Nightstalker47
Arachnoking
- Joined
- Jul 2, 2016
- Messages
- 2,612
Relevant genera:
Phormingochilus
Lampropelma
Cyriopagopus
Ornithoctonus
Cytharognathus
This thread will cover the care for all species and genera in the Ornithoctoninae subfamily. These spiders are commonly referred to as “Earth Tigers” due to their burrowing tendencies and striped patterns on the abdomen, being Asian tarantulas, their dispositions tend to be on the hyper defensive side.
The venom that they come equipped with is very serious; bites are extremely painful and can have long lasting effects…sometimes symptoms will persist weeks after a bite. On top of that, they are lightning fast, and tend to be on the skittish side…making them a terrible candidate for new keepers. Please avoid these if you are somewhat inexperienced, there’s no need to rush into advanced species and risk disaster.
Care and husbandry:
The difference between these spiders and most other Asian arboreals lies mainly with their burrowing tendencies, now some of the species in this subfamily are strictly fossorial, such as Ornithoctonus aureotibialis, Cyriopagopus lividus, minax, vonwirthi, etc…and others are not(Phormingochilus, Lampropelma, C.shioedtei, C.sp. Sumatran tiger, C. sp Hati hati,etc…). If you have any questions on one species or genus in particular, feel free to ask.
These are a highly moisture dependent group of tarantulas, across the board. They should be kept on deep moist substrate, the top can be allowed to dry a little, but the deeper layers should always remain moist. Best way to maintain the correct parameters in the enclosure would be to periodically pour water directly in the sub, do so as you see fit, and be mindful not to overdo it. Too much moisture is just as bad as not enough. Now unbeknownst to most, good ventilation is of paramount importance to the good health of these spiders. Stuffy conditions will inevitably lead to a sick and dying specimen, so make sure your enclosures have good airflow…stagnant air is always a bigger concern in moist setups. There are many options as far as ventilating goes; cross vent has been my preference.
Setup:
Now this will depend entirely on which species you are working with, some will do fine in a classic fossorial setup while others should have more of an arboreal type enclosure. The housing of each species will vary. For arboreals, aim for the same basic enclosure you would have for any other tree spider, slanted cork bark to perch and hide one, as well as lots of extra sub depth for them to dig in. Many of these spiders will also web fairly heavily, typically prior to a molt.
Growth rates:
Very fast growers, some specimens may mature in less than two years. Temperatures in the range of 70-85 would be ideal. I would also recommend only heating during the day, and letting the night time temps dip…this mimics their natural environment and will stimulate more nocturnal behavior. If you want accelerated growth, feed often and generously. I don’t necessarily believe that constant higher temps equates to faster growth, there should be some fluctuation.
Size:
Lots of variation from species to species, with some of the smallest maxing out at around 5-6”, and the largest of the spectrum growing to the 8-9” range. If you’re looking for a more specific answer on an individual species, ask away.
I think I covered all the important bits. If anyone else would like to shed some light on the topic, feel free to contribute to this thread. As usual, pictures of any members within the subfamily are more than welcome.
Phormingochilus
Lampropelma
Cyriopagopus
Ornithoctonus
Cytharognathus
This thread will cover the care for all species and genera in the Ornithoctoninae subfamily. These spiders are commonly referred to as “Earth Tigers” due to their burrowing tendencies and striped patterns on the abdomen, being Asian tarantulas, their dispositions tend to be on the hyper defensive side.
The venom that they come equipped with is very serious; bites are extremely painful and can have long lasting effects…sometimes symptoms will persist weeks after a bite. On top of that, they are lightning fast, and tend to be on the skittish side…making them a terrible candidate for new keepers. Please avoid these if you are somewhat inexperienced, there’s no need to rush into advanced species and risk disaster.
Care and husbandry:
The difference between these spiders and most other Asian arboreals lies mainly with their burrowing tendencies, now some of the species in this subfamily are strictly fossorial, such as Ornithoctonus aureotibialis, Cyriopagopus lividus, minax, vonwirthi, etc…and others are not(Phormingochilus, Lampropelma, C.shioedtei, C.sp. Sumatran tiger, C. sp Hati hati,etc…). If you have any questions on one species or genus in particular, feel free to ask.
These are a highly moisture dependent group of tarantulas, across the board. They should be kept on deep moist substrate, the top can be allowed to dry a little, but the deeper layers should always remain moist. Best way to maintain the correct parameters in the enclosure would be to periodically pour water directly in the sub, do so as you see fit, and be mindful not to overdo it. Too much moisture is just as bad as not enough. Now unbeknownst to most, good ventilation is of paramount importance to the good health of these spiders. Stuffy conditions will inevitably lead to a sick and dying specimen, so make sure your enclosures have good airflow…stagnant air is always a bigger concern in moist setups. There are many options as far as ventilating goes; cross vent has been my preference.
Setup:
Now this will depend entirely on which species you are working with, some will do fine in a classic fossorial setup while others should have more of an arboreal type enclosure. The housing of each species will vary. For arboreals, aim for the same basic enclosure you would have for any other tree spider, slanted cork bark to perch and hide one, as well as lots of extra sub depth for them to dig in. Many of these spiders will also web fairly heavily, typically prior to a molt.
Growth rates:
Very fast growers, some specimens may mature in less than two years. Temperatures in the range of 70-85 would be ideal. I would also recommend only heating during the day, and letting the night time temps dip…this mimics their natural environment and will stimulate more nocturnal behavior. If you want accelerated growth, feed often and generously. I don’t necessarily believe that constant higher temps equates to faster growth, there should be some fluctuation.
Size:
Lots of variation from species to species, with some of the smallest maxing out at around 5-6”, and the largest of the spectrum growing to the 8-9” range. If you’re looking for a more specific answer on an individual species, ask away.
I think I covered all the important bits. If anyone else would like to shed some light on the topic, feel free to contribute to this thread. As usual, pictures of any members within the subfamily are more than welcome.