OBT Experiences

[LadyVonChimp]

My first OBT is arriving tomorrow, I'm really excited as it's a species I've wanted and researched for quite a while now I've gone for a 3-4cm OCF.

I've been reading up/watching videos on what to expect from their temperment, and although I know that each individual is different, I guess I'm just wondering if you all have some little anecdotes about yours that you wouldn't mind sharing with me please? Also pics would be wonderful of them and their enclosures too.

I'm also trying to think of a pet name, so far I have Diablo and Geri Halliwell other half wants to call it Chewie so he can say "Easy Chewie" every time it gets sassy, ha!

 

[BoyFromLA]

Truly lovely tarantula for sure.

I currently own:

Pterinochilus murinus
Pterinochilus murinus (DCF, Kigoma)
Pterinochilus murinus (DCF, Botswana)

Eats well, webs well, grows well.

Below is the recently rehoused one, and the current look of the enclosure.

 

[CommanderBacon]

I have only one. He was unexpected, a freebie from an order. He’s an absolute sweetheart. Here’s a photo of him from earlier today when I was taking enclosure photos:
He has always been a sweetheart, and more willing to run and hide than anything else. I absolutely love him.

I recommend that you always bear in mind that they are in fact much more frightened of you than you are of them, and give them plenty of places to hide.

 

[jrh3]

Mine is always sitting out of its burrow but at the slightest movement it will dash into its hide. Builds lovely webbing. Never had a threat posture from it.

 

[viper69]

My first OBT is arriving tomorrow, I'm really excited as it's a species I've wanted and researched for quite a while now I've gone for a 3-4cm OCF.

I've been reading up/watching videos on what to expect from their temperment, and although I know that each individual is different, I guess I'm just wondering if you all have some little anecdotes about yours that you wouldn't mind sharing with me please? Also pics would be wonderful of them and their enclosures too.

I'm also trying to think of a pet name, so far I have Diablo and Geri Halliwell other half wants to call it Chewie so he can say "Easy Chewie" every time it gets sassy, ha!

Don’t handle it

Give it more room than you think.

I’ve owned them, only needed one AF to cure me of my “need” to own this species again. Never again.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Mine was skittish and would always run/ hide instead of being defensive, never gave me a threat posture. But when he molted into a mature male, his temperament changed completely and now he's very defensive, slapping the ground whenever there's the tiniest movement.

 

[LadyVonChimp]

Truly lovely tarantula for sure.

I currently own:

Pterinochilus murinus
Pterinochilus murinus (DCF, Kigoma)
Pterinochilus murinus (DCF, Botswana)

Eats well, webs well, grows well.

Below is the recently rehoused one, and the current look of the enclosure.

View attachment 374494

View attachment 374495

That's a beauty, thank you for sharing

I have only one. He was unexpected, a freebie from an order. He’s an absolute sweetheart. Here’s a photo of him from earlier today when I was taking enclosure photos:
View attachment 374496 He has always been a sweetheart, and more willing to run and hide than anything else. I absolutely love him.

I recommend that you always bear in mind that they are in fact much more frightened of you than you are of them, and give them plenty of places to hide.

Stunner! I also love the G. pulchra's name, inspired.

Mine is always sitting out of its burrow but at the slightest movement it will dash into its hide. Builds lovely webbing. Never had a threat posture from it.

I really love their webbing, also it's interesting to hear the other side of owning them. All you seem to hear is "OBT'S ARE SATAN" and I highly doubt that to be the case for every individual. Yes, they're gonna be more agro than most, but I don't believe that they all want to ruin your day. However, this could be my famous last words and mine is gonna be an absolute nutter, ha!

Don’t handle it

Give it more room than you think.

I’ve owned them, only needed one AF to cure me of my “need” to own this species again. Never again.

Good tips, thanks. Yes I went slightly larger with the enclosure to allow for a few moults before needing to do the dreaded rehouse. I'm guessing yours was a bit of a nightmare then huh?

It's like I said above, you see so many accounts and videos of them acting like little psychos that I feel like they get a bit of a bad rap. However, it does seem that the vast majority you hear about are indeed the spawn of Satan. But then, every individual is different.

 

[kingshockey]

My first OBT is arriving tomorrow, I'm really excited as it's a species I've wanted and researched for quite a while now I've gone for a 3-4cm OCF.

I've been reading up/watching videos on what to expect from their temperment, and although I know that each individual is different, I guess I'm just wondering if you all have some little anecdotes about yours that you wouldn't mind sharing with me please? Also pics would be wonderful of them and their enclosures too.

I'm also trying to think of a pet name, so far I have Diablo and Geri Halliwell other half wants to call it Chewie so he can say "Easy Chewie" every time it gets sassy, ha!

name it alex like the guy from a clock work orange

 

[DomGom TheFather]

The first sling i got shot out of the vial and up my arm the moment i opened it. Lol

 

[LadyVonChimp]

name it alex like the guy from a clock work orange

Funny you should say that, I had the name "Clockwork" in the back of my mind too, but Alex makes much more sense lol

 

[Frogdaddy]

I have two OBT slings as well as a Harpactira pulchripes sling. My OBT's are currently housed in 16oz deli cups with a couple of inches of sub. Looking back I should have given them a little less sub, I expected them to take to a starter burrow, which they did not. However given time they will create their own hide using webbing and pieces of cork bark and faux plant leaves.

I set them up so they would have their hide on one side of the enclosure making it easy for me to open the other side to leave food or fill up a water dish. At the slightest disturbance they disappear into their hide, so I've never seen any threat displays or any defensiveness. I believe because they have a safe haven to retreat into I shouldn't see much of that behavior.
These are not difficult animals to maintain provided you think of their needs first ie, having a safe hide to retreat to.

 

[LadyVonChimp]

I have two OBT slings as well as a Harpactira pulchripes sling. My OBT's are currently housed in 16oz deli cups with a couple of inches of sub. Looking back I should have given them a little less sub, I expected them to take to a starter burrow, which they did not. However given time they will create their own hide using webbing and pieces of cork bark and faux plant leaves.

I set them up so they would have their hide on one side of the enclosure making it easy for me to open the other side to leave food or fill up a water dish. At the slightest disturbance they disappear into their hide, so I've never seen any threat displays or any defensiveness. I believe because they have a safe haven to retreat into I shouldn't see much of that behavior.
These are not difficult animals to maintain provided you think of their needs first ie, having a safe hide to retreat to.

I'll make sure to provide bark and lots of anchor points Thanks for sharing your experience. I've spoken with someone else on FB today who's is very similarly behaved to yours, perhaps security (or lack thereof) is where we usually see threat displays.

 

[Frogdaddy]

I'll make sure to provide bark and lots of anchor points Thanks for sharing your experience. I've spoken with someone else on FB today who's is very similarly behaved to yours, perhaps security (or lack thereof) is where we usually see threat displays.

I agree. I think it took mine longer to settle in to it's new enclosure than other tarantulas I have. They spent a few weeks hiding in plain sight without digging or webbing much. Every time I touched their enclosure they would run laps around it before I opened it.
Since finding or building a nice hide they have settled down and now bolf straight into the hide if disturbed.

 

[viper69]

That's a beauty, thank you for sharing


Stunner! I also love the G. pulchra's name, inspired.


I really love their webbing, also it's interesting to hear the other side of owning them. All you seem to hear is "OBT'S ARE SATAN" and I highly doubt that to be the case for every individual. Yes, they're gonna be more agro than most, but I don't believe that they all want to ruin your day. However, this could be my famous last words and mine is gonna be an absolute nutter, ha!



Good tips, thanks. Yes I went slightly larger with the enclosure to allow for a few moults before needing to do the dreaded rehouse. I'm guessing yours was a bit of a nightmare then huh?

It's like I said above, you see so many accounts and videos of them acting like little psychos that I feel like they get a bit of a bad rap. However, it does seem that the vast majority you hear about are indeed the spawn of Satan. But then, every individual is different.

Not really- I have a low tolerance for insurrection, be it from Ts or the traitors at the Capitol on Jan6th

 

[DomGom TheFather]

They're not what people think. Most of them just want to be left alone. Sometimes, if they feel threatened, you might get the hyper defensive response you see on videos online. People hype it up and tend to focus only on the crazy. Though, admittedly, they make me jump every once in a while.

Also much like the capital people.

 

[LadyVonChimp]

Not really- I have a low tolerance for insurrection, be it from Ts or the traitors at the Capitol on Jan6th

Ah fair enough. I agree with you on that one!

 

[Matt Man]

My first T was a rescued AF OBT, so that was what I cut my teeth on. Adults are fast, faster than a cat strike fast, slings are faster than that. Nothing prepares you for an adult OBT strike nor a Sling OBT mad dash. With a sling have 3-4 levels of security / defense because if it goes you will wish you had more than 1 or 2. NO LOOSE CLOTHING (see above) When working on an adult enclosure use long tongs and be ready. You have no idea how quickly one can come out of their burrow, rear up and then fly across the enclosure, up the tongs and onto your arm. Don"T PISS THEM OFF because you think threat display is cool, and wanna take pictures. The one person I am aware of who has been bitten multiple times is completely because of this. I think 2 on the arm/hand and one on the leg.
That being said they are lovely, some are pretty mellow, some are full blown psycho. When I rescued mine her substrate was BAD, so within the first month of joining the hobby I was rehousing her (WELCOME!) Her she is the first time I opened her enclosure.Agreed, burrow
and some branch for web attachment.

Aggie Pre 2

• Matt Man
• Aug 14, 2017

When we rescued her, her substrate was wrong so we had to redo her enclosure. This was pretty...

 

[KenNet]

Don't buy into the hype! Nothing special aggressive with this species! Threat her well, as you should with all spiders, and you will have a great time.

 

[Metallattorney]

I bought a 3/4" sling back in November. It has molted three times since then, more than doubling in size. I have rehoused it twice and never had any issues with it, so far. It is skittish and ducks into its burrow at any disturbance, but I have not gotten a threat posture.

 

[Sterls]

I got my first one back in September, a 3/4" DCF 'Kigoma' sling. Great eater, pretty skittish. Got my first threat posture the other day after giving it a mealworm.

You should definitely name yours Chewy