Hello all! I found this board a few days ago and just got access to be able to post, so that's what I'm doing .
I have been doing lots of research lately, because I want to purchase my very first tarantula, and I have decided on a Grammostola aureostriata. I have a few concerns before I actually decide to buy my tarantula: The source that I am looking at for purchase has them for $10 at 1/4" spiderlings, and $20 for 1/2" babies.
My initial idea was to buy a spiderling and raise it to adulthood, so this sounds great to me, however, I have no idea as to the death rate of the baby Ts, and I would be very upset if I were to get one and then have it die a few days after I receive it. Obviously this is a possibility, but I was wondering how large of a chance there actually is of this happening?
Another concern I have pertains to food: where am I going to get crickets small enough that a 1/4" spider can eat them? There are pet stores near me that sell crickets, but I don't even know if they come that small :?
Is there anyone that has experience with raising this particular species from spiderling size that could help me out with specific requirements about the food, as mentioned, and perhaps about any requirements as far as heating and humidity goes? I have read that the Golden Knees are sub-desert dwellers, which I assume means they don't need excess humidity, but I'm not sure if I'm going to need to place the spiderling near something warm or if I shouldn't worry overmuch about that.
Thanks for any advice!
I have been doing lots of research lately, because I want to purchase my very first tarantula, and I have decided on a Grammostola aureostriata. I have a few concerns before I actually decide to buy my tarantula: The source that I am looking at for purchase has them for $10 at 1/4" spiderlings, and $20 for 1/2" babies.
My initial idea was to buy a spiderling and raise it to adulthood, so this sounds great to me, however, I have no idea as to the death rate of the baby Ts, and I would be very upset if I were to get one and then have it die a few days after I receive it. Obviously this is a possibility, but I was wondering how large of a chance there actually is of this happening?
Another concern I have pertains to food: where am I going to get crickets small enough that a 1/4" spider can eat them? There are pet stores near me that sell crickets, but I don't even know if they come that small :?
Is there anyone that has experience with raising this particular species from spiderling size that could help me out with specific requirements about the food, as mentioned, and perhaps about any requirements as far as heating and humidity goes? I have read that the Golden Knees are sub-desert dwellers, which I assume means they don't need excess humidity, but I'm not sure if I'm going to need to place the spiderling near something warm or if I shouldn't worry overmuch about that.
Thanks for any advice!