Phormictopus cancerides

[Justin Lang]

Hey all,
I'm looking into getting my 2nd T (i'm not in any rush though, still doing lots of research). I currently have a male brachypelma albopilosum and he is doing great. Does anyone have any experience owning a haitian brown (Phormictopus cancerides)? I was reading some articles from others and it was kind of 50/50. Some say they are the nicest things ever, some say they are direct spawns of Satan. So I wanted to see if anyone on here owned one or currently does. Would love to hear about your experience!
Thanks!

 

[Ztesch]

I don't own one but I have looked into it. From everything I saw they are a fast growing species who are definitely on the more defensive side plus they are fast. They are probably not the best choice for a 2nd T but if you want to get it then get it.

 

[Blue Jaye]

I own several including an adult female that I raised from a sling. My experience not to bad as slings but once they put some size on their pure hell spawn. Very defensive ready to threat pose and strike at all times.

They are a beautiful t with several color changes along the way. From dark blue as slings to a rusty pink/brown. Then a nice dark purple/ brown. And they get quite large. A wonderful t to have if your ready for one. To me they are a must have in a collection even though they are pretty common.

I paired my female last year. First time she was ever gentle about anything. She was super easy going with the male. Never even bothered to go after him, just a very nice pairing. She was also a very good mom. Took nice care of the sac and was rather laid back about it. Now she’s back to her usual defensive self. Just trying to get the water dish is a task.

 

[KezyGLA]

Phormictopus is a great genus. Most species in the genus grow large (inc. cancerides) and have attitudes to match. They eat like garbage disposal units. They grow fast. Look great and cancerides won't break the bank.

 

[efmp1987]

I own several including an adult female that I raised from a sling. My experience not to bad as slings but once they put some size on their pure hell spawn. Very defensive ready to threat pose and strike at all times.

They are a beautiful t with several color changes along the way. From dark blue as slings to a rusty pink/brown. Then a nice dark purple/ brown. And they get quite large. A wonderful t to have if your ready for one. To me they are a must have in a collection even though they are pretty common.

I paired my female last year. First time she was ever gentle about anything. She was super easy going with the male. Never even bothered to go after him, just a very nice pairing. She was also a very good mom. Took nice care of the sac and was rather laid back about it. Now she’s back to her usual defensive self. Just trying to get the water dish is a task.

Are all Phormictopus nasty? I want a reprsentative from this genus but want a very colorful one like sp. purple or sp. Blue but im hesitating as they might turn out to be docile sheeps. I like em nasty.

 

[KezyGLA]

Are all Phormictopus nasty? I want a reprsentative from this genus but want a very colorful one like sp. purple or sp. Blue but im hesitating as they might turn out to be docile sheeps. I like em nasty.

Cancerides is probably the most easy going from the genus. The smaller ones seem even more agro

 

[efmp1987]

Cancerides is probably the most easy going from the genus. The smaller ones seem even more agro

Thanks! What do you mean by smaller sizes? I do not know the size range for the other species.

 

[PanzoN88]

I love the Phormictopus genus (second to the Euathlus genus), from my experience both my cancerides and atrichromatus are very defensive. Although as a small sling/juvie at 1.5" my P. cancerides was mor shy and skittish rather than defensive, my atrichromatus which is about 1.5-2"? Is just plain defensive. As a second tarantula I would recommend a GBB as the next half a step on the ladder as they are pretty fast as are P. Cancerides, now to prepare for the "boldness" N. Chromatus and A. geniculata, the listed species are just some of the good options for preparation to take the one full step up the ladder and dive in to the species that could pose a problem for the unsuspecting (I was one of them):

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Phormictopus cancerides are, if you ask me, one of this 'hobby' masterpiece. I love those. Still today I remember how much freaking defensive (more than certain OW's I owned/own, ain't joking) was a female I had.

I named her Tonton Macoute for that reason. She was... splendid, period <-- R.I.P baby

A must have, trust me

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I only have the one Phormictopus but it's:

- Bloody fast
- Both skittish and defensive
- Fast-growing
- Great eater with an insane feeding response

Probably not the best choice for a second T, they're kinda like Nhandu species but on steroids and with more of an attitude problem.

 

[Poec54]

Does anyone have any experience owning a haitian brown (Phormictopus cancerides)? I was reading some articles from others and it was kind of 50/50. Some say they are the nicest things ever, some say they are direct spawns of Satan. So I wanted to see if anyone on here owned one or currently does. Would love to hear about your experience!
Thanks!

I got my first P cancerides in the early 1970's, they probably came into the hobby a few years before that. They were sold in pet stores, but not as often as B smithi the hobby staple at that time. Until the 1990's, almost all tarantulas were wild caught, which drastically limited what was available, and virtually no one wanted slings. You couldn't give them away.

I've owned dozens of P cancerides over the years, and have maintained many more than that for an importer and a pet shop when I was in college (and got free crockets in return, for my own spiders). While there are people in the US that have had more experience than I have had with that species, there aren't many of them. They are neither nice nor satanic. They're one of the few NW's that will occasionally stand in a defensive pose, some individuals more readily than others. In fact, last night I fed/watered my 5 juvenile P cancerides and 1 out of the 5 stood up. 'Spawn of Satan'? Hardly. Anyone saying that is used to playing with stuffed teddy bears. 'Nice'? Definitely not. There are many species more defensive than that. I personally find cancerides to be a refreshing change from the infernal hair kickers. I like seeing tarantulas that will defend their territory. Takes a lot of courage to tell a Godzilla-sized creature to 'Go away, this is my home!' Because of this, cancerides would be an intermediate species, not a good choice for beginners.

They're hardy if kept on 5+" of moist substrate, moderate cross ventilation, with a water bowl and a piece of cork to hide under. One of my adult female cancerides has chewed two holes thru a piece of thick cork. That means they will go thru screen tops "like a hot knife thru the high price spread" (as Catwoman once said). Cage dividers are also a bad idea.

 

[KezyGLA]

Thanks! What do you mean by smaller sizes? I do not know the size range for the other species.

Cubanensis and bistriatus are smaller maxing at 5", I believe. I have had cancerides hit 8". My 'dominican purple' is subadult at 6". I had a beauty of an atrichomatus at 9"

 

[efmp1987]

There are many species more defensive than that.

Great informative input but this one struck my fancy. Which New World? I love nasty species. Thanks!

 

[efmp1987]

Cubanensis and bistriatus are smaller maxing at 5", I believe. I have had cancerides hit 8". My 'dominican purple' is subadult at 6". I had a beauty of an atrichomatus at 9"

Ill try getting those! But will probably be hard! Thanks!

 

[Poec54]

Cubanensis and bistriatus are smaller maxing at 5", I believe. I have had cancerides hit 8". My 'dominican purple' is subadult at 6". I had a beauty of an atrichomatus at 9"

I wish a wider variety of Phormic species were more readily available in the US. To me, a non-taxonomist, Phormics & Pamphos have a lot in common.: big, leggy terrestrials, fast, feisty, always hungry, colorful males. Both are great genera.

 

[Blue Jaye]

Are all Phormictopus nasty? I want a reprsentative from this genus but want a very colorful one like sp. purple or sp. Blue but im hesitating as they might turn out to be docile sheeps. I like em nasty.

I agree with @KezyGLA canceridies are the more easy going of the Phormictopus.

 

[efmp1987]

I agree with @KezyGLA canceridies are the more easy going of the Phormictopus.

Which New World [terrestrials] species or genera would be the actual spawns of satan? lol

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Which New World [terrestrials] species or genera would be the actual spawns of satan? lol

Everything is based upon the single Theraphosidae temperament, no matter genus/specie. However I personally worked with certain P.irminia 100% more defensive than certain 'Pokies'.

 

[Blue Jaye]

Acanthoscuria come to mind. Mines got the same attitude as my canceridies. I also have a large B.vagans that is quite the hell spawn. Actually most of my vagans are like that lol. But there are many more to add to the list I’m sure.

 

[tjs028]

I got a P. cancerides sling the other day. About an inch in size. Little guy was happly munching on a small lat roach an hour after unpacking.