Most Visible Tarantulas

[ErinM31]

Which tarantula species can you frequently see outside their hides or at least at the entrance? I know this varies a lot between individuals and husbandry, but maybe there are generalities? And this is not counting mature males for obvious reasons, lol!

My observations of adult females and immatures I’ve had for a while:

NEVER hides: Brachypelma hamorii

Usually out and visible: Aphonopelma chalcodes

Usually in burrow but often seen at entrance and occassionally out: Brachypelma albopilosum, Ephebopus murinus

Almost never seen: Davus fasciatus

My Hapalopus sp. “Columbia large” might have moved to this last category too, which I did not expect.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Some of these are slings but so far I've noticed:

Doesn't know what hiding is:
A. geniculata
B albopilosum
B. hamorii
My P. sp. 'not a cancerides'
G. pulchripes
G. iheringi
T. cyaneolum
L. parahybana
L. difficilis
E. sp. 'Red'
G. sp. 'Concepcion'

Out often:
N. chromatus
B. emilia
P. antinous
N. carapoensis
P. pulcher
C. versicolor (all 3 of mine regularly leave their web tubes)
P. subfusca
A. chalcodes
P. ecclesiasticus
C. cyaneopubescens
B. albiceps
B. boehmei
B. vagans
P. sazimai

Usually visible at entrance of burrow/web tube:
H. gigas
P. irminia (recently anyway, she used to be out more before I rehoused her)
A. variegata (sometimes out though)
D. diamantinensis
A. musculosa

Out rarely/not at all:
H. maculata
C. elegans
E. cyanognathus
P. cambridgei
C. huahini

 

[Nightstalker47]

Most NW terrestrials will stay out in the open fairly regularly, or at the mouth of their hides. It really depends on the individual and how far it is into it's molt cycle. Pre molt often leads to a hiding spider.

Arboreals on the other hand tend to be more secretive. Usually retreating once they notice your presence. Best time to spot them out and about is late at night. My most visible arboreals would definitely be my two large female P.cambridgei.

They are literally always out, and they don't budge when I'm working around them. If anything they head towards the source of the disturbance to investigate. I haven't seen mine flee from anything.

They are the ultimate display species IMO. Fierce feeding response packed with stunning coloration and very fast growth rates. They also happen to be prolific webbers and will create some awesome web structures in their enclosures.

 

[Rittdk01]

These tarantulas never hide:
Lp
Rosehairs
T stirmi
B albo
Redknees

 

[ErinM31]

Some of these are slings but so far I've noticed:

Doesn't know what hiding is:
A. geniculata
B albopilosum
B. hamorii
My P. sp. 'not a cancerides'
G. pulchripes
G. iheringi
T. cyaneolum
L. parahybana
L. difficilis
E. sp. 'Red'
G. sp. 'Concepcion'

Out often:
N. chromatus
B. emilia
P. antinous
N. carapoensis
P. pulcher
C. versicolor (all 3 of mine regularly leave their web tubes)
P. subfusca
A. chalcodes
P. ecclesiasticus
C. cyaneopubescens
B. albiceps
B. boehmei
B. vagans
P. sazimai

Usually visible at entrance of burrow/web tube:
H. gigas
P. irminia (recently anyway, she used to be out more before I rehoused her)
A. variegata (sometimes out though)
D. diamantinensis
A. musculosa

Out rarely/not at all:
H. maculata
C. elegans
E. cyanognathus
P. cambridgei
C. huahini

Oh yes! Euathlus sp. red! One of my favorite species!

I recognize most that you’ve listed but what are the “P.” genera of the “Out Often” T’s you’ve listed, please?

 

[ErinM31]

Where would OW terrestrials such as Augacephalus, Ceratogyrus and Pterinochilus fall in this spectrum? And Avicularia — @viper69 has informed me that I am required to get one!

Thank you all for the input!

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Oh yes! Euathlus sp. red! One of my favorite species!

I recognize most that you’ve listed but what are the “P.” genera of the “Out Often” T’s you’ve listed, please?

Pamphobeteus antinous, Psalmopoeus pulcher/ecclesiasticus, Poecilotheria subfusca and Pterinopelma sazimai

 

[sasker]

My Hapalopus sp. “Columbia large” might have moved to this last category too, which I did not expect.

Same here. I was hoping for a fast unpredictable spider that is ready to bolt out as soon as the enclosure opens. Since the last molt she just dug an underground tunnel complex and the top looks like a carpet. I sometimes see a few toes sticking out from underneath so I know it is time to feed her. You would see no difference if you put the enclosures of my H. sp Columbia gross next to my I. mira, but at least my I. mira has blue toes

 

[ErinM31]

Same here. I was hoping for a fast unpredictable spider that is ready to bolt out as soon as the enclosure opens. Since the last molt she just dug an underground tunnel complex and the top looks like a carpet. I sometimes see a few toes sticking out from underneath so I know it is time to feed her. You would see no difference if you put the enclosures of my H. sp Columbia gross next to my I. mira, but at least my I. mira has blue toes

That’s what I thought too after reading the description on Tom’s Big Spiders blog! She was active and interesting to watch while growing up but has slowed way down and become so much more reclusive upon maturing (or getting there).

 

[Venom1080]

Basically every terrestrial ime is very active.

Arboreals a little less, but I still see most of mine daily. Fossorials hide most of all, obviously. I see mine bi daily to weekly.

Some tend to hide more than any of them, Heteroscodra maculata, Lampropelma, Pelinobius muticus, etc.

 

[Paul1126]

Never hides:

B. klaasi

Hides when spooked:

B. kahlenbergi
B. sabulosum
B. Hamorii
GBB (Occasionally)

All the ones that do hide are juvs I suspect they'll calm down once they reach adulthood.
My klaasi is a sub adult.

I should add my Emilia is always hiding.

 

[ErinM31]

Basically every terrestrial ime is very active.

Arboreals a little less, but I still see most of mine daily. Fossorials hide most of all, obviously. I see mine bi daily to weekly.

Some tend to hide more than any of them, Heteroscodra maculata, Lampropelma, Pelinobius muticus, etc.

Which genera/species are fossorial? It seems to be rather a gradation, unless I’m mistaken. E. murinus is fossorial for sure and I believe some Aphonopelma species are too. Brachypelma would be terrestrial overall but my B. albopilosum has never been happy without a burrow (from what others have said, he seems to be an exception).

 

[Venom1080]

Which genera/species are fossorial? It seems to be rather a gradation, unless I’m mistaken. E. murinus is fossorial for sure and I believe some Aphonopelma species are too. Brachypelma would be terrestrial overall but my B. albopilosum has never been happy without a burrow (from what others have said, he seems to be an exception).

Cyriopagopus, Hysterocrates, Pelinobius, Ephebopus, Megaphobema, Selenocosmia, Phollgius, Orithoctonus, Idiothele, and a couple Asian genera I can't pronounce or spell. Maybe a few others I just don't know about.

A. seemani like to burrow. But that's it I think.

B albos burrow till like 3".

 

[PanzoN88]

Always visible:

A. geniculata
B. hamorii
E. Sp. red
B. albopilosum

Usually visible:

P. cancerides

Rarely visible:

B. emilia
B. schroederi
B. sabulosum


The only adult female I have is my E. Sp. red.
Most of my females are Juvies-sub adults.

 

[FrDoc]

You guys are bumming me out. I haven't seen my LP for over two weeks. She went into her hide and threw up dirt curtains.

 

[Leila]

@The Grym Reaper, are you frickin kidding me?? Your P. ecclesiasticus is out more that your cambridgei???

My 2 P. cambridgei are almost always out. On the other hand, my ecclesiasticus (what an annoyingly long name to type, lol) is suuuuper skittish and is rarely visible.

 

[sasker]

You guys are bumming me out. I haven't seen my LP for over two weeks. She went into her hide and threw up dirt curtains.

Is it a mature specimen? Two weeks is nothing if they are in premolt. Mine also hid for weeks, especially when she was smaller. I don't see her in her hide ever since she accidentally blocked the entrance of her hide a while back. I have seen her removing the dirt heap and go in again, but only for a short time. I guess she prefers the outdoors

 

[dangerforceidle]

You guys are bumming me out. I haven't seen my LP for over two weeks. She went into her hide and threw up dirt curtains.

My sling did the same. Finally tore down the curtains after about 25 days of carefully crafted solitude. I was hoping it'd eat, but the dumb cricket half decided to drag itself into the water dish instead.

 

[Ungoliant]

Which tarantula species can you frequently see outside their hides or at least at the entrance?

This is how I would categorize the individuals I currently have:

never or rarely hides

• female Grammostola pulchra (3.50")
• male Acanthoscurria geniculata (2.00")
• female Ceratogyrus marshalli (4.00"): I got her on Saturday; she has webbed but not burrowed.

hides sometimes but is often visible

• female Avicularia avicularia (4.25")
• male Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (3.00")
• male Dolichothele diamantinensis (3.00")
• female Psalmopoeus cambridgei (3.75"): hides before and after molting

rarely visible

• female Grammostola pulchra (2.25"): though getting better
  
• Neoholothele incei (0.50"): may change as it grows

 

[efmp1987]

Extremes of the Ts I keep

1. P. sazimai - she wont hide. BUT SHE HAS to hide. Her not hiding is stressing me out so much.

2. M. balfouri - I have 1? OH I FORGOT.