Honduran Curly Hair - is she feisty?

[TeddyBearTarantula]

Hi there,

I purchased a HCH female juvie a week ago and she is the cutest looking T. I held her in the pet shop and she was very friendly. On our journey home she sat in her little box washing herself and seemed very chilled, once Home I left her in her box for a while to recover from her journey and set up her home. Once it came to putting her in her new home I gently touched her leg with a paintbrush and she wouldn’t move so I did it a couple more times on the third time she spun round to face me with that ‘come on then’ look. So I backed off for a minute or so. When I tried again she started walking towards my brush and trying to grab it with her front legs, then she gave in and got in the new enclosure.

Fast forward 2/3 days when I needed to make a few changes to her home; again I got out my trusty soft bristled brush and gently touched her leg and within that second she full on attacked the brush, again I backed off for a minute, I went to tap her again and this time she was a pussy cat and went where I needed her to, so I was thinking feeding response rather than attack, I threw her a cricket and left her be and sure enough she snaffled that cricket down so fast I gave her another and that was gone pretty quick too.

I’m pretty new to T keeping and this has knocked my confidence a little, I don’t want to handle my T’s unless strictly necessary but I’m worried I have an exception to the Curly hair docile rule, which I know happens in any genus. My question is I guess; does anybody have any advise on how to proceed in order to ascertain the T’s temperament and any ways to improve on letting them know you’re there? I’ve watched countless vids and follow their leads but I hate to think that I’m stressing her when there is perhaps an easier way.

Thank you for reading my post.

 

[Exoskeleton Invertebrates]

Hi there,

I purchased a HCH female juvie a week ago and she is the cutest looking T. I held her in the pet shop and she was very friendly. On our journey home she sat in her little box washing herself and seemed very chilled, once Home I left her in her box for a while to recover from her journey and set up her home. Once it came to putting her in her new home I gently touched her leg with a paintbrush and she wouldn’t move so I did it a couple more times on the third time she spun round to face me with that ‘come on then’ look. So I backed off for a minute or so. When I tried again she started walking towards my brush and trying to grab it with her front legs, then she gave in and got in the new enclosure.

Fast forward 2/3 days when I needed to make a few changes to her home; again I got out my trusty soft bristled brush and gently touched her leg and within that second she full on attacked the brush, again I backed off for a minute, I went to tap her again and this time she was a pussy cat and went where I needed her to, so I was thinking feeding response rather than attack, I threw her a cricket and left her be and sure enough she snaffled that cricket down so fast I gave her another and that was gone pretty quick too.

I’m pretty new to T keeping and this has knocked my confidence a little, I don’t want to handle my T’s unless strictly necessary but I’m worried I have an exception to the Curly hair docile rule, which I know happens in any genus. My question is I guess; does anybody have any advise on how to proceed in order to ascertain the T’s temperament and any ways to improve on letting them know you’re there? I’ve watched countless vids and follow their leads but I hate to think that I’m stressing her when there is perhaps an easier way.

Thank you for reading my post.

so were you told it was a Honduran curly hair? Please post photos of your new tarantula.

 

[Greasylake]

I dont think there's anyone on the forum here who will actually encourage handling, so yes avoiding handling unless absolutely necessary would be the best way forward. Handling just puts you and the spider at risk as if it bites you then your first reaction would be to fling it, possibly across the room, possibly from a great height, most likely fatal. As for testing temperament, I think you're doing just fine. Giving it a very gentle nudge with the brush should give you an idea. Just remember that the more gentle you are with the T then the more relaxed its likely to be, this will be helpful during rehousings. The way a lot of people here do maintenance is to feed the spider before doing anything in the enclosure. Usually this will distract the T enough for it to leave you alone while you refill the water or pluck out mold/boluses.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

I dont think there's anyone on the forum here who will actually encourage handling, so yes avoiding handling unless absolutely necessary would be the best way forward. Handling just puts you and the spider at risk as if it bites you then your first reaction would be to fling it, possibly across the room, possibly from a great height, most likely fatal. As for testing temperament, I think you're doing just fine. Giving it a very gentle nudge with the brush should give you an idea. Just remember that the more gentle you are with the T then the more relaxed its likely to be, this will be helpful during rehousings. The way a lot of people here do maintenance is to feed the spider before doing anything in the enclosure. Usually this will distract the T enough for it to leave you alone while you refill the water or pluck out mold/boluses.

Thank you I will try the feeding before maintenance method. I haven’t taken any pictures of her yet but I’ll take one and upload, she certainly looks like a curly hair though but yeah I’d welcome a confirmation of this.
I agree completely about the handling, I have no desire to handle my T’s unless absolutely necessary. Thank you for the advice and I’ll upload a pic later today.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

so were you told it was a Honduran curly hair? Please post photos of your new tarantula.

It's a juvie so it'll probably look pretty nondescript.

My Honduran/Hobby form at 2.5" (excuse the handling pic, she didn't have proper curly hairs until after her next moult)


My Nicaraguan form at 1.5-2"

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I’m pretty new to T keeping and this has knocked my confidence a little, I don’t want to handle my T’s unless strictly necessary but I’m worried I have an exception to the Curly hair docile rule, which I know happens in any genus.

Don't let it knock your confidence, I was shocked as hell when my B. hamorii first turned full "psycho palp beast" but I just find it amusing now (even though she's gotten nastier since), it makes trying to move/manipulate the tarantula a bit more difficult but that's about it tbh.

I pretty much avoid handling at all if I can now, the only time I handle now is if a tarantula bolts out of the enclosure and onto my hand/arm, any manipulation/moving is done with long tongs and catch cups/containers.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

so were you told it was a Honduran curly hair? Please post photos of your new tarantula.

Here’s a picture of her - they said she was HCH True form

Don't let it knock your confidence, I was shocked as hell when my B. hamorii first turned full "psycho palp beast" but I just find it amusing now (even though she's gotten nastier since), it makes trying to move/manipulate the tarantula a bit more difficult but that's about it tbh.

I pretty much avoid handling at all if I can now, the only time I handle now is if a tarantula bolts out of the enclosure and onto my hand/arm, any manipulation/moving is done with long tongs and catch cups/containers.

Don't let it knock your confidence, I was shocked as hell when my B. hamorii first turned full "psycho palp beast" but I just find it amusing now (even though she's gotten nastier since), it makes trying to move/manipulate the tarantula a bit more difficult but that's about it tbh.

I pretty much avoid handling at all if I can now, the only time I handle now is if a tarantula bolts out of the enclosure and onto my hand/arm, any manipulation/moving is done with long tongs and catch cups/containers.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

Thanks Grym, I think it’s because I’ve been lucky enough to have had no monkeys yet! I have a SA/F Aphonapelma chalchodes and she is so docile and beautiful and of course Sparkle! She is thriving and eats fab, I can hardly see her for webbing these days but still absolutely gorgeous!

My curly hair is roughly 3.5 to 4” DLS. It’s strange because she was £19 and I wanted a juvie but they were selling sub-adult for £39 and he showed me the difference between my juvie and SA and there was like a cm or two in it. He said himself it was ridiculous, so I think I got quite a beefy spider for the price. I held her in the shop. I sat on the floor and held her about 4” from the ground she was docile then the sales boy picked her up and carried her on his arm all the way to the counter at the front so I told him off for being irresponsible; This guy was like over six ft. Hope you’re well. xxxxx

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Thanks Grym, I think it’s because I’ve been lucky enough to have had no monkeys yet! I have a SA/F Aphonapelma chalchodes and she is so docile and beautiful and of course Sparkle! She is thriving and eats fab, I can hardly see her for webbing these days but still absolutely gorgeous!

My A. chalcodes can be a bit of a grump but apparently that's normal, it seems that for each "puppy dog" one there's one that's mental lol.

True form

"True Form" is the Nicaraguan Curly Hair, Honduran is the "Hobby Form"

My curly hair is roughly 3.5 to 4” DLS.

My Honduran form at 3+"



And at 4"
View media item 48912

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

Sorry yeah I just looked at my p/work, yes she’s labelled as Nicaraguan curly! Yes my dad bought two A Chalchodes at the same time and gave me one, both female SA, his is a monster and mine is a puppy, although his isn’t a monster to me! He thinks his has an aversion to men, I told him that I don’t think they are that deep thinking let alone political! I’m after a Avic avic and an E campestratum but I can’t find them for love nor money in the uk! xxx

 

[KezyGLA]

Have to disagree with you there Chris.

There is other variants of B. albo from Honduras & Costa Rica that were mas imported over the years and mixed with the Nicaraguan. This has resulted in a hobby form in the US, but there is still Honduran locale specimens out there.

We had these in the UK too, but they were hybridised with B. vagans. Making the UK Hobby form a complete and utter mutt

You can usually see how bad the UK HF is as it has long but straightish setae instead of curls. And noticable red setae on the abdomen.

Nicaraguan form just gets called 'true' due to it being the most impressive floof. Where it should really just be labelled 'Nicaragua'.

 

[johnny quango]

@KezyGLA What do you think have i got a UK mutt? This is around 3.5" and really is that light coloured. It was bought as a pube hair

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Have to disagree with you there Chris.

There is other variants of B. albo from Honduras & Costa Rica that were mas imported over the years and mixed with the Nicaraguan. This has resulted in a hobby form in the US, but there is still Honduran locale specimens out there.

My bad, was unaware of the other variants.

We had these in the UK too, but they were hybridised with B. vagans. Making the UK Hobby form a complete and utter mutt

You can usually see how bad the UK HF is as it has long but straightish setae instead of curls. And noticable red setae on the abdomen.

I don't think mine is too bad then, she looked pretty generic until around 3" when she started sporting the curly look, all the setae have a copper tinge to them.

 

[KezyGLA]

@KezyGLA What do you think have i got a UK mutt? This is around 3.5" and really is that light coloured. It was bought as a pube hair View attachment 272279

To be honest I think that's 'Nicaragua'. I suppose time will tell. I think TSS may have mixed yours up though.

My bad, was unaware of the other variants.



I don't think mine is too bad then, she looked pretty generic until around 3" when she started sporting the curly look, all the setae have a copper tinge to them.

Ahaha wait til you see mine. I will need to dig up my photos of my old AF Pube Hair (UK Hobby) very noticable hybrid. So many of them out there. Adult females go for about £25 a pop.

I think I sent @viper69 a good photo of my HF a year or so ago. I will try find that photo and share here.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I’m after a Avic avic and an E campestratum but I can’t find them for love nor money in the uk! xxx

A. avicularia pop up quite often but good luck finding E. campestratus here.

 

[johnny quango]

To be honest I think that's 'Nicaragua'. I suppose time will tell. I think TSS may have mixed yours up though.

I often thought it may have been a mix up also but i bought this about 8 months before the Nicaragua curly hairs turned up in the UK, i remember at the time it was being sold as a Honduras curly hair or like i said a pube hair or hobby form nowaday. I often look at other members B albo hobby /true variations and mine looks like neither (although closer to wild/true) but it does however look like my 1st ever tarantula which was a Honduran curly hair. Either way it's still beautiful

 

[Vanessa]

I’m pretty new to T keeping and this has knocked my confidence a little,

Don't let it - your tarantula was acting fairly normal for being hungry and maybe a bit put out by their journey. I would not take this behaviour as being defensive - just curious and very hungry. I would call this type of behaviour "reactive" as opposed to "defensive".
You did the right thing by using a brush and testing her reaction by gently touching her back end and now you have widened your knowledge with a different experience that you didn't have before. That is what it is all about and why people make the species recommendations that they do for new people.
This species, while one of the most tolerant in the hobby overall, has a tremendous appetite. You just have to be aware of that and take the necessary precautions - testing her temperament with a soft brush and only using tongs to do any sort of maintenance in her enclosure. Feeding prior to doing maintenance also works to distract this species, although it doesn't work for all species.

 

[Sinned]

I'm also new to keeping T's @TeddyBearTarantula. I don't handle as a rule, not even the good tempered B. albo I got.

But, it's the the one I would consider sticking my hands close to if needed, while she climbs out or does something silly. That being said, of course I did look up handling at a certain point and probably looked at the same vids you did. From what I learned is that checking their "mood" is always a good idea. Not every day is a good day and if they suspect food sneaked up on them, they will go for it We got threads on T's rushing water dishes being refilled, movement/vibrations might be food .

Also, (re)housing or shortly after they are in their new home... not helping matters. They tend to need a good while to get settled in. Keep it up, I needed the help of members here to keep up my confidence now and then. T's are great but can also really get on your nerves when you are new to the hobby. (well, to me at least.)

 

[scott99]

Hi there,

I purchased a HCH female juvie a week ago and she is the cutest looking T. I held her in the pet shop and she was very friendly. On our journey home she sat in her little box washing herself and seemed very chilled, once Home I left her in her box for a while to recover from her journey and set up her home. Once it came to putting her in her new home I gently touched her leg with a paintbrush and she wouldn’t move so I did it a couple more times on the third time she spun round to face me with that ‘come on then’ look. So I backed off for a minute or so. When I tried again she started walking towards my brush and trying to grab it with her front legs, then she gave in and got in the new enclosure.

Fast forward 2/3 days when I needed to make a few changes to her home; again I got out my trusty soft bristled brush and gently touched her leg and within that second she full on attacked the brush, again I backed off for a minute, I went to tap her again and this time she was a pussy cat and went where I needed her to, so I was thinking feeding response rather than attack, I threw her a cricket and left her be and sure enough she snaffled that cricket down so fast I gave her another and that was gone pretty quick too.

I’m pretty new to T keeping and this has knocked my confidence a little, I don’t want to handle my T’s unless strictly necessary but I’m worried I have an exception to the Curly hair docile rule, which I know happens in any genus. My question is I guess; does anybody have any advise on how to proceed in order to ascertain the T’s temperament and any ways to improve on letting them know you’re there? I’ve watched countless vids and follow their leads but I hate to think that I’m stressing her when there is perhaps an easier way.

Thank you for reading my post.

All T's are unpredictable. The temperament of tarantulas varies from individual to individual. Just because one species is considered "docile" doesn't mean it is safe. Many people have been bitten by "docile" T's.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

All T's are unpredictable. The temperament of tarantulas varies from individual to individual. Just because one species is considered "docile" doesn't mean it is safe. Many people have been bitten by "docile" T's.

Yeah that figures. I imagine people get complacent. I don’t advocate handling, it was just the first time I’ve had a T give me any hostility and it just took me by surprise; still it serves as a reminder that you can never afford to get too comfortable.

Have to disagree with you there Chris.

There is other variants of B. albo from Honduras & Costa Rica that were mas imported over the years and mixed with the Nicaraguan. This has resulted in a hobby form in the US, but there is still Honduran locale specimens out there.

We had these in the UK too, but they were hybridised with B. vagans. Making the UK Hobby form a complete and utter mutt

You can usually see how bad the UK HF is as it has long but straightish setae instead of curls. And noticable red setae on the abdomen.

Nicaraguan form just gets called 'true' due to it being the most impressive floof. Where it should really just be labelled 'Nicaragua'.

Hi KezyGLA,

Mine is roughly 3.5 - 4” she doesn’t seem to have any red setae, she’s very dark, in fact when she’s on the substrate I can struggle to spot her! I nearly purchased a Honduran from Bugzuk. He has Hobby and True, I asked the difference between the two and he said it was simply that the Nicaraguan has longer curlier hair!
I’ve probably got a Mutt (this did make me chuckle) but regardless she is still beautiful. Ive posted a picture previous in the chat, I’d be interested in your opinion. xxx

Don't let it - your tarantula was acting fairly normal for being hungry and maybe a bit put out by their journey. I would not take this behaviour as being defensive - just curious and very hungry. I would call this type of behaviour "reactive" as opposed to "defensive".
You did the right thing by using a brush and testing her reaction by gently touching her back end and now you have widened your knowledge with a different experience that you didn't have before. That is what it is all about and why people make the species recommendations that they do for new people.
This species, while one of the most tolerant in the hobby overall, has a tremendous appetite. You just have to be aware of that and take the necessary precautions - testing her temperament with a soft brush and only using tongs to do any sort of maintenance in her enclosure. Feeding prior to doing maintenance also works to distract this species, although it doesn't work for all species.

Thank you have really cheered me up tbf she has never kicked hairs or threat pose, when I go into her enclosure she is calm, but oh my she is one hungry little lady. She absolutely breathes her meals in and takes a run up from the other side of her enclosure if she sees a cricket! A lot of my other T’s wait for the food to get near before the ambush! You would think she’s never been fed! The shop told me she was on size 5 crickets twice a week! But I throw her a couple at a time and she loves it! Thank you for your advise.

I'm also new to keeping T's @TeddyBearTarantula. I don't handle as a rule, not even the good tempered B. albo I got.

But, it's the the one I would consider sticking my hands close to if needed, while she climbs out or does something silly. That being said, of course I did look up handling at a certain point and probably looked at the same vids you did. From what I learned is that checking their "mood" is always a good idea. Not every day is a good day and if they suspect food sneaked up on them, they will go for it We got threads on T's rushing water dishes being refilled, movement/vibrations might be food .

Also, (re)housing or shortly after they are in their new home... not helping matters. They tend to need a good while to get settled in. Keep it up, I needed the help of members here to keep up my confidence now and then. T's are great but can also really get on your nerves when you are new to the hobby. (well, to me at least.)

I completely get you! It’s not so much that they get on my nerves but the constant worrying and feeling like everybody knows exactly what they are doing and always have from day one, whilst I worry that my T’s hate me and think ‘of all the people who could of bought me, this clueless idiotic human did!’ My C Versicolor is hilarious, I bought her off the Grym reaper, she has an awesome little personality, always playing and busy, she attacks the water i spurt through a hole in her enclosure to fill up her bowel, she gets drenched but it don’t stop her. Sometimes she’ll just hang on single thread and spin herself likes she’s enjoying it! Not to mention her very strict grooming regime, shes 2” dls and beautiful.
Thank you for the advice, I really appreciate everybodies help, this forum is a gift.

Don't let it knock your confidence, I was shocked as hell when my B. hamorii first turned full "psycho palp beast" but I just find it amusing now (even though she's gotten nastier since), it makes trying to move/manipulate the tarantula a bit more difficult but that's about it tbh.

I pretty much avoid handling at all if I can now, the only time I handle now is if a tarantula bolts out of the enclosure and onto my hand/arm, any manipulation/moving is done with long tongs and catch cups/containers.

What is your most agressive Old world? And is Hamorii your most agressive New world? Do you have any that are considered defensive/aggressive but are pretty chilled out? Thanks for the advice Chris, you always come to my aid. xxx