M. balfouri Communal

[WolfSpider]

Cool @RAFREGROB: yours have made a web-house and are hanging out together too. I wonder if this is common behavior for them in captivity?

 

[Dave Jay]

I was reading some field observations about Australian Tarantulas a while back and it was reported that the slings would stay together in the females burrow and that the female would bring prey back to the burrow for the young to eat. Unfortunately this wasn't backed up by further study, purely because there were no follow up studies.
It would indicate that it's possible that in some species slings would be communal up to a certain point, and that bunching together would give them a better chance of being where the food is deposited.
Only musing of course, but it's possible that bunching together is instinctive in some species up to a certain instar/age.

 

[RAFREGROB]

I did have them in a 20x15x15cm enclosure but I thought it may be too big for them at the moment. 2 stayed together and the other 2 went off separately. I did read that this can lead to them establishing territories and could cause problems so I’ve got them in a much smaller deli tub at the moment. They seem more than happy and as you say, have made a web house and live practically on top of each other.

 

[Phil]

View attachment 34344Those 4 you sent me @Phil are getting on well together too!

That's a brilliant picture. They look awesome pal.

 

[WolfSpider]

All Ts are happy. They all live together. They share prey items. They each come out together at night. Tom Moran thinks that his communal individuals thrive more than the balfouri individuals. While I can't confirm that observation, my specimens do seem to a happy "family"

 

[Arachnoclown]

All Ts are happy. They all live together. They share prey items. They each come out together at night. Tom Moran thinks that his communal individuals thrive more than the balfouri individuals. While I can't confirm that observation, my specimens do seem to a happy "family"
View attachment 35024

I'm jealous....

 

[WolfSpider]

I'm jealous....

Hey Buddie. I know you want to get under 100 tarantulas, but you, who are so knowledgable, would be an ideal keeper to expand the hobby.

 

[octanejunkie]

All Ts are happy. They all live together. They share prey items. They each come out together at night. Tom Moran thinks that his communal individuals thrive more than the balfouri individuals. While I can't confirm that observation, my specimens do seem to a happy "family"

I wish I'd found this thread a year ago, despite my failure there, my M balfouri communal is also going very well. Epic webbing and tunnels.

I, too, frequently see a lump of spiders pressed against the glass, just like your pic

View attachment 35024

 

[WolfSpider]

I wish I'd found this thread a year ago, despite my failure there, my M balfouri communal is also going very well. Epic webbing and tunnels.

I, too, frequently see a lump of spiders pressed against the glass, just like your pic

I lost my male about 6 moths ago. Matured out and died. Interesting, he was a sex machine, but the 2 females were too immature. Mother nature knows best!!!

 

[x_raphael_xx]

I bought 1.5cm balfouri sling (Nancy Sinatra) two weeks ago, after reading through this thread I've decided to get two more, and house them together.
I'm buying from the same vender so assume they are more than likely from the same sac.

When introducing them would it be better to put all three in a bigger enclosure so they have a little personal space before 'meeting'?

Nancy is currently in a 5.5cm diam pot, but I do have a 9cm pot I can put them into.

Is it best all three go into a new environment together? Rather than the 2 new arrivals invading Nancys established burrow?

 

[octanejunkie]

Rehouse all three of them into a new enclosure together

 

[x_raphael_xx]

Rehouse all three of them into a new enclosure together

Thank you, I did think it would give them all an even footing
It's going to be fun getting them all into the same tub together.

 

[WolfSpider]

I bought 1.5cm balfouri sling (Nancy Sinatra) two weeks ago, after reading through this thread I've decided to get two more, and house them together.
I'm buying from the same vender so assume they are more than likely from the same sac.

When introducing them would it be better to put all three in a bigger enclosure so they have a little personal space before 'meeting'?

Nancy is currently in a 5.5cm diam pot, but I do have a 9cm pot I can put them into.

Is it best all three go into a new environment together? Rather than the 2 new arrivals invading Nancys established burrow?

sounds like me 3 years ago. I promise, you will never regret a balfouri communal. By far it will be your most "go to" enclosure.
I don't know what Tom M. would say, but my meager experience would suggest that they start over in a new enclosure. Good luck, mate!

 

[x_raphael_xx]

sounds like me 3 years ago. I promise, you will never regret a balfouri communal. By far it will be your most "go to" enclosure.
I don't know what Tom M. would say, but my meager experience would suggest that they start over in a new enclosure. Good luck, mate!

I think doing it sooner rather than later is best, I wouldn't want to try and start a community in a couple of years with a T who's been on his own for a while!

 

[x_raphael_xx]

We'll the two new balfouris arrived, all three have been put in a new enclosure together.
The two new ones are a little bigger than the first, so I'm a little nervous for him, but they seem to be playing nicely at the moment.

 

[x_raphael_xx]

We'll the two new balfouris arrived, all three have been put in a new enclosure together.
The two new ones are a little bigger than the first, so I'm a little nervous for him, but they seem to be playing nicely at the moment.

The Nancy Sinatras...

 

[WolfSpider]

We'll the two new balfouris arrived, all three have been put in a new enclosure together.
The two new ones are a little bigger than the first, so I'm a little nervous for him, but they seem to be playing nicely at the moment.

The Nancy Sinatras...
View attachment 59471

Good luck, sir. I suspect they will get along just fine.

 

[x_raphael_xx]

Good luck, sir. I suspect they will get along just fine.

Madame actually but thank you.

They've been running over each other, which is making me twitchy thinking they are going to strike, but so far so good.
I think I'll drop a dead cricket in tonight, in case they get hungry,

 

[octanejunkie]

I would give them more web anchor points, like a hunk of cork bark or a clump of damp moss, or both

 

[x_raphael_xx]

I would give them more web anchor points, like a hunk of cork bark or a clump of damp moss, or both

Noted, and acting on!