On the note of communals: Psalmopoeus langenbucheri

[Storm76]

I know that Chad plans to try his hand on one, but has anyone else tried yet with these? They were observed in their natural habitat living quite communally even, so it's safe to assume with a good setup, this would be extremely interesting. And "entertaining", I guess, considering they're Psalms and on top of that the smallest of the genus.

Anyways, I'd be eager to hear if anyone tried yet, about the setup, what experiences, how many...you know: The whole nine yards!

 

[Jarvis]

I never knew there was a communal psalmopoeus sp. In nature I wonder how tolerant they are?

 

[pyro fiend]

Commenting so i can tag along.. But my P. Langenbucheri will be here monday. I only got one this time around but i kinda wana try it with a rather large cage xD male or female, mine will be one will be the seed for my own communal (as what common hobbiest wants to spend hundreds and have the possibility to loose them)

Hope we find someone who tried it xD

 

[Storm76]

There's an article on them and other species in a german magazine actually, sadly I don't have it.

Terraria Nr.30 "Soziale Vogelspinnen? Beispiele aus Amerika" (Boris F. Striffler, Frank Schneider und Ingo Wendt)


Aside the fact that the species was found 1994 by Frank Langenbucher, it's official description apparently took until Schmidt, Bullmer & Thierer-Lutz, 2006. There's tons of stuff to find about that subject on the net...I gave up trying to establish some form of timeline to read it step by step, hehe They're from Venezuela, by the way.

 

[advan]

My five have already turned into one. P. pulcher still lead in longest lasting(2 years) with the four species I've tried.

 

[Storm76]

My five have already turned into one. P. pulcher still lead in longest lasting(2 years) with the four species I've tried.

That sucks. Sorry to hear, Chad. I'm guessing that goes to show the "semi-social" behavior isn't as much present in captivity. How did you have the tank set up? Size etc...

 

[advan]

That sucks. Sorry to hear, Chad. I'm guessing that goes to show the "semi-social" behavior isn't as much present in captivity. How did you have the tank set up? Size etc...

They were in a 40 dram vial. Next time I'll leave some with mom and see if that has a better outcome.

 

[Poec54]

They were in a 40 dram vial. Next time I'll leave some with mom and see if that has a better outcome.

The problem with doing that, at least for me, is that the airholes in the female's are large enough for slings to get thru, and eventually they disperse and get eaten by house spiders.

 

[advan]

The problem with doing that, at least for me, is that the airholes in the female's are large enough for slings to get thru, and eventually they disperse and get eaten by house spiders.

There are ways to take care of that.

 

[pyro fiend]

There are ways to take care of that.

Is one of them "smaller air holes"? lolol

 

[Poec54]

Is one of them "smaller air holes"? lolol

I don't want tiny, sling-proof airholes in my adult spider cages.

 

[pyro fiend]

I don't want tiny, sling-proof airholes in my adult spider cages.

Same here lol just figured chad would jokingly say that.. The only other thing that comes to mind is mesh and if it being occupied by a momma.. That keans youl have mesh on outside covering holes... Aaah the thought of the eye sore. Lol.. Iv heard of a few people using cotton balls and shoving them in larger holes "so air still got through".. But id feel like theyd just pull that out or manipulate it so they can get out

 

[advan]

I don't want tiny, sling-proof airholes in my adult spider cages.

Why is that? When you have access to a CNC machine that you can drill the choosen quantity, size and layout it makes it easier. There are other ways, like hand drilling and covering the bigger, existing holes with cloth.

 

[Storm76]

Why is that? When you have access to a CNC machine that you can drill the choosen quantity, size and layout it makes it easier. There are other ways, like hand drilling and covering the bigger, existing holes with cloth.

With sling containers putting a stocking over the area with supposedly too-big airholes helps, too. Never did that myself, but a friend of mine who recently joined the hobby.