The Socotra Island Blue Baboon Tarantula (Monocentropus balfouri) is one of a very few, and probably the most famous species of tarantula that can be kept communally. Most tarantulas can be cannibalistic and will eat another tarantula in the same enclosure. But this species has been kept communally for many years with high levels of success. They have even been observed sharring prey. To learn more, check out my video about the Socotra Island Blue Baboon on my YouTube channel linked below.
The Monocentropus balfouri known commonly in the hobby as the Socotra Island Blue Baboon was described by Pocock in 1897 and is an Old World
Welcome to the second issue of The Spinnerette, a new tarantula and spider magazine! In this issue you'll find tons of info about our featured spider for this issue, the Monocentropus balfouri (sponsored by The Tarantula Collective). You'll find info about how to create communals, husbandry and care for the M. balfouri, the habitat of the M. balfouri, and several experiences M. balfouri owners. There are also some amazing interviews, artists, and photographs in this issue from the wider tarantula community!
The latest issue of The Spinnerette, our tarantula magazine, is out!!! Big thank you to @thetarantulacollective for sponsoring this issue!
We hope you love it! Spidey and Blinky are very proud and couldn’t wait to show you :3
Tarantula Keeping Hacks! Save money, save time, and avoid frustration! Learn the tips I had to figure out the hard way and make life a little easier on yourself.
Endemic Location: Northern Venezuela, Paraguana region
Body Length: 2.75” (7cm)
Diagonal Leg Span (DLS): 6.25” (16cm)
Urticating Hairs: Yes Type III and IV
Growth Rate: medium
Life Expectancy: Females 14 years / Males 4 years
Recommended Experience Level: Beginner
The Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens. Also known as the Green Bottle Blue Tarantula or the GBB. This is a New World, semi-arboreal tarantula that comes from Northern Venezuela, Paraguana region. They are considered to have a medium growth rate and reach a leg span from 4.5-6 in when full grown. Males of this species only live 3 or 4 years but the females can live up to as long as 14 years. These T’s have mild venom and urticating hairs that they wont hesitate to kick if they feel threatened or disturbed. This is a wonderful tarantula, as mine stays out on display most of the time, are gorgeous, and enjoyable to watch. Even though they usually appear docile, they can be very skittish and bolt very quickly. Mine are prone to kick hairs and then quickly dive into their burrows anytime I am spot cleaning their enclosures or adding some water to their dish. This is not a tarantula I would suggest trying to handle. They have an amazing feeding response and quickly pounce and take down prey as soon as it is offered. Like most tarantulas, they will refuse food when in pre-molt. So if your GBB is refusing to eat for weeks or months and is spending a lot of time hiding in its burrow, don’t worry. It is probably in pre-molt and will come back out with a voracious appetite after it molts.
This species is also a very heavy webber and will make a series of intricate tunnels and web up most of its enclosure over time. As mentioned before, these are semi- arboreal T’’s meaning they are both ground and tree dwelling. I set up my GBB enclosures by filling the enclosure about halfway up with substrate (as I have noticed mine sometimes will burrow a little, especially as slings and juveniles) provide a cork bark hide like I would for a terrestrial, and then I add long pieces of cork bark, or branches, and some hanging plants to give the T some anchor points for its webbing and some things it can easily climb vertically. The Green Bottle Blue prefers an arid environment which makes their husbandry very easy. Keep the substrate dry and the water dish full and this T will thrive. Like most tarantulas, this T is fine being kept at room temperature, if you are comfortable, they are comfortable.
Check out the entire care sheet here:
Scientific Name: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens Common Name: Green Bottle Blue, GBB Type: Terrestrial / Semi- Arboreal Category: New World
The Trinidad Dwarf Tarantula (Cyricosmus elegans) is a New World terrestrial tarantula that come from the tropical climates of Trinidad, Tobago, and Venezuela. Being a dwarf tarantula, this species only grows to 2 inches with most males only being half that size. These tarantulas only live about 7 years as females and only around 2 years as males. Their care and husbandry is very easy and this entire genus tarantula has some of the most striking colors and patterns of tarantula in the entire world.
Scientific Name: Cyricosmus elegans Common Name:Trinidad Dwarf Type: Terrestrial Category: New World Endemic Location: Trinidad, Tobago
A fascinating aspect about the Tailless Whip Scorpion is that they can recognize their own young and know if a baby Whip scorpion is there offspring or not. Even though this species can be cannibalistic as adults, while young they live communally very well. Once they mature they will all wander off in different directions before getting territorial and aggressive with each other. With over 150+ species of Tailless Whip Scorpionz described so far, you can find them all over the world in areas where the conditions are ideal!
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Scientific Name: Damon variegatus / diadema Common Name: Tanzanian Giant Tailless Whipscorpion, Tanzanian Tailless Whipscorpion, and Giant
Lasiodora parahybana, known in the hobby as the Salmon Pink Birdeater is a New World Terrestrial Tarantula endemic to North Easter Brazil. This species is argued to be the 3rd or 4th largest tarantula in the world growing anywhere from 9-11 inches with most only being about 8-9”. The Salmon Pink Birdeater is a very fast growing tarantula and can reach adult sizes in as little as 2 years and have a lifespan up the about 15 years. Females can produce sacs that have anywhere between 1200-3000 eggs. Though this tarantula is large, its venom is not known to be medically significant, so the fangs would be potentially more painful than the venom. This species does possess urticating hairs , like most New World tarantulas, and I find this species hairs to nearly as uncomfortable as the T. blondi or Brachypelma boehmi.
This is a large, hardy, and beautiful tarantula that stays out on display most of the time as an adult. They are not aggressive or defensive, but I would not suggest trying to handle this species for a few different reasons. The first reason being that they have nasty urticating hairs that would be misreable to deal with if they kicked them on you or the even just brushed off onto your skin. The second and probably most important reason is that this T is so large as an adult that if you were to handle it and accidentally dropped it from almost any height, it could be fatal to your T. Even being as steady and careful as possible, tarantulas are prone to suddenly burst in movement for short distances when startled of when they preceive a threat and it isnt something you would be able to react to fast enough to keep the T safe. So handle at your own risk and at your T’s possible peril. This is another great staple in the hobby and the Salmon Pink Birdeater is usualy wideley available and affordable.
Find out more information and see some footage if this tarantula by watching my YouTube video featuring this species!
Scientific Name: Lasiodora Parahybana Common Name: Brazilian Salmon Pink Birdeater Tarantula Type: Terrestrial Category: New World Endem
Do you handle you tarantulas? Want to know the pros and cons of handling and what my top 10 tarantula species to handle are? Check out the latest episode of Tarantula Tuesday!
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