Anyone got one of these ?

[James Freeman]

Does anyone have a Selenocosmia crassipes (barking birdeater) ? Just wondering what their behaviour is like, burrowing, terrestrial, out on display much etc ?

[Phil Rea]

I have one I got from the Spidershop when they were first imported. I haven't seen her for ages other than the odd flash of spider at the bottom of a burrow, and the moults which she pushes out onto the surface now and again.

Definitely not a display spider

[Michael Olsinia]

Hi James

I had a male a while back, and although he did burrow, he would be out on the surface most evenings / nights.

[James Freeman]

Hmmmm, to buy or not to buy, i like my big agressive display spiders. Suppose i could just give it a good hide rather than heaps of substrate, might see it more then ! lol

[Phil Rea]

Hi James

I had a male a while back, and although he did burrow, he would be out on the surface most evenings / nights.

Mine's a female, and she's a reclusive so and so

Hmmmm, to buy or not to buy, i like my big agressive display spiders. Suppose i could just give it a good hide rather than heaps of substrate, might see it more then ! lol

I would think it would try and burrow anyway

[James Box]

you can try to coax it to burrow near the side? might not work if it webs like Haplopelma though...

i have been thinking about these too

[James Freeman]

It's typical really, a lot of the most beautiful t's are burrowers. Haplopelma cobalts look awesome, yet live under ground. WHY !

[Stephen jordan]

Lightning fast spider

Hi all, I've just had mine arrive (Selenocosmia crassipes) and in a flash it went for me and then a minute later it darted in the burrow I started for it, I expect that could be the last I see of it for a while. Nice looking spider, the speed it showed is quite something else. I havent seen any defensive behaviour from my H. lividum as yet, but this one had no qualms about lunging for me as I removed the container it arrived in from it's new home. It likes the burrow though so that is a good thing, and at least my heart is pumping at the correct pace now. No warning either for the attack so I guess it felt that it didnt have time to "bark" at me, probably very grumpy from travelling.

[michaelmckinney]

Don't have one but that common name just sounds so cool LOL.

[Stephen jordan]

It's fairly plain looking but it has a kind of velvety deep chocolate brown colour, it looked interesting. I'll try and get a few pics if it'll behave and show itself, same with my newly moulted H lividum when it decides to leave its burrow to feed. It was partly the name that attracted me to it, still amazed at how quick it moved.

[Ray Hale]

I keep a few of the Selenocomia species. They are all aggresive and like to burrow. I use a very deep substrate and let them get on with it.
Ray

[Stephen jordan]

Hi Ray, I'll be doing the same, letting it get on with it. Very fast spider and I'm glad I was 100% concentrating when I was transferring it into it's tank, now it's in it's new home it wont be disturbed much from now on.

[Jon Hall]

G'day guys,
They are terrestrial/opportunistic and as well as burrowing in the wild they are found making retreats under logs or among tree roots so give it a flower pot hide just as you would a NW terrestrial if you want to see it more often and they will be happy and content. As slings they will hide abit more, but as adults they will develop attitudes and will be very visual friendly as they become very confident T's probably due to their size.

Regards from Oz
Jon

[Stephen jordan]

Hi Jon, it seems to have settled in ok now, as I type its prowling the tank looking for food. Its started to dig in the burrow I started under a piece of bark, so it's all good! I've not been able to find much out about them in terms of humidity etc or exact habitat requirements so I dont know if you can shed some light on the matter?

[Jon Hall]

For humidity you would be looking at around 75-80% and temperature around 26C or 80F. Yes, what infomation is on the net is outdated. What many overseas keepers don't know is that Phlogius Crassipes and others of the genus will thrive in hides already provided to them such as flower pots or logs but will also burrow if given the chance and will remain quite visible as adults. As these are from Steve Nunn, they will no doubt be from the giant Kuttabul population and will readily reach 8", Steve though has a 9" specimen in his collection. They are also relatively fast growers, reaching sexual maturity in 3 years for males, and 4-5 for females.