I'm about to start an M. Balfouri communal setup

[VeryLongTime]

I ordered 3 balf slings from a local breeder and I'm gonna pick them up by tomorrow. I have already done my basic research on them months prior and would love some tips and advices from y'all who have communal setups.

 

[Thekla]

I've no experience with them, but I'd recommend watching @Tomoran's communal videos.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpNbT4ORuIHUGO7c2rXPdFdPN1qjt_72k

 

[Minty]

I've never kept a communal and never will, but the best advice is to try and make sure you keep every tarantula in the enclosure well fed.

Every communal is a risk, even with Monocentropus balfouri. I've seen keepers complaining about their tarantulas being eaten in a communal, even with this species.

 

[Hoxter]

True, the most basic thing is to make sure they aren't hungry. And probably it's good to make sure they would have many hides at the beginning so they could choose whether they want to stay together or go to their own holes.

 

[Enrgy]

Are they sac mates?

 

[VeryLongTime]

Are they sac mates?

Yes they are, I ordered a sub adult balfouri as well but the breeder advised me not to keep it with the slings in a communal setup. She'll be in an exclusive enclosure just for her

 

[Enrgy]

Yes they are, I ordered a sub adult balfouri as well but the breeder advised me not to keep it with the slings in a communal setup. She'll be in an exclusive enclosure just for her

i only ask cus i've heard that ppl have higher success rates with sacmates good luck

 

[Vanisher]

I have a friend who mated those in 2011! It was the first sucessfull M balfouri breeding in Sweden! He kept them comunal until they where large juveniles i believe?

 

[VeryLongTime]

i only ask cus i've heard that ppl have higher success rates with sacmates good luck

Thanks

 

[EtienneN]

Isn't it true you want a small enough enclosure that the M. balfouri's don't each establish their own territory? But then I'd imagine you don't want things too crowded either, so you just got to give the Goldie Locks treatment and find an enclosure that is just the right size.

 

[imre3]

Expert level balfouri communal:

 

[toan]

I've seen people do it successfully like it was no issue. but to me, keeping ts together would make me too nervous all the time.

 

[Aarantula]

Expert level balfouri communal:

This is AWESOME!!! Hahah!!

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Communals at the end of the day are a great idea for viewing purposes and such but even with successful balfouri communal setups what is the attraction Ive seen more action in mantid communal setups when they all attack the one prey, imo Ts in a communal is a no point set up that only children should be interested in watching that's no way for a T to live, if it was we would keep them all like that but no, as fa's as I'm concerned there a solitary animal and I wouldnt expect them to share space never mind an enclosure with another spider

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Communals at the end of the day are a great idea for viewing purposes and such but even with successful balfouri communal setups what is the attraction Ive seen more action in mantid communal setups when they all attack the one prey, imo Ts in a communal is a no point set up that only children should be interested in watching that's no way for a T to live, if it was we would keep them all like that but no, as fa's as I'm concerned there a solitary animal and I wouldnt expect them to share space never mind an enclosure with another spider

Yeah how wrong was I lol. 4 years since I've been on here. Contradicting myself here now though as I have a balfouri communal with over 40 in it lol and it's amazing. I will say though I think there the only real communal species, as I've had canabilism with P met and N incei. Sorry for my totally wrong info on this one.