A. urticans

Herpetologyfrk · A. urticans

http://www.fotobank.ru/img/MP00-8933.jpg?size=l

Found this while I was googling A. urticans, I am looking forward to trying this out =D

rosenkrieger

Holy crap. just make sure you read up on feeding verts. Ive seen arguments both ways on that.

Herpetologyfrk

rosenkrieger

Yeah, I'm just saying their diet doesn't consist of a frog or lizard once or twice a month.

Herpetologyfrk

Oh, I figured that much. Although I am sure they won't pass up a meal if it comes along.

I'm not saying i'd feed like that frequently either

rosenkrieger

Yeah. Like I said, I've heard arguments both ways. Its ultimately up to you, but not something I would do.

TheJackal

Haha this reminds me of when I saw a T eating a full size mouse a few years back... Rolling Eyes

So of course I bought a mouse... and well, yeah not so much. Though I have tried small frogs with my terrestrial t's, and they work fine, but I have heard that all the calcium in the bones could cause problems during molting..

rosenkrieger

Yeah, Jackal, that's what I was talking about. Though, I suppose that it wouldn't cause any problems if done in moderation. The people that have those kind of problems are usually the ones that like to feed theirs a mouse more than once a month or so.

ftorres

Hello,

I feed my pokies and avics anoles and or pinky/hoppers at least once every 2-3 months, specially if I am trying to breed them.

Moderation is the key word. Now for some species like Xenesthis or Pamphobeteus being breed in europe, they are varying their diets with lizards and frogs, in addition to the regular roach or cricket.

Some difficult species are said to require the variety as well as a more naturalistic and bigger enclosure.

regards

francisco

Herpetologyfrk

Told you Chase! That is what Francisco, and I were talking about at the going away party at Stevens place Very Happy

ftorres

Hello All,
Chase, Nick, most Eurpean breeders are very secretive on their breeding techniques and they share only to few people.

I wish they could openly tell us their techniques, imagine what we could be doing here with those expensive and hard to get Xenesthis sp.

SOmeday we will break that barrier.

regards
francisco

Herpetologyfrk

Or instead of waiting, we can experiment for our selves. It is what I am doing with the urticans. I have to find out there diet is in the wild though.

rosenkrieger

Probably anything roughly their size or smaller that can climb. heh

balam

I think Avicularia urticans natural setting is low jungle like the one found in NE Peru, where btw I've read somewhere is the area some A. urtican imports come from.

If so, then this is what it sort of looks like:
http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/ecorregion_bosquetropical.htm

In the map:

http://www.peruecologico.com.pe/mapa_ecor_opc.html

This is a description thanks to Wiki:

The eastern portions of Peru includes the Amazon Basin or selva baja, a region that is larger in the north than in the south. Representing roughly 60% of Peru's national territory, this area includes the Amazon, Marañón, Huallaga and Ucayali Rivers. It is a vast tropical forest with countless rivers and streams. Rainfall varies from 2000 to 4000 mm per year.

Quoted text from this website: http://www.sos-childrensvillages....ru/Pages/Country-information.aspx

There are jaguars, pumas, armadillos, peccaries, anteaters, several dozen species of monkey, caimans, turtles, parrots and a variety of snakes and insects in the tropical rainforest.

-which should mean there are also lots of frogs and reptiles, I would say that if it can take it, in the wild any T will in fact catch it. That is to say, if the T is hungry it will eat what it can catch, be it frogs, lizards or rodents. A T will not stop and say, umm I don't feel like having a frog today, I'll wait for my next cricket.

After all, Peru does have a 1 cm frog Smile

(though it lives in the higher mountainous region it is still close to the low jungle where A. urticans may also live *speculation* )

http://animalesdelmisterio.blogsp...-rana-de-un-centimetro-en-la.html

and finally, here is an overall good site on the Aviculariinae page.

http://www.eightlegs.org/phpBB2/species.html#avic

Overall, I'd say the complexity of the diet in the wild when contrasted against the usual available feeders that are supplied to the T's in the hobby, has to have a tremendous effect on the overall health, growth and fertility of the T.
Diet variation should help in any breeding effort so long as (like you mentioned Chase), is not over due.

Just because they may eat an occasional mouse in the wild, it doesn't mean they should have one every month, but at the same time, crickets should never become the only food item available.

Mind you this is only my opinion and it is based on my own speculation and not necessarily in facts.

Herpetologyfrk

Thanks for all of the info Oscar Very Happy