Largest Legspan of the Docile species

[Whiskeypunk]

My friends L Parahybana died from heat mat poisoning. Our fault, we both forgot to turn it off when we left his house. Hair kicking aside, it was the most docile spider I have ever seen, and he was totally in love with it.

So his birthday is coming up and as a replacement I am interested in getting him a docile species that will end up with a large legspan. I was thinking Eupalaestrus Campestratus or Grammostola Aureostriata, but I have no idea what the legspan, and growth rate on a PZB is.

Also, what about Grammostola Mollicoma? Are they in the pet trade?

 

[NickS1004]

I asked the same question a while ago while in search of my first spider, and the response was overwhelmingly G. aureostriata.

Or get another L. parahybana, they are cheap!

 

[Puppet Master]

I agree they get like 8in and are pretty docile. Mine is only about 3/4 so it isnt big yet but in a few years.

 

[AfterTheAsylum]

Why don't you just get another L. parahybana? I am against all Grammastolas and Brachypelmas, so if if you want a large terrestrial species I would say try a Megaphobema robustum, a Pamphobeteus, or a Theraphosa blondi or apophysis? Apophysis has the largest legspan (argueably with blondi) and blondi is the heaviest. Honestly, I would say that you should just get another L. parahybana.

 

[Whiskeypunk]

Clarification

My buddy wants a large docile species that he can handle*/let crawl on him. His old Parahybana was like a puppy in terms of docility. Orginally he wanted an orange baboon but I talked him down to L para and now he wants a docile species.

We are seriously considering another L. Parahybana.

Pamphos are out cause of temperment, Megaphobema, and Theraphosa is out cause of the difficulty in care.

*Yes I know the debates about handling, I rarely hold mine, and I made sure he understood the dangers of falls and other things.

 

[Keith Richard]

I am against all Grammastolas and Brachypelmas.

Why?? I'd suggest that G. aureostriata met the defined criteria perfectly.

 

[pitbulllady]

From what I've been told by long-time arachnid dealers and breeders, a docile temperament in L. parahybanas is a bit of a rarity. I know I've looked at several adults and sub-adults offered at reptile shows, and every single one were quick to give a full-blown threat display. I've actually handled P. cancerides that were calmer. Your buddy may have had that one-in-a-thousand with a really sweet temperament(though I'm sure I'll hear from others with calm, docile L. parahybanas), and finding another one might be a tad difficult. My vote would be for Grammostole aureostriata. I have a big female who's every bit of eight inches across. I have to use both hands to support her, due to her size, yet she's never kicked hairs, or reared up, or done anything that could be considered remotely defensive. She'll sit on my lap for hours if I let her. While I know that there is the occasional nasty specimen of this species, they are the exception to the rule. My Megaphobema robustum, on the other hand, is pretty spazzy, doing headstands if I so much as touch her.

I wish someone could explain what he/she hates about Grammostolas so much. I can understand someone not liking Brachy's, if you're allergic to urticating hairs, since they are notorious hair-kickers, but Grammostolas? All Grammostolas aren't G. rosea. This is probably the most consistently-docile genus, across the board, and not prone to hair-kicking, plus they do come in a variety of colors, and most get quite large. For someone who prefers docile T's, they're just about perfect.

pitbulllady

 

[bagheera]

I have 2 each of L parahybana and 2 G auriostriata. The former are.not.docile.
One of these seems to throw threats at it's shadow. They are both eating machines. The Grammastolas however are not so aggressive, but are skittish. They will allow my hand in the enclosure, but will run under the hide.

Go for a B smithii, emilia or boehmi if you want to handle.

my 2 cents

 

[pitbulllady]

I have 2 each of L parahybana and 2 G auriostriata. The former are.not.docile.
One of these seems to throw threats at it's shadow. They are both eating machines. The Grammastolas however are not so aggressive, but are skittish. They will allow my hand in the enclosure, but will run under the hide.

Go for a B smithii, emilia or boehmi if you want to handle.

my 2 cents

Your experience with L. parahybanas has been similar to mine, but I wouldn't describe my G. aureostriata as skittish, no worse than a G. rosea. Maybe it's her size; she's just reached that point where few things can intimidate her! My B. smithi is very calm and docile, too, but I can't say the same for my B. emilia. She's as prone to running as any Avic, and kicks hairs worse than my B. boehmei. I don't handle her for fear of dropping her, since she is so prone to panicking and jumping. Besides, those two species don't get all that big; my G. aureostriata could easily eat either one of the specimens of those two Brachy species I have, and both of them are proven adult females. They are no larger in diameter than my biggest G. rosea.

pitbulllady

 

[AfterTheAsylum]

It is my preference to be against Grammastolas and Brachypelmas. I think they are the most useless Ts on earth. I have a G rosea and a B. albopilosum. I can't wait to get rid of them.

 

[galeogirl]

Sidenote: There's no such thing as heat mat poisoning.

 

[Windchaser]

It is my preference to be against Grammastolas and Brachypelmas. I think they are the most useless Ts on earth. I have a G rosea and a B. albopilosum. I can't wait to get rid of them.

What makes them so useless? If you are going to completely trash two of the mainstay genus in the hobby, at least give more specifics than what you have provided. BTW, you are entitled to your opinion, but at least give some specifics.

 

[Gesticulator]

To answer the question in the thread starter, Whiskeypunk, I do agree that your friend's L parahybana was likely the exception, rather than the norm. I would describe them as more defensive than gramms, but not necessarily aggressive. Like Keef stated,

I'd suggest that G. aureostriata met the defined criteria perfectly

I agree, Keef.

I am against all Grammastolas and Brachypelmas.

Soulsick, everyone has their own preference and of course you're entitled to yours, but I'm curious, if someone is looking for a DOCILE/handle-able terrestrial T, what would you suggest if not a gramm or a brachy?

 

[Beccas_824]

It is my preference to be against Grammastolas and Brachypelmas. I think they are the most useless Ts on earth. I have a G rosea and a B. albopilosum. I can't wait to get rid of them.

That is a pretty harsh statement. And name a T you own that is "useful" as opposed to being "unless". Are Avics more useful because they climb and construct a web at the top of their enclosures? Or are agresive T's more useful because they give off threat poses and run around all crazy when distrubed?
You have a right to an opinion, but I have the right to dissagree with your opinion which i strongly do!

 

[AfterTheAsylum]

I didn't bash them as a suggestion.

*********I was merely stating that I don't like either genus so I was letting the thread starter know why I wasn't supporting the Brachy and Gramma suggestions.


Is this making sense? It is true, I can't stand their genus. Let's just say that I just prefer everything else, because the truth would turn this thread into lunatic island. Don't get me wrong, some of them are great looking, but I still am not a fan. Let's just say that they grow way too slow...

The Sickness

 

[Nerri1029]

It is my preference to be against Grammastolas and Brachypelmas. I think they are the most useless Ts on earth. I have a G rosea and a B. albopilosum. I can't wait to get rid of them.

I will pay you the shipping to send them my way
If you are close I'll come get them..

let me know

 

[AfterTheAsylum]

They are slings, are you sure you want them?

 

[Nerri1029]

let's continue as PM's

 

[becca81]

Soulsick,

I think what people are saying is that although you may not prefer the species of those genuses, they aren't "useless." Useless implies that they have absolutely no role whatsoever in the biodiversity of our planet.

(If you want an example of useless, let's look at domestic cats... *ducks*)

Some people I've talked to feel that they aren't a "big, bad tarantula keeper" unless they shun such genuses as Grammostola and Brachypelma. Even though there are some species that don't do anything for me (I'm not a personal fan of P. regalis), I can appreciate them for what they are, even if I only keep them once.

As for a generally docile, large spider, I also go with G. aureostriata. They do take some time to get large, but that makes them all the more special when they are.

What about a "medium" sized spider, such as G. pulchra or B. vagans? These still grow to 6".

 

[AfterTheAsylum]

Soulsick,

I think what people are saying is that although you may not prefer the species of those genuses, they aren't "useless." Useless implies that they have absolutely no role whatsoever in the biodiversity of our planet.

(If you want an example of useless, let's look at domestic cats... *ducks*)

Some people I've talked to feel that they aren't a "big, bad tarantula keeper" unless they shun such genuses as Grammostola and Brachypelma. Even though there are some species that don't do anything for me (I'm not a personal fan of P. regalis), I can appreciate them for what they are, even if I only keep them once.

Some people seriously say that? Ha, I just don't like them. And the useless comment was opinion. Maybe the word was "useless". Let's put it this way, "I prefer not to have them". Happy?

And yes, cats are useless.

And for Nerri... I have gotten a good amount of PMs since I said I want to get rid of my slings. We'll see how it goes. I might just give them away to someone who buys some blondi slings.

The Sickness