Hapalopus sp columbia lg.

[MassExodus]

I have six pumpkin patch slings I got a month ago or so...maybe two months? I had heard stories about how fast they were, and that they were little escape artists that liked to run, but I haven't had any issues, I guess because they've been busy building web tunnels and burrows, and eating...a lot. These guys have the appetite and behavior of GBB slings, only they're much faster. I'm very pleased with them, they've each molted at least once, some twice now, they're all fat and brightly colored. I just fed them all and two of them decided to make a break for it. I heard someone compare them to a wolf spider because of their speed. I think it's pretty accurate. They didn't get far but man, be aware if you decide to get one, they can be very fast and unpredictable, and they seem to have an attraction to the outside world when you open their enclosure. Lovely spiders though, and they're very bold about coming out of their constructions and exploring their environment. I was going to take pics when I was feeding them but they encouraged me to keep both hands free I'm going to give these guys a bunch of green plants when they're adults, I guarantee they'll make haunted forests as well as my GBBs do. I love webbed up enclosures and good eaters, and they are stunning after a molt. I think this is going to be one of my favorite species. But rambling aside, the purpose of this post was the warning, the stories are true, use caution unless you want to lose a gorgeous little spider. A little clearance between the top of the substrate and the top of the enclosure is recommended, it will give you a little more reaction time when they get that urge to burn rubber.

 

[Meludox]

I LOVE my pumpkin patch sling. Just got her a few weeks ago and she was a handful right from the moment that I unpacked her, was biting (and holding onto) my paintbrush and flicked quite a few hairs. An angry little bugger. I haven't had an escape attempts yet, however.

 

[Tomoran]

Not rambling at all! I love to hear this species getting some love. They are unique tarantulas both physically and behaviorally. Love the burrowing and webbing, and the feeding response is excellent. As slings, mine would literally climb to the tops of their burrows and wait when I opened their enclosures to feed them. I had to be extra careful to avoid potential escapes. Now as adults, they are even more frisky, often trying to run out with little warning. I agree, a bit of extra space between the sub and the top of the enclosure is a great idea.

 

[Kymura]

I've got only the one sling, and it's such a pretty little thing, even tiny as she is,
had only one escape attempt, she ran up my tongs to my hand when I was taking out her trash,
naturally I froze so she wouldn't fall, then the little brat sat on my hand and threatened me!
shes tiny but ready to take on the world.
Laughed till I almost cried, seriously would love to have a couple more,
huge attitude (mostly bluff) pretty and interesting, what else could you ask for?

 

[MassExodus]

I've got only the one sling, and it's such a pretty little thing, even tiny as she is,
had only one escape attempt, she ran up my tongs to my hand when I was taking out her trash,
naturally I froze so she wouldn't fall, then the little brat sat on my hand and threatened me!
shes tiny but ready to take on the world.
Laughed till I almost cried, seriously would love to have a couple more,
huge attitude (mostly bluff) pretty and interesting, what else could you ask for?

Lol, that's pretty cool. Mine don't pause long enough to show attitude, they just leave the area in random directions One went towards the hole in my speaker..it would have sucked to take my woofer apart to get him out -.-

 

[RedCapTrio]

Ramble away, it's such a good thing to hear such stories...

 

[TabithasMom]

Yep. Mine was my first escapee during its initial transfer. They are quick, so don't blink! I'm lucky Bill was with me during the process (I usually do this stuff by myself), and with ninja-like reflexes, and a deli cup, he was able to contain the little brat. They are fun!

 

[kormath]

I just got the Lemon Patch sp. yesterday. He was calm until i housed him, then anytime you go near the enclosure he's climbing the wall waiting for it to be opened. This is one i'll be feeding with help for containment of escape. I love how these have adult colors so small!

 

[SasyStace]

I just got the Lemon Patch sp. yesterday. He was calm until i housed him, then anytime you go near the enclosure he's climbing the wall waiting for it to be opened. This is one i'll be feeding with help for containment of escape. I love how these have adult colors so small!

Mine was the same until it burrowed now it rarely comes out- however anytime I move the enclosure to feed she runs like hell into the deepest part of the burrow- man the Lemon patch seems to be the fastest out of all my T's I mean she is Super quick!

 

[syzygy]

Interesting to hear that this is common among this species.
A month or so ago I opened the top to ours and tossed in a cricket. It's one of those CritterKeeper ones with the hinged door on top. Typically I leave the top open and watch until the T's catch their prey because closing the top tends to put them on edge and then they are less interested in eating. Once they have their meal they seem not to care as much. Anyway, the hunt was going normally, but then the cricket somehow spooked him and he bolted. I quickly closed the top and was looking all around in his terrarium to see where he went and then saw him out of the corner of my eye about 2 ft away exploring the knick-knacks on top of our buffet. It took my wife and I 30 minutes to contain him. Every time he moved it was a sprint of a couple of feet in one direction or another and would happen in the blink of an eye. Gives me chills just thinking about it again.

 

[leaveittoweaver]

I don't own this species but a fellow enthusiast I know does and he says they are his favorite tarantula now, and he has quite a collection. I will probably get one in the future. Are they good climbers?

 

[syzygy]

Mine seems to prefer to have it's feet on the ground. I've never seen it walking on the side or top of the terrarium or even on the bark hide he has, but it certainly can climb when it wants to.

Super fun spider though. He will run full across his enclosure and tackle a cricket at full speed one time and then the next time he will stalk it like a lion hunting antelope in the savanna. And they are absolutely gorgeous.

I hate all the webbing, but still this is probably my favorite T at the moment.

 

[Enn49]

I only have an Hapalopus sp Columbia small and find it so different to your stories of the large. It burrowed as soon as I put it in its new home, digging out a huge cavern at the bottom but even though I can see right through I rarely see more than a bum. Feeding is a simple job, open container, drop cricket in and job done. I do wish I could see it though.

 

[leaveittoweaver]

Mine seems to prefer to have it's feet on the ground. I've never seen it walking on the side or top of the terrarium or even on the bark hide he has, but it certainly can climb when it wants to.

Super fun spider though. He will run full across his enclosure and tackle a cricket at full speed one time and then the next time he will stalk it like a lion hunting antelope in the savanna. And they are absolutely gorgeous.

I hate all the webbing, but still this is probably my favorite T at the moment.

why do you hate the webbing?

I'm a big fan of big webbers!

 

[syzygy]

I guess it's just an OCD thing. I like things to be neat or organized. At first I was OK with it. It somehow combined webbing with the substrate and created an above ground igloo structure with an entrance and an exit. It was amazing. Then it molted and didn't fit well in the igloo and it started adding webbing randomly here or there until it had nearly filled the habitat and you couldn't see anything...it looked like something from a horror movie.

Also there is the texture. I hate hate HATE felt and velvet....touching them is the equivalent to fingernails on a chalkboard. Spider webbing feels similar to me. Just the thought of touching it with my bare skin gives me chills.

Essentially I'm just weird.

 

[kormath]

I only have an Hapalopus sp Columbia small and find it so different to your stories of the large. It burrowed as soon as I put it in its new home, digging out a huge cavern at the bottom but even though I can see right through I rarely see more than a bum. Feeding is a simple job, open container, drop cricket in and job done. I do wish I could see it though.

Noob question time

Which is the small and which species is the large?

There's not alot of info out on these, all the links i find mostly point back to Mike's basic tarantula care sheet for the Pumpkin patch so apparently their care is the same.

I've also read one of these is called the lowlands? but i can't remember which of the 2 species it was and where i saw that

My little guy has dug his burrow and walled it off so he's another box of pet dirt for a while I didn't even get a chance to feed him yet as we gave him the night to settle in his new home and the next evening he was tunneled under. I'm hoping he'll make a hole so he can go back and forth but no luck so far. I should email Jamies and see when they molted last, it may be that time again.

 

[Meludox]

Noob question time

Which is the small and which species is the large?

There's not alot of info out on these, all the links i find mostly point back to Mike's basic tarantula care sheet for the Pumpkin patch so apparently their care is the same.

I've also read one of these is called the lowlands? but i can't remember which of the 2 species it was and where i saw that

My little guy has dug his burrow and walled it off so he's another box of pet dirt for a while I didn't even get a chance to feed him yet as we gave him the night to settle in his new home and the next evening he was tunneled under. I'm hoping he'll make a hole so he can go back and forth but no luck so far. I should email Jamies and see when they molted last, it may be that time again.

I believe that Hapalopus sp. 'Columbia' is the larger one, and Hapalopus sp. 'Klein' is the dwarf. I could be wrong on the name of the dwarf, but 'Columbia' is definitely the larger species. Like you said, there's not really much info around that clearly states which is which.

 

[kormath]

ah okay, that's where I was confused. 2 versions of "pumpkin patch" and the H. triseriatus is the lemon patch. my brain will wake up in a few days when this cold is finally gone lol.

 

[MassExodus]

The Columbia lg. was called Columbia gross originally I think. Columbia klein is the small as Meludox said. At least that's what I read.

 

[Enn49]

Noob question time

Which is the small and which species is the large?

There's not alot of info out on these, all the links i find mostly point back to Mike's basic tarantula care sheet for the Pumpkin patch so apparently their care is the same.

I've also read one of these is called the lowlands? but i can't remember which of the 2 species it was and where i saw that

My little guy has dug his burrow and walled it off so he's another box of pet dirt for a while I didn't even get a chance to feed him yet as we gave him the night to settle in his new home and the next evening he was tunneled under. I'm hoping he'll make a hole so he can go back and forth but no luck so far. I should email Jamies and see when they molted last, it may be that time again.

Only slight differences in looks but the small only grows to around 2" whereas the large gets to around 3-4". Photos courtesy of TarantulasCanada

Hapalopus sp Colombia small (or klein)

Hapalopus sp Colombia Large (or gross)