Feistiest new world Ts

[Butterbean83]

I know it seems cliche the amount of top 10 everything but it's a good way to guage things. I want to know your Top 5 or Top 10 or whatever you can... New World Ts that are quicker to throw threat poses and strike rather than kick hairs. I can see a lot of people's number one being Psalmopeus from posts I've seen and include them in it of course, but love to see your quick to try and bite terrestrials. I do want a feisty species.

Reason for posting this is that on lists of defensive species I only seem to be able to find lists that include Old World Species and I've got some experience to gain before I ever even think of getting an old world.

I can see Phormictopus species being quite high on lists but I know different people will have different answers, including some Ts that are usually calm in general, but they own one individual that seems to be on the feisty side

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I know it seems cliche the amount of top 10 everything but it's a good way to guage things. I want to know your Top 5 or Top 10 or whatever you can... New World Ts that are quicker to throw threat poses and strike rather than kick hairs. I can see a lot of people's number one being Psalmopeus from posts I've seen and include them in it of course, but love to see your quick to try and bite terrestrials. I do want a feisty species.

Reason for posting this is that on lists of defensive species I only seem to be able to find lists that include Old World Species and I've got some experience to gain before I ever even think of getting an old world.

I can see Phormictopus species being quite high on lists but I know different people will have different answers, including some Ts that are usually calm in general, but they own one individual that seems to be on the feisty side

1. T stirmi
2. P. cancerides
3. Lasiodora parahybana
4. Pamphobeteus vespertinus/sp pink bloom
5. Psalmopoeus irminia
6. 
   ow aren’t that tough to care for just beware the speed and the bite, I’ve never been bitten by one.

 

[Butterbean83]

I'm surprised to see the L.Parahybana in there lol and always thought Theraphosa were more hair kickers but I'd expect them to have plenty of individuals that would bit too but surprised by L Parhybana. That's the crazy thing though everyone seems to have crazy individuals of every species, even T Vagans and T Albos etc

Just waiting to hear of someone else ith a crazy Eathlus sp Red lol

 

[Spoodfood]

I would say the majority of tarantulas are reluctant to strike unless escape isn’t an option. Out of the tarantulas I keep, I have only got threat poses from 3, all of which didn’t involve striking. Two were immediately after a rehouse, one was when a cricket touched the leg of my juvenile female H. pulchripes while she was in premolt. The other two were a juvenile female M. balfouri, and a 5” male T. stirmi.

If you want some ideas for “stepping stone” tarantulas, I have quite a few suggestions. That isn’t to say they’ll be defensive whatsoever.

1. Theraphosa . They require a bit more in the ways of maintenance, they are large and their urticating hairs are particularly nasty. These factors make them a good candidate for getting used to a bit more respect and caution.

2. Dwarf species! While they may be small, I’ve found my dwarf species are bold and very fast. They will absolutely help prepare you for runners, and help you become more used to skittish behavior and dealing with speed you probably haven’t seen. I’d specifically recommend Neoholothele incei or Dolichothele diamantinensis. I have raised two of both these species.

3. Psalmopoeus species. Out of the ones I’ve kept, they have been across the board more “feisty” than all of my other tarantulas. While I haven’t got threat poses from them, they attack water as I pour it into their enclosure, and both my female P. cam and P. irminia fight the paintbrush while I rehouse them. I use catch cups with holes and cardboard so it goes well, but they will use their fangs on anything that touches them.

4. Acanthoscurria geniculata. I have a juvenile female, and while she’s still small, they think everything is food and will fang anything that gets close to them thinking it’s food. That, paired with a hefty spider that grows decently fast, and you have a spider that demands respect but is also suitable for more beginner keepers.

5. Lasiocyano sazimai. They have more attitude than a lot of other new worlds and are beautiful as well.

6. Phormictopus/Pamphos. Mostly for the same reasons as the A. geniculata.

7. Lasiodora parahybana. Great price tag, easy to keep, and very large. I have a 6” female who is definitely a bit on the feisty side.

8. A beginner old world. I think their “defensiveness” is often exaggerated, mainly to deter irresponsible and inexperienced keepers from diving in the deep end unprepared. But I’ve personally had great experiences keeping old worlds. If you know how to rehouse tarantulas safely, and can deal with mishaps without losing your cool, I think old world tarantulas are just fine. My favorites are Harpactira pulchripes, Ceratogyrus species, M. balfouri, and Idiothele mira. I got into keeping old worlds after about a year of keeping and I’ve had no issues with any of them. If you don’t feel comfortable, that’s also perfectly fine. Just don’t let fear mongering deter you if you’re really interested in some of these species.

Edit: Idiothele mira, from what I’ve heard from others and my little gal included, is just a shy spider. They’re smaller, build trapdoors, and I’ve never known anyone to have a defensive specimen. They’re really neat. Old worlds aren’t to be feared, but respected! This one will probably give you no problems should you decide to go for it.

 

[cold blood]

The only Psalmopeous I have ever had that would regularly and frequently throw threat postures would be irminia. Irminia are indeed one of the feistiest NWs.

P. cancerides is a close second,

C. laeta is another...right there with the two I listed above....nasty little spiders they are.

IME these are the three quickest to threat posture and quickest to bite NWs I have encountered.

 

[campj]

Xenesthis can be pretty zesty.

 

[viper69]

I know it seems cliche the amount of top 10 everything but it's a good way to guage things. I want to know your Top 5 or Top 10 or whatever you can... New World Ts that are quicker to throw threat poses and strike rather than kick hairs. I can see a lot of people's number one being Psalmopeus from posts I've seen and include them in it of course, but love to see your quick to try and bite terrestrials. I do want a feisty species.

Reason for posting this is that on lists of defensive species I only seem to be able to find lists that include Old World Species and I've got some experience to gain before I ever even think of getting an old world.

I can see Phormictopus species being quite high on lists but I know different people will have different answers, including some Ts that are usually calm in general, but they own one individual that seems to be on the feisty side

Psalmo- a highly disagree based on the irminia I raised and pulcher. Fast, but often predictable

the genus I think that is more chaotic and also fast - Iridoplema

 

[Nastynickynack89]

E. Murinus.

 

[Konstantin Konstantinov]

Hi
My Xenesthis sp blue is rather skittish but it runs in its burrow than threat postures.
Phormictopus sp throw occasional threat postures but also rather retreat.
Pamphobeteus sp Costa hair kicker but quickly retreat to its burrow.
My P irminia is a sweetheart.
Nhandu Cromatus is very quick to threat pose.
Most threat postures I get is with my D diamantinensis females. Very bold always holding their ground with fangs bared. Probably the lack of urticating hairs is the explanation .
Regards Konstantin

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I'm surprised to see the L.Parahybana in there lol and always thought Theraphosa were more hair kickers but I'd expect them to have plenty of individuals that would bit too but surprised by L Parhybana. That's the crazy thing though everyone seems to have crazy individuals of every species, even T Vagans and T Albos etc

Just waiting to hear of someone else ith a crazy Eathlus sp Red lol

Lasiodora parahybana usually kicks Hairs first but they won’t retreat easily get bold past 6” .. and some are skittish I saw a lot run away but first a smaller one threat posed at a super worm without hesitation. So if you don’t see a threat pose It’s because you’re not on the menu or it’s relying on strong urticating hairs. Every individual t is different though ofc from defensive to skittish(most of them ) to bold and quick to threat pose if disturbed.

Psalmo- a highly disagree based on the irminia I raised and pulcher. Fast, but often predictable

the genus I think that is more chaotic and also fast - Iridoplema

in my experience ..
Irminia will bite quick if cornered if given a hide they mostly will run first but I’ve only had 8-10 of them others have kept way more . Not overly defensive just I purposely leave my Ts alone so I don’t see a lot of threat poses.

Hi
My Xenesthis sp blue is rather skittish but it runs in its burrow than threat postures.
Phormictopus sp throw occasional threat postures but also rather retreat.
Pamphobeteus sp Costa hair kicker but quickly retreat to its burrow.
My P irminia is a sweetheart.
Nhandu Cromatus is very quick to threat pose.
Most threat postures I get is with my D diamantinensis females. Very bold always holding their ground with fangs bared. Probably the lack of urticating hairs is the explanation .
Regards Konstantin

Pamphobeteus sp pink bloom quickly retreat to its burrow. But will bite I keep my hands far from its mouth and I won’t touch it period .
When I had a Nhandu Cromatus it also is very quick to threat pose then kick after.

 

[Cmac2111]

L. sazimai, p. irminia, a. geniculata, b. boehmei, t. vagans, most phormictopus sp. Probably more I'm missing but of the NW species I've kept those are the ones that immediately come to mind, all very quick to throw up threat postures.

 

[sparticus]

I have only new worlds. I have seen threat poses from:
1) L. Sazimai- this spider had been a really chill, boring sling that was always hiding, now that she finally got color she also will stand her ground and threat pose me opening her enclosure. Not the bug I threw in- she was clearly threat posing up towards me. When I closed the lid she backed down and checked out the food.
2) P. Cancerides- usually will bolt to their hide, if they can't then they will stand their ground. Bit my paintbrush during a rehouse and wouldn't let go- just kept chomping on it.
3) A. Germani- crazy fast spider and she's come charging out of her hide at me with threat poses a few times. I find her more intimidating than the P. Irminia, honestly. She's faster/ more chaotic and she's got a crazy feeding response.
4) P. Irminia- if you invade their space. Mine is 100% defensive so far, she wouldn't come out at you, but if you go in her personal space she'd probably throw a threat pose.
5) D. Diamentinensis- this one surprised me, it's been a really skittish sling, but I went to grab a molt recently and it threw a threat pose and wouldn't back off. I expected it to dart deeper in the web like it had every time before.
Most of my other potentially spicy species are still too young to tell.

 

[Butterbean83]

I would say the majority of tarantulas are reluctant to strike unless escape isn’t an option. Out of the tarantulas I keep, I have only got threat poses from 3, all of which didn’t involve striking. Two were immediately after a rehouse, one was when a cricket touched the leg of my juvenile female H. pulchripes while she was in premolt. The other two were a juvenile female M. balfouri, and a 5” male T. stirmi.

If you want some ideas for “stepping stone” tarantulas, I have quite a few suggestions. That isn’t to say they’ll be defensive whatsoever.

1. Theraphosa . They require a bit more in the ways of maintenance, they are large and their urticating hairs are particularly nasty. These factors make them a good candidate for getting used to a bit more respect and caution.

2. Dwarf species! While they may be small, I’ve found my dwarf species are bold and very fast. They will absolutely help prepare you for runners, and help you become more used to skittish behavior and dealing with speed you probably haven’t seen. I’d specifically recommend Neoholothele incei or Dolichothele diamantinensis. I have raised two of both these species.

3. Psalmopoeus species. Out of the ones I’ve kept, they have been across the board more “feisty” than all of my other tarantulas. While I haven’t got threat poses from them, they attack water as I pour it into their enclosure, and both my female P. cam and P. irminia fight the paintbrush while I rehouse them. I use catch cups with holes and cardboard so it goes well, but they will use their fangs on anything that touches them.

4. Acanthoscurria geniculata. I have a juvenile female, and while she’s still small, they think everything is food and will fang anything that gets close to them thinking it’s food. That, paired with a hefty spider that grows decently fast, and you have a spider that demands respect but is also suitable for more beginner keepers.

5. Lasiocyano sazimai. They have more attitude than a lot of other new worlds and are beautiful as well.

6. Phormictopus/Pamphos. Mostly for the same reasons as the A. geniculata.

7. Lasiodora parahybana. Great price tag, easy to keep, and very large. I have a 6” female who is definitely a bit on the feisty side.

8. A beginner old world. I think their “defensiveness” is often exaggerated, mainly to deter irresponsible and inexperienced keepers from diving in the deep end unprepared. But I’ve personally had great experiences keeping old worlds. If you know how to rehouse tarantulas safely, and can deal with mishaps without losing your cool, I think old world tarantulas are just fine. My favorites are Harpactira pulchripes, Ceratogyrus species, M. balfouri, and Idiothele mira. I got into keeping old worlds after about a year of keeping and I’ve had no issues with any of them. If you don’t feel comfortable, that’s also perfectly fine. Just don’t let fear mongering deter you if you’re really interested in some of these species.

Edit: Idiothele mira, from what I’ve heard from others and my little gal included, is just a shy spider. They’re smaller, build trapdoors, and I’ve never known anyone to have a defensive specimen. They’re really neat. Old worlds aren’t to be feared, but respected! This one will probably give you no problems should you decide to go for it.

I've thought about maybe a Heterothele Villosella in the future should I get into old worlds. As far as dwarf species go Neoholothele Incei are
Acanthoscurria Geniculata I think is one everybody has to own at some point

T Vagans is on my list. With L.Sazimai though... Are they not a more fossorial than terrestrial species?.. I'd like to see any I get out and about but a beautiful looking species

Phormictopus for me is a better option than a Pampho, more colouring in the females than in Pamphos more or less and a little more hardy from what I'm led to believe and theyre definitely on my list to get. P Atrichomatus, Cancerides, and the sp Purple. Yes the horned baboons and Socotra Island etc are often on "beginner old world" lists. Ive already made mental notes of beginner old worlds, once I've got used to the speed and rehousing I'll definutely look into them.

I have only new worlds. I have seen threat poses from:
1) L. Sazimai- this spider had been a really chill, boring sling that was always hiding, now that she finally got color she also will stand her ground and threat pose me opening her enclosure. Not the bug I threw in- she was clearly threat posing up towards me. When I closed the lid she backed down and checked out the food.
2) P. Cancerides- usually will bolt to their hide, if they can't then they will stand their ground. Bit my paintbrush during a rehouse and wouldn't let go- just kept chomping on it.
3) A. Germani- crazy fast spider and she's come charging out of her hide at me with threat poses a few times. I find her more intimidating than the P. Irminia, honestly. She's faster/ more chaotic and she's got a crazy feeding response.
4) P. Irminia- if you invade their space. Mine is 100% defensive so far, she wouldn't come out at you, but if you go in her personal space she'd probably throw a threat pose.
5) D. Diamentinensis- this one surprised me, it's been a really skittish sling, but I went to grab a molt recently and it threw a threat pose and wouldn't back off. I expected it to dart deeper in the web like it had every time before.
Most of my other potentially spicy species are still too young to tell.

A Germani? Is that Aphonopelma or Acanthoscurria? I will have to look that one up

L. sazimai, p. irminia, a. geniculata, b. boehmei, t. vagans, most phormictopus sp. Probably more I'm missing but of the NW species I've kept those are the ones that immediately come to mind, all very quick to throw up threat postures.

T Vagans is definitely on my list at some point and A Geniculata. Phormictopus species too especially

E. Murinus.

I hear they're not out much :'(

Xenesthis can be pretty zesty.

Shame about the price tag on them :'(

The only Psalmopeous I have ever had that would regularly and frequently throw threat postures would be irminia. Irminia are indeed one of the feistiest NWs.

P. cancerides is a close second,

C. laeta is another...right there with the two I listed above....nasty little spiders they are.

IME these are the three quickest to threat posture and quickest to bite NWs I have encountered.

C laeta I think Ive not really heard much about but the top two make sense and Phormictopus are definitely on my list as going for terrestrials first. Further on I'll go for some feisty Arboreals then the old worlds when I'm ready

Cheers

 

[sparticus]

A Germani? Is that Aphonopelma or Acanthoscurria? I will have to look that one up

Amazonius germani, the "orange tree spider". Used to be Pseudoclamoris gigas and also Tapinauchenius gigas, it's been moved around a bunch.

 

[Cmac2111]

T Vagans is definitely on my list at some point and A Geniculata. Phormictopus species too especially

My genic is a demon, but that's not the norm by most accounts, more food aggressive than anything usually. With vagans it seem go one of two ways, calm or loco, mine is the latter, many report otherwise. Phormics IME are beasts, big size, big appetites, big attitudes... shame the genus is such a mess.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

I'm not going to name individual species since there are too many that cam fit that description. However, in terms of genera... Pamphobeteus, Theraphosa, Nhandu, and some species of Phormictopus. Believe it or not I'd say that my feistiest spiders are all New Worlds!

 

[The Snark]

Off Topic... Survey the above posts as a scanning researcher. The scope of knowledge and experience of about 10 people quite clearly defined. Turn that into a properly formatted study and hand it up to your professor for an A and get it back with the suggestion of putting it into an interim reference format for students doing research, categorized by genus and species.

(No offense meant to any of the people posting. Just pointing out how professors like ways of expediting their students research without having to undertake a wide search of the entire field.)

 

[Butterbean83]

My genic is a demon, but that's not the norm by most accounts, more food aggressive than anything usually. With vagans it seem go one of two ways, calm or loco, mine is the latter, many report otherwise. Phormics IME are beasts, big size, big appetites, big attitudes... shame the genus is such a mess.

Yeah I've heard a lot about so Purple probably being a Cancerides variation and others being variations of Atrichomatus and Auratus it's crazy seeing Sp. El Salvador and Santiago del Cuba etc now amongst many. T Vagans and A Geniculata do seem both to be a nice hardy option.

 

[Spoodfood]

With L.Sazimai though... Are they not a more fossorial than terrestrial species?.. I'd like to see any I get out and about but a beautiful looking species

I would consider them terrestrial. They do some excavating though, more as spiderlings than adults.

If you don’t have one yet, get a C. cyaneopubescens. They’re really pretty and always out.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I would consider them terrestrial. They do some excavating though, more as spiderlings than adults.

If you don’t have one yet, get a C. cyaneopubescens. They’re really pretty and always out.

I’ve had even lasiodoras burrow with a starter entrance, a cup open ended . So any of them can go fossorial around a molt. I want gbb but I’ll wait til I get my stuff situated first. I’ll be able to afford it eventually. I did get 2 Ts this year. After 5-6 years of nothing .
Pet store had gbb poor thing was housed arboreal.