Opinions On Tapinauchenius and Psalmopoeus.

[Ashton]

Seeing as how I am getting my first of each genus I want to know opinions of the genus' or more specifically these species.

I will hopefully have:

1x Psalmopoeus cambridgei 2.5" 0.0.1
1x Psalmopoeus irminia 2.5" 0.1.0
1x Tapinauchenius gigas 2.25" 0.0.1

 

[DrJ]

Aggressive isn't really the right word...but if you want to know about a bite first, ask questions later type of tarantula, Psalmopoeus irminia is it. Very reclusive Ts, but I've not had the luck of owning a single one that would let me mess in the cage without biting the tongs I was using to clean. But, this seems unusual, and I don't read of many other people having these issues. I think they sense my bias for OW and take it out on me. Haha! The P cambridgei I've had have been much more mellow than that, but since I've had less than 5 total, I wouldn't put stock in that assessment. I've never kept any Taps, but they certainly have a reputation for being possibly some of the fastest Ts known to man. They make pokies look...well...pokie.

 

[awiec]

I've never owned Psalmopoeus personally but from what I've read they are more on the defensive side hence making good training wheels for OW. I do have a T.gigas that I have had for a year, not adult yet so I cannot speak for that stage of their lives BUT these can be spooked easily and make my pokies look like chumps in the speed department. Now some people won't agree with this but I keep my tap in a larger container than what it "needs", this gives me more room to work and does not make the spider feel cornered. These are very interesting little architects in that they will use dirt, web and cork to make their hides, some will even live a terrestrial lifestyle as slings. I keep mine like an avic as they do need ventilation but I will wet the sub and provide a water cap, not swampy but enough to where I wet it every 7-10 days and I've seen mine drink a few times. Provide several inches of sub and a good cork slab and they will be pretty happy, I imagine the psalmo probably appreciates a similar set up.

Now you're asking yourself why did I get a neurotic speedy spider? It's offset but the fact that you will see the tap out very often and gigas is a very pretty spider. They are good eaters, only refusing during pre-molt and mine makes it pretty obvious when it is as I don't see it for a month. They also grow pretty fast with many maturing in 2 years. Hopefully this helps, I'm not expert but I can share what I know about mine in order to help you.

 

[Ashton]

Any more opinions?

 

[Poec54]

I really like Psalmos, they're similar to OW arboreals in some ways. Nice colors and markings. I have 3 species and want to get several more. At this point, the only Tap I'd be interested in owning would be gigas.

Whatever you get, if they're not sexed you need to be getting several of each at a time, otherwise there's a good chance you could wind up with all males. Plus a certain percentage die in molt.

 

[Ghost Dragon]

I have an irminia. She was my first arboreal. First of all, she is LIGHTNING QUICK, only the Taps are faster. I had to rehouse her a few months ago, and for how nervous I was, she just sauntered from one enclosure to the other with a little prodding. I don't see her that much, she hides behind her dirt & web curtain most of the time, but she's absolutely gorgeous when she DOES come out.

I had her for 6 months before getting my first P. regalis, and she was a great learning experience for them. Great intermediate T, I highly recommend them.

 

[Disquiet]

Tapinauchenius are indeed very fast, my gigas is a bit of a teleporter--crinkle plastic (like the bag the crickets come in) near the enclosure and he's instantly waiting where I drop them in. My experience is that they are aggressive eaters but prefer to retreat to their burrows during cleaning, water dish removal/replacement, etc. On that note, this species seems to exhibit semi-arboreal behavior, hanging out on cork tubes but building a system of tunnels as well. I think this species makes a great display spider--mine is almost always out and about and eats and molts in the open. Rehousing has always been a breeze, very docile in this context, but be prepared to head off a random run for it. Relatively fast growing, mine is due for a molt and that will make 4 in one year with about a 50% size increase each time so far. I feed two to three appropriately sized crickets every week or two and do not use an EHS. Expect adult coloration at the 1.5-2" mark with pretty awesome and dramatic navy on the legs. Enjoy!

 

[Storm76]

I prefer my T. violaceus over the gigas as not many keep them. Plus, she's beautifully purple.

As for the behavior question: Generally your Tappie will hide if disturbed, once they get bigger they may display some defensiveness, too. However, I rarely get any defensive behavior from my AF violaceus, she's just insanely skittish and teleports around. It's best to leave them alone as much as possible and enjoy them for what they are.

Psalms, well - "bite first ask questions later" I disagree with. They sure have a generally low threshold for disturbance of any kind and the older they get, the more confident they become. Provided with a good hide, they will vanish if disturbed and maintenance and watering is best performed during the day while they are hidden. You may get a very calm one, you may get one fitting into the general category - either way: If they are seemingly calm, never make the mistake of thinking they won't do anything that time! I've seen mine change in the blink of an eye and you'll find dozens of vids (a lot from people messing with them sadly) on YT and other places, displaying how defensive they get and how fast they can be. I have never encountered any problems with mine, just prod as few as possible and only very gently during rehousings and you'll find they are just as tractable as others. Be prepared for their speed, too.

 

[awiec]

I prefer my T. violaceus over the gigas as not many keep them. Plus, she's beautifully purple.

As for the behavior question: Generally your Tappie will hide if disturbed, once they get bigger they may display some defensiveness, too. However, I rarely get any defensive behavior from my AF violaceus, she's just insanely skittish and teleports around. It's best to leave them alone as much as possible and enjoy them for what they are.

Psalms, well - "bite first ask questions later" I disagree with. They sure have a generally low threshold for disturbance of any kind and the older they get, the more confident they become. Provided with a good hide, they will vanish if disturbed and maintenance and watering is best performed during the day while they are hidden. You may get a very calm one, you may get one fitting into the general category - either way: If they are seemingly calm, never make the mistake of thinking they won't do anything that time! I've seen mine change in the blink of an eye and you'll find dozens of vids (a lot from people messing with them sadly) on YT and other places, displaying how defensive they get and how fast they can be. I have never encountered any problems with mine, just prod as few as possible and only very gently during rehousings and you'll find they are just as tractable as others. Be prepared for their speed, too.

I'm planning on grabbing a violaceus too, but my gigas was an impulse buy as I saw it at the show and said ooo neon orange spider. It was quite some time later when I saw people write about how "neurotic" taps are and I just don't see it. Mine is cool as a cucumber, only thing it teleports for is crickets and water. But I think it just comes down to that I don't mess with my animals more than needed and I do all my maintenance in the day where they are less likely to "throw a fit"; they just want to be fed and left alone.

 

[Ashton]

I know exactly what I am getting now.

Psalmopoeus cambridgei 2.5" suspect male
Psalmopoeus irminia 2.5-3" female
Tapinauchenius gigas 2" suspect female

Freebees
Tapinauchenius violaceus 1"
Ephebopus cyanognathus 1"

I am a little concerned about the E. cganognathus because they seem rather delicate and I have heard they have their own version of sudden avic death syndrome. Any experience that would agree or should I just not be that concerned and keep it without the normal worry? I will have it in a vial with a bit of substrate that is damp and is that good enough or should I adjust it to be better?

 

[awiec]

I know exactly what I am getting now.

Psalmopoeus cambridgei 2.5" suspect male
Psalmopoeus irminia 2.5-3" female
Tapinauchenius gigas 2" suspect female

Freebees
Tapinauchenius violaceus 1"
Ephebopus cyanognathus 1"

I am a little concerned about the E. cganognathus because they seem rather delicate and I have heard they have their own version of sudden avic death syndrome. Any experience that would agree or should I just not be that concerned and keep it without the normal worry? I will have it in a vial with a bit of substrate that is damp and is that good enough or should I adjust it to be better?

I have my E.murinus in a small KK actually, I have half the vents covered with plastic wrap to keep the ideal humidity in there but these guys will make very impressive burrows as I've provided mine with 5 inches of sub and keep moss in there for some extra climate control. I'd suggest a deep tupperware with some good ventilation and good sturdy sub and wet the sub right before it dries out. I've never had any particular problems with mine as I see it out almost every day and it has completed 2 successful molts since I've had it. Just make sure it's not a total swamp and there is good air flow and you should be okay.

 

[DVMT]

I have all of these and my cambridgei are both fairly docile, but very very fast when they want to be. Same with my T. gigas. All are stunningly beautiful imo and all 3 will be a staple of my collection for years to come. Cambridgei seem to grow lightning fast! Both of mine have grown very quickly and I am a once a week feeder.

Damon

 

[awiec]

I have all of these and my cambridgei are both fairly docile, but very very fast when they want to be. Same with my T. gigas. All are stunningly beautiful imo and all 3 will be a staple of my collection for years to come. Cambridgei seem to grow lightning fast! Both of mine have grown very quickly and I am a once a week feeder.

Damon

I got my tap a year ago at 1/2 inch and she (or at least I think it's a she) is 2.5 inches at weekly feeding and I even skip a few meals when they get fat.

 

[DVMT]

I got my tap a year ago at 1/2 inch and she (or at least I think it's a she) is 2.5 inches at weekly feeding and I even skip a few meals when they get fat.

Come to think of it, my gigas grew pretty fast too. I just sent my girl off for a breeding attempt. Crossing my fingers for a sack!!

 

[Poec54]

Come to think of it, my gigas grew pretty fast too. I just sent my girl off for a breeding attempt. Crossing my fingers for a sack!!

Normally the males are sent off on breeding loans.

 

[DVMT]

Normally the males are sent off on breeding loans.

In my case I wanted to use someone with breeding experience and we worked out a deal that favored both parties. He is going to send her back or we will work out a trade when and if a sack is produced. Totally up to me. I really dont want to start breeding her until we are out of this apartment and into a house.

---------- Post added 10-01-2014 at 05:41 PM ----------

Breeding here not her...lol