Tarantula genetics?????

Spiderman65

Arachnopeon
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Sep 18, 2024
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Hey all! Intermediate T keeper here. I have an odd question I don't see any answer for anywhere. Do tarantula genetics play an important role in their behaviour and their general being. I know that they are not on a level similar to mammals but I have noticed they are capable of similar personalities. What I'm wondering specifically is if you can breed really good mothers and really good webbers artificially. For example crossing a Heavy Webber GBB MM and a Heavy Webber GBB MF. Do genetics play a role in that or is that solely influenced by their enclosure and environmental input? Thanks for reading this, sorry about the long paragraph
 

Ultum4Spiderz

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One tarantula can be a docile non hair kicker. Another from the same sack can be a crazy 😜 defensive threat posing monster that attacks everything that comes near it . Wide mood swings also, selective breeding is more for mammals , reptiles , not sure if it works for tarantulas. I’d like to see what experienced breeders say about it.
 

viper69

ArachnoGod
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Dec 8, 2006
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18,553
Hey all! Intermediate T keeper here. I have an odd question I don't see any answer for anywhere. Do tarantula genetics play an important role in their behaviour and their general being. I know that they are not on a level similar to mammals but I have noticed they are capable of similar personalities. What I'm wondering specifically is if you can breed really good mothers and really good webbers artificially. For example crossing a Heavy Webber GBB MM and a Heavy Webber GBB MF. Do genetics play a role in that or is that solely influenced by their enclosure and environmental input? Thanks for reading this, sorry about the long paragraph
No one knows the answer to your breeding question, no one studies this. There is no money into researching T physiology compared to taxonomy, and toxin analysis for pharma
 

Spiderman65

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Sep 18, 2024
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Thanks for that ^^. I was just wondering. I was watching Dave's Little Beasties on YouTube since I recently found him and I am in awe at how "well behaved" his Ts are and he seems to be a wonderful owner and breeder which got me thinking.
 

Ultum4Spiderz

ArachnoGod
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Thanks for that ^^. I was just wondering. I was watching Dave's Little Beasties on YouTube since I recently found him and I am in awe at how "well behaved" his Ts are and he seems to be a wonderful owner and breeder which got me thinking.
totally random. Random luck. 🍀
I assure you his breeder isn’t training them like dogs.🐶
 
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LilithArachne

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Apr 27, 2022
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It would be a neat thing to look into. If I were to guess, on a large scale, it explains why some species are docile and some aren't. (I'm excluding the odd-ones out.) On a small scale though? Probably not, if I were to guess. BUT it is worth looking into!
 

Charliemum

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Thanks for that ^^. I was just wondering. I was watching Dave's Little Beasties on YouTube since I recently found him and I am in awe at how "well behaved" his Ts are and he seems to be a wonderful owner and breeder which got me thinking.
Dave is a good keeper but I believe his t's behave because of the way he is with them, he is confident in his actions /movements and I think that helps .
If your a jitterbug and tapping, prodding n poking the t, banging about, they not going to behave, you wouldn't either if someone was flaky with you kept proding you saying go there, but if your calm and confident whatever you deal with , spiders , cats, dogs, people even, are more likely to follow what you are trying to get them to do and he doesn't prod he guides. He basically gives them no choice but to follow.
I think maybe genetics do play a part to some extent but so does the keeper especially if that keeper is like Dave,
Dave has 40 years + behind him plus zoo work plus a quiet house with just him n cl in , any animal will respond well to that.
 

Brewser

AraneaeRebel
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Of course there will be physical and behavioral differences between Individuals within a species which will be passed on to the next generation.
Evolution 101
Adaptation to a changing World
 

TheraMygale

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Thanks for that ^^. I was just wondering. I was watching Dave's Little Beasties on YouTube since I recently found him and I am in awe at how "well behaved" his Ts are and he seems to be a wonderful owner and breeder which got me thinking.
i second @Charliemum

Dave is great and his tarantulas are great because he is great. He has experience. A LOT of it. Hes not fresh out of the oven. He is a fine aged wine. Look at his oldest videos and youll see, he was doing his thing his way for years. Not influenced by looks and clickbaiting. Just doing what he knows, and keeping professional.

hes the one people copy information from to get their own channels going on. Thats just my opinion.

as far as genetics, the one thing that is known: hybrids are bad, and many species come from generations of inbreeding.

i think getting the best sources for a breeding project would give the best offspring and true to species behavior. Im sure you know that, but you asked. And this is, as far as i know, what is known.

you could try it too. To breed certain tarantulas that show certain behaviors. But it would take years to actualy see if this is worth anything.
 
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