H. gigas, how mean are they really?

[Melancholy Newt]

I recently got an h. gigas and named "her" Hella I say "her" because right now she is small enough to fit on my thumb nail so I have no idea for gender but I don`t like saying "it". Anywho, she is my first Old World species, and I know they are not a good beginner Old World species (if there is such a thing) but I was drawn to them after a lot of research and after learning that they are semi-aquatic. In my head I was picturing almost OBT speed and aggression, but the more videos and research I do on this species the less that seems the case. I have seen videos of them being handled (no, I have no plans of doing so), videos showing their very shy nature, and in general showing them as slow moving. They seem more secretive than aggressive. The one exception to this is a video in which the T had to be dug out and rehoused due to a mold issue, but even then it reacted the way I expect most T`s would. So, asking the community here....what has been your experience regarding temperament? So far my little one is a great eater and very shy, but she is also wee little.

 

[korg]

They’re not “mean” at all. Individuals can vary, but generally speaking Hysterocrates spp. will retreat into their burrows rather than act defensively. Use tongs for feeding and maintenance and you shouldn’t have any problems. Like many tarantulas they can move faster than you can react in some situations so just be generally cautious when you have the enclosure open.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

korg is right.

This is my experience as well. While temperament always differ, and the fact that they are considered 'defensive' (and this is correct, btw), in general they are pretty 'shy' and they tend to run-retreat in their burrows fast as hell, instead of starting a threat pose.

This, of course, speaking about full settled specimens, because during transfer/rehouse/packing for shipping etc is another story

 

[Chris LXXIX]

after learning that they are semi-aquatic.

This isn't true: they are and remain African 'pet holes' spiders, at the end, not an Argyroneta aquatica

This is a pretty big 'misconception' to me, promoted, sadly, by a lot of people in the hobby. They don't need a 'swimming pool' at all, maybe with little fish inside, but a lot of (moist) inches of substrate.

Those 'aquarium' set ups are a perfect way for asking for annoying troubles, and nothing else.

In my head I was picturing almost OBT speed and aggression

P.murinus are more agile... they aren't bulky, little 'tanks' like those or a P.muticus (the 0.1 specimens, of course). Still, if they wants, they can be pretty speedy.

I keep saying, however, that the defensiveness of the 'OBT' is always exaggerated.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Mine's only a juvie (got it as a freebie) but it'd rather run and hide than stand and fight, it bolts into its burrow at the slightest disturbance but is fairly quick to creep back up to the entrance to resume "doing a lurk". Just be aware that they can bloody shift when they want to.

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[Melancholy Newt]

Thanks for the info everyone So far like I said mine tends to be pretty shy. This will be my first Old World so I am glad I got her as a spiderling so I can watch her grow and really get to know her as an individual.