Eupalaestrus campestratus sure makes a good beginner species as well. My female is as sweet as can be, rather timid even, but takes down feeders like a Gbb. I don't see them for sale much here either.
Honestly a mouse or rat is better for handling. Especially a rat.
This is true. Rats and mice are communal animals while hamsters are solitary animals (like almost all tarantulas) that can't be kept together. I had a hamster when I was a kid. It bit the crap out of me multiple times. Then one day it got out of its cage and chewed a hole in the guest bathroom door. Needless to say there was nothing I could do to stop the one way ticket for that hamster to new owners.
Rats are by far my favorite small mammal pets. They are smart and can be very friendly, especially if handled regularly. (I've never been bitten by a rat.) However, they should be housed in pairs, as they do better with a companion.
Most reputable breeders here wont sell you a single rat i tripped out on this before i was more aware of the rats social behavior
Theyre very prone to depression.
Same goes over here. I have kept rats for about seven or eight years. The people selling rats by themselves are either selling surplus feeders or people who just want to make quick money. They're also the reason why rats are so vulnerable to cancer, pneumonia, and have such short lifespans. Luckily there are several breeders in the Netherlands who are comitted to improve that by selective breeding.
I have both, but my blonde is still a sling. My rose hair is pretty skittish. We can hold her, but most the time opening the cage makes her run into her coconut. The blonde is cery docile. Not scared of anything.
The only thing i wish i knew about blondes before i got mine is that theyre burrowers. I havent seen mine much lately.
Hmm...I've never heard anyone recommend it on a starter T list, and I can't remember seeing it for sale, either. I'm guessing that the lack of availability is the reason why people aren't bringing it up. Thank you for the recommendation, though. If it becomes more available in the future, I'll keep it in mind.
They are up for sale and hobbyists over look this species.
In the interest of making it easier to find for people who might want to start with them, can you give us a link where they are available? I checked all my usual online breeders and couldn't find them. Thanks!
Exoskeleton Invertebrates pm me if you like.
Grammostola porteri aren't that defensive of how people make them to be. Sure they can bite like any other tarantulas, since I've dealt with all three species number #1 - Aphonopelma chalcodes "New River" is the least to get as a beginner species. Like I stated before this species has mood swings. Number #2 Grammostola porteri would be better than chalcodes, it's been years since I had a porteri try to bite. Number Grammostola sp. "Concepcion" far the best tarantula in the world as beginner species. Never had a threat pose or try to bite. Not that's is going to hurt you anyways that will make anyone go to mom and cry about it.
Y'all must be watching the channel with touchy feely Closed Captioning (CC).I love my Grammostola Pulchra, she hangs out on the couch with me and watches tv.