Chilean Rose Hair vs Mexican Red Knee

[nazanova]

I've never posted about anything other then snakes, so seen as other people have done it, I thought I would ask you guys some questions about Tarantulas. I'm considering getting a Tarantula and the two beginners that are often thrown out there are the Mexican Red Knees & Chilean Rose Hairs, but I've such conflicting advice as to which is best.

I've heard Red Knees flick a lot more hairs but Chileans are faster and are typically more aggressive then the Red Knees, speed is an important factor to me as I don't really want a T that will bolt the first chance it gets so I would prefer a slower moving one (I don't intend to handle any T I get, strictly display animals.)

I know people will say "Join an Arachnid forum" but I believe this is the best forum for any advice regarding animals and I love the people on here so I'd rather get answers from you guys, of course eventually I would join an Arachnid forum when I do get my T, but for now I'll stay here. I would LOVE to get a Ghost Ornamental as my first T because I think they're SO spectacular but I know they are NOT for beginners AT ALL and seen as I don't know whether you can bend the "Best Beginners" rule for Arachnids like you can Snakes, I'd rather be safe then sorry.

So yes my question simply is which one is the better beginner? Considering I would like her (I will 100% getting a female) to be slow moving, as far from aggressive as naturally possible, easy to care for and isn't really "awkward"

[Mad Max]

They're both good for beginners, but in my opinion, a Red Knee would make a better display animal than a Rose Hair. Ornamentals, while fairly venomous for tarantulas, aren't very aggressive under most circumstances (at least mine weren't) but they are fast. I kept a couple as a beginner without any real incidents, however, I did have to get an Indian Ornamental to come down from the ceiling one time when I was moving her into a new cage.

Have you looked into the different types of Avicularia? They're arboreal, docile, good looking, and they don't flick hairs.

[nazanova]

They're both good for beginners, but in my opinion, a Red Knee would make a better display animal than a Rose Hair. Ornamentals, while fairly venomous for tarantulas, aren't very aggressive under most circumstances (at least mine weren't) but they are fast. I kept a couple as a beginner without any real incidents, however, I did have to get an Indian Ornamental to come down from the ceiling one time when I was moving her into a new cage.

Have you looked into the different types of Avicularia? They're arboreal, docile, good looking, and they don't flick hairs.

I'm more towards Red Knees really so that's good to hear. I wouldn't handle them at all so I don't think I'd ever get bitten (only way would be trying clean something out the cage and she comes out and decides to tag me) but do you think Ornamentals are ok to have for beginners? Or do you advise going for the Red Knees or Rose Hairs first? If you can bend the rules for "Beginner Ts" then I will most definitely get an Ornamental, Ghost or Indian.

[Mad Max]

Or do you advise going for the Red Knees or Rose Hairs first? If you can bend the rules for "Beginner Ts" then I will most definitely get an Ornamental, Ghost or Indian.

It would be irresponsible of me not to advise going with Reds or Roses first. Poecilotheria have a nasty bite and they're fast animals. That said, I enjoyed keeping my "Pokie" female very much as a beginner. I raised her up from a sling (spiderling) and ,like you, I had no interest in handling tarantulas and never put my hand in her enclosure. I spot cleaned with long utensils and only when she was in her hiding place. The times that I had to remove her from her enclosure were pretty stressful for both of us though.

Pokies are a type of spider that a person should definitely do all of their research on before buying and always remember the risk involved. Mistakes with Pokies have lead to severe pain, missed work/school, financially devastating hospital bills, and much more commonly - the death and suffering of the animals themselves.

If a beginning keeper really wanted a Pokie, I'd recommend building experience with an Avicularia (Pink Toe) first.

[nazanova]

It would be irresponsible of me not to advise going with Reds or Roses first. Poecilotheria have a nasty bite and they're fast animals. That said, I enjoyed keeping my "Pokie" female very much as a beginner. I raised her up from a sling (spiderling) and ,like you, I had no interest in handling tarantulas and never put my hand in her enclosure. I spot cleaned with long utensils and only when she was in her hiding place. The times that I had to remove her from her enclosure were pretty stressful for both of us though.

Pokies are a type of spider that a person should definitely do all of their research on before buying and always remember the risk involved. Mistakes with Pokies have lead to severe pain, missed work/school, financially devastating hospital bills, and much more commonly - the death and suffering of the animals themselves.

If a beginning keeper really wanted a Pokie, I'd recommend building experience with an Avicularia (Pink Toe) first.

Ok I think I'll just hold out on a Pokie until I've had more experience with Ts. Think I'll be going with a Red Knee but in time, I WILL be seeing a Ghost Ornamental and her enclosure kicking back In my room lol. Thanks for your help.

[Mad Max]

Thanks for your help.

I'm glad if it was. Hope you like your new spider. I think that Red Knees are very cool.

[psychocircus]

Grammostola and Brachyapelma are both good beginner choices, and if you don't intend to handle much, the flicking of hairs is rarely an issue. I am partial to grammostola pulchripes and brachypelma boehmei as display animals

[David VB]

Are you adult (or behaving like one)? Are you very interested in a pokie? Are you willing to read a lot about it? If all three were answered yes, then i would say to go for it. Buy one as a spiderling, so you can grow with it. Yes, they are very fast en the venom is more potent that that of B. smith of G. rose, but when you provide a good enclosure with some plants and a cork bark to hide in, then you'll see that when you need to work in the enclosure he or she will mostly run into it and leave you alone ;)
But anyway, you will be getting more tarantulas anyway for sure, so it doesn't really matter which one you buy now :p