Arachnid suggestions for beginners

[junolovesbugs]

I’ve been interested in arachnid keeping for a while now and would like to start keeping some as pets.

My main interests are tarantulas, amblypigids , jumping spiders and velvet spiders! though im fine with other arachnids being suggested.

 

[Nicole C G]

For jumping spiders, Phidippus audax maybe. They get big, and don’t have high humidity requirements (Phidippus regius is popular but isn’t as recommended for beginners due to high humidity requirements)

 

[pongdict]

for tarantulas get the Curly hair ( T albopilosus), cheap, very hardy species, easy to care for and forgiiving of newbie mistakes.

 

[PhoenixFyre]

Others you might look into are:
Grammostola pulchra
Grammostola porteri
Eupalaestrus campestratus

...to name just a few more

 

[CRX]

for tarantulas get the Curly hair ( T albopilosus), cheap, very hardy species, easy to care for and forgiviing of newbie mistakes.

Curly hair was my first T. He ended up dying, but it was out of my control. He lived hardy for several years and was perfectly handleable. The only thing I wanna add is the urticating hairs. He didn't do if often, but very occasionally he would do the leg thing and spray that sh*t around, no fun at all. And sometimes just handling them you get the hairs on you inadvertently.

But thats going to be an issue with basically beginner new world T. They all have the hairs.

 

[viper69]

Search the forum for beginner Ts

 

[junolovesbugs]

I love the Grammastola pulchura it’s one if my favorite tarantula species , I hear they’re hard to find but if I ever get the opportunity I wouldn’t hesitate to get one.

 

[me and my Ts]

I would get a T. vagans if I were you, they grow fast and have a great appetite

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

For amblypygi, Phrynus whitei is very beginner-friendly. Quite flexible in terms of conditions (can handle a wider humidity and temperature range than some other species), grow to a good size fairly quickly, need almost no maintenance after setting up their enclosure, can be kept in an inexpensive tall food container with just some substrate and a vertical piece of cork or styrofoam, fairly widely available and inexpensive, and if you set up the enclosure right they'll always be visible.
Acanthophrynus coronatus is also an incredible species that's surprisingly beginner-friendly, and VERY impressive-looking, but can be harder to get your hands on and is typically much more expensive.

 

[kingshockey]

you have plenty of great choices/options to chose from i would just browse an online sellers site. pick a random few that you like the look of and then learn all. i could about each of them and continue until i found the one that fits what i am looking for /want in a t most. thats what i did when picking out my first t warning doing it this way you will end up with an endless wish list of future spiders and ts you want to keep good luck.

 

[ForTW]

Cupiennius salei.
Lovely, beautiful, chilled and very interesting hunters. Out in the open quite frequently. Also very aviable.

 

[CRX]

Cupiennius salei.
Lovely, beautiful, chilled and very interesting hunters. Out in the open quite frequently. Also very aviable.

This is also another great suggestion, but I'm not sure where they're available depending on area. Im in the US and I cannot find any for sale right now. Would you happen to live in Canada?

 

[ForTW]

This is also another great suggestion, but I'm not sure where they're available depending on area. Im in the US and I cannot find any for sale right now. Would you happen to live in Canada?

I live in switzerland and here in Europe they are always sold, somewhere aviable.
It became rare here, therefor i have a freshly hatched sac.

However, hard to believe they aren't aviable in the US, it's one of the largest true spiders and a must have...i am sure someone can help you out.

 

[CRX]

I live in switzerland and here in Europe they are always sold, somewhere aviable.
It became rare here, therefor i have a freshly hatched sac.

However, hard to believe they aren't aviable in the US, it's one of the largest true spiders and a must have...i am sure someone can help you out.

I promise you, Im only a novice (ive been in this hobby for many years but still consider myself a novice :/). I have seen them popping up here and there, but they only remain available for short periods at a time.

 

[ByMennen]

All depends on what you're into.
First you have to decide if you want a spiderling, juvenile, or an adult. From there, do you want a bigger spider, and probably faster growing since you're just getting started.
There's plenty of possibilities! My favorite genus is Brachypelma, so I'd suggest a slow growing tarantula that isn't afraid of going on hunger strikes.
But for a first tarantula, I'd suggest a Lasiodora parahybana, or an Acanthoscurria geniculata as they are larger, and don't mind sitting on display!
Whatever you pick, do plenty of research, (no such thing as too much!) There's plenty of mistakes that can be made, best to look for them to avoid making them yourself.
Best of luck on the upcoming purchase(s)!

 

[RezonantVoid]

As usual, I recommend non tarantula mygalomorphs as it's an area of the hobby not many people outside Australia focus on. They live just as long, but you'll get much more behavioural diversity compared to tarantulas. Many of them look incredibly beautiful too with vivid metallic colouration and interesting markings on the abdomen. Only downside is you'll need clay sub for some of them, but this can often be as simple as using soil from your yard

 

[PhoenixFyre]

I love the Grammastola pulchura it’s one if my favorite tarantula species , I hear they’re hard to find but if I ever get the opportunity I wouldn’t hesitate to get one.

Yes! It's my absolute favorite and she (I use the term loosely) is a beauty.
She loves to display herself most of the day and is incredibly calm when I'm near her enclosure.
Right now she seems to be obsessed with a piece of charcoal which she stands upright so it looks like the monolith from 2001 A Space Odyssey ...she moves it all over her enclosure then stares at it as if picking up some mystical messages.

 

[ByMennen]

Yes! It's my absolute favorite and she (I use the term loosely) is a beauty.
She loves to display herself most of the day and is incredibly calm when I'm near her enclosure.
Right now she seems to be obsessed with a piece of charcoal which she stands upright so it looks like the monolith from 2001 A Space Odyssey ...she moves it all over her enclosure then stares at it as if picking up some mystical messages.

I thought I was losing it! I have a 2" that kept moving his cork bark around. One day he wedged it straight up into the corner of the enclosure. Just wish I saw him remodeling once! Oddest thing I've seen a tarantula do by far.

 

[that1ocelot]

For amblypygi, Phrynus whitei is very beginner-friendly. Quite flexible in terms of conditions (can handle a wider humidity and temperature range than some other species), grow to a good size fairly quickly, need almost no maintenance after setting up their enclosure, can be kept in an inexpensive tall food container with just some substrate and a vertical piece of cork or styrofoam, fairly widely available and inexpensive, and if you set up the enclosure right they'll always be visible.
Acanthophrynus coronatus is also an incredible species that's surprisingly beginner-friendly, and VERY impressive-looking, but can be harder to get your hands on and is typically much more expensive.

As a beginner arachnid hobbyist I can +1 the Phrynus Whitei. I'd argue easier than any other arachnid you could have. Will take pre-killed or living, easy to handle (if you choose to, but also fragile), still fairly impressive to look at, compact, good feeding response (in my experience), can tolerate infrequent feeding if you go on vacay... love the species and the order.