rehousing a. seemanni

[b28arachnids]

i got this aphonopelma seemanni from a local shop, she was only 20$ and i found out she is wild caught. she is FAST. i thought it would be a good idea to put a live plant in her enclosure, it wasn’t. she tore it up and anytime i open the enclosure she throws herself into a threat pose, will run up the tongs if i try taking the plant out, all the dramatics. she was only my 3rd tarantula and my others are much more docile. she’s getting quite large n i want to rehouse her ASAP but i get nervous thinking about it, especially since she bolted across my floor when i first got her (my fault 100% because i did not expect her to be as fast as she is). any suggestions or advice is appreciated!

 

[viper69]

Owned them, can be fast, be carefull

 

[Nitroxide]

Just do so carefully, you can always try to coax her into a container to rehouse her to try to avoid stress. If you are really worried, bring her tank into a closed smaller room (ex:bathroom) in case she bolts, this way would be easier to get the situation under control in case things go south. Just be as calm as possible, no sudden movements or poking around that might startle and overall take your time doing so.

 

[cold blood]

Can you post a pic of the whole spider? That really doesn't look like a seemani

 

[Brewser]

Congratulations on
Aphonopelma seemanni
aka
Costa Rican Zebra Stripe Knee

 

[TheraMygale]

Start by catch cupping it. That really changes everything.

and there is no fear to be had. This tarantula just needs its space and possibly doesnt have the right enclosure.

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

i got this aphonopelma seemanni from a local shop, she was only 20$ and i found out she is wild caught. she is FAST. i thought it would be a good idea to put a live plant in her enclosure, it wasn’t. she tore it up and anytime i open the enclosure she throws herself into a threat pose, will run up the tongs if i try taking the plant out, all the dramatics. she was only my 3rd tarantula and my others are much more docile. she’s getting quite large n i want to rehouse her ASAP but i get nervous thinking about it, especially since she bolted across my floor when i first got her (my fault 100% because i did not expect her to be as fast as she is). any suggestions or advice is appreciated!

This species is really fast for a new world . Sadly mine died a few months after buying it at a pet shop . I’m thinking it had a bad molt despite looking fine. It wandered a Lot and then died. Use a catch cup.

 

[jennywallace]

Yeah do it in the bath and use a catch cup, that's what I always do.

 

[Glorfindel]

uh oh, wild caught, how long have you had her, is she mature?

 

[Mustafa67]

i got this aphonopelma seemanni from a local shop, she was only 20$ and i found out she is wild caught. she is FAST. i thought it would be a good idea to put a live plant in her enclosure, it wasn’t. she tore it up and anytime i open the enclosure she throws herself into a threat pose, will run up the tongs if i try taking the plant out, all the dramatics. she was only my 3rd tarantula and my others are much more docile. she’s getting quite large n i want to rehouse her ASAP but i get nervous thinking about it, especially since she bolted across my floor when i first got her (my fault 100% because i did not expect her to be as fast as she is). any suggestions or advice is appreciated!

Be calm, get a tub like an old chinese takeaway tub and the lid. Put the tub over the tarantula and slide the lid under him/her so you have the T in the tub and the lid is stable. Move the tub into the new enclosure and slowly raise the tub part off, leave the lid there until she moves into the new enclosure and get it out later.

 

[b28arachnids]

Start by catch cupping it. That really changes everything.

and there is no fear to be had. This tarantula just needs its space and possibly doesnt have the right enclosure.

i agree 100%. her current one is long but it’s not as wide as i’d like. i have one set up for her i’m just trying to get all the advice i can get since she’s my fastest and i’m fairly new to this still.

uh oh, wild caught, how long have you had her, is she mature?

ive had her a little over a month now. and i believe she molted a couple weeks ago because she kind of disappeared to her hide (shes always out) and she has grown a bit. i’m still learning about molting/age but maybe her last molt was her mature molt?

 

[cold blood]

Ok, looks like a freshly molted seemani

 

[Arachnophobphile]

i agree 100%. her current one is long but it’s not as wide as i’d like. i have one set up for her i’m just trying to get all the advice i can get since she’s my fastest and i’m fairly new to this still.


ive had her a little over a month now. and i believe she molted a couple weeks ago because she kind of disappeared to her hide (shes always out) and she has grown a bit. i’m still learning about molting/age but maybe her last molt was her mature molt?

You are unprepared, believe me my female T. vagans makes your seemanni look like child's play.

This is how I deal with her. Test her nutness, if not at 100% crazy level I then put her enclosure in a giant Sterilite container. Gloves are essential going up the forearm. Eye protection as she has kicked every UrS off her abdomen at me in the past.

She's fast for a terrestrial and unpredictable. I slightly lift the lid never exposing an opening she can come at me through. I do this in small increments until I can gauge her reaction. If she's not moving by now I can lift the lid and cup her all in one motion and needs to be done fast.

I do NOT want her to get injured and that is why I'm very cautious working with her. Her UrS and huge fangs are the only threat to me she's over 6 inches and very bulky.

The more you work with highly defensive tarantulas the more you fine tune your interactions with them but being careful and cautious is always the number one priority so your tarantula doesn't get injured.

I might also add wild caught adults can be more defensive