For next T's like some info on Aphonopelma sp.

[Shanigirl]

Hello! I know the next T I would like to get is a G. Pulchra. But I have also been looking at a few of the Brachypelma sp. and have a few in mind.

Besides that, I was interested in the Aphonopelma crinirufum (Costa Rican blue front) & Aphonopelma moderatum (Rio Grand gold). I have been trying to do some research on these last two T's and have been reading conflicting data. Some say great as a starter T and some have said aggressive. Can you shed some light on these two T's?

For me, I just enjoy watching my T's. I really don't have much desire to take them out or that I have to hold them. I was fine doing so when I had to rehouse them and if I have to do maintenance or move them in the future that will also be fine. I just wanted to clarify that if they are skittish, that I ok because I prefer to observe. Just thought I would add this in regards to any info you can provide for the two T's I mentioned above. Thanks!

 

[codykrr]

in my experience with Aphonopelma(particularly A. henzi) they are "unpredictable"

i say this because each one has a varied additude. i have 2 A. henzi that are meaner than snot(but still very easy to manage) and i have 2 that are sweeter than sugar.

there not a fast T. i mean they can move, but definatly nothing you wouldnt be able to handle. most of the time, they just rear up and "strut their fangs" if anything. maybe kick a few hairs. but thats on a bad day.

id say Aphonopelma sp. are a good beginner sp. for sure though. the A. moderatum is a favorite of mine, but the blue front looks promising too. truthfully if you get the blue front buy a few, there a rarer find so you would want a breeding pair eventually. as i only know a handful of people with adults of that sp.

they grow slow, they live long and fall under the "brown tarantula class" but there amazing. and a decent introduction into the hobby.

personally id get both, as their both amazing sp. but their additude really is based on the individual spider.

 

[Moltar]

I've found Aphonopelmas to have quite a "personality" as T's go. Raising up slings can be a little tedious just because they're among the slowest growers but for me it's offset by knowing i'm getting indiginous american species that were CBB. Like cody said, they can be a bit unpredictable but they're not really dangerous in the way Asian and African species can be. I'd describe them as sort of bumbling and moody at times but not really defensive.

Also it's worth pointing out that the South/Central American Aphonopelmas (seemani, crinirufum) are not really the same genus as the American ones (hentzi, anax, etc) There will almost certainly be a revision in the next few years that addresses this.

 

[codykrr]

shhhh...moltar we dont know that for sure yet