Just HOW STRONG can a T be

[Critterfarm]

I've heard stories of big baboons-H.hercules & H.gigas actually snapping the plastic bars of a critter keeper lid. I cannot testify to the truth of these stories,but baboons are very strong.My H.hercules was capable as a sling of overpowering prey much bigger than itself and devouring it.
George

Yes they can. They can also snap fiberglass screens, unravel metal screening, and punch their fangs through the side of a deli cup while I'm holding it
They cannot however, lift a 1/2" plywood top with the 1987 Webster's Abridged Collegiate Dictionary on top of it

 

[DE3]

One of my P cancerides will constantly test the plexiglass lid. It has pushed up on the corners so much that the plexiglass is now permanently bent upwards. I have to tape the corners down or put a metal screened lid over the plexiglass. The only reason I keep the plexiglass on is to help keep the humidity level.

I've seen many T's doing a pretty impressive job of trying to lift the lid.

What can happen is one or more feet can get stuck in that new space they just made.............and end up one leg short.

 

[JDS]

One of my P cancerides will constantly test the plexiglass lid. It has pushed up on the corners so much that the plexiglass is now permanently bent upwards. I have to tape the corners down or put a metal screened lid over the plexiglass. The only reason I keep the plexiglass on is to help keep the humidity level.

I've used plexiglas for some time and the warping is from the humidity difference on the two sides. The higher humidity side expands compared to the lower humidity side causing it to bow. I find it necessary to turn my lids over weekly to keep from getting too bent out of shape.

 

[refnulf]

Velcro works wonders, try it sometime.

 

[odinn7]

I program for a CNC machine that cuts Corian counter tops. I make tank tops out of Corian on the machine and they fit tight, they're heavy, and they don't warp. That said, I still use strategically place duct tape just to be sure.

 

[Nerri1029]

if u really wanna felel their truew force lift up the tank of a big T or a small aggressive T and put food in.When it stirkes you should feel its power and its alot of power
after all they are pure hydrolics
mike

OK once again.. not pure hydrolics.. ONLY partial..
and their fangs are muscle driven

BUT

LIKE ALL arthropods who have exoskeletons.. the point of attachment for arthropods is NOT limited like in our skeleton..
THUS the muscles in a T are attached in such a way as to yeild the greatest effect..

LIKE shoveling dirt.. with a heavy load you grab the shovel NEAR the blade and one hand on the other side for a pivot.
THIS is for exerting great forces.. so some muscles are attached closer to the "load" to achieve this

our skelton is more like sweeping a floor; our muscles have to attach close to the pivot (joint) so we get much more speed than power - like the broom both hands are near the end.. the bristles get speed but NO power,, ( try moving a heavy object with the end of a broom using the classic hold.

SO like ants that can lift 10x their own weight.. spiders should experience a similar benefit simply from having an exoskeleton

AS BBlack said ONLY TWO joints in each leg are hydraulic the rest are traditional.

as for pressure.. pressures from inside a T's leg range from 50 - 400 mmHg those numbers correspond with your blood pressure reading like 120/85

hope this clears some stuff up.
please correct any oversights

 

[bagheera]

my B boehmei escaped twice the 1st time I was cleaning out her tank and went to the loo and found that she had pushed the lid of the tank as I didn't clip it down. I found her onder the table on the floor. The second time I don't know how she got out but I woke up one morning to find her on my pillow next to me. To this day that still puzzels me. That was when I first started keeping T's as of now I've never had any more escapees.

Was it good for you too? Was she smoking? lol!

 

[bagheera]

Tarantulas use hydraulics to raise themslves. They have muscles for retraction. As Nerri pointed out, they are capable of blood pressure that is human equivalent.

They quite strong. Don't underestimate them!

I have seen spiders rip through steel screens with fangs. I have seen my B smithii lift a laped down lid. I seem to recall a posting involving a C fasciata and containment issues--worth reading.

 

[Catherine]

The only time I've had an escape was when my A.geniculata pushed the wooden top off her tank. I found her on top of the lid, wondering about. To be fair, there was a male in the tank next to her and she's been drumming at him for days. I was waiting for him to build a sperm web. I think she went looking for a good time She's not done it since.

Also, when the H.lividum has first rehoused, it had a habit of climbing to the top of the tank and sticking its fangs through the holes i'd poked in the plastic. Kept waking me up hearing this random squeaky scraping noise. Didn't know what the hell it was until i saw her sticking her fang through the hole and making the noise!

 

[Snipes]

In Belize i got a B. vagans out of a hole by sticking a stick into the crack. It grabbed onto it and damn if i didnt get pulled forward. I mean, im much much stonger, but based on the strength it was displaying, i would say they are pretty darm strong.

 

[BlkCat]

My B. boehmei will crawl around the top pf her critter keeper and stick her fangs through the slits. She will then pull, like she is trying to chew through. I was worried she was gonna break a fang. She even deposits venom sometimes.
My smithi Actually pulled a humidity gage off the side of her keeper. It was stuck there.
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=39877