Am I ready for a Stromatopelma Calceatum?

[The Weed Man]

I been wanting to purchase a Stromatopelma Calceatum for awhile and been doing research on them. I think there a beautiful looking baboon. I have a Haplopelma Lividum and I got it as a beginner in the hobby 6 months ago to challenge myself and I never had a problem with her she's still alive and healthy and I can transfer her with out any problems. She just chills in her burrow all day so I know shes a happy T. What is your opinion? Should I wait? Am I ready?

[Amoeba]

I think if you have this question then you aren't IMO. I'd get into fast arboreals (Psalmopoeus, Tapinauchenius, Iridopelma, Poecilotheria) instead of comparing an arboreal to a pet hole.

Also when writing the binomial nomenclature you capitalize the first letter of the genus and leave the species lowercase. Ex: Stromatopelma calceatum, Haplopelma lividum. Real sticklers and scientific papers would like you to italicize it too.

[The Weed Man]

Well it's really not a pet hole if you ask me she stays in there for awhile but she comes out everyday as I see her come out at night. I think the term pet hole for H. lividum doesn't apply to all like haplofool said in one of his videos if you know who he is and I have a fast enough reaction to aviod getting bit by a very fast T and I also play it safe when it comes to old worlds. I agree with you maybe I'm not ready but I'll take your advice with other suggestions. Thanks for the cap correction on the species I never knew that but I did it because my iPhone tries to correct it when I don't caps it.

[Storm76]

How much interaction did you have with your H. lividum really? How do you feed it? That's the point in my opinion. After all, you'll have to do tank maintenance, maybe even treat her in case of sickness, rehouse her, feed her and all that.

If you can say for yourself that your H. lividum doesn't give you any trouble at all when having to interact with it...maybe. If you can't answer that with a firm "No problem" - then you're surely not ready.

Plus, asking that on here, is kinda a void question since none of us can tell if you're ready since that question alone kinda shows doubts on your end...doesn't it?

/EDIT: You will -not- be able to avoid a bite if your T decides to bite all of a sudden. That's a lightning-fast attack with no warning often from OWs...

[catfishrod69]

I have 2 adult female S. calceatum, recently hatched out over a 100 babies. These tarantulas are extremely fast. Your H. lividum is a G. rosea compared to these. In my opinion they are not any more deffensive than any Pokies, and are more willing to shy away. My females i see everyday, and then they dissapear. I have had no troubles out of either of them, but when rounding up many babies, it can be nerve wrecking. Especially since they can be across the room before your eyes have time to tell your brain what happened. I suggest starting with a Psalmopoeus or Tapinachenius. They are both very fast, arboreal, but have way milder venom. If you can handle them, you are ready for a S. cal. Being we cant control what you decide, i leave it in your hands. But i congratulate you on a fine choice. Every experienced hobbyist should have atleast one of these. Good luck.

[The Weed Man]

How much interaction did you have with your H. lividum really? How do you feed it? That's the point in my opinion. After all, you'll have to do tank maintenance, maybe even treat her in case of sickness, rehouse her, feed her and all that.

If you can say for yourself that your H. lividum doesn't give you any trouble at all when having to interact with it...maybe. If you can't answer that with a firm "No problem" - then you're surely not ready.

Plus, asking that on here, is kinda a void question since none of us can tell if you're ready since that question alone kinda shows doubts on your end...doesn't it?

/EDIT: You will -not- be able to avoid a bite if your T decides to bite all of a sudden. That's a lightning-fast attack with no warning often from OWs...

Well I do cage maintenance every month. Spray her enclosure every day. Feed her every to weeks or when she peeks out of her burrow which means shes hungry never failed not to eat when she peeks out. I don't rehouse her because she is already a 5" MF and shes in a large critter keeper with 6" of substrate and her burrows go throught her whole enclosure. She never had any kind of sickness but I know when they do have sicknesses then I look for signs that I reasearched on. Overall no problems with her. I posted because I wanted to know some opinions you know. I agree with the whole post thing it does make me look unprepared. True on the whole bite out of know where thing she attempted to run up my paint brush when I first got her and put her in her enclosure and she tried to take a nip at me more then just one strike but i avioded it but got lucky. Now I don't use a paint brush I just scoop her up with a catch cup and makes it a lot easier and safer then a paint brush. I know depending on how pissed you get them they'll bite more than once. I agree with both of you guys and I guess I should get a little more expirence with fast arboreals before getting one. Thanks to both of you guys. Really appreciate it.

---------- Post added 04-21-2012 at 01:46 PM ----------

I have 2 adult female S. calceatum, recently hatched out over a 100 babies. These tarantulas are extremely fast. Your H. lividum is a G. rosea compared to these. In my opinion they are not any more deffensive than any Pokies, and are more willing to shy away. My females i see everyday, and then they dissapear. I have had no troubles out of either of them, but when rounding up many babies, it can be nerve wrecking. Especially since they can be across the room before your eyes have time to tell your brain what happened. I suggest starting with a Psalmopoeus or Tapinachenius. They are both very fast, arboreal, but have way milder venom. If you can handle them, you are ready for a S. cal. Being we cant control what you decide, i leave it in your hands. But i congratulate you on a fine choice. Every experienced hobbyist should have atleast one of these. Good luck.

Thanks bro you gave me some more hope. I agree they are very beautiful baboons. I'll take your advice with the Psalmopoeus species because I've been also wanting a sun tiger and that will get me more prepared for a S. calceatum.

[Storm76]

Try something that was suggested by the others if you want a great arboreal

After all - it is entirely YOUR choice. I'm not gonna tell you "don't" - I'm just thinking it might be better to get something else first. Especially, since arboreals are no "pet holes" really and are more skittish than a T that's in her burrow

Like this:

I'd get into fast arboreals (Psalmopoeus, Tapinauchenius, Iridopelma, Poecilotheria) instead of comparing an arboreal to a pet hole.

Although I'd maybe rule out the Poecies, since those are OW too and bites have quite long-lasting effects...anyways. Totally your choice

[catfishrod69]

Your welcome. You wont be dissapointed with a P. irminia. They are gorgeous, and a awesome species. But look forward to that S. calceatum, they are the super arboreals in my eyes.

[Jared781]

I think if you have this question then you aren't IMO. I'd get into fast arboreals (Psalmopoeus, Tapinauchenius, Iridopelma, Poecilotheria) instead of comparing an arboreal to a pet hole.

Also when writing the binomial nomenclature you capitalize the first letter of the genus and leave the species lowercase. Ex: Stromatopelma calceatum, Haplopelma lividum. Real sticklers and scientific papers would like you to italicize it too.

your point sort of makes sense... its funny how you say hes not ready when you're just saying what you think, no one knows if he is ready or not except maybe him..! Also, you say hes not ready for that type of T yet you suggest some of the fastest Ts in the hobby???

ITS almost garunteed everyone asked the same thing right before getting an OW... Also, he has already acquired an H. lividum which is a defensive species... WHICH he had for six months, now how is that not "training"

[catfishrod69]

Those Ts might be some of the fastest in the hobby, but thier venom is alot milder. He would get great practice dealing with fast arboreals, and not run the risk of being bitten by a potent one until he is better experienced with the speed that joins it.

your point sort of makes sense... its funny how you say hes not ready when you're just saying what you think, no one knows if he is ready or not except maybe him.. he mentioned how he has a H. lividum which IS a "pet hole" species! Also, you say hes not ready for that type of T yet you suggest some of the fastest Ts in the hobby??? compared to a "pet hole"

[Storm76]

your point sort of makes sense... its funny how you say hes not ready when you're just saying what you think, no one knows if he is ready or not except maybe him.. he mentioned how he has a H. lividum which IS a "pet hole" species! Also, you say hes not ready for that type of T yet you suggest some of the fastest Ts in the hobby??? compared to a "pet hole"

Do you realize that Haplopelmas are insanely fast if they want to be, Jared? Amoeba merely pointed out, that getting one of the most potent and fastest arboreal T's in the hobby, is probably not the best idea if the T you have experience with is a burrower that usually stays in its burrow...I think you misread his post...

[zonbonzovi]

John, I've been interested in these for awhile, too, and if I recall...you have grown H. maculata as well? If you do...in your experience, are the two similar in terms of behavior? I ask because as quick as maculata can be, they also tend to hide quickly at the first disturbance and want to know if calceatum is similar in that regard...

[Jared781]

Do you realize that Haplopelmas are insanely fast if they want to be, Jared? Amoeba merely pointed out, that getting one of the most potent and fastest arboreal T's in the hobby, is probably not the best idea if the T you have experience with is a burrower that usually stays in its burrow...I think you misread his post...

im aware... YET basically every T can be insanely fast if they want to be and/or if they need to!!! :P and no i did not mis read his post! aha
the speedy Ts i have, (Psalms, and Poecis) for an example are ONLY interested in getting away and have never displayed a thread pose yet and my Poeci is 3.25"+ and from what iv heard S. calceatum stand their ground? he should get a quite defensive Terestral T for the experience gaining!

[paassatt]

im aware... YET every T can be insanely fast if they want to be!!! :P

To say that certain species (in this case, an African arboreal) aren't faster than other species such as, say for example, new world terrestrials is absurd. Every tarantula can kick it into overdrive if they want to, but that doesn't mean that certain species aren't by nature much quicker than others.

[Jared781]

To say that certain species (in this case, an African arboreal) aren't faster than other species such as, say for example, new world terrestrials is absurd. Every tarantula can kick it into overdrive if they want to, but that doesn't mean that certain species aren't by nature much quicker than others.

i never said NW Ts are faster.. i just stated basically every T can be quite fast if they need to IN general! i wasnt comparing

like come on, If a B. verdezi was "racing" a Poeci... i wouldnt bet on the Brachy'! LOL