Encyocratella olivacea

[YungRasputin]

question is related to set up - should i set this enclosure up as i normally would for an arboreal? i’ve read that they’re moreso bush dwellers than tree dwellers so i was curious

 

[BoyFromLA]

 

[YungRasputin]

View attachment 402845

so you keep yours terrestrially then?

 

[BoyFromLA]

so you keep yours terrestrially then?

Yes. Always.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I always assumed they were terrestrial/fossorial, and I don't think I've ever seen any husbandry notes/care sheets that suggest otherwise.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

I always assumed they were terrestrial/fossorial, and I don't think I've ever seen any husbandry notes/care sheets that suggest otherwise.

Richard Gallon's description of Encyocratella olivacea, as Xenodendrophila gabrieli, published in 2003 makes mention that the specimens used in the study were "found living arboreally beneath peeling tree bark" in northern Tanzania. Captive husbandry notes in the same paper state no burrowing behavior was observed. Even the title of the paper and genus name Xenodendrophila make reference to their arboreal lifestyle.

Gallon, R. C. (2003). A new African arboreal genus and species of theraphosid spider (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Stromatopelminae) which lacks spermathecae. Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 12: 405-411.

 

[YungRasputin]

I always assumed they were terrestrial/fossorial, and I don't think I've ever seen any husbandry notes/care sheets that suggest otherwise.

all of my research to date, including previous threads on AB, on this species have stated that they were are arboreal so this is why i was thinking this

Richard Gallon's description of Encyocratella olivacea, as Xenodendrophila gabrieli, published in 2003 makes mention that the specimens used in the study were "found living arboreally beneath peeling tree bark" in northern Tanzania. Captive husbandry notes in the same paper state no burrowing behavior was observed. Even the title of the paper and genus name Xenodendrophila make reference to their arboreal lifestyle.

Gallon, R. C. (2003). A new African arboreal genus and species of theraphosid spider (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Stromatopelminae) which lacks spermathecae. Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 12: 405-411.

thank you so much for this!! was hoping this was the case because i love my H. mac and want to keep/work with African arboreals more and explore that

 

[viper69]

Richard Gallon's description of Encyocratella olivacea, as Xenodendrophila gabrieli, published in 2003 makes mention that the specimens used in the study were "found living arboreally beneath peeling tree bark" in northern Tanzania. Captive husbandry notes in the same paper state no burrowing behavior was observed. Even the title of the paper and genus name Xenodendrophila make reference to their arboreal lifestyle.

Gallon, R. C. (2003). A new African arboreal genus and species of theraphosid spider (Araneae, Theraphosidae, Stromatopelminae) which lacks spermathecae. Bulletin of the British Arachnological Society 12: 405-411.

Be curious to see how they were kept.

 

[YungRasputin]

currently my enclosure by like - still working on it tho, might add vines - there’s a cork bark tube in the back that’s partially covered by the foliage (12x12x18)

Be curious to see how they were kept.

same

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

Be curious to see how they were kept.

There are some YouTube videos of people keeping them as arboreals, but the literature on their captive husbandry is locked away in BTS journals. Even though they have been found in nature living on trees, I can't help but to wonder if the species is more opportunistic than true arboreals like Heteroscodra maculata or Stromatopelma calceatum. Unfortunately, the few pictures published in the scientific journals are close ups of the tarantulas and don't show a wider view of how they are interacting with the environment in the wild or in captivity. Judging by the two published records of them in nature, it is a wonder why anyone would think they should be kept in captivity as fossorial or ground dwelling in general.

Here is the 'other' record of them in nature.

Sherwood, D., & Menegon, M. A new distribution record for Encyocratella olivacea Strand, 1907 from Tanzania (Araneae: Theraphosidae).

PDF Link

@YungRasputin Be sure to update us when you have your's in the arboreal setup. I would be curious to know how it makes use of it.

 

[Kibosh]

I keep mine what I like to call my "Semi-Arboreals". Much like my Orphnaecus sp ‘Blue’ Panay. These "Semi-Arboreal" species are described in nature as living on bark, stumps, or other structures near the ground, but not on the ground.

All I did was make a terrestrial environment with plenty of structures for my specimen to web. Just like @BoyFromLA mine just covered everything with web and made an elaborate tube web network. Seems to be thriving. Out hunting every night, eats well, growing well. I keep a corner of the sub pretty moist with her, but don't worry about the temp that much.

If you do decide to go full arboreal setup like you would with a Poecilotheria or Avicularia please document everything and let us know how it goes.

This is by far my favorite T in my collection in terms of appearance and is out almost every night if it's not near molt and is stunningly beautiful.

 

[YungRasputin]

actually i think this could be a really neat experiment insomuch as my H. mac set up is v similar to that of the E. olivacea set up - my H. mac is 1.5 DLS and the E. olivacea is 1.5 DLS as well

so far what I’ve noticed is that my H. mac has made a crude web-dirt hide at the base of the big bark log - this is where they spend the majority of the time until the room becomes pitch black in the evening and they’ll venture out and explore - during this time they primarily climb the sides of the enclosure, climb branches, hide/climb in the foliage, etc

i also plan on obtaining an S. cal that will be 1-1.5 DLS and set up the same way so i could probably do a decent comparative experiment

really the only difference between the 2 is where the E. olivacea’s enclosure has a cork bark tube, the H. mac’s enclosure has a piece of grape wood that snakes up the foliage - might replace the cork bark tube for something similar to try to keep it somewhat standardized and fair between all 3

interestingly enough, my P. irminia who’s 3 inch DLS exhibits the same general behavior as the H. mac

only my A. avic who is 3.5-4 DLS has spent 100% of the time above the substrate - the A. avic has constructed a web tunnel hide near the top of the enclosure which is then surrounded by foliage

Day 1 - housing no issue or hostility, has decided to rest in the foliage - when housing it, it immediately gravitated toward the cork bark and climbed about midway and rested there, i left them alone for an hour and then they were in the foliage

will update in 30 days time with more behavioral observations and comparisons

 

[Kibosh]

Day 1 - housing no issue or hostility, has decided to rest in the foliage - when housing it, it immediately gravitated toward the cork bark and climbed about midway and rested there, i left them alone for an hour and then they were in the foliage

will update in 30 days time with more behavioral observations and comparisons

Enclosure pics please?

Can't tell if that last pic you posted is for the E. Olivacea or one of the other species you were talking about.

 

[YungRasputin]

Enclosure pics please?

Can't tell if that last pic you posted is for the E. Olivacea or one of the other species you were talking about.

the first enclosure pic is for my E. olivacea, the second is for my H. mac - the below is the E. olivacea’s enclosure

last i checked they were still in the hanging foliage sandwiched in between leaves

 

[arthurliuyz]

@YungRasputin any updates?