ID confusion

natebugman

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I bought this tarantula labeled "Thai tiger" at an lps. The supplier list gave the scientific name as Cyriopagopus paganus. After some research, I had what I believed to be either Haplopelma albostriatum or Haplopelma sp. Vietnam. Then I get it home, believing it to be an obligate burrower, and it procedes to web a nest in the top corner of the cage. Am I way off on the ID or is this a wacked out burrower? What's the deal?
 
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jayefbe

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Maybe the pet store was right. Great find either way, I'm very jealous.
 

jayefbe

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I just did a search for paganus AND longipes. There are a LOT of threads about this whole Cyriopagopus/Haplopelma longipes/longipedum/paganus/sp. Vietnam mess.
 

natebugman

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I understand that they are all very similar, but as far as I know they are all burrowers. What I don't understand is why has this one built a nest at the top of its cage?
 

curiousme

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i would definitely guess Haplopelma because of the marking on the abdomen, but it does not look like our H. sp.Vietnam at all. i couldn't venture a guess as to what it IS, but it doesn't look like H. sp.Vietnam to me.
 

natebugman

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From pictures I've seen it looks most like H. albostriatum, but I can't be sure. As for alot more substrate, how would it know if there isn't enough substrate if it hasn't even attempted to burrow?
 

seanbond

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looks like haplopelma albostriatum, very nice too!
 

curiousme

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It has 6 inches of coconut substrate. Could it be too damp?
Is it sopping wet, or just damp? If the answer is damp, then no it isn't. Haplopelmas like it a little on the humid side and dampness shouldn't be a problem.


Edited to add: You could start a little bit of a burrow yourself and guide the T to it. Ours took to a pre-started burrow immediately.
 

gvfarns

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How long have you had it? Good chance it just hasn't settled in and figured things out yet (dirt is down, duh). :)

Straight moist coco fiber doesn't tend to stick together real well in my experience. I don't keep any obligate burrowers, but you might want to look into mixing it with something else so it will retain its shape better. You'll have to ask a Haplo keeper what would improve it.
 

natebugman

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Its just damp. I started a burrow for it and placed a little hide over the top of it. It went in the hide, but not down into the burrow. Then it decided to climb the walls. I thought it was just exploring, but it built that little nest and hasn't moved from it since.
 

loxoscelesfear

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I have had an unknown Haplo "Thai tiger" for a few years. Tarantula webbing up in the corner isn't too surprising, T's do all kinds of wacked stuff. You probably don't have to start a burrow. If the substrate is right, it will be gone.
 

pandinus

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i'd let it keep the corner thing. see where that goes, could be interesting to see what sort of structure it ends up evolving into.




John
 

curiousme

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look at the feet
Do you mean the toes? Now that i look at it again, it does seem to have the toes of an arboreal and not a terrestrial, but i could be wrong.:?

If it is an arboreal, i am absolutely clueless as to what it might be........
 

jayefbe

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Well there is the whole Cyriopagopus/Haplopelma are they the same genus and could it be that a single genus has both burrowers and arboreals thing. Pretty interesting, and frustrating not knowing the answers.
 

natebugman

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Now you are trying to tell me it may be arboreal? What do the "toes" of a burrower look like? All I need to find I out is a cage 3 feet tall. Make a foot and half substrate and put some cork bark at the top and see which it chooses.
 
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