I've seen the proof, and the hype is true!

[deifiler]

Sorry it isn't a P.Metallica thread =<

But today I noticed for the first time the extreme level of 'aggressional defense' from my P.Murinus 'usambara', or as we know it the Orange Bitey Thing...

Anyway, after me saying "my 3 inch murinus _is_ docile!" I'll finally say this - it isn't!

It caught me off guard, thankfully I practice extreme caution even with the spiders I regard as docile - if it'd been my hand I'd of been well and truly owned. After attacking my paintbrush it went on to savage the side and roof of it's home, then severing sections of the web in it's tunnel. The most amazing part was it's exit; It literally dived from the roof into the substrate, forcing itself deep into it. Anyway I havn't seen it since, I hope the little bugger is sat in the corner ashamed of his/her actions

Apologies if this is seen as a stupid thread, but let it be a warning!

 

[Henry Kane]

I see nothing stupid about your experience or commenting on it. I'm glad to hear that you were on your toes and because of the necessary precautions (using a paintbrush for example) you were surprised but nothing worse. Usambaras (or absolutely any animal) can never be predicted and that's the reality of it. Regardless, no damage to you, no damage to your T and that my friends is responsible T keeping.

Way to go Deif!

Atrax

 

[deifiler]

Cheers! That makes me feel all humble to be praised liek that! I think tomorow I'm going to re-house it into it's permanent terranium, to save on any messing around with a fully grown PMT infested momma in the future...

 

[Immortal_sin]

LOL! I have to pack up two orange bitey things tonight for shipping, they are about 3.5" or so, and one of them will fall over backwards gnashing it's fangs it gets so mad!
Wish us luck, I also have to pack 2 H lividum

 

[deifiler]

Originally posted by Immortal_sin
LOL! I have to pack up two orange bitey things tonight for shipping, they are about 3.5" or so, and one of them will fall over backwards gnashing it's fangs it gets so mad!
Wish us luck, I also have to pack 2 H lividum

Good lord that should be interesting!! If not interesting, at least character building

haha! Keep us updated with it! I have a new found fascination with this species now mine lives up to it's stereotype, and give my upmost respect to those of you that have to package it! and I'm intruiged as to why some of you hold this spider!?

 

[Immortal_sin]

well, it was actually! Here is the calmer of the two. And no, I did NOT do this on purpose...but he came calmly out of the container, walked in and back out of the packing container, and settled on my arm! I could NOT get him to move off. He dug his claws in, and just sat there. I thought it might take all night
He finally let me guide him with a paintbrush into the packing container though!

 

[deifiler]

Originally posted by Immortal_sin
well, it was actually! Here is the calmer of the two. And no, I did NOT do this on purpose...but he came calmly out of the container, walked in and back out of the packing container, and settled on my arm! I could NOT get him to move off. He dug his claws in, and just sat there. I thought it might take all night
He finally let me guide him with a paintbrush into the packing container though!

Whoa! Purdy spider!

I know the feeling of waiting for them to budge... Shortly after buying my H.Minax it decided to crawl onto my hand, and stayed there for a good three minutes. After 30 seconds or so I felt pretty uncomfortable with it there, yet didn't want to edge it away incase it'd bite me:8o Anyway, it finally trotted off and into it's nest. I havn't seen a lot of it since then though, and only 'touched' it once.

Do you not flinch at all when they dash out and onto you? That usually has me checking for skids

 

[Hairyspider]

precautions

from reading the threads on these OBT's. I decieded to house it in a 5gal ter. I figure this will be adiquate since they don't get too large, this way I won't have to move it
While were on the subject, are they concidered semi aboreal? Mine made a wed the first night on the ground, then it made one in the top corner, and has been there ever since. Then every night it opens the web and strolls around, I can hear it cuz its claws, make the screen lid twang. Is this the usual for them?

Thanks

William

 

[Immortal_sin]

thanks....he is very pretty, and once out of 'their' territory, are apt to be more skittish then defensive. That said, however, I have NO doubt they would bite easily enough if provoked!
William, they can be arboreal as well...some of mine make web hammocks, and some of them live underground. They love to come out at night, that's about the only time I see my larger females.
These two that I packed up I've been T- sitting since October, and they have grown so much that their owner won't recognize them!

 

[manville]

Re: precautions

I had an accident with that t too..i was messing around with it and it crawled up my tongs and i kindda got freaked out and chuck the tongs away good thing it wasnt dead..its fine right now..that taught me a good lesson...

 

[Telson]

I've got a 2" that I bought about a week and a half ago now... I had to assist the poor guy that worked at the store in getting it out of it's enclosure! At least he knew enough to know that this species is nasty!!

When he got the hide flipped over and started tearing the webbing out to expose the T it came lunging out at the pen he was using. Then it flipped over on it's back and lodged itself into the remaining web and tried to swat/nail the tip of the pen repeatedly as he tried to work it in to the webs to get under him/her. The poor guy was sweating bullets, so I took over and eventually got it to crawl out into the open. It started going up the side of the enclosure and that's when he stepped back in and got a cup over it then once it crawled into the cup itself slid the lid between the cup and the glass.

On getting it home I put the cup inside the new enclosure with the lid ajar and with a coat hanger pushed the lid off and closed the new tank. Within 5 minutes the little bugger had bailed out and crawled up between the leaves of a fake plant and the glass, where within 20 minutes he/she had started building an enclosed web. I used tongs to pull the cup and lid out and he/she has been more than happy to add to that web until it had a secure little home built up.

It's great cause he/she didn't web the glass very much in the proceass and I have a great view of him/her!

It's a 2.5 gal with sliding screen lid BTW, will he/she outgrow that?!? They only get like 5.5" don't they?

 

[manville]

It's great cause he/she didn't web the glass very much in the proceass and I have a great view of him/her!

It's a 2.5 gal with sliding screen lid BTW, will he/she outgrow that?!? They only get like 5.5" don't they? [/B][/QUOTE]

Telson youre lucky cause mine webbed up the part so i cant see her/him properly..no i dont think it will outgrow that..they dont get that big..i think the biggest they will grow is 5 inch..besides most of the time they are hiding anyways i dont think they would need a bigger tank..

 

[Immortal_sin]

that should be a good size even for adults. They tend to build a home in a tiny corner, and stay in it.
The first time I bred them, I put the couple in a 20 gallon! They only utilized about 1/10th of it. So the next time, I just put the male in the female's container (about 2.5 gal) and it worked just fine.

 

[Mendi]

Originally posted by Immortal_sin
LOL! I have to pack up two orange bitey things tonight for shipping, they are about 3.5" or so, and one of them will fall over backwards gnashing it's fangs it gets so mad!
Wish us luck, I also have to pack 2 H lividum

Let me know Holley, if you want me to send you some Xanax to help you with the post traumatic stress that such an ordeal could cause you =D =D =D LOL ;P

 

[Sean]

Originally posted by Immortal_sin
LOL! I have to pack up two orange bitey things tonight for shipping, they are about 3.5" or so, and one of them will fall over backwards gnashing it's fangs it gets so mad!
Wish us luck, I also have to pack 2 H lividum

I have a 5 inches female who does the exact same thing pretty amusing, shes going to be even worse im sure in a few weeks when i breed her

 

[Immortal_sin]

actually, mine mellowed out while she was living with the male. It was when I removed the eggsac that all hell broke loose
I've posted this before, but it's worth seeing again!
She was dripping with what I assume may be venom...she was on her back, and throwing the worst tantrum I've ever seen...

 

[manville]

hahaha that really sucks..the venom looks cool..did you breed it?

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

Yes, the hype IS true.....

I have never and will never reach into the P. murinus cage!! After seeing mine swarm out of the substrate and attack my kitchen spoon with amazing force I just about peed all over myself. And it hasn't even hit the three inch mark. You have to be aware of where this species is at all times when cleaning/watering comes around. Usually I just pour water into the dish without bothering to remove it. I take it out and clean it about every week and a half. But my god that was scary!! While he usually would rather run or hide, he had major issues with that big black spoon. Totally unpredictable. Gotta love em though.

 

[Telson]

question:

Is this species known to stridulate?

I've never had a T that did that and always wondered what it sounds like and how looud it really is.:?

 

[AudreyElizabeth]

Telson

I dont believe they do. And I'm kind of glad they dont. =D