Harpactira pulchripes care

[SpaceM]

So i'm picking up my first OW on Tuesday, a 2cm H.pulchripes sling. Had a bit of a look around online and found that the care is supposed to be similar to an M.balfouri but there isn't nearly as much information available for this species as other ones i keep so i'd be very grateful if anyone on here who has kept them has tips. Just want to be extra careful since it's my first OW and the slings are still quite expensive.

 

[Nightstalker47]

These are considered an advanced species, fast, flighty and they have some nasty venom. Not the best first OW, but manageable.

The care for these is very simple, although they aren't like other slings that need to be kept moist when small. They are one of the most susceptible to death via "too much moisture" keep the sub predominantly dry and have a small water dish in there. Extremely hardy spiders. These will typically make a shallow web burrow, and spend lots of time hidden away.

Lovely tarantulas but easy to kill if you aren't ready for them. Make sure you think it through, too many people rush into advanced OWs just cause they are beautiful.

 

[viper69]

but easy to kill if you aren't ready for them

How so??

 

[Greasylake]

How so??

It runs for the exit, you get scared, slam down the lid and squish the spider.

 

[boina]

Basically @Nightstalker47 covered it all, but I want to stress the moisture point: This is a species that is very sensitive to too much moisture, even as slings. Since they are dwarfs at 2 cm (nearly 1") I'd even call them juveniles and I'd keep them dry with a water dish. Mine are actually pretty visible.

 

[Whitelightning777]

They're a dry spider. Keep a small water dish at least half full at all times. Provide a hide and some substrate. I prefer peat because it's slightly more mold resistant.

Another words, basically keep it like a rose hair, but it sure won't act like one!!

I got mine as a 1" sling. He just hooked out today. Like other baboons, they're hardy and grow pretty fast. When he's matured, a lot of the coloration went away and now he's almost semi arboreal.

Here's some pics, before and after maturity.



They're a wonderful addition as long as you're had an active terrestrial before. No collection is complete without one if you're into OW.

Yes, some of the colors are like an OBT, but he's never behaved aggressively to me. He's fast and flighty. Usually he eats well and is visible. For some reason with this molt, he did totally hide out for weeks.

I definitely am interested in finding a breeder & I'll probably do a trade for 3 small unsexed balfouri slings or two unsexed H pulchripes slings. That way most likely I'll get a female this time.

They grow extremely fast and be prepared for people to say no way it's photoshopped. Unsexed 1" slings typically run between $90 to $120 plus shipping. Yes, they're hardy but do get rush shipping.

 

[viper69]

It runs for the exit, you get scared, slam down the lid and squish the spider.

HAH, I already know that. I'll wait for person I asked to reply.

 

[SpaceM]

They're a dry spider. Keep a small water dish at least half full at all times. Provide a hide and some substrate. I prefer peat because it's slightly more mold resistant.

Another words, basically keep it like a rose hair, but it sure won't act like one!!

I got mine as a 1" sling. He just hooked out today. Like other baboons, they're hardy and grow pretty fast. When he's matured, a lot of the coloration went away and now he's almost semi arboreal.

Wow that's really quite a change between moults, i hope you can find a mate for him

I'm actually going to pick it up in person to avoid shipping and at just £35 i really wanted to take the deal while it's there. However I will have to be using a somewhat temporary enclosure for the first week as i'll be visiting my gf and don't want to risk letting an OW loose in her room. I was thinking i'd use a suitable size container with a corner with one slightly damper corner to make sure it has some moisture since a water dish may need cleaning out/refilling i'd prefer not to have to do that while i'm there. Do you think that might be unsuitable though even for just a week?

 

[Lyrognathus]

These are considered an advanced species, fast, flighty and they have some nasty venom. Not the best first OW, but manageable.

The care for these is very simple, although they aren't like other slings that need to be kept moist when small. They are one of the most susceptible to death via "too much moisture" keep the sub predominantly dry and have a small water dish in there. Extremely hardy spiders. These will typically make a shallow web burrow, and spend lots of time hidden away.

Lovely tarantulas but easy to kill if you aren't ready for them. Make sure you think it through, too many people rush into advanced OWs just cause they are beautiful.

Are there any other spiders that need to be kept bone dry as slings? I'm assuming the rest of the genus and Harpactirella?

 

[Greasylake]

Are there any other spiders that need to be kept bone dry as slings? I'm assuming the rest of the genus and Harpactirella?

Almost all of the baboons. They are really the only ones that should be kept dry as slings, otherwise slings should be kept universally moist.

 

[Whitelightning777]

The only moisture you need is a water dish that remains full at all times. No further moisture is necessary.

You also have to make sure the T won't web over the water dish and cause water to wick away into the substrate. You can elevate the water dish instead of putting the top level to the ground by putting the dish on top of the substrate. The T will have no problem finding it.

If any mold is detected, remove the spider and change out the substrate as soon as possible. Also clean out all other decor to remove spores. It's impossible to tell a toxic mold from a harmless one by eye. If a feeder eats the mold before being consumed, big problems might or might not result. Why take chances?

I strongly suspect, but can't quite prove, that mold killed my M balfouri sling perhaps by contributing to fecal impaction. Water wicked into the substrate.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

These are considered an advanced species

Not for my views: temperament talking, they are in general less defensive than the average, always purchased, P.murinus.

Now S.calceatum, H.maculata or H.lightfooti are, for instance, advanced 'baboon' spiders.

The only advanced features they have is such a fancy, scam price

 

[Lyrognathus]

Almost all of the baboons. They are really the only ones that should be kept dry as slings, otherwise slings should be kept universally moist.

Bone dry though? I've kept mine mostly dry but I moistened half the tank every two weeks. Even with adults I add some water to make it a bit more humid every month or two. Basically I keep them dry, but not bone dry like my rose hairs and GBB.

 

[Whitelightning777]

I wouldn't recommend them as a first tarantula simply because they're super fast and pricey but they make a great 2nd terrestrial tarantula.

Basically they're intermediate.

They are not aggressive, always will turn and run. I've never gotten even one threat posture from mine.

I can't say that for my T stirmi (Mizz hissy fit) or even my L klugi.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Almost all of the baboons.

H.gigas needs moist substrate even as adults.

 

[boina]

Bone dry though? I've kept mine mostly dry but I moistened half the tank every two weeks. Even with adults I add some water to make it a bit more humid every month or two. Basically I keep them dry, but not bone dry like my rose hairs and GBB.

Since I lost a Ceratogyrus sling to what was very likely too much moisture (and I certainly didn't keep it wet, just moist) I'm very, very careful with moisture and baboons (except the ones Chris mentioned). Yes, I'd really keep them bone dry, I think some may be even more sensitive to moisture than G. rosea.

 

[Whitelightning777]

They are a dry spider, not an arid one. H gigas if I recall correctly can actually dive under water and catch fish. Many different Ts are called baboon tarantulas.

The water issues happen when they web over the water dish and it wicks out. Good ventilation is always important when humidity is the enemy.

This is how I did my sling cage.

 

[Greasylake]

H.gigas needs moist substrate even as adults.

Note the word "almost."

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Note the word "almost."

H.gigas, P.muticus with the burrow 'core' that needs always to remain slightly moist, Western African arboreal 'baboons' that enjoy a bit of slightly moist substrate here and there... yeah, I've read your 'almost' my man but I wanted to tease you a bit

 

[dangerforceidle]

Since they are dwarfs at 2 cm (nearly 1") I'd even call them juveniles and I'd keep them dry with a water dish. Mine are actually pretty visible.

H. pulchripes a dwarf? At what adult size do you begin to consider a species a dwarf?