Phormictopus cochleasvorax

[sublimejimbob]

Just spotted some 2cm slings for sale for £25, just how rare is this species and are they worth investing in?

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Must be rare, I never heard of them before. Not much info I could find on Phormictopus cochleasvorax.

$40ea id get multiples.

 

[Protectyaaaneck]

Isn't this the species that eats snails?

 

[sublimejimbob]

Protectyaaaneck
Isn't this the species that eats snails?

Yes it is, there's quite a good video one youtube of one taking down a snail!

[QUOTEUltum4Spiderz
Must be rare, I never heard of them before. Not much info I could find on Phormictopus cochleasvorax.][/QUOTE]

I hadn't either until earlier today, the only info I could find was that it's Cuban, has the ability to eat snails and was described in 2008.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Isn't this the species that eats snails?

ya I saw a you-tube video of it.

 

[Poec54]

Interesting species. Well worth getting. There's some really nice Phormictopus.

 

[sublimejimbob]

I need to do some research on the genus as my knowledge is relatively low, I didn't realise how many species had been discovered until looking them up today. Breeding a species this rare would be great, but I suppose finding compatible partners upon maturity may prove difficult if the species still hasn't been widely introduced.

 

[Poec54]

I need to do some research on the genus as my knowledge is relatively low, I didn't realise how many species had been discovered until looking them up today. Breeding a species this rare would be great, but I suppose finding compatible partners upon maturity may prove difficult if the species still hasn't been widely introduced.

Phormictopus are a like a Caribbean version of Pamphobeteus: big, leggy terrestrials that are always hungry, with brightly colored males. Both genera should be much more common in the hobby.

 

[sublimejimbob]

Any particular reason as to why Pamphobeteus are not so common, is importation from South America restricted to a certain extent?

 

[Poec54]

Any particular reason as to why Pamphobeteus are not so common, is importation from South America restricted to a certain extent?

People tend to focus on a limited number of high profile species, like various Brachypelma, GBB, G rosea, A versicolor, etc, and often overlook some great spiders. Maybe they have tunnel vision; maybe they're 'playing it safe' sticking with the spiders everyone else has. Some think they need a care sheet for every species they own, and get leery when they can't find one. I wish more people would venture off the beaten track.

 

[sublimejimbob]

Yes I agree, I can say that not long ago I would stick to species which were highly publicised and seemed to have the most surrounding knowledge. But that gets boring after a while so recently I've been trying to look for more unique species. When it comes to basic care, it doesn't really take much effort to research the locality of a genus or species and look at average temps, humidity etc...

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Yes I agree, I can say that not long ago I would stick to species which were highly publicised and seemed to have the most surrounding knowledge. But that gets boring after a while so recently I've been trying to look for more unique species. When it comes to basic care, it doesn't really take much effort to research the locality of a genus or species and look at average temps, humidity etc...

Picking up a rare species & getting it into hobby is also nice. Id love to buy one but I cannot find them in America.

 

[Poec54]

Picking up a rare species & getting it into hobby is also nice. Id love to buy one but I cannot find them in America.

There's plenty of other species to look at, that aren't common.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

There's plenty of other species to look at, that aren't common.

yeah I agree Ts are addicting gotta collect them all~! I only own like 1/10-20th of the species I wish I had.

 

[sublimejimbob]

That's why I want to get into breeding, will hopefully take the edge off the constant need of wanting to buy more. I would rather wait until the opportunity arises to try breeding something a bit special, which will be a lot more appreciated in the hobby. As opposed to being stuck with say, 2000 L.p. Slings that I cannot get rid of!

 

[awiec]

I need to do some research on the genus as my knowledge is relatively low, I didn't realise how many species had been discovered until looking them up today. Breeding a species this rare would be great, but I suppose finding compatible partners upon maturity may prove difficult if the species still hasn't been widely introduced.

As far as I know this whole genus is treated the same, good burrowing sub with some moisture. I keep my phormic like my pamph and both have been thriving for the 10 months I've had them. They also grow like weeds both have gained 2.5 inches since then. As for why no one breeds them I cannot fathom why, they are hardy, large and handsome in their own way, yet people still focus on things like T.stirmi (which I find kinda unimpressive) when you can have a much easier to care for spider.

 

[Poec54]

people still focus on things like T.stirmi (which I find kinda unimpressive).

'Unimpressive' isn't the word you were looking for. Nothing is more impressive than a massive 10" spider. Granted, they don't have the colors and markings that some do, but that's really more in the way of eye candy. There's more to the world than pretty colors.

 

[awiec]

'Unimpressive' isn't the word you were looking for. Nothing is more impressive than a massive 10" spider. Granted, they don't have the colors and markings that some do, but that's really more in the way of eye candy. There's more to the world than pretty colors.

I don't have anything against brown spiders, I just prefer phormic and pamphs more for some reason. I like bulky spiders in general but for some reason I don't really go ga ga for Theraphosa.

 

[sublimejimbob]

Thanks for the info awiec, I think the reason this genus hasn't caught my attention is that cancerides was the only species I was aware of until recently, and it seemed a little out of my comfort zone

 

[Poec54]

I think the reason this genus hasn't caught my attention is that cancerides was the only species I was aware of until recently, and it seemed a little out of my comfort zone

Because of temperament? They're easy to manage, just not one to handle. They were one of the handful of pet store species back in the 1970's in the US, so obviously not that bad.