Pterinochilus murinus ?

Royalty

Arachnoknight
Joined
Mar 11, 2020
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246
I think that is a "Feather Leg" baboon or Stromatopelma calceatum? (I am not an expert...and a petshop could be hosting a hybrid since it already mislabeled it).

That being said, I have not heard of a Feather Leg baboon staying buried since they are arboreal. (unless it is a sling....it looks pretty big in the pic tho)
 

spideyspinneret78

Arachnoprince
Active Member
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Yeah......there's absolutely NO WAY that's a P. murinus. Looks like a S. calceatum (featherleg baboon), which just so happens to possess some of the most potent venom of all the tarantulas available in the hobby. They are very fast and won't hesitate to bite if they feel threatened. When they're slings/ small juveniles, it's common for many arboreal species to spend at least some of the time underground in burrows since they're more vulnerable to predators when small. They also may make "dirt curtains" to conceal themselves when young.
 

Royalty

Arachnoknight
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Mar 11, 2020
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246
My p.murinus has been acting strange. It has been staying curled up and it sounds funny. Is this a death curl?

1586956968670.png
 

CeceW80

Arachnopeon
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Mar 16, 2020
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I think that is a "Feather Leg" baboon or Stromatopelma calceatum? (I am not an expert...and a petshop could be hosting a hybrid since it already mislabeled it).

That being said, I have not heard of a Feather Leg baboon staying buried since they are arboreal. (unless it is a sling....it looks pretty big in the pic tho)
It’s about the size of a half dollar. I’m really very upset about this. I wonder how often pet shops mislabel tarantulas. I can’t even contact them about it because they are currently closed due to the corona virus 😩
 

Royalty

Arachnoknight
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Mar 11, 2020
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246
Pics can see so misleading sometimes. It does seem like it is a juvenile. At least if they are closed no one is going to accidentally buy it. x_x
 

CeceW80

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Pics can see so misleading sometimes. It does seem like it is a juvenile. At least if they are closed no one is going to accidentally buy it. x_x
We already bought it and payed a lot of money.....the lady at the pet store was adamant about what it was...my fiancé and I have been watching it for a few weeks and I was sure we were mislead. Now I see all these posts telling me and I have absolutely no idea what to do.
 

Vanessa

Grammostola Groupie
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Mar 12, 2016
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How is someone with so little experience shopping for OW tarantulas in the first place? Pets stores are only able to sell these wrong species to people who lack the experience to own them in the first place.
 

Royalty

Arachnoknight
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Mar 11, 2020
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246
We already bought it and payed a lot of money.....the lady at the pet store was adamant about what it was...my fiancé and I have been watching it for a few weeks and I was sure we were mislead. Now I see all these posts telling me and I have absolutely no idea what to do.
Okay, well p.murinus is usually on the cheaper side lol. I misunderstood when I read your post. (was precoffee this morning)

Even people experienced in other T's might have trouble identifying something they are not familiar with, even tho p.murinus is one of the more common ones so it was a bit funny. I got one as my "first" T.

Mn, how much experience do you have in raising T's? If you are uncomfortable, you could try reselling it. If you do take proper care of it, I am sure you would have no problem. It does seem like you are inexperienced but you have come to the right place which is a big step.

It should be kept in an arboreal enclosure with a bit more substrate since it is a young one. It would be best if you posted pictures of your set up. A tarantula with a suitable home is going to be more comfortable and will be less defensive.
 

Vanessa

Grammostola Groupie
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Even people experienced in other T's might have trouble identifying something they are not familiar with
People who have the experience to keep these species are not making a mistake identifying them. Even as spiderlings they are different, let alone at this size. People who even have a rudimentary amount of experience can tell the difference between a terrestrial and an arboreal due to the significant differences in body structure.
We're not talking a difference between two different 1/2" Brachypelma/Grammostola species. It isn't entirely the pet stores fault. As long as people don't know what they're buying, pet stores have the advantage over them. As long as people don't do their homework, don't take out their smartphones and double and triple check, then the pet stores will be able to sell you whatever they want you to buy. And that doesn't stop at the animal either - it extends to all the hundreds of dollars worth of junk that you don't need for them.
There have been several posts on this forum made by people who have unknowingly ended up with a Stromatopelma calceatum and the one thing they all have in common was the buyer had little to no experience.
 

Royalty

Arachnoknight
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Mar 11, 2020
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246
People who have the experience to keep these species are not making a mistake identifying them. Even as spiderlings they are different, let alone at this size. People who even have a rudimentary amount of experience can tell the difference between a terrestrial and an arboreal due to the significant differences in body structure.
We're not talking a difference between two different 1/2" Brachypelma/Grammostola species. It isn't entirely the pet stores fault. As long as people don't know what they're buying, pet stores have the advantage over them. As long as people don't do their homework, don't take out their smartphones and double and triple check, then the pet stores will be able to sell you whatever they want you to buy. And that doesn't stop at the animal either - it extends to all the hundreds of dollars worth of junk that you don't need for them.
There have been several posts on this forum made by people who have unknowingly ended up with a Stromatopelma calceatum and the one thing they all have in common was the buyer had little to no experience.
Those two are very different looking examples. My OBT Sling is pretty brown looking, about the same tone as my Feather Leg Sling. I can tell them apart quite easily since I have been obsessed with the baboons for quite a while. I do not think it is entirely OP's fault, even though they probably should have done more research before picking up a new pet instead of asking after. It is a shame that pet stores do spread so much misinformation.
 

octanejunkie

Arachnoknight
Joined
Mar 12, 2018
Messages
206
To the OP, you have 2 basic choices at this point:
1. sell the spider
2. learn how to support, care for and properly house the spider you have

If you decide to keep it, do your research and be constantly cautious when interacting with the spider for the reasons already stated.

These guys are fast and beginners are not used to their speed or the fact that it can end up on your shoulder and down your back before you even see it move; notwithstanding the potential bite risk.
The P. murinus you thought you bought isn't called an "Orange Bitey Thing" (Orange Baboon Tarantula, really) for nothing.

Look up Tom Moran's (@Tomoran) YouTube channel called Tom's Big Spiders and watch the care and rehousing videos for OW arboreals, he has s good one for P. metallica, here is his blog page for that species.

Good luck whatever you decide!
 

Vanisher

Arachnoking
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Oct 2, 2004
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This speicies can really make life miserable for a beginner. They are fast, defenssive, unpredictable and has a nasty venom
 

Kwikvette

Arachnopeon
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Mar 27, 2020
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0
Can't comment on the species you received, but I do have a P Murinus sling that is similar in size to what you've described -

This is a few days after a molt

20200406_203213.jpg

And yes, unless it's cleaning itself, it's usually in its burrow

20200407_225211.jpg
 
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