Ornithoctininae and the frustration of a box of Dirt.

[Butterbean83]

As it says on the title, the subfamily has some absolute stunners. But I just can't justify getting any more of them. I don't even see my Arboreal Ornithoctininae, I'd love it if one of the fossorials was an exception to the rule and was seen out a bit more. More Terrestrially minded, or at least an opportunistic rather than an obligate burrower.

I don't expect to see old worlds a lot, but like with my Cyriopagopus doraie when I had that, the only thing I saw where it's legs now and then I never got to see it's full beauty.

I did a bit of a Google about this and all I got was that Ornithoctinus aureotibialis was much less reclusive than the others but that seemed to be an AI answer and I'm sure a few people who keep there's never see them fully unless it's time to rehouse them.

Just seems to defeat the objective I'm getting myself one of the more beautiful species from a beautiful subfamily and never seeing it barely at all, or maybe some legs at the burrow. At least with Selenocosmiinae you may see them fully out having a mooch now and then.

If anyone can think of any you do see out and about now and then (and I'm aware most are reclusive I get that) at least more than others in the sub-family then please comment and let me know because I'd love more of them if I get to see some now and then.

This is why I want to get a H pulchripes again. You actually see them.

New worlds are cool and all, and I have some and that's why I have some, I get to see them. But when you see old worlds out and about they're stunning their behaviour fascinates me when you do see them. I find new worlds to be like puppies even my Pamph which is pretty fast just stays out, looks at me waiting to be fed but even Pamphs and Phormictopus seem tame to old worlds, Old worlds just have something about them.

 

[viper69]

This is why I stay away from so many gorgeous species, I’ll never see them

 

[l4nsky]

If they're not atleast visible at night, then IME it's always the keeper's fault for not setting them up properly.

These are animals that have adapted to a VERY narrow band of acceptable environmental parameters.

If those parameters aren't met, then guess what the tarantula will do? It's going to hide in the more stable microclimate of it's burrow where the conditions are closest to what it needs to thrive.

 

[A guy]

I agree with above.

I'm an Asian fossorial species guy, I set them up with almost 10 inches of substrate but I see them 99% of the time. The only time that mine actually hide deep in their burrows is when they have egg sacs, get spooked or molting(even then, a lot of mine will molt above ground). Definitely check your set up.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I don’t get pet hole species anymore.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I agree with above.

I'm an Asian fossorial species guy, I set them up with almost 10 inches of substrate but I see them 99% of the time. The only time that mine actually hide deep in their burrows is when they have egg sacs, get spooked or molting(even then, a lot of mine will molt above ground). Definitely check your set up.


View attachment 495086

Only Asian fossorial I have is Chilobrachys Sp Kaeng Krachan, it burrowed as a small sling but since it has been rehoused it's just made a web network on top of the substrate, living like a GBB.

 

[Requiem4aSpleen]

I set up mine similar to @A guy and see them quite a bit.

Look into haplotanks

 

[inquisitivechemist]

My Phormingochilus are always out and about. My sabah red is a pet rock at night. It takes a lot of mucking around to make them retreat. My aureotibialis sits on top of their burrow at night. It might help mine are in an isolated room with very little foot traffic. They have maybe an hour a day with my wife or I in there.

 

[Butterbean83]

I agree with above.

I'm an Asian fossorial species guy, I set them up with almost 10 inches of substrate but I see them 99% of the time. The only time that mine actually hide deep in their burrows is when they have egg sacs, get spooked or molting(even then, a lot of mine will molt above ground). Definitely check your set up.


View attachment 495086

Cool. Is this O aureotibialis pictured? I was looking into this species and C minax. Maybe evenn O Sp Nhen Dep. Give them say 3 inches as a Spiderling, 6 as a JV and 10 as an adult? I'm used to Chilobrachys and other Selenocosmiinae genera and species and although these are Fossorial they seem to be more likely to come up to the surface a lot.

Thankyou.

 

[A guy]

Cool. Is this O aureotibialis pictured? I was looking into this species and C minax. Maybe evenn O Sp Nhen Dep. Give them say 3 inches as a Spiderling, 6 as a JV and 10 as an adult? I'm used to Chilobrachys and other Selenocosmiinae genera and species and although these are Fossorial they seem to be more likely to come up to the surface a lot.

Thankyou.

No, this is Citharognathus tongmianensis

Chilobrachys and Selenocosmiinae, honestly, I don't see as "true fossorials" , as adults, I see them as opportunistic borrowers instead of "true fossorials"

 

[l4nsky]

No, this is Citharognathus tongmianensis

Chilobrachys and Selenocosmiinae, honestly, I don't see as "true fossorials" , as adults, I see them as opportunistic borrowers instead of "true fossorials"

The terms I've used in the past are opportunistic fossorial and obligate fossorial.

 

[A guy]

The terms I've used in the past are opportunistic fossorial and obligate fossorial.

Let's go with that lol

 

[Teds ts and Inverts]

I hear you, it can be frustrating to keep something you hardly see. But that’s the thing, when you DO see them, it makes it that much more special. I’ve found that if you don’t overfeed them, they’ll spend a lot more time visible at the entrance of the burrow.

Also I love how some of mine have gone about constructing their burrow entrances. This is my Juvie Female Cyriopagopus sp. Bach Ma’s burrow, and I LOVE the “volcano” that this one made using the leaf litter and moss that I gave it.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I hear you, it can be frustrating to keep something you hardly see. But that’s the thing, when you DO see them, it makes it that much more special. I’ve found that if you don’t overfeed them, they’ll spend a lot more time visible at the entrance of the burrow.

Also I love how some of mine have gone about constructing their burrow entrances. This is my Juvie Female Cyriopagopus sp. Bach Ma’s burrow, and I LOVE the “volcano” that this one made using the leaf litter and moss that I gave it.
View attachment 495243

I have a t albo that’s a Pet hole, I wonder if it will grow out of this or not ? It’s 3”.