Ephebopus murinus Question

[mschemmy]

I am strongly considering an Ephebopus murinus as my next tarantula but I am having some reservations because from what I know they are a pet hole. I know it is a fossorial but I am fortunate that my Megaphobema robustum is always outside its burrow sitting on the moist substrate so I see it quite a bit. Based on other people’s experience will I see this T much? Are there other things about this T that make them worthwhile if I have limited shelf space? Or will I basically be looking at a container of dirt 95% of the time?

 

[viper69]

They are, no, no, yes

 

[fcat]

I haven't kept E murinus yet but I've got a couple E cyanognathus and an E uatuman that is out all the time. All have built turrets that I love to marvel, all are breathtaking when you do get to see them but the uatuman is a slob. From what I've read, I went with those and not the murinus, because they are notorious for making turrets, I just assume the pet hole goes hand in hand. I really don't see much advantage to being that brightly colored

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I am strongly considering an Ephebopus murinus as my next tarantula but I am having some reservations because from what I know they are a pet hole. I know it is a fossorial but I am fortunate that my Megaphobema robustum is always outside its burrow sitting on the moist substrate so I see it quite a bit. Based on other people’s experience will I see this T much? Are there other things about this T that make them worthwhile if I have limited shelf space? Or will I basically be looking at a container of dirt 95% of the time?

I don’t know how often they sit outside the borough since I don’t have one.
Yes, pet holes aren’t invisible often unless they dig somewhere you can see.
My Aphonopelma seemanni suspect mail, I can always see in the borough. S cal pretty much never.

 

[MariaLewisia]

My E. murinus has gone through periods of more or less visibility throughout her life.

As a small-mid sized sling I saw her more (due to the odd semi-arboreal lifestyle they adapt as slings).
As a large sling to mid sized juvenile I could barely see her at all because she discovered she was, in fact, fossorial at heart.
As a large juvenile to subadult I saw her much more as she took on a more semi-fossorial lifestyle. That was fun!
Now, as a young adult, she decided she is more pet hole than semi-pet hole and now I can't see her at all except when I get some glimpses of her taking out the trash.

Will she be more visible later in life? Who knows! I think it's very individual as well. I know several people whose experiences are that Ephebopus are much more terrestrial than fossorial, while mine aren't. Still, it's an amazing genera and you can't go wrong with the E. murinus!

 

[Rigor Mortis]

Honestly if you're even slightly concerned about having a pet hole I wouldn't be getting this species. While all Ts are individuals who might not match the behavior of their species, more likely than not you're gonna end up with a box of dirt that questionably has a spider in it.

 

[Charliemum]

I had an af for a while , I was her retirement home, (she had been used for breeding and was an old girl when she came to me,) like Maria said they have times where they will sit out, in the entrance to the burrow then times where they hide and you won't see them for a few weeks/months or my af was like that, I have never kept a sling so cant comment on their temperament.
When you do get to see them though it makes it even more special, part of the joy of fossorial t's imo

If you like ephebopus can I suggest cyanognathus, got my female as an unsexed sling with her sister (her sister now lives with my SO) she often sits on top of her turret in full view (yes they make turrets) only disappearing for a few weeks when she moults , which happens every 4/5 months or so atm but she's only 2.5 inches atm so that may change as she grows but definitely another ephebopus worth getting. Plus they are orange, black, purple/pink-iridescent, metallic blue, olive green, cream and gold so there is lots to look at

Either or are great t's

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

 

[viper69]

suggest cyanognathus

I’ve kept a few - pet holes

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Mine is still a sling, and only with me for 7 months now, but those legs are totally awesome. I set her up to allow for that arboreal sling stage and she has used it. I can see down her web tube aways and nightly (expect for premolt), she sits out on the edge of the opening. Even when (s)he gets to phases where I’ll rarely see her, those moments I do will be fabulous.

 

[Charliemum]

I’ve kept a few - pet holes

I seem to gravitate towards them , may not always see them but when I do its all the more special

 

[viper69]

I seem to gravitate towards them , may not always see them but when I do its all the more special

That's what every pet hole lover tells us (and I've owned plenty) "more special"

What's special is that I haven't died of a heart attack when they DO come out.

 

[Charliemum]

That's what every pet hole lover tells us (and I've owned plenty) "more special"

What's special is that I haven't died of a heart attack when they DO come out.

I know your getting long in the tooth but can't have you having a heart attack better stick to avics

 

[viper69]

I know your getting long in the tooth but can't have you having a heart attack better stick to avics

not even close

 

[Charliemum]

not even close

Am only playing you know we love you really viper, wouldn't be ab without you making ppl think ... even if you don't like pet holes

 

[viper69]

Am only playing you know we love you really viper, wouldn't be ab without you making ppl think ... even if you don't like pet holes

Never wrote I didn’t like them, I’ve owned many, including from this genus, but if I could glue their little legs down I would!

 

[Charliemum]

Never wrote I didn’t like them, I’ve owned many, including from this genus, but if I could glue their little legs down I would!

wouldn't work the sub will just lift with their feets
Jks aside i understand the stress, even if they just showed themselves regularly it would help. I am lucky n dont have to many problems with mine, i see most every week or 2 but i have 2 that never come out , Cyriocosmus elegans and Citharacanthus cyaneus, both female, both gorgeous, both never come out . I only know they are ok because the food vanishes over night.

If you do work out how to get the pet holes to sit nice let me know though

 

[viper69]

wouldn't work the sub will just lift with their feets
Jks aside i understand the stress, even if they just showed themselves regularly it would help. I am lucky n dont have to many problems with mine, i see most every week or 2 but i have 2 that never come out , Cyriocosmus elegans and Citharacanthus cyaneus, both female, both gorgeous, both never come out . I only know they are ok because the food vanishes over night.

If you do work out how to get the pet holes to sit nice let me know though

I don’t stress for the reason you mentioned prey is gone. Also me stressing has zero benefit on my life. These animals are self regulating. My AF elegans setup shop above ground so I see her all the time.

 

[Charliemum]

I don’t stress for the reason you mentioned prey is gone. Also me stressing has zero benefit on my life. These animals are self regulating. My AF elegans setup shop above ground so I see her all the time.

Mine made a labyrinth of tunnels with a deep retreat so I never see her unfortunately. She used to sit out all the time then vanished over night. I had assumed she would come out after a moult but she hasn't, her food goes though so i dont worry, she'll come out when she's ready. Another reason I love burrowers they definitely teach me patients

 

[viper69]

Mine made a labyrinth of tunnels with a deep retreat so I never see her unfortunately. She used to sit out all the time then vanished over night. I had assumed she would come out after a moult but she hasn't, her food goes though so i dont worry, she'll come out when she's ready. Another reason I love burrowers they definitely teach me patients

I don’t need lessons