I want a togo!

[Bugmom]

The thing is, though, you CAN'T be ready for a super venomous, extremely fast, unpredictable spider when what you're used to is a calm tree spider. Research can only do so much. Experience is key. This is my opinion.

No, you can't. Which is why it's important to know that you aren't ready, but if you insist, do your homework. Don't be overconfident or cocky and it's ok to admit that, yes, you are capable of being bested by a hairball the size of a nickel lol

 

[Merfolk]

I read here that someone got bit by a one incher and had some symptoms. Just be careful.

 

[Msh]

It's ultimately up to you what you end up getting but if it's going to be your second I would recommend getting something else to help you get used to having a faster T with more potent venom just for the experience. I've seen some saying Suntiger which I would agree with I love mine and have more problems with my G. Pulchripes as far as attitude. I've even handled mine briefly ( not that it would be a good idea for others to try ). I also have an OBT (getting another tommorrow actually) and a featherleg baboon. They are both very very fast, I've had the OBT for over a year now with no issues except it running a few laps around the inside and outside of the big plastic container I was rehousing it in luckily it stopped long enough for me to catch it. The featherleg has also pulled something similar but it was up my shower curtain and was also captured after some maneuvering. Preparation goes a long way when rehousing species like this I would have to say.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

If you get one get a half inch sling so you can experience its speed before it can really do you any damage. I don't know if they can pierce the skin at that size but mine never even tried. This will also give you plenty of time to research it before it gets big. They grow pretty fast so expect a 3 inch spider in around 6 months give or take. At this size they can definitely cause some damage.

My second T was an OBT so I pretty much took the plunge. Got her when she was only .75" about 6 months ago. Now she's over 3"!

Any OLD wordler packs Potent venom regardless of size
H macs arent that bad man , my Psalmous (Pokies ) are faster without a doubt.
my small slings are growing very slow , 1 died though two left.

The choice is yours Do lots of research females live like 11-15+ years I think (little is known about some Ts lifespans)
I suggest Psalmous Cambrigei instead Bigger T , but less potent venom (psalmous bites are strong for new worlders though)
You can handle a Trinidad Chevron , a TOGO is easy.

 

[jarmst4]

Are h macs really this bad? I have a huge female and she is crazy, but I'm way more cautious with my pokies. Sounds exaggerated to me.

 

[advan]

Are h macs really this bad?

No, there are a lot of scare tactics being used here. They are not that bad, just be careful and be prepared. The only defensiveness I've seen out of any of the ladies I have/had was when I stole babies. The MM was a little different, they are a little higher strung(especially right after meeting a lady).

but I'm way more cautious with my pokies.

You should be cautious no matter what spider you are working with, even C. ritae.


OP: I wouldn't recommend one as a second spider(other then obvious reasons) because you rarely get to see them and normally that is the deal breaker to someone new to the hobby.

 

[Bugmom]

Yeah, I read the bite reports last night. Nowhere near as bad as what I was expecting. Not fun, obviously, and I'd worry if someone small was bitten (like a child, I had the "do not ever ever ever ever ever open the lid!!!" talk with my kid this morning) but it's not like, black widow-levels.

No, there are a lot of scare tactics being used here. They are not that bad, just be careful and be prepared. The only defensiveness I've seen out of any of the ladies I have/had was when I stole babies. The MM was a little different, they are a little higher strung(especially right after meeting a lady).

You should be cautious no matter what spider you are working with, even C. ritae.

 

[freedumbdclxvi]

Are h macs really this bad?

I have thus far had no major issues with mine. She's insane fast, but she'd much rather run than fight.

 

[Low]

I have thus far had no major issues with mine. She's insane fast, but she'd much rather run than fight.

+1 on this...

If u want one get one....
In my humble opinion, they are far more attractive than any poecilotheria...bu I feel the same way about most all african spiders too

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

 

[Anonymity82]

their bite likely won't send you to the hospital

Which would be a giant waste of money and time anyway.

---------- Post added 07-17-2012 at 01:22 PM ----------

The question is, why do you want an H. mac in particular? It's not super special, it's not especially colorful, it is apparently prone to being bitey (more so than others I gather), it doesn't get THAT big for a "baboon" spider, and it grows slowly.

Not speaking for the OP.
They're absolutely beautiful. The males are attractive but I'm really hoping for a female. They're smaller size is also attractive because I don't have a lot of space to work with. Being fast and potentially bitey is exciting! It forces me to be creative and build my problem solving skills when working with it. I love it.

---------- Post added 07-17-2012 at 01:29 PM ----------

I was amazed at the 3 or 4 bite reports concerning half inch H. macs.

 

[le-thomas]

I prefer to think about what a tarantula is capable of rather than likely to do. So what if the tarantula isn't likely to rear up and attack? It has strong venom and runs very, very fast. Recommending a spider such as this to someone whose only experience with tarantulas is an A. avic seems absolutely foolish to me. Then again, my H. mac was my first OW (or something like that, if I remember correctly) and I'm having no trouble. Get it if you really want it, but I refuse to recommend it.

 

[jayefbe]

Get it if you really want it, but I refuse to recommend it.

This is how I feel about recommending spiders as well. It's entirely possible for a mature, responsible individual that has done a lot of research to be perfectly capable of keeping the most venomous, most defensive, and fastest T's with little experience. But that doesn't mean I'm going to recommend it to anyone. Only YOU (the prospective buyer) can make that decision for yourself. Hopefully you are honest about your strengths, limitations, and personal situation when making that decision. Going by whatever someone posts on an online forum is not enough information to determine if someone may be capable of keeping these tarantulas. As a rule I recommend being a little more cautious. I see a lot of people that jump into the hobby with both feet only to lose interest, have a tarantula die, or have a tarantula escape.

 

[freedumbdclxvi]

Agreed. My thought would be that, if you are asking online if you are ready to handle a specific species, you most likely aren't.

 

[le-thomas]

Agreed. My thought would be that, if you are asking online if you are ready to handle a specific species, you most likely aren't.

Even if they are, though, it's good to get as much information as possible.
OP, get one if you want one, but again, I cannot recommend it. They're amazing spiders, though. Just know your limits.

 

[Bugmom]

Which would be a giant waste of money and time anyway.

---------- Post added 07-17-2012 at 01:22 PM ----------



Not speaking for the OP.
They're absolutely beautiful. The males are attractive but I'm really hoping for a female. They're smaller size is also attractive because I don't have a lot of space to work with. Being fast and potentially bitey is exciting! It forces me to be creative and build my problem solving skills when working with it. I love it.

---------- Post added 07-17-2012 at 01:29 PM ----------

I was amazed at the 3 or 4 bite reports concerning half inch H. macs.

I think they're beautiful too. It's what drew me to it in the first place. I'm hoping mine doesn't hide all the time, or at least will feel photogenic now and then lol.

The speed and venom, yeah, not so exciting. Just can come with the territory when keeping OW Ts though. You're either ok with that and are prepared as much as you can be (mentally and by having supplies like tongs) or your not.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

 

[captmarga]

I think the H macs are lovely - and so far I have had terrible luck with them. Two mature males, one eaten by an intruder creature into the office, and my last just curl up and die. Raised him from a sling. I've yet to get a female and the white/gray coloration. I've never had a problem with them, even compared to "fast" spiders. Right now I get more threats from my A. peru than any of the "hot" spiders. The peru and the coloratovillosis are my most-likely-to-strike spiders. I just keep my hands away. Good luck with whatever you choose.

Marga

 

[Armpit]

My second T was an H. mac and i love her. She is lightning quick, and quite reclusive - but absolutely gorgeous. She's never shown aggression (at least not yet) and I have tong fed her. As others have said before time and again, no species will have a consistent temperament. You might get lucky every once in a while.

Still scares the beans out of me, though. I definitely wouldn't suggest handling it.

 

[S2000]

My first post should probably be in the introductions but I want to chime in here. My first tarantula was a P. Regalis and my second was S. Calceatum. I did research and watched a lot of videos of tarantulas and when I received them I felt competent enough to deal with them.

It's my opinion that if you're not the kind of person that freaks out when a tarantula decides to run or jump or whatever, then you don't need any experience with tamer spiders. That's why I never had a problem. If you don't know how you'll react then probably stay away until you do.

 

[Formerphobe]

I couldn't tell you if my H. mac is lightning quick or not. I've only seen it three times (once when I rehoused it) since I got it in October 2011 at ~0.5 inch. I've found exuviums on eight different occasions, and the prey items I put in there disappear. I did catch a glimpse (and a picture!) of most of it last week. It has grown significantly.

Not a spider I would recommend as a second T.

 

[Thistles]

H. macs are my favorite Ts, but not one I would recommend to someone with limited experience. You really need to know yourself and your own limitations. If you want an H. mac, get it! But first watch videos, do research and be sure you know what you're in for. You see people write "teleport" but what you imagine isn't anywhere near what they are capable of! I remember the first time I rehoused my L. violaceopes... after some vodka. Smarrrrt! It ended well, and hey, lesson learned! Some things you just need to blunder through and now I really respect her speed! If you are just looking for an affordable spider that is a little less common than an A. avicularia, I completely agree with the other members who suggest a P. irminia or a Tappie. Get something a little more exciting and a little faster than an avic, but not so likely to scare the pants off you! Remember that they are just spiders whatever you get, though. They're not monsters!