic top vent and a 4X4X9 top and side vent that I think could accommodate her very well. I'm thinking of going ahead and rehousing into a larger one now, b/c the water dish I've got in there wicks like crazy and I'm afraid she's getting too much moisture. If she needs drier conditions, I need to remedy that.
Thanks again.