What are some true communal tarantula species?

[JamesGSixx]

I've been wondering what are some species of tarantulas that can be kept communally as
adults aside from the most famous m.balfouri? A lot of people say that pokies or obt's can be kept communally but only as slings/juvies but once they turn adult they end up eating each other. Anyone have any adult communal sps?

 

[Goopyguy56]

I think H gigas

 

[Goopyguy56]

From what I read H gigas is actually a better communal than anything else out there

 

[Greasylake]

M. balfouri. Anything else is just gambling and hoping they don't rip each other apart.

 

[antinous]

M. balfouri. Anything else is just gambling and hoping they don't rip each other apart.

This. Monocentropus balfouri, and possibly Pamphobeteus sp. araña pollito (but good luck trying to find them, damn near impossible)is the only species to show true communal habits , other species are just tolerant of each other (to an extent).

 

[Goopyguy56]

I dont't have experience with communals. But i disagree with the others post. H gigas is known for being one of the best communals. They are probably as good if not better than M Balfouri

 

[antinous]

I dont't have experience with communals. But i disagree with the others post. H gigas is known for being one of the best communals. They are probably as good if not better than M Balfouri

They are? I’d like to see proof of what makes them ‘communal’. Sure they may be more tolerable, but not communal. They'll play nicely with others until one is more hungry than the other and then you'll end up with one less spider.

 

[Goopyguy56]

If you want proof there is plenty on the forums. Im not gonna waste my time arguing. Plenty of videos showing them as well.

 

[Greasylake]

@viper69

 

[Goopyguy56]

here.... Im dropping the mike on this one. If this isn't proof I don't know what is

 

[viper69]

A lot of people say that pokies or obt's can be kept communally but only as slings/juvies but once they turn adult they end up eating each other

This topic always comes up, and I cannot figure out why. Pokies aren't communal. I know a biologist who has observed them in NATURE-- no such thing he said, they live up in a single tree inside a hole in that tree. S/he's been studying Ts for decades, never heard or seen a species that was communal. There's always exception in nature too mind you.

There have been people who have kept sacmates, they seem to TOLERATE each other as slings, but after that, good luck.

As for M. balfouri, no one has observed them in the wild as being communal.

People forget that captivity can induce unnatural behaviors in animals.

 

[fleetwoodmcc]

As for H. gigas communal nature, there is basically only one paper published on "communal theraphosidae," and its regarding this species:

https://www.jstor.org/stable/370622...nA7biQZPh8gB&seq=2#metadata_info_tab_contents

One conclusion of the paper is that the communal behavior may be influenced by two major factors: abundance of prey and rearing sackmates together. Additionally, the major conclusion is that there is no benefit to growth rate for the spiderlings. This indicates to me that H. gigas isn't truly communal...rather, it is induced by the presence of substantial food and rearing sackmates. Whether or not this species will exist communally in the wild is highly questionable. Maybe slings will cohabitate burrows with mothers for a substantial amount of time, but there is very little to no evidence to support H. gigas adults living communally in any natural scenario.

 

[Misty Day]

None are truly communal, some are just more tolerant than others. I see communals as just gambling with spiders' lives, throwing a bunch of solitary animals together and just hoping for the best. Not worth the risk, I wouldn't risk an animals life for my own circus show. IMO.

 

[Goopyguy56]

Listen, lack of scientific literature is not evidence that something is or isnt communal. Not enough scientist studying tarantulas. Heck weve probably leanrned more from keeping them. There is enough evidence from keepers and video evidence to conclude that a few species have been successfully kept communaly. I have yet to see evidence that h gigas is not a communal species. Some even think they are the best to keep communaly. Scientific literature is not conclusive either way. There is plenty of evidence there from other keepers. They can definetly be kept communaly.

 

[antinous]

Listen, lack of scientific literature is not evidence that something is or isnt communal. Not enough scientist studying tarantulas. Heck weve probably leanrned more from keeping them. There is enough evidence from keepers and video evidence to conclude that a few species have been successfully kept communaly. I have yet to see evidence that h gigas is not a communal species. Some even think they are the best to keep communaly. Scientific literature is not conclusive either way. There is plenty of evidence there from other keepers. They can definetly be kept communaly.

But captive animals do show unnatural tendencies as @viper69 has mentioned. Just because they do something in captivity doesn't mean they'll do it in the wild. We can make guesses all we want, but until it's shown they do so in the wild, that's all it will be, a 'guess'.

 

[Goopyguy56]

But captive animals do show unnatural tendencies as @viper69 has mentioned. Just because they do something in captivity doesn't mean they'll do it in the wild. We can make guesses all we want, but until it's shown they do so in the wild, that's all it will be, a 'guess'.

Just because they do something in captivity like living communaly doesn't mean they don't live communaly in the wild. So you admit they can be communal in captivity? Im not sure what your point is.

 

[viper69]

Listen, lack of scientific literature is not evidence that something is or isnt communal. Not enough scientist studying tarantulas. Heck weve probably leanrned more from keeping them. There is enough evidence from keepers and video evidence to conclude that a few species have been successfully kept communaly. I have yet to see evidence that h gigas is not a communal species. Some even think they are the best to keep communaly. Scientific literature is not conclusive either way. There is plenty of evidence there from other keepers. They can definetly be kept communaly.

I'll trust a world expert on tarantulas, who knows other world experts, over hobbyists any day of the week.

Your flaw above is based on captivity.... What do they do in nature? That is the key here.

Keeping something communal in captivity does not in any way mean a species is communal in nature. I believe that is the point most are trying to get across.

 

[Goopyguy56]

Is there evidence that they dont live communaly in the wild?

 

[viper69]

doesn't mean they don't live communaly in the wild

It doesn't mean they do either

 

[Goopyguy56]

And who is this world expert?