Thinking about getting a T!

[Dani33]

This would be my first and do not plan to get it for a few months, just starting to thing about it. I want something that is colourful. I don't necessarily want to handle it, more of a display animal. What do you guys recommend? I'll be buying everything from scratch, housing, everything. I was also wondering, If it's an aggressive species, how do you remove it to clean the housing? Just something I always wondered about.

[Tarcan]

Hi Dani,

First I have to point that you have the right philosophy there, Ts are not animals to be handled, they are observation animals...

There are some very good choices for you, but one that would not fail to amaze yoy would be Acanthoscurria geniculata (Brazilian Giant Whiteknee).

It is a gorgeous animal, very colourful, affordable, pretty much always on display for you to admire it, EXTREMELY VORACIOUS, grows pretty fast, gets pretty big... convinced yet... you have to go dig a few pics... and you will be out hunting one of those jewels...

I do not consider those as agressive, just don't handle them... they flick some hair, but that is pretty much how far they will go...

Transferring an agressive T is rather "simple". It is a matter of transferring it in a small countainer while you clean the terrarium. Depending on species, it can be from very easy to... you need lightning reflexes!

I could list many spiders, but I have a sweet spot for those, so this is my suggestion...

Good luck

Martin

[sapphire_moon]

I am also thinking about getting a T. And I have been recommended pink toe tarantula's and mexican red knee's........find some pics of those, they are beautiful. I am personally thinking of getting a Chilean red hair tarantula, they aren't much in the way of color, but some of them can be very pretty......They are supposed to be "docile"....If you don't care about it being docile then try a bird eater, they have some in some very very pretty colors and they are considered the largest tarantula, now I am pretty sure these are all new world tarantula's (they flick hairs that irritate your eyes and nose).......I can't think of any old world tarantula's...I just remember it saying somewhere that T's that flick hair is considered new world..

[Dani33]

Are there any website with care sheets and what not that you guys recommend? Any pics?

[Tarcan]

Here is pic of a young sub-adult female

[Tarcan]

Here is a pic of a female...

This is indeed a good species to start with, the only problem is that a female of that size will normally commend high prices...

The main reasons is that it is a slow growing species and that they are CITES protected, you need special permits to LEGALLY import them...

You probably find some cheap spiderlings, but those are very small, not necessarly very interesting for someone who is starting.

[Tarcan]

You can see pictures of Avicularia avicularia (Pinktoe) on the thread called Avicularia spp. on this forum...

Some of those avics are very rare, so look at the ones called A. avicularia...

Also a very good spider to start with...

Good luck

Martin

[sapphire_moon]

Just go to yahoo.com google.com or something like that and type in rosy hair tarantula care (or caresheets) or what ever tarantula you want. Those are some georgeous T's!

[Dani33]

Hi Martin, thanx for the info. I was looking at some pics and care sheets. I like the one that you have suggested! From some pics, I like the Cobalt Blue, Green Bottle Blue, and the Martinique Pink Toe. What do you think of these? What are reactions to bites, how bad is it? Does it vary from animal to animal? What about the hair flicking? I know some that I have mentioned are aggressive, how worried do I need to be? What are their life spans? If I do get a siderling, how can I find if it's a female? they live longer and generally more colourful right? Sorry for all the questions. This is going to be a pet and I don't plan on having lots, so, I want to make sure that I love the one I get. As you mentioned, I'll want to see it alot, hopefully! That's a big reason why I like what you have suggested. I don't want something that will hide all the time. Phew!!!!

[Tarcan]

Dani,

Phew indeed!LOL

Haplopelma lividum (cobalt blue)... poor choice. Very beautiful indeed but you will never see it, it is an obligate burrowing species. A healthy specimen is highly defensive and unpredictable. It has a potent venom, not suited as a first T.

Avicularia versicolor (Martinique Pinktoe), beautiful they are, one of the most sought after species... not a bad choice... the spiderlings have the reputation to be fragile... I never had any trouble with them... but Avic spiderlings in general are a little more touchy and could be frustrating for someone who starts with slings... finding a big specimen will prove merely impossible unless you are very lucky and expect to pay big bucks. Note that Avics web and tend to isolate in their funnels, so you do not see them all the time...

Chromatopelma cyanopubescens (Green Bottleblue)... he he he, yes and amazing spider. Extremely hardy and easy to take care of even as spiderlings... the cool thing is that slings are of completely diffrent color (very pretty) and you get to see them change as they grow... this species webs A LOT, so you might not see it as much as you would like... it is also extremely fast in terrestrial standards (not as fast as arborals) and quite nervous but I never found any of my specimens to show agressive behavior... at this time, finding some might prove to be tricky... I have seen Rob posted some mating pics... I am 100% sure one of my females is gravid as we speak, but it is a long way to a fertile eggsac with little spiderlings at this point in time...

You will not be able to sex a spiderling. It takes a lot of practice and do not trust someone that will tell you he sexed a spiderling 100% sure...

The idea with the spiderlings is that you pay less, but take a chance, more fragile, not sexed, etc.

Hair flicking... everyone has a different reaction... I react a lot ot Brachypelma spp. hair and some Avicularia spp. but not all of them. On the other side, Theraphosa apophysis is reputed to have one of the worst hair and they do not bother me! So I guess it is unique to anyone...

Reaction to bite will vary A LOT depending of species... as a general rule Asian and African species have potent venom and species from the American continent less potent (exceptions to that are Phormictopus spp. (some are common in the hobby) and Sericopelma spp. (if you find some of those, I want them!LOL) only to name a few...). It will also vary on the reaction anyone can have... we all know some people can be very ill after a bee sting... we can assume the same thing could happen with a Rosie bite... but never heard of it...

Just to reassure you, I have been keeping Ts for about ten years now and never been bitten. I have some species considered very "hot"... if you are careful and use your logic, there will be no problem...

Last, Brachypelma spp. and Grammostola spp. (Rosies are in there) tend to show themselves a lot. They are like rock in the terrarium... but they are a lot less active, they basically do not move... it is your choice between an active but more secretive T or an out in the open, I don't do anything T!

I think that A. geniculata is the best of all worlds, but you would ask 50 different enthusiasts and you would get 50 different answers... only my opinion...

Good luck

Martin

[Tarcan]

Here is a young female of mine:

[Dani33]

Your awesome!!!! Thanx for the great information and the beautiful pictures. I may have to get two!!! The Brazillian Giant Whiteknee and the Green Bottle Blue. First Thing First. The whiteknee!!! How much should I expect to pay? I would like a female. Are you a breeder?

[reverendsterlin]

let me also recomend Rick West's site rick west (http://www.birdspiders.com/main.html) especially look at his work on sexing in the FAQ section

[Dani33]

Great info. Thanx! I am a bit tired so, I'll reread it tomorrow.

[Tarcan]

Dani,

I have numerous breeding projects going for different species but not A. geniculata in the near future... one of the reason is their very prolific nature... they can lay up to 2000 eggs, that is a lot of slings to take care about...

When this species was first "imported" (you should read "smuggled" here) out of Brazil (Brazil does not allow export of it's live fauna...) in 1998, they were very expensive animals (like any new species becomming available)... but because they are easy to breed and lay huge clutches... the prices are now very affordable... spiderlings are very common, but bigger specimen are less...

A tarantula gains value as it grows and jumps in price when it is sexed as a female... do not get me wrong... males are EXTREMELY important, but only for breeders... not for someone who wants a spider or two...

That is the main reason why you can expect to pay a hatchling very cheap... anywhere from 15$ to 30$... but one has to see a A. geniculata hatchling to appreciate it's microscopic body!LOL Not really a good choice to start with and not possible to sex at that size... definetly too small...

The best choice would be a specimen that started showing good "adult" coloration (starting to be nice at around 1" of legspan). At that size they are quite something and can easily tackle crickest bigger then them... depending on exact size, expect between 30$ to about 50$...

A sexed female normally gains value... if it is guaranteed, expect to almost pay twice as much... a sub-adult female anywhere from 100$ to 150$ would be a reasonnable price... under that a bargain, more then 150$, well it always depends hgow badly you want the animal, but it would be a little high by my standards...

Then you have the HUGE monsters... I only seen one of those at one of my friend's place... well, those are rare and the person can pretty much ask what he wants for them if you find one... but not worthy, a small female will do just as well and you will have her for longer...

There are different people selling those in Canada on the net, just look it up... you can also find them in pet stores sometimes, but you will pay more and watch out for that clerk who tells you it is a sexed female!LOL

I hope this helps and good luck...

Martin

P.S.: Remember to show us the lady when you decide to get one!

[Dani33]

Thanx very much for the info. It's greatly appreciated!