What's the most venomous tarantulas you have heard about people owning?

[JamesTheArizonaBlonde]

I am new to the tarantula hobby and although I don't think I'll be getting into OW any time soon, I am interested in knowing about some of the more venomous species I may see for sale. This is more so I know which T's to stay clear of whenever i decide to start getting OW.

 

[Wolf135]

From what I've heard the OBT and the p metallica.

In my own experience old worlds aren't much different than new worlds, I've had more flighty and defensive new world Ts.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

S. cals and H. macs are probably not fun to get tagged by. There are others like the obt and P. muticus... Pokies... People haven't had a fun time. If their bite is considered medically significant, It's safe to assume it's caused problems.

 

[curtisgiganteus]

Heteroscodra maculata and stromatopelma calceatum have the most medically significant venom afaik. Pokies would suck, as would OBT, but the first two can cause serious long term issues. Heart palpitations, possible liver failure, etc. Look up stromatotoxin lol

 

[viper69]

I am new to the tarantula hobby and although I don't think I'll be getting into OW any time soon, I am interested in knowing about some of the more venomous species I may see for sale. This is more so I know which T's to stay clear of whenever i decide to start getting OW.

Polki’s- Indian Ornamentals

H maculata-Togo Starburst

Stromatopelma calceatum-Featherleg Baboon

There’s a few others

 

[ScorpionEvo687]

I read a list of the 13 most venomous tarantulas just today and the list was as follows - #13 Hysterocrates Gigas #12 Haplopelma Schmidti #11 Harpactirella Lightfooti #10 Selenocosmia Crassipes #9 Lampropelma Nigerrimum #8 Pterinochilus Murinus #7 Cyriopagopus Lividus #6 Pelinobius Muticus #5 Stromatopelma Calceatum #4 Heteroscodra Maculata and the top 3 were all "Pokies" (#3 was Poecilotheria Ornata #2 was P. Regalis and #1 was P. Metallica). I should also add that this list is not in any way definitive as it is merely from a random article online that I found through Google results. Also of note is the fact that there are NO recorded cases of deaths from any tarantula to a healthy adult human being and it unlikely that any of them would be able to kill a healthy adult human being unlike quite a few scorpions that are out there or true spiders like the Phoneutria genus (Brazilian Wandering Spiders) & the A. Robustus (Sydney Funnel Web Spider). With all that being the case, you could *probably* successfully own one as a beginner if you REALLY wanted to and did proper research and took all proper precautions though it is still NOT recommended. These are advanced species.

 

[NickPHL]

Pokeys are supposedly the worst T bites. But any OW venom is probably gonna hurt. However none are lethal to humans outside of poor health/allergic reactions. I have only one OW as I'm new It's C.Dyscolus Vietnam Blue I've heard the bites are 🫠.

 

[curtisgiganteus]

I read a list of the 13 most venomous tarantulas just today and the list was as follows - #13 Hysterocrates Gigas #12 Haplopelma Schmidti #11 Harpactirella Lightfooti #10 Selenocosmia Crassipes #9 Lampropelma Nigerrimum #8 Pterinochilus Murinus #7 Cyriopagopus Lividus #6 Pelinobius Muticus #5 Stromatopelma Calceatum #4 Heteroscodra Maculata and the top 3 were all "Pokies" (#3 was Poecilotheria Ornata #2 was P. Regalis and #1 was P. Metallica). I should also add that this list is not in any way definitive as it is merely from a random article online that I found through Google results. Also of note is the fact that there are NO recorded cases of deaths from any tarantula to a healthy adult human being and it unlikely that any of them would be able to kill a healthy adult human being unlike quite a few scorpions that are out there or true spiders like the Phoneutria genus (Brazilian Wandering Spiders) & the A. Robustus (Sydney Funnel Web Spider). With all that being the case, you could *probably* successfully own one as a beginner if you REALLY wanted to and did proper research and took all proper precautions though it is still NOT recommended. These are advanced species.

I agree, my first Ts where P regalis, P, Formosa, and a juvi OBT lol

 

[ScorpionEvo687]

I agree, my first Ts where P regalis, P, Formosa, and a juvi OBT lol

Soooooo how did that go? Lol

 

[Dementeddoll]

I got bit by my OBT the first day I got it. so I feel like ehh now if I get bit. Then again I have a stronger pain tolerance over most people.
If it happens it happens. Oh well. Pucker up.

 

[ScorpionEvo687]

I got bit by my OBT the first day I got it. so I feel like ehh now if I get bit. Then again I have a stronger pain tolerance over most people.
If it happens it happens. Oh well. Pucker up.

My first T will probably be an A. geniculata. Would have to worry a bit less about taking a bite from one (though it is worth noting they have quite a voracious feeding response and as a rather large tarantula getting 7-8" leg span on average w/ some individuals reaching 9" the fangs could perhaps cause mechanical damage depending where you're bit despite the lack of potent venom) but would have to worry more so about the highly irritating urticating hairs, and I know the White Knee's hairs are supposedly one of the worse ones.

Overall, on average, something like an A. geniculata will likely be A LOT less skittish & defensive than something like an OBT even though it typically isn't regarded as the tamest of NW T's.

 

[campj]

As others have said, Stromatopelma calceatum and Heteroscodra maculata are high up there, possibly number one. Poecilotheria will put the hurt on you.

How about Selenocosmia crassipes? Your dog will die if it gets bit by one of these. Can't imagine it's fun for a person either.

Here's likely the best S. calceatum bite story in existence, and one of my favorite tarantula related things ever:

Stromatopelma Bites

This is posted here without permission, taken from Exothermae Magazine no.1 "Poecilotheria". It is out of print and I have not seen it available anywhere. It is posted here for the information regarding Stromatopelmiinae envenomation. It is here because I have no way of contacting the editer...

arachnoboards.com

 

[ScorpionEvo687]

I agree, my first Ts where P regalis, P, Formosa, and a juvi OBT lol

If I absolutely had to get an Old World T as a beginner it'd probably be a Horned Baboon (C. darlingi or C. marshalli) or a Socotra Island Blue Baboon (M. balfouri). Definitely nothing that's known to be super defensive, and definitely not any of the 13 that were listed as most venomous in that article I read.

 

[curtisgiganteus]

Soooooo how did that go? Lol

It went fine. My Formosa matured out male, I ended up with a male and female regalis, and a 5.5” female OBT. Then quickly proceeded to get deep into Asian arboreals. Lampropelma, Omothymus, Cyriopagopus, etc. I have only ever been bitten once. It was by a stupid Avic trying to save a male from being eaten because my tongs where out of reach.

If I absolutely had to get an Old World T as a beginner it'd probably be a Horned Baboon (C. darlingi or C. marshalli) or a Socotra Island Blue Baboon (M. balfouri). Definitely nothing that's known to be super defensive, and definitely not any of the 13 that were listed as most venomous in that article I read.

I have never gotten a threat pose out of any of my pokies in the almost 15 years I’ve been keeping Ts. They can be a little skittish, but balfouri are more prone to bite. Don’t let an article dictate your opinion on keeping Ts. If you don’t plan on handling the spider, you will never have to worry about being bitten.

I got bit by my OBT the first day I got it. so I feel like ehh now if I get bit. Then again I have a stronger pain tolerance over most people.
If it happens it happens. Oh well. Pucker up.

Dry bite, not higher tolerance lol. Trust. If an OBT pumps you with venom? You will be in ALOT of pain.

 

[Smotzer]

My Harpactirella have some of the strongest venom out there reportedly, don't plan to find out ha!!

 

[Pmurinushmacla]

While there has not been a comprehensive study and comparison of the venoms of different species (that i know of), it is widely accepted in the hobby, as others have said, that pokies and arboreal baboons (s.cal and h.mac) have some of the worst venom.

I have never gotten a threat pose out of any of my pokies in the almost 15 years I’ve been keeping Ts. They can be a little skittish, but balfouri are more prone to bite. Don’t let an article dictate your opinion on keeping Ts. If you don’t plan on handling the spider, you will never have to worry about being bitten.

Conversely, I have received a threat pose from 3/4 of my pokies during rehousings. Metallica, regalis, and one ornata. We likely have different rehousing styles, but pokies most certainly are capable of threat posing. Granted, they tried to run and hide 9/10 times. Curious, what species have you kept?

 

[waynerowley]

Assume that all T's can give you a nasty bite and treat/work with them accordingly. Don't handle. Don't take things for granted when rehoming and maintaining. Plan how you are going to transfer them when rehoming and have a backup. Have all your tools/cups to hand.

Be prepared. But the advice remains to start with new worlds until you have some experience because if things do go wrong, you're much less likely to be hurt. They also tend to be slower. Old worlds can be incredibly fast when they want to be - but so can new worlds as well (my p. machalla - even my t. albo. can move pretty fast if it wants to bolt).

Wayne

 

[curtisgiganteus]

Soooooo how did that go? Lol

My Harpactirella have some of the strongest venom out there reportedly, don't plan to find out ha!!

They just want hugz

While there has not been a comprehensive study and comparison of the venoms of different species (that i know of), it is widely accepted in the hobby, as others have said, that pokies and arboreal baboons (s.cal and h.mac) have some of the worst venom.

Conversely, I have received a threat pose from 3/4 of my pokies during rehousings. Metallica, regalis, and one ornata. We likely have different rehousing styles, but pokies most certainly are capable of threat posing. Granted, they tried to run and hide 9/10 times. Curious, what species have you kept?

Regalis, Ornata, Formosa, Rufilata, Tigrinawesseli, I’ve helped rehouse a clutch of miranda, several adult metallica, and even my own AF Ornata never gave me a threat pose. Even while she was gravid.

Now my Cyriopagopus sp Hati Hati?

 

[TechnoGeek]

The featherleg baboon.

 

[campj]

Assume that all T's can give you a nasty bite

That's simply not true though. Very few new world species will give you a nasty bite, and it seems just as misinformed to say that all should be assumed dangerous as it is to say that all are equivalent to a bee sting.