I've got that familiar itch for a new tarantula that I know just about everyone can relate too. I have plenty but looking for something different, larger then 5 inches in length or diagonal leg span. The A. genic Is interesting because of it's size at maturity but not sure I will like the dull black and white coloring. The B. smith to my understanding will get 5-6" at maturity but the urticating hairs they tend to like to kick has me hesitant, just not sure if I want to deal with it bad or not. I already have 2 G. pulchra that I do want more of but not sure at this time, kind of blows the something different off the list. I don't want any more arboreals, prefer terrestrials that like to be busy doing something. I have a G. porteri MF that is digging a meteor type crater, an A. hentzi MF that is digging a burrow that she doesn't want to end in length anytime soon..lol. The G. pulchras have been quite entertaining too. To sum it up I want size plus lots of activity with little hiding or being skiddish. One of the above or is there another I am not thinking of? I have ruled out G. pulchripes.
Hard decision- A. genic, B. smithi or more G. pulchras?
- Thread starter Zigana
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Poec54
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You need a genic. Period.
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Seconded. Everyone needs a living trashcan for crickets and other feeder insects rejected by your other eight-legged wards.
I must've misheard the OP because I swear I've heard him calling AG's coloring dull.
Oh, and did we mention they tend to be rather feisty for a NW, complete with tendency to leap at prey? Yes, leap.
Poec54
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+1. Certainly not dull. Vivid contrasts.
Regarding color I was silently comparing to the G. pulchras jet black color. I should had explained, sorry about that. I may be wrong so just to clear this up for me is the A. genic as dark black as the G. pulchra?
So far the A. genic seems like a very interesting tarantula.
So far the A. genic seems like a very interesting tarantula.
LythSalicaria
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A. genic, without a doubt. They can be notorious hair-kickers, but they make up for it with how entertaining they can be. Most of my specimens love to redecorate their enclosures, they can be feisty little devils, and A. genics in particular start showing their colors very early from my experience. Mine are already showing their leg stripes and some red coloration - one is still under an inch, the other just molted out to approximately 1 inch a few days ago.
And might I suggest a different Acanthoscurria species? Acanthoscurria ferina tend to get overlooked because they're not brilliantly colored like other members of the genus, but I enjoy my A. ferina very much. Mine re-decorates every night - seeing how the enclosure has been rearranged over the night is one of my favorite things about checking on my Ts.
They can be a bit more on the timid side, but as long as you're quiet and don't shine any lights directly on them you'll have no problems observing them outside their burrow. Also, from my experience, they can grow like weeds. Mine's gone from 3/4" to nearly 2 inches in approximately 3 months, no power-feeding.
And might I suggest a different Acanthoscurria species? Acanthoscurria ferina tend to get overlooked because they're not brilliantly colored like other members of the genus, but I enjoy my A. ferina very much. Mine re-decorates every night - seeing how the enclosure has been rearranged over the night is one of my favorite things about checking on my Ts.
They can be a bit more on the timid side, but as long as you're quiet and don't shine any lights directly on them you'll have no problems observing them outside their burrow. Also, from my experience, they can grow like weeds. Mine's gone from 3/4" to nearly 2 inches in approximately 3 months, no power-feeding.
Ghost Dragon
Arachnopeon
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Although I don't own one personally, an A. genic might be the right one you're looking for.
Have you thought about an LP? They get to be huge (mine is closing in on 9 inches), and she is always out moving around. On the minus side, I wouldn't exactly call her 'skittish'. 'Grouchy' is a better adjective to use.
Have you thought about an LP? They get to be huge (mine is closing in on 9 inches), and she is always out moving around. On the minus side, I wouldn't exactly call her 'skittish'. 'Grouchy' is a better adjective to use.
skippydude
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Save money on shipping and get all three.:biggrin:
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A genics have urticating hairs, too. As do nearly all NW terrestrials.
LythSalicaria
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I've heard horror stories about A. genic hair as well, so you might want to avoid the genus entirely.
(sigh) Is there anything else that gets large that doesn't have bad hairs? I have had a male A. hentzi tarantula kick hairs at me on occassion which the hairs weren't that bad so wasn't a big deal. Mild itching and the hairs were easy to remove it seems, the itchy feeling stopped immediately.
The one I ruled out, the G. pulchripes, is the only one that comes to mind that would be large with possibly milder hairs. I may decide to put it back on the list if there is nothing else.
The one I ruled out, the G. pulchripes, is the only one that comes to mind that would be large with possibly milder hairs. I may decide to put it back on the list if there is nothing else.
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The
Have you thought about Pamphobeteus genus some of those get pretty big and can match the best of them for appetite, only thing im not sure about is how mild/bad the hairs are
Poec54
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+1. Pamphos deserve a spot in most collections. Hard not to like them.
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I just got a juvenile genic and she is quickly becoming one of my favourites. she is much much more active and entertaining than my juvenile B. smithi. She does kick a lot of hair but her constant redecorating far outweighs the hair nuisance. Her personality is comparable to my juvenile L. p female but the genic is a bit faster and more skittish. Her colors are far from being dull just because there is no orange. The black and white bands are very striking and I find her to be a very pretty spider. If you have to choose between a smithi and a genic, go with the genic.
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reading glasses?
Lol poec, he mentioned Pamphobeteus, not Psalmopeous...hahaha Close...but you're way off
I agree that genic is anything but boring looking, I think they look quite spectacular actually.
As for worrying about the hairs, just keep your face out and don't mess with them or handle and you generally won't have issues with those hairs. I have yet to see my B. smithi flick any hairs, even when I am doing spot cleaning right next to it. Actually every one of my t's have full abdomens of hairs as I am quite hands off. The Pamphobeteus is quick and more inclined to scurry away than flick IME. I think the worry many have concerning the hairs is quite overrated with the majority of species.
Lol poec, he mentioned Pamphobeteus, not Psalmopeous...hahaha Close...but you're way off
I agree that genic is anything but boring looking, I think they look quite spectacular actually.
As for worrying about the hairs, just keep your face out and don't mess with them or handle and you generally won't have issues with those hairs. I have yet to see my B. smithi flick any hairs, even when I am doing spot cleaning right next to it. Actually every one of my t's have full abdomens of hairs as I am quite hands off. The Pamphobeteus is quick and more inclined to scurry away than flick IME. I think the worry many have concerning the hairs is quite overrated with the majority of species.
Lol I saw this and wanted to correct but figured he'd notice.Lol poec, he mentioned Pamphobeteus, not Psalmopeous...hahaha Close...but you're way off
Agreed. To the OP, if you take a "hands off" approach you shouldn't have to worry about hairs. With mine you have to really annoy to make them flick hair. I only see a problem when rehousing. As far as the original post, those three are quite different Ts. But if you are looking for a large pretty T I suggest the A. genic also, especially if you already have a G. pulchra. Nhandu might be one you consider. Real lookers, good size, good appetite, affordable and readily available.
At this moment Paul at pet center has Acanthoscurria slings on sale for $8 and $9.50. You could grab a couple at that price to ensure a female.
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Like cold said reading glasses or tiredness is creeping in. Either way you almost made me choke on my coffee with laughter poec