Curious about Xenesthis genus

[mistertim]

So I was looking around online today thinking about getting a GBB sling as my next addition at some point, perhaps soon. I came across some Xenesthis Ts for sale and thought they were fascinating. I searched around on here and elsewhere and there seems to be some widely varying opinions on these Ts as far as temperament and housing requirements.

Some people said they were a bit skittish but not too defensive and pretty easy to keep. Some said they were definitely not beginner spiders and were very defensive. Some said they need humidity and moist substrate, some said they had the best luck with theirs in a relatively dry setup (and actually had one die due to too much humidity).

I'm not necessarily thinking of getting one right now (even though they really are some absolutely stunning spiders), especially if its definitely not a beginner spider as I only have a B. smithi and A. versicolor (and possibly a GBB soon), but I'm curious as to what the experience is from people here who currently have them regarding temperament and housing. What other genus would you most liken them to?

Thanks!

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Bah. My personal opinion is: buy a Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, because you can't go wrong with a 'GBB'.
However genus Xenesthis isn't an hard one to care for. Dry substrate? Not really. They need a substrate on the moist side (but not like a Theraphosa or Megaphobema one of course).
Temperament? Temperament vary, but they aren't either the "worst" Phormictopus cancerides as well. I view them as a more fast "Genic".
Another thing is (at least here, and for my views about) their price is too much high IMO, probably due to their colours.
However i take a genus Phambobeteus and genus Phormictopus T's anytime instead of a genus Xenesthis one.

Go for it, if you want one... they are cool but i view those as a bit on the overestimated side but that's only my opinion.

 

[cold blood]

IMO Xenesthis sp. are some of the most outright stunning ts on the planet.

They do require moist sub, and can get quite large and have bothersome hairs, as do many of the larger terrestrials. This damper requirement and to a degree rarity and price, are reasons why they would be more of an intermediate t than a beginner. Their temperament can very, as chriclixx mentioned, but I wouldn't expect an exactly laid back spider if I were you....should you get one in the future...cause you totally should at some point. One thing about them is that they tend to grow more slowly than many of the other large terrestrial species, this combined with fairly small sacs and relatively difficult captive breeding (from what I understand), helps keep their prices perpetually high....some in the genus can fetch $3-500 sling....but that's only if you can find them.

 

[peterUK]

I have sub adults of Xenesthis immanis (1.3) and X intermedia (1.1) all raised from slings. I've found them to easy to care for if the substrate is kept slightly damp with a once fortnightly soaking, letting the substrate slowly dry out before resoaking.
They are probably the 2nd most nervous Genus/species (T. apophysis is first) that i keep out of the 75 species that i currently have.

 

[awiec]

Doing your research on where the species comes from is quite handy as you do occasionally get some oddballs of the genus who do better being kept a little different. I understand this genus as a more high strung version of Pamphobeteus, as Pamphos generally become very bold and prefer to "thump" before resorting to hair kicking or biting. I would say get the GBB and then try out a Pampho as they are generally much cheaper and will give you a taste of big South American terrestrials. I have a female who has never kicked and I think this may be because she is big and she knows it so she will tackle and "thump" instead; either that or I'm very good at not scaring her.

 

[mistertim]

Thanks everyone, some really good info here. I'll go ahead and get the GBB and wait for a while, but eventually I know there's no way I'll be able to resist once I have enough experience.

 

[peterUK]

GBB's are a nice species. So nice in fact, that i have 14 AF's

 

[Poec54]

Thanks everyone, some really good info here. I'll go ahead and get the GBB and wait for a while, but eventually I know there's no way I'll be able to resist once I have enough experience.

Good plan. As pricey and rare as Xenesthis are, at least in the US, it's best to have more experience before getting one.

 

[jojobear]

IMO Xenesthis sp. are some of the most outright stunning ts on the planet...helps keep their prices perpetually high....some in the genus can fetch $3-500 sling....but that's only if you can find them.

Just got 2 Xenesthis sp. white from Stamps Tarantulas for less than $250 he has several current ads on here with a coupon code that will save you 30% plus they were on sale. he had 1 Xenesthis intermedia “Amazon blue bloom" for $150, 2 Xenesthis immanis for $90 ea., and 4
Xenesthis immanis “blackfire”

 

[cold blood]

I personally think sp. white and "blackfire" are the least stunning Xenesthis sp.....still really really cool mind you, the others just get my juices going more. Intermedia, sp. blue and regular old X. immanis are my dream spiders.

None-the-less, congrats on your splendid new Xenesthis sp.!

 

[Angel Minkov]

I personally think sp. white and "blackfire" are the least stunning Xenesthis sp.....still really really cool mind you, the others just get my juices going more. Intermedia, sp. blue and regular old X. immanis are my dream spiders.

None-the-less, congrats on your splendid new Xenesthis sp.!

"blackfire" IS X. immanis. Its a name used to indicate that its from X locality. All X. immanis "blackfire" are from the same locality.

I wouldn't buy a GBB instead of an X. immanis even in a billion years. Get experience? For what? They aren't hard to care for, they don't have potent venom. Buy the X. immanis without hesitation you CANNOT go wrong!

 

[cold blood]

They look different angel.

 

[Angel Minkov]

They look different angel.

There is absolutely no difference between X. immanis "blackfire" and normal X. immanis. Some people claim they have some special bristles here and there (nothing noticeable, really), but there is no proof of that and many taxonomists disagree with there being any difference between the two. "blackfire" as well as "shorthair" and "longhair" are just used to separate the immanis and their localities to make breeding easier, as they're a genus that requires matching animals, e.g. for best results you pair "blackfire" with "blackfire", "shorthair " with "shorthair" etc. Its the same with P. antinous "big black", "purple earth", "lightning blue" etc

 

[cold blood]

Interesting, in the pics I have seen it appears that the pinkish carapace is almost "blacked out" compared to an X. immanis.

https://stampstarantulas.com/

Compound that with the fact they are sold as a different variant and the cost for the blackfire is higher and you see where there is confusion.

 

[Angel Minkov]

You're comparing them using pictures? That's pretty lousy The lighting on both pictures is obviously vastly different, on top of that, those aren't their pictures, but rather they belong to the person who actually introduced those names to the hobby and is a friend of mine. He too used to sell the different "variants" at different prices, but it seems like now he's corrected that.

 

[shawno821]

They're not hard to care for.Put an inch or so of long fibered spaghnum moss under your substrate,keep 1/2 the cage damp,and 1/2 dry,always have a clean water dish.They aren't overly aggressive,but will bite you if you provoked,they are not handlers.I love mine,I have 7 atm.

 

[cold blood]

You're comparing them using pictures? That's pretty lousy The lighting on both pictures is obviously vastly different, on top of that, those aren't their pictures, but rather they belong to the person who actually introduced those names to the hobby and is a friend of mine. He too used to sell the different "variants" at different prices, but it seems like now he's corrected that.

No, I'm comparing them using a reputable dealer that claims them to be different and has them priced differently...along with the pic differences which are obvious...I'm not buying the "lighting" difference, it doesn't look that different to me.

Now I'm not saying you're wrong, I just don't see any proof that you are right(yet). I do appreciate your input though, its an interesting conversation.

 

[Angel Minkov]

No, I'm comparing them using a reputable dealer that claims them to be different and has them priced differently...along with the pic differences which are obvious...I'm not buying the "lighting" difference, it doesn't look that different to me.

Now I'm not saying you're wrong, I just don't see any proof that you are right(yet). I do appreciate your input though, its an interesting conversation.

Do you know from who your "reputable breeder" imported them from? From a friend of mine in Germany who is the main man when it comes to them, Pamphobeteus and Theraphosa (and to whom I speak regularly). After much debate, he is now selling all Xenesthis on the same price. Comparing such a messy genus and using subtle color differences is not enough to discern them as a species. It depends on lighting, how far the animal is in its molt cycle, size, age etc etc. Too many factors come into play when using pictures, hence why they're frowned upon by every taxonomist and most hobbyists. Tom Patterson, who is the jewel in the US hobby and whom I greatly respect shares the same views and I hope he can see this thread and reply if he disagrees with me somewhere. I'd much rather trust him and the person who gave them those names and did most of the work to distribute them around the world than an american dealer. Im not trying to start anything, just trying to straighten things out.

 

[cold blood]

As I said, it was more the reputable breeder (stamps) listing them and pricing them as different that was more what I was going by than just the pic ....I totally agree that going solely by pics isn't a good idea. And no, why would I contact him about his source, its not really my business, especially if I'm not buying them...regardless, thanks for the info Angel.

 

[Angel Minkov]

As I said, it was more the reputable breeder (stamps) listing them and pricing them as different that was more what I was going by than just the pic ....I totally agree that going solely by pics isn't a good idea. And no, why would I contact him about his source, its not really my business, especially if I'm not buying them...regardless, thanks for the info Angel.

They're, in fact, the same. Prices will be fixed in the near future, hopefully.