Psalmopoeus venom

[justanotherdude]

Hey folks. I’m dipping my toes into the Arboreal pool with getting an Avic soon, and eventually when I feel I have adequate experience I’d like to get one of the Psalmopoeus species. I’ve learned that the P. irminia has potent venom for a NW, and I was wondering if all the Psalmos have potent venom? I haven’t gotten a clear answer and decided to ask the community instead of falling back down the rabbitbhole because my kids are demanding to go outside Thanks in advance

 

[Hakuna]

From what I’ve heard, Psalmopoeus make up for the lack of urticating hairs by having slightly more potent venom, supposedly. Would make sense for each of them to have slightly worse venom than your average NW

 

[Tarantuland]

I've heard that all psalmopeus and tapinauchenius have probably the most potent venom of new worlds. Probably pseudoclamoris too. Don't get bit and you'll be fine. They're all fast though for sure, but I got an irminia, pulcher, and cambridgei and they're all really fun to keep. They grow really fast

 

[viper69]

Hey folks. I’m dipping my toes into the Arboreal pool with getting an Avic soon, and eventually when I feel I have adequate experience I’d like to get one of the Psalmopoeus species. I’ve learned that the P. irminia has potent venom for a NW, and I was wondering if all the Psalmos have potent venom? I haven’t gotten a clear answer and decided to ask the community instead of falling back down the rabbitbhole because my kids are demanding to go outside Thanks in advance

Generally it's believed they all do. However, I haven't checked bite reports for the most recent Psalmo.

You find irminia mentioned most because it's kept the most.

If you want a faster T than Psalmo, get a Tapi- they leave them in the dust, and many OWs in the dust too.

 

[thatdadlife619]

Hey folks. I’m dipping my toes into the Arboreal pool with getting an Avic soon, and eventually when I feel I have adequate experience I’d like to get one of the Psalmopoeus species. I’ve learned that the P. irminia has potent venom for a NW, and I was wondering if all the Psalmos have potent venom? I haven’t gotten a clear answer and decided to ask the community instead of falling back down the rabbitbhole because my kids are demanding to go outside Thanks in advance

Psalmopoeus do not have urticating hairs, making up for it with potent venom and being able to boogie and bounce away when threatened right up there with their old world brethren.

To my knowledge this goes for all Psalmopoeus, with some in the genus being a bit more intense than others

 

[Scp682]

Any Psalmopoeinae (Psalmopoeus, Ephebopus, Tapinauchenius, Pseudoclamoris, etc) have more potent venom. It's not pleasant from what I hear. I'd say the worst NW, definitely worse than Aviculariinae or Theraphosinae, I'm not as familiar with Ischnocolinae but I'd presume worse. I don't like the generalization that NW are calm with mild venom and OWs are fast with strong venom when it really varies from group to group and even species to species. Psalmos are comparable to some milder OWs, I've heard people have swelling and pain lasting for weeks with spasms etc. Not fun.

 

[Craig73]

I have six species and treat them all in the same regards as far as potency. They’re typically a reclusive bunch, and flee before ready to throw down. I’ve heard the pulcher and victori are more likely to be less tolerant in general, but I won’t know until mine are larger and I’ve had more time with them.

When ready I would recommend starting with a sling so you can grow with it. While temperaments can change throughout their life, it’s a good way to observe general characteristics of your specimen. They all have decent to fast growth rates. Victori seems to be the slower growing as far as I can tell.

 

[ApexApinkPanda]

I'm no expert but my first order of T's had 2 P. Irminia's, 1 died, a Harpactira pulchripes, and 2 curly hairs.. I've never had any trouble with them. The P. Irminia's have never bolted I have 2 P. Cambridgi; those little crack heads are fast and bolty. The plenty of places to hide theory works really well with the Irminia but the Cambridgi just want to run away. I honestly don't worry about the venom as there is no antivenom available, spider bite deaths are extremely if not ever deadly. The goal is always to just not get bit. Psalmopeus make up for a lack of urticating hairs with medically significant venom. Medically significant doesn't mean being monitored over night in the hospital. It probably means an anti-inflammatory cocktail, pain kills and anti-nausea medicine and then back home (probably not even that). Watch tom Moran's rehousing video's. His way of working with T's is probably the most respectful way I've seen in keeping them and himself safe. Just do your research. Tom Moran, and the Tarantula Collective have the best video's information and demonstration wise. Tarantula Haven is also good. My key to 1 over coming my fear is I research and learn until I'm not afraid any more. The only thing that ever caught me off guard was a P. Irminia coming up completely missing and then realizing it had probably been missing for several weeks... When I really got a look at the enclosure I realized how obvious it was for it to escape. Zilla Small Arboreal Enclosure's are trash. Now, every enclosure has to be held closed with a latch or magnet and once latched the door cannot move. I prefer magnets. If your the kind of person to jump all in go for it. If your not, then don't. Start with a Versicolor or something and work your way up. But to be honest with you, finding out what the venom is going to do to you is kinda meh. The info won't actually help you prepare for having one. Nothing is going to truely prepare you for when a 1.5" Cambridgi says, "F this, I'm out sucka" and you miss with a catch-cup 7 times because it's that freakin fast. The important things you can learn before hand is the use of catch-cups, transfer cups, cardboard cut outs to keep it trapped etc.

The treatment for most venom is the same until you get in the really really bad bities like pokie, Sydney funnel webs, Brazilian wandering etc. Learn the truth of bites and not the fear spun junk of the world. I've read several scientific papers on venom and it's really interesting that "venom" is a over all description of the hundreds and sometimes thousands of proteins, enszmes, and chemical reactions that make up what venom is and does. There is some kinds of venom that changes your DNA permanently. Most people who die from bites almost always had serious underlining health conditions. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and I spoke with my Rheumatologist, she gave me the instructions to tell the emergency room should I ever get bit and feel the need to go and it is mostly about a run away inflammatory reaction. So, I'll probably get a really badass muscle relaxer and a huge dose steroids to keep things in control. Also, NEVER let a doctor tell you how you feel or shrug off that a tarantula bite is nothing because very few understand the huge variety of insects and the huge differences in their venom's and poisons. Have the information to tell them. Information is the way of overcoming fear. I personally would never try to hold any of the Psalmopoeus. I do hold and interact with my C. Versicolor because when I open their enclose they think it's because it's time for their walk. I was very astonished how unafraid of me they are.

 

[viper69]

There is some kinds of venom that changes your DNA permanently.

I’d be curious to read this paper if you have the link? I’ve never heard of that.

 

[Craig73]

I’d be curious to read this paper if you have the link? I’ve never heard of that.

DC Comics…Spider-Man.

 

[Smotzer]

Psalmopoeinae do have anecdotally stronger NW venom, but regardless of what side of the world a tarantula has come for they should all be treated with the same respect that they can become defensive and can bite, care and safe keeping measures should not ever change. Respect all like they have potent venom.

 

[viper69]

DC Comics…Spider-Man.

Wrong- Marvel Comics!

 

[Edan bandoot]

Psalmos ( and tapis and their cousins) have a venom called psalmotoxin. (go figure)

Psalmotoxin attacks the same receptors that capsaicin attacks. (the spicy thing in peppers)

people have reported that bites feel like a burning hot nail being driver through their skin, although as far as i know the only symptom is pain.

this website shows venom information, but its down right now. https://www.uniprot.org/

 

[The Grym Reaper]

It applies to most of the (if not the whole) Psalmopoeinae subfamily (Psalmopoeus/Pseudoclamoris/Tapinauchenius for sure, not sure about Ephebopus seeing as they do possess urticating setae though).

They utilise something known as Psalmotoxin which targets the same nerve receptors as capsaicin (the stuff in peppers that causes the burning sensation), you can basically expect expect pain and muscle spasms/cramping generally lasting up to 48hrs (although I did hear from a lass who claimed to have had a particularly bad reaction with symptoms persisting for nearly two weeks after being bitten).

Psalmos ( and tapis and their cousins) have a venom called psalmotoxin. (go figure)

Could be worse, the peptide neurotoxin utilised by Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans is apparently known as "Spooky Toxin"

 

[Edan bandoot]

It applies to most of the (if not the whole) Psalmopoeinae subfamily (Psalmopoeus/Pseudoclamoris/Tapinauchenius for sure, not sure about Ephebopus seeing as they do possess urticating setae though).

They utilise something known as Psalmotoxin which targets the same nerve receptors as capsaicin (the stuff in peppers that causes the burning sensation), you can basically expect expect pain and muscle spasms/cramping generally lasting up to 48hrs (although I did hear from a lass who claimed to have had a particularly bad reaction with symptoms persisting for nearly two weeks after being bitten).



Could be worse, the peptide neurotoxin utilised by Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans is apparently known as "Spooky Toxin"

cambridgei also has vanillotoxin

 

[Kibosh]

Here is a fun paper on the topic. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature05285

To summarize it's no more dangerous then most T venom, but far more painful as the toxins bind directly to our nerves pain receptors. Specifically the ones for heat. Feels like getting stabbed with a red hot nail I have heard. But otherwise harmless.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

DC Comics…Spider-Man.

"They wish..."
Stan Lee.

 

[sasker]

until you get in the really really bad bities like pokie, Sydney funnel webs, Brazilian wandering etc.

I would not put pokies in the same group as funnel webs and Brazilian wandering spiders, venom-wise.

 

[Craig73]

"They wish..."
Stan Lee.

If I had a tail it would be so far tucked under me. I obviously don’t know which superhero’s wearing blue tights belong to which camp.