What are some true communal tarantula species?

[viper69]

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

Ive been told no species has been observed living communally in the wild.

 

[Greasylake]

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

There is a distinct lack of evidence they live communally, and in the lack of evidence we do not accept the hypothesis. Until they are observed living communally in the wild we use the information currently available to us and conclude they do not live communally.

 

[Theneil]

Oh yay! Another one of these threads...

 

[Goopyguy56]

It doesn't mean they do either

Proves my point. This whole conversation was about tarantulas that can be kept communaly other than balfouri. H gigas definetly is. Since there is no evidence for or against it acting communaly in the wild its kind of irrelevant anyways

 

[viper69]

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.

That's Sam Marshall's paper, nice one. I have this one too.

Since there is no evidence for or against it acting communaly in the wild

The evidence is from experts, ie people who study arachnids for a living, people who have observed them in the wild. They know more about Ts than the entire forum combined.

 

[Goopyguy56]

There is a distinct lack of evidence they live communally, and in the lack of evidence we do not accept the hypothesis. Until they are observed living communally in the wild we use the information currently available to us and conclude they do not live communally.

If there is no evidence pointing to them NOT living communaly in the wild. The BEST evidence we have are the examples of them livng in captivity! If you want to get scientific then we have to conclude that THERE ISN'T ENOUGH EVIDENCE OF THE WILD BEHAVIORS OF H GIGAS TO CONCLUDE EITHER WAY. Unless you can find me several pieces of legit evidence that they never live communaly in the wild, then I believe this conversation is over. Yes they could act differently in captivity. Do we actually have evidence of that? Nope, i rest my case

The evidence is from experts, ie people who study arachnids for a living, people who have observed them in the wild. They know more about Ts than the entire forum combined.

Yet you fail to name said experts or what they actually say about H gigas. No quotes/ no citations to back up your assertions. You actually don't have an assertion other than saying "they could act different in the wild" well no duh. In the science world, you need more than one paper written by one scientist before you come to a conclusion. If there are more than a few "experts" with data to back them up I will gladly listen. I am willing to change my mind once you come up woth some evidence.

 

[viper69]

Yet you fail to name said experts or what they actually say about H gigas. No quotes/ no citations to back up your assertions. You actually don't have an assertion other than saying "they could act different in the wild" well no duh. In the science world, you need more than one paper written by one scientist before you come to a conclusion. If there are more than a few "experts" with data to back them up I will gladly listen. I am willing to change my mind once you come up woth some evidence.

I don't mention this person's name on purpose, the reason isn't important, and the information is no less relevant. I don't come to the forum to spread rumors or anything of the sort. You can believe my information or not, your choice.

If there is no evidence pointing to them NOT living communaly in the wild. The BEST evidence we have are the examples of them livng in captivity!

Except captivity and nature are not the same. You are comparing apples to oranges.

you need more than one paper written by one scientist before you come to a conclusion

This is not true actually. When a paper is published and a T has been classified as a new species, it is accepted as fact.

It's nice if other scientists pursue/support the original paper, but this doesn't always happen in scientific research.

 

[Greasylake]

When a paper is published and a T has been classified as a new species, it is accepted as fact.

Not to mention that a paper is generally written by more than one person.

 

[Liquifin]

Yet you fail to name said experts or what they actually say about H gigas. No quotes/ no citations to back up your assertions. You actually don't have an assertion other than saying "they could act different in the wild" well no duh. In the science world, you need more than one paper written by one scientist before you come to a conclusion. If there are more than a few "experts" with data to back them up I will gladly listen. I am willing to change my mind once you come up woth some evidence.

So H. gigas is communal because of one video and other people stating it's possible. I have seen H. gigas communal before, but only with slings and juveniles. Never with ADULTS!!! Prove me wrong with a few evidence as you have stated. If you can't prove about communal adults of H. gigas, you yourself have no evidence.

 

[Goopyguy56]

Not to mention that a paper is generally written by more than one person.

Ok so what is your point? Are you going to give me evidence from a scientific paper or not?

 

[8LeggedLair]

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?

I know of someone that keeps 8 P.Metallica’s as communal... they’re all mid size juvies, looks amazing and was very expensive no doubt.

 

[EulersK]

One man's opinion: Once all caps are being used in a written disagreement, all hopes of a progressive discussion have gone out the window.

 

[viper69]

I know of someone that keeps 8 P.Metallica’s as communal... they’re all mid size juvies, looks amazing and was very expensive no doubt.

Just getting lucky. They don't live communally in the wild.

 

[Goopyguy56]

Ok so what is your point? Are you going to give me evidence from a scientific paper or not?[/QUOTEI listen folks, im not trying to start a fight. I believe videos are pretty good evidence. Not sure whats so bad about that. Since there is not one scientific paper that states emphaticaly that h gigas is not communal I believe that I am +1. If that video is not h gigas please correct me. If it is why are we arguing against them being communal.

 

[viper69]

Videos in general can be excellent evidence. When it comes to behavior of an animal that all of us know so very little about, the video provided doesn't tell us much of anything to make a logical conclusion, let alone a scientific one. There simply is not enough evidence from 1 video in this case.

 

[Goopyguy56]

Does this video show not show you a group of H gigas communaly? If you were interested in seeing more there is plenty more. Heck, i just saw them selling communal groups of 5 on fear not tarantulas. Still waiting on evidence againt them being comunal btw

 

[viper69]

Does this video show not show you a group of H gigas communaly?

Objectively speaking- it doesn't, it suggests it may be possible. Maybe the owner/s had a few more, and lost some to cannibalism. Regardless, it's one video, not hundreds. Even if there were hundreds by different people, doesn't mean it happens in the wild. That's all people are saying.

 

[8LeggedLair]

Just getting lucky. They don't live communally in the wild.

Yep he is, he bought them all together as Slings, and stayed together, it’s rather awesome to watch them

 

[viper69]

Yep he is, he bought them all together as Slings, and stayed together, it’s rather awesome to watch them

I saw a guy, he had about 70 in a hex tank. Lost some due to cannibalism. I would have been more than happy to take a few off his hands hah.

 

[8LeggedLair]

I saw a guy, he had about 70 in a hex tank. Lost some due to cannibalism. I would have been more than happy to take a few off his hands hah.

Awesome, yea there’s a vid on YouTube 90 M. Balfouri crazy to watch...
yea one day I will have a P. Metallica...
but C.Versi is next on my agenda. And three more Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens.