Aphonopelma seemanni (Costa Rican Zebra) Husbandry Notes
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- Опубліковано 16 гру 2017
- Okay, so this was originally going to be the second video in this series, but I needed more footage for the other one. Rather than wait, I figured I'd post this one. I've had several folks ask me about the A. seemanni, so hopefully this will help!
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Yep mine enjoys rearranging everything in her enclosure. Always something new everyday
Hey, bud! Yeah, they just can't seem to settle on what their enclosures should look like. haha :)
Caught one of.mine covering its.water dish
About to order a few slings myself. As always have to check out Toms big spiders, great vid with great information, without the silly filler added on top. Even though it’s a ‘beginner species’ I always like to see what more experienced keepers have done, always something to learn. 6 years on still a great vid Tom, always appreciate the time taken to make, edit and upload these.
Thank you for taking the time to let me know that this stuff is helpful! I really appreciate it!
Just picked one up from a pet store here in Vegas. They have it on shards of tree bark, water gell in its dish and it's in a shallow to-go container... smh. They wanted $20 for it and I had to rescue the little guy. I knew you would have a video. Thanks again for all that you do Tom.
UGH. God, pet store tarantula care drives me nuts. Thanks so much!
I don't buy my T's from pet stores, it just encourages them to get another one and neglect that too
@Dick Biggles no offense intended, I'm in Glasgow and pets at home don't care for their T's properly, every time I go in for feeders there is another one, different from the last, which is housed on sand or woodchip or something bizzare that I can't identify. My personal opinion is that someone thought they were rescuing a poor T only for it to be replaced by another tarantula and left in that glass aquarium without the correct substrate for another hobbyist to come along, feel sorry for it and the cycle starts again. It's my personal opinion not professional opinion, I'm not saying all pet stores are the same.
This is an older video, but I ran across an A. Seemanni at a pet store today. She's a larger sling and I didn't know too much about them. So...what do ya do? Tom Moran!! Thank You so much for what you do for everyone. I did get her and now I feel like I know what I'm doing for her care! Thanks again Tom
Hey, Toni! Hahaha...that's awesome! This one was from a pet store, too! :) Thank you so much!
You have excellent videos on here! Probably my favorite UA-cam channel! Any time I get a new T and look up videos for husbandry your right there at the top! Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us all !!!
Thank you so much! I know that I'm not the most entertaining, but I really try to give folks the best information possible. :) Thank YOU for taking the time to comment. :)
Tom, I am knew into the hobby. I have been binging your videos, podcast and website. I am learning so much that isn't in books and a lot of channels. Thanks for what you are doing for the hobby.
Hello, Doug! Thank you so much! I'm so glad that you're finding this stuff helpful. Thank you for saying hi!
Great video Tom. I think these short husbandry videos are perfect for new keepers. Firstly, to give them a bit of information about a species they might want to buy, and then to get the basic info needed to care for it if they decide it's the right T for them.
Thanks so much! I was hoping that these would work for folks just getting into the hobby who are researching species care. I'm trying to spell it all out. :)
Another great video! I love the educational/informative aspects of your videos! As a new hobbiest I'm always looking to learn a bit more everyday! Thanks!
Thanks so much, Daniel! I enjoy doing the educational ones. :)
This exactly what im looking for...ordered this species today.its coming Wednesday, you make this hobby so much more interesting...thank you
Hey, Simon...congrats on getting one! And thanks!
Awesome video once again! My buddy just recently got one of these guys and he's new to the hobby. Im just starting to get into Aphonopelmas and didn't know thus species like to dig! My A. hentzi sling does the same thing, has 2 tunnels and I caught them digging a new one just hours ago! Also, thank you for the furrow tip in the corners, GENIUS! Ive experienced the lower level moisture issue many times and YOU PUT IT TO REST! Thanks again man!!
Hi, Joe! Great point about Aphonopelma. I have chalcodes, anax, seemanni, and hentzi, and they all burrowed a great deal. And I'm SO glad that trick worked! That trick probably saved many of my slings. :) Thanks again!
Awesome!! My girl is a very efficient at burrowing, I love what she did to her place. Thanks for vid!!
Hello, Antonio! Mines a big burrower, too. :)
I’m such a fangirl. I love going back and rewatching all of your vids. 😂
Hi, Jodi! Hahahahaha You rock...thanks!!!
Sweet video. I am so happy I watch your videos. I keep my big female in a ten gallon but thanks your past video’s I have my substrate deep enough for her to borrow. I think it’s amazing how they dig
Hey, bud! Thanks so much! Yeah, when given the opportunity, these guys will really do some digging. :)
Excellent video, Tom. Love the quickie format for specific species.
Thanks so much, Dovey! I'm really glad folks are digging these.
Hi Tom, I just wanted to say a BIG thank you for this video. You've been an inspiration. So much so that I finally weakened and started buying slings about 4 weeks ago! I've got so many! It's really addictive!!
I managed to get my A. seemanni Costa Rican brown form this morning. So chuffed. Except this is 3.5 inches and I've waited until watching your video and one other before deciding how to house it! Bit scared to be honest. *grin*
Such an informative and helpful video. Hope you're keeping well mate. Justin UK
You're most welcome! And congrats on joining the hobby! Yes, it is DEFINITELY addictive. haha No need to be scared...you'll do just fine! :)
My Seemanni is a very prolific burrower. It sure can go very deep and creates many tunnels, although all link to a single entrance. Reminds me of termite nest tunneling. Very impressive.
Mine is as well! I've actually had folks argue with me about their burrowing habits, The can build some incredible tunnels! :)
Funny you’re wearing a Ghostbusters hoodie in this specific video! I named my A. seemanni Spengler after my favorite Ghostbuster!
Hi, Gracie! Hahaha That's awesome!
Just set mine up today. It did go straight for the moisture. There also also a man-made burrow and dry substrate on the opposite side.
That's awesome, Mariah! A lot of them seem to appreciate some moisture and the ability to burrow.
The Blue form is gorgeous.
It sure is!
Thank you so much for this! This is incredibly helpful. Now I know I should buy a deeper container and provide my A. seemanni with a few more inches of substrate! Thanks for always providing such good help to those of us just starting out.
Hi, Hannah! Thanks so much! The ones I've kept have liked to burrow, but don't be alarmed if yours doesn't. If you moisten the bottom layer of substrate when you rehouse it, that sometimes encourages them to burrow. :)
Great! Thank you!
Good solid info. Just got one. I've never felt such love
Thank you so much!
This was super helpful! I got my Columbian Zebra in October and all the videos I’ve seen were for a broad number of species. Thank you!
Thanks so much, Hailey! Congrats on your Zebra...it's an awesome species. :)
I love these Ts. They are beautiful. I am a sucker for the striped legged Ts tho. They are sharp and gorgeous! Both mine have completely dug out the bottom of the enclosure (about 1.5” slings) and hang out there. They always cover their burrow entrance even when not in premolt but hang out just under the dirt and when food is dropped in they go nuts! Love the video!!!! An absolute must have in my collection for sure😍😍😍
Hi, Spider Chick! I love the striped leg ones as well. Yours sound like they have quite the personalities! :)
I’ve had the brown color form for a few months now, but the other day I was surprised to get the blue color (adult female) form as a freebie. Honestly didn’t know there was a blue color form till then.
Awesome video Tom. Hope the move and everything is going well
Congrats on finding the blue! And thanks so much!
I just bought my first one! It’s a sling rn just in a deli cup can’t wait still its gets bigger thank you for the help !!
Congrats on getting one, Niko! :)
I ordered one of these from you along with the Brazilian black. I cant wait to get it. They are so beautiful! 🕷
Congrats, Shan! :)
Hi Tom I’ve just purchased a young adult female so thank you for this video, I have an adult T albo who burrows deep so I know I probably won’t see her a lot but like you I love giving my Ts a natural set up that mimics there real habitats 👍
That's awesome, Chris! Yeah, if they show me that they like to burrow, I try to give them the space to do so.
As usuall another good vid.. good timing too as i just got an adult female a month ago. Noticed mine doesnt like to burrow at all. So i gave her a cork tube and she loves it.. as for eating shes a pig. Eats like a champ. Good stuff tom..
Thank you, Johnathan! Yeah, some are just content to sit right on top with a hide. This one lives as a fossorial. :)
Great vid Tom. Love the fact that this video had all the info in it without needing the audio. Very useful for viewing in the office when I've forgotten my headphones!!! On a related note, I was wondering if you've ever tried burying a tub/brick in the middle of your obligate burrower enclosures to a) encourage the T to make its burrow against the side of the enclosure (so you can see it - you can always fasten a removable cover over the exposed side) and b) save having to use so much substrate. I did this when I rehoused my H. gigas and it worked a treat.
Thanks so much! Yeah, I figure if people get sick of me talking, they can mute it and read. hahaha
I've used the smaller upside-down container in the larger one before, and it worked quite well. I have NOT tried the brick, though! I have to rehouse one of my H. gigas soon, and I was planning on doing something with that as those tubs of dirt get heavy! :) Glad to hear that it worked out with yours! :)
Great video Tom, very informative.
I’m currently trying to source a blue female so have been busy getting a sound knowledge base and your video is a great help.
Thank you so much, David! Good luck with finding that blue female. :)
Thanx again, for a great video. Beautiful sp. I've got 1 too, she's also blue but a little bit less than yours. Take care, Tom & Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, all the best for 2018 to you & your family. 🎅🎄🎁🎆🎇✨
Hey, Glenn! Thanks so much, bud! And a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours as well, bud! :)
Great video! Love the info.
Thank you, Briana!
I love watching your videos they are always full of great information. Your beginner videos were exactly what I needed when I decided to get my first Tarantula. I have a question though. I bought a juvenile A. Seemani a week ago and it's a very light grey color which I'm confused about because all the pictures online show them to be either brown, black or that pretty grey and blue that you have. I've been told that its definitely an A. Seemani the color has me wondering.
My huge adult (suspect female) will linger over her water dish if the cage gets dry. 4" substrate, she abandoned her hide and burrowed on the bare end of the tank and has 2 entrances. She was extremely bolty until I fattened her up. Now settled, she is extremely slow moving, hefty eater. 5-7 adult crickets a week, a few super worms. Mine does have the stripes all the way to the tibias and a blue hue. I've seen some browns not have the stripes reach all the way down the legs.
They are a stunning species, my female is also the blue colour form, she can be skittish on occasions and is out lots even though I’ve given her deep substrate, cheers for your videos Tom 👍
She sounds like a stunner! Thank you so much!
I didn't notice them being a more moisture loving species the first time around looking into them before buying. I just got mine a couple days ago and put it in a dry enclosure and it just looked stressed. Today I read that it wanted some moisture and overflowed it's water bowl and it immediately looked less stressed even with me pouring water in there. Now it's hanging out over the slowly absorbing water.
This honestly seems to vary from spider to spider. Some love the moisture; others...not so much. :)
Thanks Tom! My A. Seemani molted a few days ago , looking great.
Hey, Heinrich!!! Congrats on the molt! :) What size is yours now?
Tom Moran Sorry we don't use the Imperial system down here , 8cm diagonally with unstretched legs. Eating like a machine.
NO worries! I've gotten used to working with both. :) They really do eat great. :)
Enjoyed the tutorial my dear friend. Mine does well on the wet substrate from what I have done with him/her. Hoping it’s a female fingers crossed 🤞. Just this past weekend has buried itself off from the world. So I’m expecting a molt soon. Thanks Tom and I like your pullover lol
Hey, Michael! Great to hear from you! Yeah, I know a lot of folks keep them dry, but I've always found that they like a bit of moisture. Hopefully, you get that molt soon! :) And thanks! hahaha
Have two of them that I received this year (different months apart) one name Rosa who loves to put dirt in her water dish as well change her house up and Blossom who is new to the family that just be chilling in outside her housing.
I love how they have individual personalities. :)
@@TomsBigSpiders indeed 😂
Good video as usual, Tom. Beautiful T.
Thank you very much! :)
I just got my first T a few days ago (Avicularia Avicularia) and I loved it so much I went and bought a second T (Aphonopelma Seemanni). Your videos have been very helpful for getting their enclosures set up and caring for them. Is it okay in your opinion to have live plants in their enclosures? I've got pothos in both right now.
My "blue" seemani is a major interior designer! However, she's an incredibly picky eater. I have to really coax her to eat roaches, lol. She's one of my only Ts whom I've observed drinking from her water dish. I agree with your observations about moist substrate. Mine always rearranges her enclosure as soon as I overflow her water dish, which I do about once every 5 days or so. I love your short care vids, I'd love to see one on G pulchra or C versicolor!
Does she do any better with crickets? It's funny, as I offered mine a dubia recently, and she wasn't having any of it. hahaha. She munches the heck out of crickets, though! :) As for the moisture, they seem to be able to do fine without it, but is sure seems to me that they appreciate it. :) I'll get going on the G. pulchra and versi! :) Thanks!
Good video and merry Christmas
Thanks so much, Eric! A merry Christmas to you and yours as well! :)
Another stunning tarantula Tom 👌. Been wondering if you have an ephebopus uatuman? Would love to see a husbandry video on 1 of those 😆
Thank you, Ian! :) I do not, unfortunately, but I'll look to pick one up. :)
Thanks for the notes! Getting over fears of Ts! I have a T already & just ordered this species this going to be my 2nd one (: !
That's awesome, Giovanni! I got my first to get over my fear of spiders. :) Congrats!
Alright mate how's it going hope you have good Xmas if don't hear from you before, Great video buddy!
Hey, bud!!! Merry Christmas to you and yours as well! Hopefully, I'll have one more video to upload before the holiday! Thanks!
Great vid super top! With my Aphonos so far been pretty straightforward but can burrow so as a new keeper can be a bit of a worry when you don't see them for awhile...I have a Marksi sling and I believe an adult female Anax (used to burrow not just sits in the open). The Marksi likes to disappear n rearrange it's enclosure.
My anax did the same thing...burrowed until she hit about 3", now she sits right up on top. Yeah, I know the burrowing freaks out new hobbyists, so hopefully I save them some stress. Thanks again, bud! :)
Hey Tom, I just got an A Seemani as my first Tarantula and I absolutely LOVE having it. I chose it because of the burrows. I had a 17qt tub and I put about 6" of substrate in. Mine is about the size of yours in the video. Is there such a thing as too big for its enclosure?
Congrats! That was my second tarantula ever, and I loved him. As long as you put in enough substrate if using a cage with some height, there should be no issue with size. You just want to make sure that your spider doesn't injure itself should it climb and fall.
Thanks Tom! Just picked up one of these guys today 😊
Awesome! Congrats!
@@TomsBigSpiders thank you! Your channel is always an excellent source of information and I appreciate you 😉
@@baztrdinc.3303 Well, thank YOU for the very kind words! :)
They burrow, unless their name is Marty and gets a fully remade enclosure with 7 inches of substrate and a starter burrow. Know what happens then? We become terrestrial. Marty is my A. seemmani a hole who doesn't do what he's supposed to. He just likes to show off!
Bahahahaha. Marty sounds like an absolute trip, Chris! :)
Yes, yes he is!
Yesss i love your sweater
Hahaha. Thank you! :)
Just brought home one of these beauties today!
Congrats, Clarissa...that's awesome!
Mine is apparently a pet rock although it does eat pretty good for me
Hi, Clay! Mine is still a bit of a burrower, but I have to rehouse her soon. We'll see what happens then. :)
i have 2 of them, so this video will be good. thanks Tom
You're most welcome, bud! I'm kind of excited about doing these shorter ones. :)
I have 2. My first one grew kinda quick. My second one not so much. Absolutely beautiful Tom!
Noriv! How long did the first one take to mature? My other Aphonopelma grow soooo sloooowly, that these guys seem to grow quickly in comparison. haha Thanks, bud!
Not to sure yet. It is still a sling. That is how slow it is growing, but me second one is possible male. That being said it was not a great molt.
Tom my second one after a year is still a sub adult. and my second one has been a sling for now maybe 4 months? Also my sub adult grew quick to that stage. then dropped off and stop molting.
And at first i thought "Well fast grower maybe" Nope just stopped growing period.
Hang in there. Still sounds like decent growth for an Aphonopelma.
This is a good example of differences between individuals.
I has a starter burrow under a piece of cork bark. It covered it up and has never tried to burrow at all.
Mine has never molted in my care (about a year) but does fast periodically.
I'm unsure of the sex but I suspect female because of its size, which is around the 5-6 inches, probably closer to 6". If it were male I would think at its size it should be matured showing boxing gloves or at least that's my thoughts.
Mine also seems to prefer dry substrate and I've never seen it drink from its water dish, but I always keep a full water dish available.
So IDK maybe mine is defective. Lol!
Tom please don't take my comment as doubting what you saying yours is doing it whatever. I absolutely don't mean it that way at all. I was just throwing in my experience with this specimen I have. This is the only seemani I've ever kept and I'm just sharing what mine does.
I think it healthy as a community to share experiences and we can learn more collectively.
I'm not certain if my choice of substrate has anything to do with mine not burrowing or digging or not. I'm using a mixture of about 60% coco fiber to 40% peat moss with just a little too soil mixed in. I normally use just the 60/40 mix but for whatever reason I threw a little too soil in with this one.
Hi, Ron! I didn't take it that way at all! Although both of mine burrowed, and they burrow in the wild (I'm doing a video with Birdspidersch, as he has footage of them in the wild), some report that theirs don't burrow. I just encourage people to give them the opportunity, just in case. The same thing with moisture. Mine definitely likes it, but other report their will avoid the moisture. That's why it's always important to read your spider's behavior! :) I 100% agree with you!
That is one gorgeous t.
Thank you, efer! :)
Awesome video! I just picked up about a 4.25" seemanni female!
Congrats on your female, Jared!
What brand of topsoil do you use and where do you get it? My adults and slings won't burrow in coco fiber despite packing it down. Plus I like how visible the contrast between moist and dry soil is. I think I'm gonna switch.
I've used Scott's, Timberline, and now I use Agway. They all worked great, although the Scott's tended to have more sticks in it.
Tom - love your work! It's obvious that you care deeply about these animals. You're a great resource to those of us brand new to the hobby. Question: is it possibe to over-feed? I've found that my 5" A. seemani will take a single large cricket daily. Anything risky about that? Same question goes for G. pulchra, which I just picked up. Thanks!
Hello, Adam! I truly appreciate that! I don't believe that they can over eat. The spider will stop when it's body tells it that it's had enough to start premolt. What you MAY end up with is a much longer premolt period. I've found that the ones that fill up more quickly often stay in premolt (and fast) for longer. Hope that helps!
@@TomsBigSpiders Great info, thanks! Wasn't sure if you had covered it in a podcast. I'm slowly making my way through the episodes. Love it!!
@@AdamPride I'm not sure that I did, but I tend to forget what I've already spoken about. haha
Awesome video 👍
Thank you, Karolina! :)
As always great content, just out of curiousity, what is the substrate you are using? i am interested in trying to get some like that. I am considering blending my own as well. I have yet to find a really in depth substrate guide yet (granted I haven't looked too hard yet) Many thanks.
When I mix my own, it's usually coco fiber, peat, topsoil, and some vermiculite or shredded sphagnum moss. Lately, I've been using a lot of the Bio Dude's Terra Aranea. I think that I have a video on here somewhere where I mix up some...
@@TomsBigSpiders you have some that almost looks greyish like smashed up gravel that I thought was interesting. I liked the look. for some reason my Mexican red knee hates the substrate and will only stand on a web blanket she lays down. I will have a look for your substrate guide. I am soon hoping to get Bioactive going as well.
Great! Nice blue-ish colour.
Thank you! In the right light, she's quite blue. It's much more subtle than other blue species though. :)
Hey Tom, a few questions for you. At what point can you tell what color form it will end up being, do they have to be mature or can you tell as slings? Can you tell by looking at the parents? Can an eggsac contain slings of both color forms? Thanks!
Hello, Seven...so sorry for the delay. Usually you can tell once they start getting their adult colors (3" or so). I don't think that you can tell as slings. If the parents are blue, then you should have blue ones. I believe the blue ones are from Guatemala, so its a regional color variant. Hope that helps!
Luckily I have 2 females. And I’m waiting on 2 younger ones to see what they are going to be! They’re such beautiful species. I love your videos. They have helped me a lot with the hobby. And I have gotten really into it even tho a lot of people think I’m crazy for having tarantulas lol thank you
That's awesome, Johnny! And thank you!
Yeah, I know the people I work with all think I'm nuts. haha
Tom Moran yea it’s funny because they’ll ask me. Hey how many you have?? And I’m like over 30 tarantulas, 3 scorpions, and one snake. and still looking forward on collecting more tarantulas. Lol
I just picked one of these up at Repticon on Saturday (I am conflicted about this - seller told me it was captive-bred, but she’s about 3 in, so I feel like I should have been more skeptical). I’ve got her in an 8x8x12 with 8 inches of Biodude TerraAranea (thank you for bringing my attention to this substrate) and she climbed and huddled in the corner for several hours the first day but sometime in the night she started digging and after about 14 hours straight she hit bottom and started going sideways. She’s a machine! The best part is how she very carefully piled all the substrate she carried up against the side walls, completely blocking the cross-ventilation holes, lol. Luckily the lid has some holes as well, but considering she ignored the two walls without holes I’m wondering if she hated feeling airflow or if she is just a weirdo. The holes are drilled about 3 inches from the top, so just above the (original) substrate level. Anyway, thank you for a great video, I’ve probably watched it a dozen times haha.
Hi, Gina! Congrats on picking one up. I mean, I guess that it's possible that the seller raised her up for several years... Mine STILL does a lot of digging, so I'm thinking that she was probably a wild caught specimen as well. :( Thanks so much!
Great video Tom
Thank you! :)
I can't wait until my blue form is an adult (hopefully female). Yours is really stunning.
Thanks so much! MIne started showing some blue after about a year.
Nice Ts, and I like that hoodie. Do you know anything about Singapore Blues?
Thanks so much! I do! They're technically arboreals, but they will do quite a bit of burrowing if given some depth to their substrate. They are quite moisture dependent, so a water dish and moist substrate is a must.
Here's mine during her last rehousing: ua-cam.com/video/ZjKp8a72h_8/v-deo.html
Great video. Thank you! Question? If I provide a hide without an bottom exit, example a skull with a solid bottom... will that discourage this breed from burrowing since she essentially has a spot? I have a juvenile in a 20 gal tank with between 5" of sub and on one side and 10" on the other.
Hello! Thanks so much! :) It might adapt it as a burrow, or it might just burrow beneath it. Has yours done any burrowing yet?
Tom Moran, no but I did watch a different video you did on sling enclosures showing an example of how a "starter" burrow could be done by using the end of a paint brush. That gave me an idea to create a starter burrow for my juvie. I left her hide in but added a pc of cork bark on the other side of her viv and spooned out some soil to make a pocket. I packed the soil in so it's not loose. In the morning she was in it. Webbed all over the edge of the opening but didnt cover it or do any further digging. I guess it's a start. Haha this A Seemanni is funny. I can literally have my hands in her enclosure for 10 minutes, even touch her and she just sits there. I accidentally breath on her and she bolts like a psycho. Lol
Perfect video I’ll be getting one on Tuesday!
Thank you! And congrats! What size?
Tom Moran it will be a sling, she will be a freebie from my order. Do you ever sell or trade?
I will be getting a 1" sling of this species next week from a friend. Your videos on sling care and maintenance have been a great help. I had a male Chilean Rose T a long time ago when I was young, so he didn't live very long. Poor thing was wild caught. I'm hoping to grow this new little one and crossing my fingers for a female. I know this isn't a typical beginner T, but as I've read in the comments, it seems like offering deep substrate and a proper environment will go a long way to keeping them reasonably calm. I don't intend on handling unless for cleaning or rehousing. I think watching a baby T grow to adulthood will be fascinating. Is there any other advice you'd give me in regards to this species?
Hello, Angela! Did it arrive yet? :) My second tarantula ever was an A. seemanni. You should do fine with it. For a sling, give it some room to burrow and keep part of the substrate moist (some seem to like moisture even as they put on size). They can be fast and skittish, so I would make sure that yours has the temperament for handling before you try it. They can be slow growing, so prepare to wait a while until those adult colors start to appear. I hope that helps!
Just got an Aphonopelma seemanni this weekend. It's my first T, so I'm very anxious about husbandry.
Congrats, Aaron! Let me know if you have any questions!
Very nice, I like these short videos. I have a small(ish) seemanni juvenile too and I've completely given up on trying to decorate her box, it's just gonna end up buried in some corner. You'd think 4 entry/exit holes were enough, but apparently not.
Also your recent video on the P. rufilata made me get 3 slings :D Couldn't find any sexed juveniles so I got these 3 instead and I'll let them grow out. People seem very divided on their growth rate though, some say they're super fast even at low temps (being a highland species) others seem to say they're rather slow.
Hey, bud!!! Honestly, I like the shorter videos myself. Straight and to the point. hahahaha. I honestly thought that everyone would complain when I started doing longer ones.
Bahahahahaha. They really do dig everything up! Mine just keeps on digging and remodeling. She never seems satisfied.
And that's GREAT on the rufilata! :) I always start with sling now anyway, as they grow so fast. Mine have grown rather quickly in temps mostly in the 70s. My slowest growing Poecilotheria by far was my P. metallica. Four years and she's about 5-6" now (my rufilata is slightly smaller at just over a year).
Thanks again, bud!
Yeah, so seem to have ones that are happy to live terrestrially. Others seem to want to dig constantly. :)
what a beautiful T, I love the way the light reflects off the blue, I didn't know they came in that color, are you going to breed it? I'm sure you would have no trouble selling them. love this video and hope you have a happy holiday & new year :-)
Thank you, Maryann! If it ends up being female, I will definitely look to breed her. :)
My first ever tarantula was an A.seemanni sub adult
That's awesome, Kevin! I love the species!
I know this is an older video Tom but thanks, I just got one of these today and the information you provided was helpful. I have a quick question, how do I determine the sex? Mine is around 3 1/2 to four inches in size but the pet store said it hadn’t molted in their care so they had no idea.
Hopefully it’s not male, if it is I may only get a year or so out of it
Hello! You can try sexing it ventrally. Some folks are good at that; I'm just terrible. haha Males are pretty long lived as well, so even if you get a male, you'll likely have a few more years with it.
thank you for this video super helpful!
Thanks for taking the time to comment and say that it was helpful. :)
I really like the exo-terra cages and I can replace the mesh at the top with glass or plexiglass with holes in it so that's not a problem. I'm also going to have at least 6 inches in the back with a burrow started. I would like to know if a 12"x12"x12" would be suitable for my seemanni? They are unsexed right now so I've opted to name them Varys.
I've been buying a lot of them up lately as well, and I do the same thing with the screens. :) Is it the one that allows for a bit of extra substrate? There is one model I was eyeing that's 12x12x12 and it seems to have a higher dam for the sub. Also, are yours burrowing?
@@TomsBigSpiders yep before the cocofiber molded they had a good sized damn built up from sub they were digging up. I've replaced it with top soil since then but I dont think Varys has found their new hide yet.
Keeping my seemani in deep substrate but can never tell what's going on and worry when feeding. It's in a large critter keeper. Have you forgotten about me or just really busy??? Love my Morans very much
TINA! So sorry...Yes, we've been super busy. We have NOT forgotten about you at all! I hope all is well!
I have fallen in love with this T. I do have to get one. Love the video to!!! Again I have a question. I have heard to not let my slings burrow because I need to see them. Is this true or should I let them burrow til their hearts content. I have an E. Campestratus sling that no matter how little substrate i give her she finds a way to burrow. She's a pretty smart T. She bulldozers it til it's deep in for her. She created a web, covered in substrate over her water dish up to the top of her enclosure and cleared out a tunnel underneath the water dish all along the bottom of that side of the enclosure. Did most of that over night. She is one smart cookie. If I have to dig her out this time I'm going to cry because she is determined to burrow. What do you think?? Leave her alone or dig her back out?? Tyf the great video. God bless you
Hello, Debbie! Great question! I let all of my slings burrow. You don't have to overdo it; an inch of packed down sub is good for a tiny sling (under .5" or so). Also, I find it easier to keep the substrate moist when there is some depth. I do NOT feel that keeping them on shallow substrate so you can watch them is necessary.
My E. capestratus slings are earth moving machines! Mine have an incredibly ornate series of tunnels. What size is yours?
Tom Moran I believe she's about an inch. Yes mine is very constructive. She's done a few things above ground this time that look like little huts. That's how much substrate I gave her this past time. It's half each vermiculite and coco fiber mixture. She absolutely refuses food right now to. Never ate much to begin with. I love watching her work, packing that tiny bit of dirt in her little bity mouth is something else. She somehow got one of the rocks I had in her enclosure up on her water bowl a couple nights ago and webbed it up all the way to the top. I guess she used the rock to keep her webbing from getting wet is the only thing I can think of. But they don't seem like they would be strong enough to be pulling, tugging, and lifting rocks. She's amazing...
So will this go with the Costa Rican blue zebra as well. Aphonopelma seemanni blue form) / Costa Rican Zebra. I just got a sling and it's my 1st
Bro, I have that same hoodie! Great video.
I love that hoodie. haha Thanks, Nathan!
😢 somewhat sad news for you today Tom. First good video I notice mine does the same with substrate. Second my juvy P Regalis just went through a bad molt. When I got home from work to check on the t. Was out of the molt but sadly only has 5 legs. They are spread out seems to be moving around the enclosure ok. Hoping he/she survives until next molt. With feeding now should I kill the feeders first before giving them to him/her or tong feed. Any suggestions? My first bad molt and I kinda want the little guy to survive.
Hello, Christine! I'm so sorry to hear about your regalis. If it seems to be moving around okay, it should be fine. Although it looks scary, he/she should grow those back during the next molt. It's fascinating to watch them grow back the lost limbs. He/she should be sporting three stubby ones after the next molt. Are the pedipalps and fangs okay? I would see how it can do hunting first before resorting to prekilled. You may find that it can still move around just fine.
Tom the fangs are okay but as of right now the way it's positioned it doesn't look like it has pedipalps 😟 I don't want to really move him/her around just molted the other day I'm waiting until it hardens more to move anything around to take a good look.
Christine, keep me updated on her. If the pedipalps are gone, you'll likely have to prekill. Still, I've heard of Ts coming back healthy from even worse situations, so a good molt will do wonders for her. :)
Sorry Tom, I forgot to ask my question. Can you give me your advice? Do you feel that my vermiculite and coco fibre mixture, will be good enough for a burrowing species like this one ? It seems to dry out... and then I suppose any burrow tunnels might collapse, leaving the T buried under 5/7 inches of substrate... ?
Hello, Justin! I used that mix for years without issue. People tend to forget that they reinforce the insides of their burrows with webbing, which keeps them intact. Should something cave in, they just redig and reinforce it.
@@TomsBigSpiders Brilliant. I thought that ought to be the case but really glad you've confirmed. I'll get it rehoused this afternoon. Many, many thanks buddy!
Like the vid, just wondering if you had a form of communication besides youtube. Would like to get some info on T's
Thanks, Richard. You can reach me at tomsbigspiders@outlook.com. :)
The one in Home Alone is Chilean Rose
If you get it on HD, you can see the orange bottom. It's a seemanni (although, there has been discussion about whether or not there might be two different spiders). Check out the scene where he places the spider on Daniel Stern's face. You can see the orange. :)
I've had one for 3 months she doesn't borrow. She hides under A plastic plant. I've got critter keeper with 2 inches of substrate.
HI, Mateo! Some burrow and some don't. My big girl is currently buried. haha
Love and Hugs to you and Billie. Never can figure out when my seemani is in premolt because she stays down in her tunnel. I'm always scared to let crickets or superworms loose. What do I do?
Hi, Tina! Usually, they'll cover up the entrance to their burrows when they are in premolt.
My juvenile A. seemanni dug a big tunnel within a few days of me getting her, and I've never seen her on the surface again. (I know she's alive because I can see into her tunnels through the sides), but I'm not sure how to make her eat. Her abdomen is pretty plump though, despite only showing interest in food once every other month or less, and that's only because I've literally made a small hole into her burrow that I drop the roach into. Is it ok for her to eat that seldom, and should I just leave her alone until she opens up a hole on her own? She's one of my first tarantulas (I've only kept them for like seven months), so I don't really know what I'm doing.
What size is she? What are your temperatures? Yes, that feeding schedule is fine. They don't need to eat all that much. As long as water is available and her abdomen is plump, she should be fine. How many times has she eaten for you?
@@TomsBigSpiders I don't have an exact measurement of her full legspan, but her body from fangs to spinnerets is about 1,5 inches. My estimated legspan for her is somewhere around 2,5 to 3 inches, but my eye measurement probably isn't the most accurate. She's kept in room temperature (between 69-75 F, depending on the weather outside), and she's eaten thrice since I got her at the end of May this year. She's molted once, too, but that's surely over two-three months ago now. I water a corner of her enclosure quite well once every other week or so (the air here is extremely dry, so it doesn't stay moist for very long). Since I've never seen her above ground since I got her, I usually tilt the enclosure slightly after watering, so that a little bit of the water goes into a small section of her burrow, and she's usually keen to drink once she notices it. I also keep a water dish in the enclosure in case she does go up. Is there anything I need to change?
ua-cam.com/video/WQt8J8KopKI/v-deo.html
Somewhere towards the middle/end of this video you get a glimpse of her enclosure, in case that may be of importance. If not, feel free to ignore the link. I'm not really out to plug myself.
I managed to get lucky and found a sexed juvenile female specimen at the local specialty pet store today. She's a bit stressed due to the car ride and the immediate rehouse when I got her home (Amazon is selling these strange little flat packed acrylic enclosures that are just dirt cheap, and I figured I'd let her be my test case to see how well it holds up for slow growing terrestrial burrowers), but she seems to be happy as a clam now that she has a proper hide area and some substrate to dig in. She absolutely doesn't want anything to do with superworms, which seems to be a running theme with my spiders, so I'm relegating those to the scorpions, since they go wild for them.
Man, what a great find, Sergei! I'm so glad that she's doing well! Yeah, superworms can be hit or miss. They can also bite, so heads up!
stupid question but how do you know if your T like damp substrate or not? i got semmani n just give it slight damp every so often. but to be honest i do not know if she likes it. she got a burrow which is at the moment blocked up. which doubt she be molting i had her about 3 year never molted with me. she does go off food aswell
Hi, Lee! Not a stupid question at all! Generally, the ones that don't like it will climb the walls or stand on hides until it dries out. Also, for the burrowing species, the ones that like moisture will often burrow right down to find it. So, for example, when I rehoused my A. seemanni, I had mostly moist substrate with some dry stuff on the top. She burrowed right down to the moist level. From that point on, I assumed that she appreciated some moisture. If yours is doing well, I would just keep doing what you're doing!
@@TomsBigSpiders thank you very much
Whats the main purpose in keeping spiders in a smaller inclosure when small? Why cant you have it in a 10 gallon for it to run around in?
Hi, Kelly. Slings can be tiny and much more fragile than their adult counterparts. Therefore, it's important that the they a) are easily able to find food and b) the keeper is able to keep track of the sling. The vast majority of slings will burrow. given a 10-gallon tank, they will choose a tiny area of that to make their home in. They will still close to the burrow entrance and will not venture out to exercise or room. In the wild, being out in the open makes them easy prey. Given too much room it can be difficult for the keeper to monitor whether or not the sling is eating or not. It can also make it more difficult for the sling to find food.
For a more detailed explanation, here is a podcast I did on the topic. :) www.buzzsprout.com/admin/episodes/904636-is-it-okay-to-start-spiderlings-in-adult-enclosures
Great Video Tom easy and hardy to keep i do recommend for beginners but i have a few that are very defensive but i have a blue that is just mean she attacks everything fangs first thats the only down side to recommending them to beginners....but are great Ts
Hey, Billy! Yeah, they are usually not my first recommendation due to the fact that they are skittish and can be quite defensive. Besides that, though, they are quite good. Sounds like yours is quite sassy. :) Thanks!
Tom Moran oh yes she is quite so but she is a juvie hopefully she will calm down a bit with age and not be quite so defensive
Hi Tom I acquired a rather large Seemanni last week, I have an 10 gallon enclosure with 8" of substrate and absolutely no burrowing and minimal use of the hide. I got it from Petco so I'm assuming I t was wild caught, any suggestions on how to make this spood feel safer or will it just take more time? It is eating and using water dish 🤷
Hi, Darcy! If it's eating and using the water dish, it's doing okay. Some don't burrow, although the wild caught ones will usually dig eventually. Have you given it a starter burrow?
@@TomsBigSpiders I did under the hide, and thank you so much for getting back to me.
Ha Tom, it's Mike, great species , I also have an aphonopelma seemani 5" female blue form and I love her, she got a great personality and likes to push my hand away when I try to move her out of the way for routine maintenance.
On another note, my ephebopus cyanognathus drop her three legs finally and is doing great, eating good and moving around good.
I also wanted to tell you that I picked up a female neoholothele fasciaaiurinirga AKA the bumble bee tarantula, beautiful species that you need to aquire, anyhow have a great holiday and hope to see you at jabberwock soon and looking forward to more videos.
Mike
Hey, Mike! She sounds awesome! That's absolutely adorable.
And so glad to hear that your E. cyanognathus is doing well...that's great news! Oh my Gosh, I definitely NEED the bumble bee. I just LOVE the looks of them! You have a great holiday as well!!! We will definitely be seeing you up there soon. :)
I seem to have terrible luck with the aphonopelma species going on hunger strikes. Mine hasn't eaten in 5 months.
I had an A. chalcodes that would also fast. They come from regions that can get quite cold, so some will still stop eating when the weather changes.
Hey Tom do you know if a male juvenile A.Seemanni‘ stripes on his legs will be less vibrant then a juvenile female? I’m trying to figure out if mine is a male or female but the website I bought it from wouldn’t guarantee sex when purchased. Mine is about 3-3.5 inches and you can clearly see it’s stripes
Hi, Ryan. I had a male back in the day, and I could see the striping pretty well. I think that the stripes might be less prevalent on mature males? Of course, by that point it would be pretty obvious with the emboli.
True. I’m just gonna have to wait until it molts. Thanks Tom
Okay so I have a question mine doesn't burrow but she will make the substrate kinda like a ramp but put substrate around her water dish so it cant move it just nested in the corner is the odd behavior or considered normal?
No, that's pretty normal. Some of the ones that don't burrow will end up being bulldozers. :) I wouldn't worry. :)
Lol nice I'm new to the hobby so it was just odd seeing that thank you for the info :-D
@@SladekillerOfficial Yeah, you'll see some strange stuff if you're in the hobby for a while. haha. No problem!
Mine covers every bit of walkable area with web and dirt mix. So if I drop in a roach or a superworm and he misses is I have to pretty much move all the webbi g to find it. Then he will go and fix it that night.
Hi, Andy! Wow...a heavy webber? That's kind of cool. Mine doesn't have much webbing at all.
Mine does the same (or a similar) thing. It webs and covers that with dirt. The whole enclosure has a dirt/ web floor.