Hi Everyone

I got a Cyclosternum fasciatum from snarf yesterday.
Beautiful specimen measuring ~8cm.
Not sure about sex yet. Will get it sexed when possible.

I usually get as much information about a species before acquiring it as possible.
But it seems that information regarding the C fasciatum is very limited.

I was able to find the following:

• New World Burrower
• Temperature: 75 to 85° F
• Humidity: Medium 75 to 80%
• Temperament: Semi-Defensive and nervous

I do not plan to handle it, but I noticed that it struck at the tongs while I was removing dead crickets from the cage.
Yes I did touch it on purpose to "test the waters"
It appeared to be able to move fast as well.
I would like to take some pics, but scared to keep the cover off due to unknowns.

What are your experiences with these species?

I fed him 2 medium crickets tonight.
Again, another ferocious eater. It killed the first one, as soon as it was dead, it went after the second one.
Awesome to see.

Picture of the not-so little one

I was just donated a 1cm sling of this so also tried to do as much research as possible.

Temperament:
Some say skittish, some say aggressive, but definitely quick when it needs to be, if your's is striking at the tongs and is also well fed, yours might just be one with a more nasty disposition than usual. BUT - People have also reported that it can be more aggressive than usual when not familiar with it's surroundings (like in your case as you just got it), they suggest giving it a good place to hide, and time to settle down and it will become one of your favourites.

Feeding: Eats very well but does not grow very big, 4.5 to 5 inches in most theinfo I have seen.

Humidity: Most reports I have read say a higher humidity is preferred, but if you read the Tarantula Keeper's Guide, it seems with most Tarantulas except the "swamp dwellers" a nice big water dish and the occasional wetting of substrate is good enough, but the more experience keepers on this site should also comment on this.

Seems that it is an opportunistic burrower, if you give it deep substrate it will not hesitate to burrow deep, but what I have read shows that a nice dark hide is enough to prevent this.

Well that's what I have found out so far.

Beautiful T you have there SynergyZA

I myself have 3 of these beauties. had a few experiences of them escaping and they are very fast. mine are about 3cm or so. Fiesty and fast for sure but a pleasure!

How are they for display spiders? Do they web up the entire enclosure or hide all the time? Because I am dying to get one of these!! :huh: