Chilobrachys sp. “Electric Blue” a Suitable First OW Tarantula?

[Teds ts and Inverts]

Hi all,
I was curious if a Chilobrachys sp. “Electric Blue” could make a decent first OW T. I have a B. hamorii and a T. stirmi as my only 2 Ts (Parents got a limit), just for reference. I am also receiving 2 Scolopendra heros specimens soon, and I’ve worked with other Centipede species before, so I have experience with faster, more defensive inverts. And just for clarification, Chilobrachys require moist substrate, correct? Since I have a T. stirmi, I don’t think this will be an issue, if so. Thx everyone!

 

[antinous]

I’d go with something more ‘calmer’. Both species you currently have aren’t anywhere near as flighty as a Chilobrachys. I know you said you have experience with faster inverts, but T’s are just a bit different. If you’re deadset in getting an OW, I’d go with Ceratogyrus, Monocentropus or Harpactira.

 

[wingedcoatl]

If you're looking at starter OWs, Eucratoscelus and Augacephalus are supposed to be good too, I think.

 

[lazarus]

All OW terrestrials have about the same level of difficulty.

Chilobrachys require moist substrate, correct?

Yes, moist and deep, they will burrow.

 

[The Seraph]

All OW terrestrials have about the same level of difficulty.


Yes, moist and deep, they will burrow.

There is no 'level of difficulty'. Some keepers may be able to handle Old Worlds better then other people. It depends on the tarantula's hardiness and its nature. Some people might handle flighty species better than others and some people might handle defensive species better then others. If we were to consider some species more difficult to care for than others, then yes, some Old Worlds are more difficult to care for than others. P. metallica is harder to care for than M. balfouri, just like A. avic is harder to care for than B. albopilosum.

 

[lazarus]

If we were to consider some species more difficult to care for than others, then yes, some Old Worlds are more difficult to care for than others. P. metallica is harder to care for than M. balfouri, just like A. avic is harder to care for than B. albopilosum.

I was referring only to Old World terrestrials. P. metallica is not a terrestrial, is it?
Are Chilobrachys harder to keep than M. balfouri or any Ceratogyrus? From my personal experience they are not,
I have 4 species of Chilobrachys (huahini, fimbriatus, sp. "Electric Blue", sp. Kaeng Krachan), 3 Ceratogyrus species (darlingi, marshalli and sanderi) and an M. balfouri. The only difference is that Chilobrachys need moist substrate while the others like it dry, does this make them more difficult to keep, in my opinion it does not. Besides this, in terms of speed and defensiveness they are about the same.

 

[antinous]

I was referring only to Old World terrestrials. P. metallica is not a terrestrial, is it?
Are Chilobrachys harder to keep than M. balfouri or any Ceratogyrus? From my personal experience they are not,
I have 4 species of Chilobrachys (huahini, fimbriatus, sp. "Electric Blue", sp. Kaeng Krachan), 3 Ceratogyrus species (darlingi, marshalli and sanderi) and an M. balfouri. The only difference is that Chilobrachys need moist substrate while the others like it dry, does this make them more difficult to keep, in my opinion it does not. Besides this, in terms of speed and defensiveness they are about the same.

They’re not harder to keep, but they are flightier. Sure if given enough sub they would rather retreat. But based on the species the OP had kept, I could see him being overwhelmed with the speed when trying to rehouse. IMO, it would be good to start with a less flightier OW or a flightier NW.

 

[Teds ts and Inverts]

I’d go with something more ‘calmer’. Both species you currently have aren’t anywhere near as flighty as a Chilobrachys. I know you said you have experience with faster inverts, but T’s are just a bit different. If you’re deadset in getting an OW, I’d go with Ceratogyrus, Monocentropus or Harpactira.

Ok, I definitely agree that Theraphosa and Brachypelma are not overly flighty, especially compared to an OW terrestrial anyways. So you think that an H. pulchripes or an M. balfouri would make a better first OW T?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

All OW terrestrials have about the same level of difficulty.

Doesn't exist something like that... OW's T's are either obligate burrowers or arboreals.

A lot of people consider the obligate burrowers/fossorial T's as 'terrestrials', but they aren't. No OW's 'terrestrial' could thrive in the classic set up (set up, not parameters) provided to (mere example) a Brachypelma species, for that all of those spiders needs inches of substrate... they burrow, even if certain species (say Ceratogyrus) are less 'reclusive' and less burrowing loving maniacs than others (like 'haplo', P.muticus, H.gigas etc are).

While someone may say that 'obligate burrowers' and 'terrestrials' Theraphosidae are the same because both lives in the dirt and not upon a tree, it's always best to separate that into the three, historically accepted, terms: terrestrials, arboreals, fossorials/obligate burrowers.

After all, a Brachypelma species that in the wild burrow, can thrive perfectly in captivity without that option, but an OW fossorial (or certain NW's fossorials, like M.robustum) can't thrive without having the possibility to burrow.

 

[lazarus]

they are flightier

From my experience they are comparable.

Doesn't exist something like that... OW's T's are either obligate burrowers or arboreals.

A lot of people consider the obligate burrowers /fossorial T's as 'terrestrials', but they aren't.

I consider fossorial to be a subtype of terrestrial, with very few exceptions all terrestrials in the wild will live in burrows. But this is really irrelevant for this topic.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Chilobrachys require moist substrate, correct?

I will tell you what I've told to another user a couple of days ago -- notably, interested in Chilobrachys specimens as well.

I'm lazy, so a screenshot

 

[Teds ts and Inverts]

I will tell you what I've told to another user a couple of days ago -- notably, interested in Chilobrachys specimens as well.

I'm lazy, so a screenshot

View attachment 296173

Haha, no problem! I did the same thing with my stirmi, set up the enclosure a week before I got the T, to make sure moisture and ventilation levels were correct. Thx again

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Besides this, in terms of speed and defensiveness they are about the same.

Na, Asian fossorials are much faster and nastier than any of the African species I've worked with.

 

[viper69]

Hi all,
I was curious if a Chilobrachys sp. “Electric Blue” could make a decent first OW T. I have a B. hamorii and a T. stirmi as my only 2 Ts (Parents got a limit), just for reference. I am also receiving 2 Scolopendra heros specimens soon, and I’ve worked with other Centipede species before, so I have experience with faster, more defensive inverts. And just for clarification, Chilobrachys require moist substrate, correct? Since I have a T. stirmi, I don’t think this will be an issue, if so. Thx everyone!

Terrible first OW. Get a Ceratogyrus, or I. mira or M. balfouri. Cerato's are your best bet.

 

[Teds ts and Inverts]

Terrible first OW. Get a Ceratogyrus, or I. mira or M. balfouri. Cerato's are your best bet.

Like the advice, very blunt, hahaha . In all seriousness, do you think an H. pulchripes would be a good beginner OW?

 

[viper69]

Like the advice, very blunt, hahaha . In all seriousness, do you think an H. pulchripes would be a good beginner OW?

Thanks I don't have time to tell bedtime stories here. Just direct, why use a lot of words, and waste your time and mine, when one will work.

H. pul. No... I provided the 3 best genera for you.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Like the advice, very blunt, hahaha . In all seriousness, do you think an H. pulchripes would be a good beginner OW?

Man... listen. It's all about three things:

A) The 'know how', which in this case means the set up and parameters, which means that substrate should be moist (not wet, never wet) and that you should provide, at least, 6/7 inches of substrate for burrow (assuming a juve/adult specimen). Ventilation is key, obviously, so drill those holes

B) Attention, and be careful, always. But you know this.

C) Nothing else.

Therefore, if you really want that spider, go for it... only you knows if you can deal or not with that.

'O fai l'Italia o muori' means 'Make Italy, or die', and it's used when the situation require a bit of decision, 'courage' etc

 

[Teds ts and Inverts]

Thanks I don't have time to tell bedtime stories here. Just direct, why use a lot of words, and waste your time and mine, when one will work.

H. pul. No... I provided the 3 best genera for you.

Yup of course. And alrighty, I’ll probably get an M. balfouri when the time’s right. I know I’ll be up to the task

Man... listen. It's all about three things:

A) The 'know how', which in this case means the set up and parameters, which means that substrate should be moist (not wet, never wet) and that you should provide, at least, 6/7 inches of substrate for burrow (assuming a juve/adult specimen). Ventilation is key, obviously, so drill those holes

B) Attention, and be careful, always. But you know this.

C) Nothing else.

Therefore, if you really want that spider, go for it... only you knows if you can deal or not with that.

'O fai l'Italia o muori' means 'Make Italy, or die', and it's used when the situation require a bit of decision, 'courage' etc

Alright, and thanks man

I’m most likely going to get an M. balfouri as my first OW instead. Thanks everyone for their input and kind advice!

 

[antinous]

Ok, I definitely agree that Theraphosa and Brachypelma are not overly flighty, especially compared to an OW terrestrial anyways. So you think that an H. pulchripes or an M. balfouri would make a better first OW T?

Either would work, but if you want to save on the $, Ceratogyrus sp. would be your best bet. You can get a couple dif. species of them for the price of either of the two mentioned T's.

 

[Teds ts and Inverts]

Either would work, but if you want to save on the $, Ceratogyrus sp. would be your best bet. You can get a couple dif. species of them for the price of either of the two mentioned T's.

Certainly, but I got a limit on the amount of Ts I can keep, so I’m tryning to fill up those slots with beautiful looking species, so I’m most likely going to get an M. balfouri. I just find them more attractive than the Ceratogyrus sp.