Hissy fits

[miss moxie]

You have a second B. smithi? Because the one you posted about a bit ago was pronounced dead.

I've kept over 40 species, Pokies included. And I still don't consider myself advanced enough for P. murinus or a P. muticus.

You named four spiders that are an absolute breeze to take care of (B. smithi, G. rosea, C. versicolor, E. campestratus) and one of the more easy going OWs. Poecilotheria are more skittish than defensive. You are not ready for either of the two tarantulas you mentioned.

You want something that hisses? Google Gromphadorhina portentosa.

 

[ErinM31]

My MM Aphonopelma chalcodes stridulate, although how often they do so varies greatly. Tonight my month-mature MM has done so dozens of times, just wandering all over his enclosure. I don't know what other species sound like, but I would definitely not call this a hiss, rather a low vibration something like you could get from a viola and sometimes it is only just barely audible.

 

[Python]

I have had P. murinus several times and never heard one stridulate and the ones I had seemed to be angry by default. I've never had a P. muticus for some reason (although it is on my list) but I can tell you that OBT's are cranky and fast. Pokies are fast and can be defensive and I've had tons of them but the OBT's I had made them seem downright tame by comparison. I would absolutely be very careful when considering an OBT. They call it Orange Bitey Thing for a reason

 

[Ellenantula]

I have had P. murinus several times and never heard one stridulate and the ones I had seemed to be angry by default... I would absolutely be very careful when considering an OBT. They call it Orange Bitey Thing for a reason

Same here with OBTs -- threat posture: check. Stridulate: nope.

You have a second B. smithi? Because the one you posted about a bit ago was pronounced dead.

I also think he said that B smithi was his wife's T anyway. Don't know if OP has any personal experience with any Ts.

 

[sasker]

Just reading this thread. Am I the only one who wonders why one would want a spider because it hisses? It's a defense mechanism for when they feel stressed. I recently purchased a P. muticus (more of a rescue and I got it almost for free). The little fellow sure stridulated during the rehouse, but I hope it will not have to hiss again any time soon. The poor thing was very stressed, although I did what I could to make the rehouse as easy as possible.

Back to my question. What do you intend to do with your hissing spider. It is not a toy that you can poke and prod for your amusement (well, you could, but I think that's the wrong reason to keep tarantulas). I mean, where do you draw the line? "Look, this is my P. muticus. Wanna hear it his? Look, this is my B. boehmei. Do you want me to make him shave his butt? This is my dog. It yelps when you kick it. Awesome, isn't it?"

 

[Ghost56]

Just reading this thread. Am I the only one who wonders why one would want a spider because it hisses? It's a defense mechanism for when they feel stressed. I recently purchased a P. muticus (more of a rescue and I got it almost for free). The little fellow sure stridulated during the rehouse, but I hope it will not have to hiss again any time soon. The poor thing was very stressed, although I did what I could to make the rehouse as easy as possible.

I don't necessarily think this is always the case. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, my T. stirmi stridulates alot. She does it when simply feeding, a slight movement of the lid, or simply refilling the water dish. Sure, it's a defensive mechanism, but I don't exactly think it means they're stressed anymore than what I would consider normal, as far as some individuals go anyways. I'm sure it DEFINITELY depends on the individual T though.

 

[Venom1080]

Just reading this thread. Am I the only one who wonders why one would want a spider because it hisses? It's a defense mechanism for when they feel stressed. I recently purchased a P. muticus (more of a rescue and I got it almost for free). The little fellow sure stridulated during the rehouse, but I hope it will not have to hiss again any time soon. The poor thing was very stressed, although I did what I could to make the rehouse as easy as possible.

Back to my question. What do you intend to do with your hissing spider. It is not a toy that you can poke and prod for your amusement (well, you could, but I think that's the wrong reason to keep tarantulas). I mean, where do you draw the line? "Look, this is my P. muticus. Wanna hear it his? Look, this is my B. boehmei. Do you want me to make him shave his butt? This is my dog. It yelps when you kick it. Awesome, isn't it?"

If it's going to be pissed off, might as well have another cool defensive feature.

 

[TRection]

No sub adult to adult. My question is do OBT's hiss, not how many spiders have I got

We see plenty of beginners who don't know what they're doing, then jump right to advanced species.

I'll make sure my next post quotes that I am not a beginner

Well i would respectfully ask that while your at it change your attitude in your next post as well. We can all see that you are a brand new member to the forum and we know how beginners can be, Its never a good idea to act hostile right out of the gate towards the people that are trying to help you. Wont get much help that way.

 

[Nightstalker47]

I don't necessarily think this is always the case. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, my T. stirmi stridulates alot. She does it when simply feeding, a slight movement of the lid, or simply refilling the water dish. Sure, it's a defensive mechanism, but I don't exactly think it means they're stressed anymore than what I would consider normal, as far as some individuals go anyways. I'm sure it DEFINITELY depends on the individual T though.

That's very unusual, I wouldn't consider that normal and like you said depends on the individual specimen.

If it's going to be pissed off, might as well have another cool defensive feature.

I guess so man, never seen one stridulate in person so it would be cool to experience for the first time. But targeting a species merely based on this ability is pretty ridiculous...

 

[Trenor]

Being a beginner or not isn't really the issue. The issue is the T and the potential for harm to the keeper. I've been driving since I was 11. I've driven cars, 18 wheelers, front end loaders, etc, but I probably couldn't jump into a tank and drive around in it. It's not that I'm not an experienced driver, I just have no experience with tanks. You may have experience with the species you mentioned but folks around here are understandably concerned when people ask questions like this. Not just for your own safety but that of the animals as well.

You're asking about certain species so it would appear that you aren't sufficiently experienced with them to answer your own question. That's why people are looking out for you and trying to help you become more informed. Don't take it personally. People are just trying to help

So was your message that one can't get experience with a tank without having one and one shouldn't get one without having experience with it? So are you saying no one should ever buy a tank?

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Any Theraphosa sp. They stridulate when doing practically anything.

My A. geniculata does it when she walks, not very loudly but it is noticeable.

 

[Python]

So was your message that one can't get experience with a tank without having one and one shouldn't get one without having experience with it? So are you saying no one should ever buy a tank?

Well, I think that is probably good advice but the point is that one should practice first. Gradually build up to the final destination, not jump from learners permit straight to stealth fighter. Get some experience with something maybe a little faster than, say, a brachy, then build up to something hot and fast. As others have intimated, there's no need to rush straight into a venomous animal that has the ability to teleport and send you straight to the ER without ever having seen the bite that sent you there. There are plenty of awesome species that can get a person the experience they need and plenty of time to get the experience. Patience is a virtue and it's a virtue that can gain a person valuable insight into the animals that are in their care. There are many lessons to be learned young padawan. There are many experiences to be had on the road to experience. Take the time to have them. There is no regret in learning

 

[Trenor]

i want a hisser for my next T. Is it only the King Baboon or does the OBT hiss also?

Like others have said there are a number of tarantula species that stridulate (hiss). The two tarantulas you lists are quick, have strong venom and will hold their ground rather then backing off to hide. This can make working with them a big challenge. Tank moves are hard because they don't want to leave they territory and will go far to encourage you to leave them there. If your after a tarantula that stridulates there are some that are easier to keep than the two you listed. If you search this forum you'll find several threads that talk about some of them.

 

[Venom1080]

That's very unusual, I wouldn't consider that normal and like you said depends on the individual specimen.
I guess so man, never seen one stridulate in person so it would be cool to experience for the first time. But targeting a species merely based on this ability is pretty ridiculous...

Its personal preference. I can't see how anyone would pick up a baboon just to hear it hiss, but it's personal preference. Obviously you need to be experienced enough first.

 

[BobBarley]

Lol, my stirmi literally stridulates with every step she takes, the faster she moves, the louder and with more frequency the stridulating is. Also, technically, G. rosea can stridulate. They have the organs to do so.