Tapinauchenius, Iridopelma and other miscellaneous questions.

[Hedgewitch]

Few questions I've been wondering about for a while, and I've been window shopping over Sven's list (I could bankrupt myself happily with it).

Either way, I know a few of you here keep taps, I know they're scatty and super fast however I'd like to know a bit more about their care and the spiders. E.g. I know they're rather small, but what sizes are we talking for say elenae? Or point me to a good site with info on them. I've heard a bit about their being very sensitive to drops in humidity, but I've heard that massively overplayed about a great many SA arboreals. And if true, is it just slings or all throughout life?

Pictures of your taps would be nice, pics of setups as well.

The same goes for Iridopelma sp. as even less information is available on them. Optimum temps and humidity? Pics and setups please

Any and all information is appreciated

There was going to be something else as well, but it's slipped my mind for the moment. I'm not intending on getting any of these spiders just at the moment, still have some things to work out with my current spiders, but I'd like some at some point, especially the taps.

Thanks guys,
Toby.

Edit: this is a pre-emptive strike against anyone who's feeling clever and is planning on posting pictures of actual taps, as in those things water comes out of... No, just no, taps = Tapinauchenius sp.

[Baldpoodle]

keep like Psalmopoeus and you will do fine.

[Hedgewitch]

Remembered my other question!

Anyone else who keeps Avicularia minatrix, have you noticed unusually long pre-moult periods, or is that just a general avic thing?

[Hedgewitch]

Anyone else?

[DannyB]

I got a T.purpureus and keep it around mid 20c, and a humidity in the 70's. Before i put the heat pads on them all, it was always out and exploring, but since i increased the heat it spends more of its time in its web.

Its a heavy webber, fast and inquisitive. Unlike my pokies which will run at the first site of a disturbance, this little guy just comes up to see whats going on lol. There suppose to be very fast, but ive not seen it yet.

I love the little thing, i think there should be more of them in the hobby. There so colourful im suprised more people dont have them really.

[Baldpoodle]

some stuff you could look up here
Tapinauchenius :: The Tarantula Bibliography :: Exotic Fauna
and here
Iridopelma :: The Tarantula Bibliography :: Exotic Fauna
some pdfs to download there too I think.

[Hedgewitch]

Originally Posted by DannyB

I got a T.purpureus and keep it around mid 20c, and a humidity in the 70's. Before i put the heat pads on them all, it was always out and exploring, but since i increased the heat it spends more of its time in its web.

Its a heavy webber, fast and inquisitive. Unlike my pokies which will run at the first site of a disturbance, this little guy just comes up to see whats going on lol. There suppose to be very fast, but ive not seen it yet.

I love the little thing, i think there should be more of them in the hobby. There so colourful im suprised more people dont have them really.

Interesting, got any pictures? What kind of a setup you got it is (ok, it's a south american arboreal... I can probably guess).

Originally Posted by Baldpoodle

some stuff you could look up here
Tapinauchenius :: The Tarantula Bibliography :: Exotic Fauna
and here
Iridopelma :: The Tarantula Bibliography :: Exotic Fauna
some pdfs to download there too I think.

Thanks, having a bit of a looksee.

[Becky]

I've kept every species of Tapinauchenius in the hobby! I reluctantly sold them when I was skint Martin R has them now, I do, however have 3 plumipes sub adults and an af gigas on an eggsac

They're very easy to keep. Just wet the sub to keep humidity up and job done! They eat loads and they are quick and they are pissy I keep Iridopelma the same and never had any probs. Not many of them about tho!

They're all gorgeous spiders. Should be more about!

[Hedgewitch]

Thanks Becky, sound pretty easy provided they don't get too dry.