No matter what
tarantula genus or species fascinates one the
most, there is always that underlying attraction
for the large, tree-dwelling Ornamental
tarantulas of India and Sri Lanka, the
Poecilotheria. Their incredible size, magnificent
beauty, and the idea of the possibility of
maintaining a group of such splendid tarantulas
in a communal setting continues to attract both,
novices and advanced hobbyists to these
extraordinary Old World arboreals.
This genus first described by
Simon in 1885 contains some of the most beautiful
and behaviorally fascinating tarantulas in the
hobby. With capabilities of fast growth rates up
to 10 inches (25cm) in leg span, the habit of
remaining out in the open in their vivariums, and
their ease of maintenance, no wonder, everyone in
the hobby has at least one in their collection.
But, the main attraction for
myself and others is the possibility that these
Old World arboreals may be able to be housed and
maintained in communal groups from spiderlings to
adult maturity. When I first learned of this
possibility in the mid-1990’s, I was totally
taken aback by such a suggestion. I, along with
others at that time keeping tarantulas in
captivity, had always been told in the few books
and articles at that time that tarantulas were
solitary creatures that could never be maintained
in a group environment in captivity without one
becoming a prey item for the other! But, the idea
fascinated many of us and before long, we were
putting in overtime at our jobs to afford
purchasing several of these "social"
tarantulas and hurriedly, we set up the
"social" vivariums and introduced our
new oddities of the tarantula world into their
new home.
As for myself, I still had my
doubts and figured I’d let a few others try
it out and write a few articles on these
"social" tarantulas and how they fared
in each other’s company in such confines as
a cramped vivarium.
In the spring of 1996 while
visiting a friend’s pet shop, I picked up a
small magazine lying upon his desk. As I read the
contents on the front page of the first American
Tarantula Society Forum Magazine I had ever seen,
I saw an article "Social tarantulas,
Poecilotheria get together". I tore into the
magazine and greedily read the article by Robert
Bustard. Within 15 minutes of completely reading
the article for the third time, I had my friend
on the phone trying to locate me four
Poecilotheria regalis that would be housed in my
first communal vivarium! After dropping the money
on the counter at the pet shop, I hurried home to
establish my "community" tarantula
home.
Now, some four years later, after
having been swept away by the majority of
tarantula species offered in the trade at one
time or another, Aphonopelma, Brachypelma,
"Dwarf" species, Africans, Far-Eastern
species, etc… I still find myself attracted
to these beautiful Ornamentals above all others
and their unique behaviors in and out of their
communal vivariums. I firmly believe that no
other tarantula has ever had such a loyal
following in the hobby as those that maintain
them are fierce in defending the
Poecilotheria’s reign as the supreme
tarantula genus rivaled by none other!
As I write this article, I look
at the old, 55-gallon vivarium on its stand in my
dinning room and seek out the occupants that
I’ve watched grow from 1" (2.5cm)
spiderlings to 7"+ (17.5cm) adult females.
All of the original specimens are still alive and
doing well in their little "community"
except for one female that fell prey to a vicious
mouse bite on her abdomen. My first and last
lesson in using live mice as prey items for any
of my tarantulas!
The loss of "Lila" was
very sorrowful as I had watched her and the
others grow and interact in their
"world" for a thousand days and nights.
I would spend hours sometimes just watching as
they would gather upon the glass walls of their
home and touch each other gently and huddle
together in the chilled nights of Michigan’s
autumns and winters. I often wondered if they
knew she was gone for after her demise, all
became more private in their movements and for
weeks were rarely seen outside their retreats.
But, we all made it through the loss of
"Lila" and continued forth in our
observations of each other within our own
"community" vivariums.
As I sit here, I fully begin to
understand the attraction of these giant
arboreals of the monsoon forests and highlands of
India and Sri Lanka. They share with each of us
an "uniqueness" within the
Theraphosidae as this "uniqueness" is
within each of us as our personalities and
separates us from others within our group, Homo
sapiens.
I guess all in all, it really
doesn’t matter why we are attracted to these
magnificent creatures. Just that we are! And, I
know within my collection, "Sif",
"Frigga" and "Hel" will
always have a special place in my dinning room
and yes! A place in my heart and when each one
goes on to that great tree in the sky, I’ll
feel sorrow at their passing as I did when
"Lila" left our group.
|
