Anyway to start with an Ornamental??

[Venomgland]

Get what you want. Just know if you get bit.. Its going to suuuuuuuck.. I wouldn't start with one. Thats just me, but I started with a T. Blondi. Probably not the best starter either, but I did quite well with it. That was before I had internet access too. I had to learn everything from books and there aren't many.

 

[Thatjoekid]

It would do so by teaching you the basics as well as certain behaviors all ts share.

I am bothered by your seeming irritation that you know people will tell you to work your way up....people do this because its the best way for the t and keeper. For example, experience with the basics, like re-housing, husbandry of these other species is literally the only way to actually be prepared. And one should already be prepared when they begin dealing with OW arboreals.

Its also frustrating that you say this, despite multiple people giving you the best, fastest route toward proper experience and you seem to have looked right past it..



My advice is the same, get a P. cambridgei. You can get a small sling cheap, or better, several...and they will eat like pigs and grow incredibly fast (same for those taps mentioned). They act very much like poecilotheria in most ways and are hands down the best teaches...and they grow so fast you will have adults in 12-14 months from a 3/4" sling. You will learn housing from sling to adult, do multiple re-houses with an increasingly large and ridiculously fast spider and probably fall in love with an entire new species you hadn't considered in the process. It will be of such a big help when you get that regalis next summer.

Psalmopoeus cambridgei

• cold blood
• Mar 11, 2017
• 7
• cambridgei psalmopoeus psalmopoeus cambridgei trinidad chevron tarantula

cam...the camster..the caminator, the cam-meister...Dr. Camenstein...Cam-a-lama-ding-dong...mass...

cam

• cold blood
• Jun 15, 2017
• 3

another juvie cam.

I agree as someone new to the hobby went from a g.Rosea for a year then to a H.Lividum for another year doing rehousing and feedings the experience that I gained from that really helped when I made the jump to arboreal T' s with a P. cambridgei and I'm really glad I did nothing really prepares you for a 7 inch spider jumping on your chest but it defiantly helped me not swipe at it and risk injury to me and or the spider.

 

[Vanessa]

I am bothered by your seeming irritation that you know people will tell you to work your way up....people do this because its the best way for the t and keeper. For example, experience with the basics, like re-housing, husbandry of these other species is literally the only way to actually be prepared. And one should already be prepared when they begin dealing with OW arboreals.
Its also frustrating that you say this, despite multiple people giving you the best, fastest route toward proper experience and you seem to have looked right past it..

^This^
These posts are exhausting and I get the impression that people are just looking for that one person to tell them to go ahead in the event that something horrible happens down the line and they can blame someone else for the consequences. Unfortunately, they are not wrong and there are people providing that - completely negating the majority of people telling him otherwise.
No matter who tells you what, who sells you what, who approves or not, who encourages or discourages - in the end it is the person in possession of the tarantula who has to take 100% responsibility for what might happen as a result of their inexperience or incompetence. Nobody else is to blame in the end - regardless of how cleverly you try to spin it.
Do what you want and stop trying to look to someone else for approval. If something goes wrong - another family companion is killed, a young child is bitten and suffers tremendously, bans are put into place where you live, a tarantula dies when it could have been easily prevented, and a myriad of other negative consequences of having an animal that you are clearly not prepared for - it's on you and nobody else to suffer the consequences. It's called being a grown up.
Sorry isn't going to cut it when you knew that what you were doing was not the right thing from the beginning.

 

[Princeoftheshadows]

It would do so by teaching you the basics as well as certain behaviors all ts share.

I am bothered by your seeming irritation that you know people will tell you to work your way up....people do this because its the best way for the t and keeper. For example, experience with the basics, like re-housing, husbandry of these other species is literally the only way to actually be prepared. And one should already be prepared when they begin dealing with OW arboreals.

Its also frustrating that you say this, despite multiple people giving you the best, fastest route toward proper experience and you seem to have looked right past it..



My advice is the same, get a P. cambridgei. You can get a small sling cheap, or better, several...and they will eat like pigs and grow incredibly fast (same for those taps mentioned). They act very much like poecilotheria in most ways and are hands down the best teaches...and they grow so fast you will have adults in 12-14 months from a 3/4" sling. You will learn housing from sling to adult, do multiple re-houses with an increasingly large and ridiculously fast spider and probably fall in love with an entire new species you hadn't considered in the process. It will be of such a big help when you get that regalis next summer.

Psalmopoeus cambridgei

• cold blood
• Mar 11, 2017
• 7
• cambridgei psalmopoeus psalmopoeus cambridgei trinidad chevron tarantula

cam...the camster..the caminator, the cam-meister...Dr. Camenstein...Cam-a-lama-ding-dong...mass...

cam

• cold blood
• Jun 15, 2017
• 3

another juvie cam.

I apologize for sounding irritated. But I have been into reptiles and have heard of this "ladder system" where someone wants some reptile (Iguna) and than everyone tells them to start with a leopard gecko, than say a bearded dragon, than say a Green anole, than say a Chinese water dragon, until they finally get that iguana. Than what's going to happen to the other species that were used as stepping stones to get to the pet they originally wanted. That's going to be a lot of mouths to feed. And I feared that's what was going on here. But I wasn''t ignoring people I was asking some dude who suggested a B.Smithi and asked him how would that help.
However I will look for a New World. Any ideas. Not a fan of the cliché Red knees, rose hairs, or curly hairs though. P. Campridgei sounds pretty cool

 

[Blue25]

I apologize for sounding irritated. But I have been into reptiles and have heard of this "ladder system" where someone wants some reptile (Iguna) and than everyone tells them to start with a leopard gecko, than say a bearded dragon, than say a Green anole, than say a Chinese water dragon, until they finally get that iguana. Than what's going to happen to the other species that were used as stepping stones to get to the pet they originally wanted. That's going to be a lot of mouths to feed. And I feared that's what was going on here. But I wasn''t ignoring people I was asking some dude who suggested a B.Smithi and asked him how would that help.
However I will look for a New World. Any ideas. Not a fan of the cliché Red knees, rose hairs, or curly hairs though. P. Campridgei sounds pretty cool

You see there is a reason there are stepping stones... each preceding animal requires more skill and knowledge to care for... the difference between a tarantula and a lizard is that a tarantula can kill your pets, and or send you to the emergency room if you get bit. If you go into tarantula ownership and start off with a OW arboreal there is a high likely hood that you will get bit, these spiders can move faster then your eye can track. No tarantula is Cliché all are beautiful animals, even some of the most experienced T owners here will agree that some of the best spiders are the ones you want to skip over... Think long and hard about your purchase before you make it.

Read @VanessaS post above also explains how jumping right to the "pretty tarantula" can have major consequences.

Bottom line is that you will get whatever you want no matter what people say on here. You just have to be ready to own up to your mistake if and when it happens.

 

[Leila]

I apologize for sounding irritated. But I have been into reptiles and have heard of this "ladder system" where someone wants some reptile (Iguna) and than everyone tells them to start with a leopard gecko, than say a bearded dragon, than say a Green anole, than say a Chinese water dragon, until they finally get that iguana. Than what's going to happen to the other species that were used as stepping stones to get to the pet they originally wanted. That's going to be a lot of mouths to feed. And I feared that's what was going on here. But I wasn''t ignoring people I was asking some dude who suggested a B.Smithi and asked him how would that help.
However I will look for a New World. Any ideas. Not a fan of the cliché Red knees, rose hairs, or curly hairs though. P. Campridgei sounds pretty cool

What is going to happen to the "stepping stone" specimens?
Well, you do have options. (1) Sell the ones of which you are not fond. (2) Keep them- because you might find that you fall in love with 'em afterall. Plus, having a variety of Ts is far more enjoyable than having only one. Tarantulas do not tend to be incredibly active; but when you have several, one of them is bound to be doing something. Hopefully. Lol.

Oh, and P. cambridgei are awesome.
Suggesting one of them as someone's first tarantula is kinda crazy to me; less crazy than suggesting a Pokie, but still... I have said this many times on this forum since I acquired my 3 Psalmopoeus species, but I will say it yet again: beware Psalmos' speed, seriously. Witnessing their swiftness in person when you are trying to rehouse one is totally different than watching some Youtube video of an experienced keeper doing the same thing. Sure, most Psalmos don't have a reputation of being defensive, but their speed is still intimidating at times.

Anywho. Best wishes with whatever species you choose to acquire. There are so many fantastic ones from which to choose!

 

[cold blood]

However I will look for a New World. Any ideas. Not a fan of the cliché Red knees, rose hairs, or curly hairs though. P. Campridgei sounds pretty cool

I was the same...totally didn't like those red knee brachy's...everyone has one...then I stumbled into a cheap one that ended up a female...I must say, its a much cooler t than I had anticipated.

As for the cams, yeah, they may just be the perfect tarantula...they have all the things people like n spades...they get large and even bulky as adult females, they grow as fast as anything, with astounding growth in the legs with every molt...they eat everything in sight, and go about it quite aggressively, often pursuing prey instead of just waiting....they're a unique and beautiful color...green is rare, very rare in tarantulas and these are the greenest of the green ones.

The one thing is that they are fast, like Leila mentioned, and if you aren't prepared, they can get away from you...But truthfully, they tend to be pretty easy going. But this is where experience comes in...for someone with some experience, they tend to be really easy, as by then you have developed methods and refined them and if you do things right they are simple to re-house and never stubborn about it...but for the under-prepared, they can end up being quite a handful.

Cams are truly a wonderful t to own, I have a roomful of ts from all over the world, cams remain one of my absolute favorites.

Another super-fast, heavy webbng NW terrestrial that would be a help (and they also grow crazy fast) would be N. incei. They're a dwarf, but they are a super t to own and their speed will definitely prepare you for fast OWs. One of the all time under-rated ts IMO...

olive

• cold blood
• Jun 2, 2017

N. incei

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I apologize for sounding irritated. But I have been into reptiles and have heard of this "ladder system" where someone wants some reptile (Iguna) and than everyone tells them to start with a leopard gecko, than say a bearded dragon, than say a Green anole, than say a Chinese water dragon, until they finally get that iguana. Than what's going to happen to the other species that were used as stepping stones to get to the pet they originally wanted.

The so called 'ladder system' is (and always was) totally ok even with T's.

Just like it's ok, one moment, if someone want to start with a 'pokie' as a first one either. Yeah no one will advise such a thing, me first.

But, let's reason for a minute, now. The very moment that an adult man (different on my book than a kid) is aware of all the unpleasant issues that can happens with wrong moves around those, so escapes, bites able to put "you" in brutal pain straight to the hospital road, issues with other people/animals living with "you", welll... what can I say... this is and remains (for someone, at least) a 'free' world.

Just for talking, eh, I'm not suggesting that nor I'm suggesting other T's. Just my two cents.

 

[Jones0911]

I have always been interested in Ornamental tarantulas (Particularly the Indian ornamental). I have been doing research and have been wondering are there any way to start with one?

At the end of the day you'll end up doing whatever you want, so all I will tell you like some others have is be ready for speed and HOT vemom.

-enclosure

-hide

-Read the bite reports on these.

- Very long tweezers

-water dish

-And come back to this board please for any/all questions regarding this T!!


Good luck!!!

 

[edesign]

Glad to hear you've decided to hold off. Seriously. Good decision. Until you see a large spider (let's say 5-6"+) teleport before your very eyes and you don't recall seeing it move it's kinda hard to believe. It will make you step back and evaluate your sanity especially when dealing with a defensive and highly venomous species. Even some of my terrestrials make me wary with how fast they can move. You can not and will not be able to react in time should one decide to take off. You will be following/chasing it or waiting until it stops to try and catch.

For a first T try an Lasiodora parahybana, cheap, eat great, grow super fast, and get huge (or a GBB, but they're not as cheap). I get the Pcam suggestions, I just find that dealing with a terrestrial as a first T simplifies things in that they tend to only run in two dimensions rather than three and arboreals will sometimes leap from wherever they're sitting, so there's that too.

Psalmopoeus and Tapinauchenius are genera that I suggest, like awie, when someone wants to work up to an arboreal OW. Both are faster than you can react so the speed factor is there and with Psalms the venom is above average so that adds some risk factor, especially if you live with other people (and you will be responsible and inform them, if you do live with anyone, of exactly what you're keeping and what it is capable of, right?). I wouldn't recommend a Psalm as a first T but if you're hellbent on something like that I can't stop ya and you could do far "worse"

Good luck with whatever you wind up with. You'll be surprised at how fast a year goes by and how much your spider(s) have grown in that time period. Pokies would be manageable as a beginner while they're slings or small juvies but their growth rate will likely allow them to become larger, bolder, and consequently more prone to standing their ground and defending rather than running for their hides faster than a newbie can likely gain experience. Some do start with them or OBTs and are fine but in general, for most people, it's not a good idea and by the time you figure it out it could be a problem in more ways than one. I had that happen with a juvie OBT that I purchased after only a few months in to the hobby back in "the day". Far above my comfort level but it may have been a good thing as I steered clear of defensive spiders for quite some time. They can be very intimidating especially when you see how fast they're capable of moving. Run out of the cage, on to you, bite a time or three, jump, and be climbing the wall on the other side of the room before you can say, "Mary Poppins!"

Let us know what ya get!

 

[miss moxie]

OP, your tone is worryingly negative. Calling B. hamorii (Red Knee), G. porteri or G. rosea (Rose Hair), and B. albopilosum (Curly Hair) cliché makes me worry you're getting into tarantulas for bragging reasons. If I had a dollar for every young man (yes it's typically teenage to barely-graduated males though of course there are exceptions) who came onto the forum wanting OW because they are "dangerous" or "cool"...

I'd have so many dollars. Look, serious T keepers aren't going to tell you "Do it! It's a great idea, nothing can go wrong!"

It's not because we think you're an idiot, or incapable, or we want to keep all the 'cool' tarantulas to ourselves. It's because we see so many of the above-mentioned newbies who pop in, want an OW, then have a disaster with them. All our hobby needs is a high profile news story of an adult P. murinus escaping and biting an unawares neighbor in an apartment building for example. Tarantulas already have a really crap reputation. I've been insulted and laughed at to my face-- by people much older than me even-- for keeping tarantulas. I've heard some dumb as hell questions from people who know nothing about tarantulas. There is just too much ignorance and fear going on. An inexperienced and overzealous beginner with an OW they can't properly care for is never something that benefits the hobby unless they learn from their choices, turn around and offer other newbies advice based on their experience.

We just want to avoid as much negative press as we can, that's all. I know it seems like beating a dead horse since you've already agreed to looking into NWs. Take your time. Your profile says you're 21, you've got loads of time ahead of you.

That said, NW Ts that you might enjoy:

• Acanthoscurria geniculata -- They get big, they're beautiful, and they have an insane feeding response. I loved watching the female I used to have hunt. They're also pretty popular and easy to find. Care is rather simple too.
• Phormictopus cancerides -- These also get big, beautiful, and have insane feeding responses. They're also pretty feisty and defensive for NWs without having the wowee zowee venom that Psalmopoeus have. Care is similar to Acanthoscurria geniculata.
• Anything Pamphobeteus -- Also big, beautiful, insane feeding responses. Can be defensive, mine were always pretty easy going. Care is similar to A. geniculata and P. cancerides.
• Anything Psalmopoeus -- Very feisty, very fast, and they're arboreals so they are decent preperation for Poecilotheria. I'd personally get something from above as a first T, then get a Psalmo as a second T if you're hell bent on throwing the ladder system to the wind.

 

[Vanessa]

However I will look for a New World. Any ideas.

Tell us a bit more about what you're looking for and we can narrow it down. Arboreal, terrestrial, webber, big, small, always visible? The number of genera appropriate for newer people is vast... let alone the number of species.
Give us a bit more of an idea of what you're looking for and we can narrow down the suggestions.
Like you, I was very reluctant to add the red and black Brachypelma to my group, but changed my mind when I got a B.hamorii in a package deal with another tarantula. I now have six different species in the genus and I have become very fond of them. They have lots of pros that I didn't realize until I actually had one.

 

[awiec]

I apologize for sounding irritated. But I have been into reptiles and have heard of this "ladder system" where someone wants some reptile (Iguna) and than everyone tells them to start with a leopard gecko, than say a bearded dragon, than say a Green anole, than say a Chinese water dragon, until they finally get that iguana. Than what's going to happen to the other species that were used as stepping stones to get to the pet they originally wanted. That's going to be a lot of mouths to feed. And I feared that's what was going on here. But I wasn''t ignoring people I was asking some dude who suggested a B.Smithi and asked him how would that help.
However I will look for a New World. Any ideas. Not a fan of the cliché Red knees, rose hairs, or curly hairs though. P. Campridgei sounds pretty cool

It may sound weird but it's easier to have several tarantulas than just one. It's easier to buy a dozen crickets a week than just one or two, plus if I have something in premolt then I have another spider that will eat the crickets. I do sympathize with you in that I also wanted something "different" as my first spider and fortunatly there are tons of genera that are easy enough to care for at your level. I personally started out with C.versicolor, I bet some people here would have advised against me getting that, and I am currently raising his offspring; trust me I get the whole wanting something interesting.

Here are my personal opinions on more "unique" NW to get as a training spider.

G.iheringi- Very large and fiesty, they act and grow more like the big tropicals than the rest of the genus. Not everyone has these as they come and go in the hobby due to periods of no males maturing ; I'm not sure if they even belong in the same genus as G.rosea and G.pulchripes.

Iridopelma- This genus is very colorful but also can be rather defensive. I have a specimen that greats me with a big threat pose with fangs out almost every time I open the cage.

Pamphobeteus- These will require a tropical environment but otherwise are a delight. They are big, bulky, are great cricket dumpsters, grow fast and have personality; they are the pure essence of a tarantula.

Phormictopus- Basically the island cousins of the above genus and they are usually a little cheaper, all the same things can be said.

Sericopelma- A more obscure tropical terrestrial but they are more sleek compared to the Pamphs and Phormics. They grow very fast and are certainly something different even if they aren't very colorful.

Thrixopelma- Probably contains some of the most ideal beginner tarantulas, most are very colorful, calm and visible. Downside is they can be difficult to find but my T.cyaneolum is the jewel of my collection.

Tapinauchenius- One of the training wheel genera. Besides T.gigas, most are smallish metallic spiders that run circles around your dream spider. Great for learning on how not to breathe while working with them and to catch an upset 4 inch spider running around your room. Been working with these longer than Poecilotheria and they still take off on me.

Psalmopoeus- The main training wheel genus. Reclusive, fast, defensive, more potent venom (for a nw) and grow fast. Basically a South American Poecilotheria and are very easy to get.

Ephebopus- Pretty reclusive genus that has attitude, (or at least mine did) and go through drastic color changes as they age.

 

[GreyPsyche]

To add to what awiec just said above me, I think having more Ts definitely adds to experience much quicker than having one T. If I were you, I'd get a P Cambridgei, a Brachypelma and possibly and Epheobus. This way you have an arboreal, terrestrial and a pet hole to learn from and you'll never get bored. You'll soon learn that dealing with the Brachy can sometimes be more fun than having to deal with the other two which can be bolts of lightening.

 

[Ungoliant]

I apologize for sounding irritated. But I have been into reptiles and have heard of this "ladder system" where someone wants some reptile (Iguna) and than everyone tells them to start with a leopard gecko, than say a bearded dragon, than say a Green anole, than say a Chinese water dragon, until they finally get that iguana. Than what's going to happen to the other species that were used as stepping stones to get to the pet they originally wanted. That's going to be a lot of mouths to feed.

One would hope that they still be enjoying and caring for those pets. (People who view animals as disposable shouldn't be getting pets anyway.)

There is also a common misconception about the ladder system, that you need to own 30 tarantulas (many of which you may not really be interested in keeping) just to prepare yourself for more challenging species. You don't have to own every single possible rung to benefit from the ladder system if you choose carefully and take the time to raise them. And each rung has options for nearly every taste, not just the "cliché Red knees, rose hairs, or curly hairs."

Also note that for tarantulas, the ladder system doesn't require nearly as much money, space, or work as a similar number of rungs might require for reptiles. So it's not as burdensome or impractical as it seems. And it really does work to prepare you for having a spider that not only looks beautiful but won't injure someone, die, or even just stress you out when it's time for maintenance and rehousing.

 

[Blue Jaye]

Op. This is my Poecilotheria subfusca lowland. A beautiful tarantula I'm sure you'll agree.

Now if you want a beautiful arboreal have a look at Caribena versicolor. My lass.

Omg your subfusca is stunningly gorgeous!!!!! The versi si also quite beautiful!!

 

[basin79]

Omg your subfusca is stunningly gorgeous!!!!! The versi si also quite beautiful!!

Aye aye meat pie. Subfusca lowland are the most beautiful pokie in my eyes.

 

[OliverWhatever]

Aye aye meat pie. Subfusca lowland are the most beautiful pokie in my eyes.

Gonna have to disagree with you there. The first place is a tie between Subfusca Highland and Ornata.

 

[basin79]

Gonna have to disagree with you there. The first place is a tie between Subfusca Highland and Ornata.

Horses for courses.

I'm sure someone else would say P.met, another P.tigrinawesseli. Nowt wrong with having a different opinion.

 

[miss moxie]

Horses for courses.

I'm sure someone else would say P.met, another P.tigrinawesseli. Nowt wrong with having a different opinion.

Aye aye meat pie. Subfusca lowland are the most beautiful pokie in my eyes.

You're right! My personal favorite is tigriniawesseli. I like metallicas, but not just the blue. YES the blue and yellow is gorgeous, don't get me wrong. But I love when they look almost black.

That said, Subfusca Lowland is definitely stunning and that purple on your girl? Heart eyes emoji.