What would happen if I gave my Tarantula a pet frog?

[smootio]

I recently learned that sometimes in the wild, a Tarantula and a small frog would maintain a symbiotic relationship. If I were to present a frog to my T, would there be a chance to replicate this in an enclosure? I wouldn't actually try this because I like frogs too much to risk it but I was curious if there was maybe like a 1/100 chance my T won't eat the frog.

 

[Scorpiobsession]

No, there's very specific species that this occurs in and even if you got the exact species the acts in the wild can't be replicated in a realistic enclosure.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

No roommates.
You'll lose your deposit.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

It wouldn't work out, almost guaranteed. One inhabitant would almost certainly eat the other one.

 

[viper69]

I recently learned that sometimes in the wild, a Tarantula and a small frog would maintain a symbiotic relationship. If I were to present a frog to my T, would there be a chance to replicate this in an enclosure? I wouldn't actually try this because I like frogs too much to risk it but I was curious if there was maybe like a 1/100 chance my T won't eat the frog.

Do you own the same species for this occurs in nature?

 

[Tarantuland]

Do you own the same species for this occurs in nature?

I have an X Immanis and this idea has made me curious, but I’ve never seen the Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata for sale.

It wouldn't work out, almost guaranteed. One inhabitant would almost certainly eat the other one.

This is what I imagine too. At the national aquarium in my city, they have a tarantula in its own enclosure in a big vivarium with dart frogs and some kind of snake- I think emerald tree boa and they told me they have to keep the tarantula contained or it would eat the dart frogs

 

[viper69]

I have an X Immanis and this idea has made me curious, but I’ve never seen the Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata for sale.

This is what I imagine too. At the national aquarium in my city, they have a tarantula in its own enclosure in a big vivarium with dart frogs and some kind of snake- I think emerald tree boa and they told me they have to keep the tarantula contained or it would eat the dart frogs

I have a feeling, could be wrong, that its more than a burrow and those 2 animals to observe this for a captive situation. Could be wrong..

 

[Tarantuland]

I have a feeling, could be wrong, that its more than a burrow and those 2 animals to observe this for a captive situation. Could be wrong..

Yea agreed I wouldn’t even try it without extensive research, probably wouldn’t at all. I know it has to do with the frog eating parasites and other microorganisms that I don’t think I’d want to introduce to my house

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Sure I saw someone recently with an Aphonopelma anax that had a bunch of little frogs (no idea on species) living with it

 

[Sambro]

I've read quite a few reports in regards to this and the results would surprise you.

You'll be surprised the amount of information you can find with the correct resreach.
Please see clips from some articles I've found below.

"One of the first published discussions of this phenomenon was produced by Crocraft & Hambler (1989).
Noting a close association between individuals of the Dotted humming frog Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata and the burrowing theraphosid tarantula Xenesthis immanis in southeastern Peru, they suggested that the spider – well capable of killing and eating a frog of this size – used chemical cues to recognise the frogs. Young spiders have sometimes been observed to grab the frogs, examine them with their mouthparts, and then release them unharmed. Microhylids are probably unpalatable due to their skin toxins, and this might explain how this association arose in the first place.

However, this also wasn't the first tarantula to be observed having a mutualism relationship (Both animals benefit from the relationship)
In Sri Lanka, the Poecilotheria species were also seen sharing a hollow Tree together.

It was reported how several Poecilotheria were seen attacking individuals geckos after the latter tried eating the eggs of the frogs the spiders were sharing their tree holes with. The frogs also seem to benefit from the fact that the leftovers of the spiders’ meals provide food for their tadpoles and also attract small insects that are eaten by the frogs. As mentioned above, the spider seems to benefit in that the frogs eat the ants that might ordinarily attack the spider’s eggs. Due to their small size, ants are presumably difficult for the spiders to deal with, and they might be effectively helpless against them."

Keep in mind, this has not been documented in captivity and this could be some strange phenomenon that we may not be able to understand or even recreate due to bizarre environmental situations.
Ideally, this wouldn't be something to try as a keeper either and will most likely end up with dead frogs and a fat spider.
Plus, the X.immanis who shared the burrows with the Chiasmocleis ventrimaculata frog, the frog cannot be purchase unless you get a WC and then, you'll be risking adding parasites to you enclosure.

 

[Wolfram1]

When i got my first Theraphosidae I read up on this as well and i have to say the benefit to the spider seems to be conjecture in its entirety. Sure it sounds plausible but as far as i am aware none of that has been proven. It might just be poisonous/unpalatable frogs taking advantage of one of their more formidable neighbours.

can someone provide a first hand account of ants killing an entire egg-sack that is being protected by a mother spider? not saying it doesn't happen but so far i have not read any first hand accounts of this happening

Sure it would be cool if it was truly mutually symbiotic....

 

[Jesse607]

When i got my first Theraphosidae I read up on this as well and i have to say the benefit to the spider seems to be conjecture in its entirety. Sure it sounds plausible but as far as i am aware none of that has been proven. It might just be poisonous/unpalatable frogs taking advantage of one of their more formidable neighbours.

can someone provide a first hand account of ants killing an entire egg-sack that is being protected by a mother spider? not saying it doesn't happen but so far i have not read any first hand accounts of this happening

Sure it would be cool if it was truly mutually symbiotic....

I would have to agree with you. Seems like an attempt to sensationalize the phenomena. The frog definitely benefits. Now if the tarantulas only let the frogs hang out if/when they have an eggsac that would be different. Also, the burrow/shelter openings are usually webbed over while the females wait for the eggs to hatch, from what I gather.

 

[Matt Man]

depends on the T and the Frog. If they don't have the symbiotic relationship in nature, the frog will most likely wind up as food.
Symbiotic pairs have pheromonal or scent triggers that mark them as 'friendly', without that, it is open season