Megaphobema robustum

[RoseT]

I just got a 1.5 sling...

Just wondering how you keep your slings?...


This is my first with this sp. So far Ive noticed they are pretty skittish, love to eat...and are very active...For now at least. I had it on half dry and half wet coco fiber but I ended up just wetting the entire substrate to notch up the humidity after I found it sitting on its water bowl (Tattoo ink cap), it actually had its rump in the water. He or she is currently climbing on the glass, in attempts of escaping Im sure, just kinda strange since none of my other T's have ever attempted to do so for this long...Its been trying to climb on the class for over 10 minutes...Could it be uncomfortable?, I just wanna make sure I get everything right for this little one.



This is my current set-up....do you think the substrate needs to be more moist?...

 

[lookerbrian]

I myself am not sure but on youtube.com look up jon3800 vids and he has a tarantula mythbusters vid on that species.

 

[AmbushArachnids]

You want it to be damp but not swampy. A good rule of thumb: No water can be squeezed out by hand. After youve got the substrate properly hydrated..

Reduce the amount of ventilation to keep the humidity stable. Remove any left overs daily and it will be fine.

Edit: I would add a larger water dish. Ts generally dont drown in water dishes unless its a tiny sling or some how one molts over a water dish and falls in.

 

[phoenixxavierre]

In its native environment it's pretty moist this time of year. Humidity ranges from 60% during the day to 90% at night, and temps are ranging from low to mid 70s at night to low 90s during the day. So averaging that out would suggest around 75% humidity and temps in the low 80s F.

I would suggest moistening at least a little over half the area of the tank/container, by misting or overflowing the water dish, and keeping the temps at least in the low 70s.

I've kept and bred this species before. They do like their moisture. Watch those spikes on their legs when it gets bigger! Mine loved spinning around in a circle if I got too close, to try and jab me with them!

 

[Mojo Jojo]

Wow, I never realized they had the spikes or the behavior. Very interesting. Only robustums?

 

[Apollo Justice]

Just recently got a Robustum and I've noticed that she's not happy unless the humidity is really high and that the temperature is room temp.


Oh btw watch out for the hairs on the back legs they can flick them off and they are painful, cause weird symptoms, and I've even heard cases of those hairs drawing blood.

 

[phoenixxavierre]

Wow, I never realized they had the spikes or the behavior. Very interesting. Only robustums?

I believe it's the Megaphobema genus. One of my favorite t's is the Megaphobema mesomelas. I love the way they look, but haven't kept any yet. I'm pretty sure they also have the sharp spikes. They'll sort of bob up and down and then if you don't leave them alone they'll whip around and try to nail you with their spikes, tarantula kung fu!

 

[Big B]

I have one coming next week from Paul. He has both the M. robustum and the M. mesomelas right now. Not the easiest t to find I have noticed.

 

[Kris-wIth-a-K]

its a megaphobema sp. so it like the temps. a little low and humidity is needed. They are finicky but not as much as the Mesomelas. I keep my breeding pair at 75-80 and higher humidity but dont freak out about it. They adapt. It will wonder around for a while before settling. Even then it will still wonder. Dont worry too much about it.

 

[codykrr]

I keep all mine VERY VERY moist. almost soupy. They need cool temps around 55F to 65F no higher! they will need VERY VERY deep and wet substrate at all times.

These Ts become stressed very easy....

again I cannot stress enough

DEEP, SOGGY SUBSTRATE, WITH COOL TEMPS!

 

[RoseT]

I keep all mine VERY VERY moist. almost soupy. They need cool temps around 55F to 65F no higher! they will need VERY VERY deep and wet substrate at all times.

These Ts become stressed very easy....

again I cannot stress enough

DEEP, SOGGY SUBSTRATE, WITH COOL TEMPS!

Really, that low?..I was thinking more towards 70 which is where its at now. The substrate is already pretty moist (enough to pinch water out of it) but not swappy by any means. It's already got about 4 inches of sub to burrow, and today I woke up to see it in construction. Hopefully a sign of some comfort/settlement.

 

[Kris-wIth-a-K]

I have to disagree with Cody. Just IMO. I dont keep it "soupy" but keep it moist. Really moist. It shouldnt need to be THAT low.

 

[Mojo Jojo]

I believe it's the Megaphobema genus. One of my favorite t's is the Megaphobema mesomelas. I love the way they look, but haven't kept any yet. I'm pretty sure they also have the sharp spikes. They'll sort of bob up and down and then if you don't leave them alone they'll whip around and try to nail you with their spikes, tarantula kung fu!

M. mesomelas is the most impressive terrestrial imo. I love the pics and vids that Anastasia has up on her website.

 

[codykrr]

Well I know people who keep them at 70 and they do fine...but honestly I go by were they come from.

 

[teamster6]

I have a five inch female. I keep the substrate moist not wet room temp. She has about 6 inches of substrate and also a hide. She spends her off time in the hide and does not dig. Actually I like the idea that she doesnt dig as I get to see her often.

t6

 

[codykrr]

^ people keeping them like all the other spiders in the hobby is why they are so few and far between.(BTW- not digging is an immediate sign of stress for a burrower..which these are.)

EVERYONE I know who has bred these successfully have kept them cool...very moist and on REALLY deep substrate.

I have spent the last 3 year literally trying to specialize in this species. I put in hours and hours and months and months of research from..habitat...temps..rainy seasons..ect.

Seen many failed attempts on these and other boards by VERY experienced hobbyist who have FAILED miserably at breeding these.

Only a handful have done it.

---------- Post added at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 PM ----------

just to let it be known. Most Megaphobema robustum specimen's that have been observed in the wild were found in deep burrows in the sides of river banks. the water of these rivers will rise and literally flood the burrows periodically. keeping the soil very soggy.

 

[RoseT]

^ people keeping them like all the other spiders in the hobby is why they are so few and far between.(BTW- not digging is an immediate sign of stress for a burrower..which these are.)

EVERYONE I know who has bred these successfully have kept them cool...very moist and on REALLY deep substrate.

I have spent the last 3 year literally trying to specialize in this species. I put in hours and hours and months and months of research from..habitat...temps..rainy seasons..ect.

Seen many failed attempts on these and other boards by VERY experienced hobbyist who have FAILED miserably at breeding these.

Only a handful have done it.

I commend you for your time and study...Ill most likely pick up on the same habits, Ive really gained an interest for this SP because of it particular character, and witnessed habits...Mine has been working since late yesterday and is now half way down its burrow and still digging....I feel a little better now knowing its in comfort. Thank you and everyone else for their input, I cant wait until its bigger, and from what ive read its gonna be a while...

 

[phoenixxavierre]

Well I know people who keep them at 70 and they do fine...but honestly I go by were they come from.

Yes, they're fine in the seventies.

If you go by where they come from then the average temps there are in the low 80s. It only gets into the low to mid 70s at night, and up into the low 90s during the daytime, at least this time of year.

Curious where you get the idea that they need cooler temps?

---------- Post added at 01:00 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:53 AM ----------

^ people keeping them like all the other spiders in the hobby is why they are so few and far between.(BTW- not digging is an immediate sign of stress for a burrower..which these are.)

EVERYONE I know who has bred these successfully have kept them cool...very moist and on REALLY deep substrate.

I have spent the last 3 year literally trying to specialize in this species. I put in hours and hours and months and months of research from..habitat...temps..rainy seasons..ect.

Seen many failed attempts on these and other boards by VERY experienced hobbyist who have FAILED miserably at breeding these.

Only a handful have done it.

---------- Post added at 10:29 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:22 PM ----------

just to let it be known. Most Megaphobema robustum specimen's that have been observed in the wild were found in deep burrows in the sides of river banks. the water of these rivers will rise and literally flood the burrows periodically. keeping the soil very soggy.

Yes, they are burrowers, but not digging doesn't necessarily mean they're stressed.

I kept mine according to their native environment, at least as close as I could. They were kept in ten gallon tanks with deep substrate. Despite their having a deep burrow, they liked to come out and sit quite a bit. If I attempted handling, they would either tolerate me or not, and if not, down the burrow they went, or tried to get me with the spinning round house to the finger!

I did the same with this species while I lived in North Carolina (study, research, etc., in their keeping).

It's true that they tolerate water to the extreme. Sometimes I would "flood" the tank just to see (not actually flooding the entire tank but adding enough water that upon entrance to the burrow it was inevitable that they would have to go underwater), and sure enough they didn't have any problem or qualms with completely submerging themselves in water for a surprising amount of time!

 

[codykrr]

^ no...while they are from the columbian rainforest which have an average temp of 75F to 85F

The particular area they live in stays very wet and rather cool.

there was a picture of their native habitat on Rick wests site..but last I checked was down.

There is misconstrued info for this species out there. And having talked with people who have found Megaphobema robustum in its native habitat...I believe I will follow what they say(as with anyone else who has bred them in the past 6 years)

There burrows also stay really cool. temps inside range from around 60F to 55F. some of the deeper burrows were almost 3 1/2 foot deep into the sides of riverbanks.

and yes...when a burrower does not burrow is does indeed(90% of the time) means its stressed.

I will continue to take advice from those who have bred and kept these for many years...

Remember, there is a reason there arent a ton of them out there...

 

[Organophosphate]

Looks like I finally found the right thread with practical info on these! :clap: :worship: :clap: :worship:

I just received my robustum today! Thank you Paul! Cody, Kris, and everyone else on here thank you! How many people worldwide are breeding these? Anything else important I need to know?

Thanks!!!