Possible T Roommate?

F3lix

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 25, 2008
Messages
46
I was reading this site (http://tarantulas.tropica.ru/en/node/570), and it said that some Aphonopelma sp. would co-habit in the T's burrow with Gastrophryne olivacea to help ward off small insects, especially to help protect the eggs against ants. I have never heard of this before. Has anyone ever tried putting the 2 together in captivity? Everyone love co-habitation, so maybe I'll give this a shot with my 'New Rivers". Worst case scenario is I'm out 1 frog, and my T gets an exotic meal!

If so, do you think it would best to introduce some ants to the T to create a need, or to put them together first and just feed the frog some ants every now and then?
 

Aurelia

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
Joined
Jan 4, 2007
Messages
1,255
I'd stick with crickets if you do decide to try it....ants can do some damage. All in all though, I wouldn't even put the frog in there. What's the point?

If you want to get something that can cohabitate, get some obt slings or pokie slings from the same sac and raise them together.
 

Radamanthys

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 19, 2008
Messages
467
i think it would be an interesting experiment. some ants now and then, with some control and lets see if they cohabitate.

liked the idea :clap:
 

F3lix

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 25, 2008
Messages
46
I'd stick with crickets if you do decide to try it....ants can do some damage. All in all though, I wouldn't even put the frog in there. What's the point?

If you want to get something that can cohabitate, get some obt slings or pokie slings from the same sac and raise them together.
The point is that it would be interesting, the same way communal set-ups of obts and pokies are. Even still in those set-up there are some times losses.

I guess there could be some advantages too. For example, and mind you I'm just speculating here, what if one of the crickets I feed the T with lays some babies before she gets eaten. And say my T starts to go into molt while some pinheads start hatching, the frog could help take care of this, same thing with protecting an egg sack from other insects as well. If the frog doesn't get eaten, it can only help the T! Hell, if it does get eaten, it's still helping the T get a varied diet!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm doing this for science! And because I just plain think it would be cool.


Edit:

After some more research (http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/57815, http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/frogs/gastrophryne.olivacea.html), it looks like this species has never come in contact with an A. "New Rivers", so I guess I'm going to have to find a native Texas T as my best bet.
 
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