- Joined
- Jul 1, 2007
- Messages
- 529
Hello all - this is my first post and I am looking forward to joining the exciting world of tarantula keeping sometime in the near future.
After reading the ‘Beginner Info’ section in the forum, I note that it’s best to start off with a New World Tarantula as they generally seem to be less aggressive and venomous. However, as I live in Australia, I really have no choice but to start off with an Old World Tarantula. I notice in the US there is a large assortment of tarantulas with varying temperaments and habitat requirements but none of these are available here. In Australia, we are limited to Selenocosmia (the whistling and barking spiders.) I live in South Australia and although it is rare for pet shops here to stock tarantulas, I get the impression that the very few who do would likely obtain the Selenocosmia spiders that mainly live in Queensland. I would actually prefer not to keep this particular tarantula because I am not very fond of creating humid conditions in my room (where I would keep the tarantula) as I also keep my photographic gear in here and humidity is no good for camera gear. Additionally, this spider would need a warm environment and South Australia can get quite cold in winter.
Just recently, I learned of a type of Selenocosmia (I can’t recall the exact full name but it may be 'stirlingi') that occurs naturally in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland. These must be extremely rare because I have never seen a tarantula in my state in the wild (and I observe spiders and other wildlife as much as possible when I am out in the wilderness.) I would prefer to keep this particular spider because it shares the same climate that I live in - ie no need to artificially create a particular kind of environment for it. I would also prefer to obtain one from a captive breeding program as opposed to buying one from a place that would likely sell ones that have been caught from the wild. I am wondering if anyone on this forum would know of any dealers, breeders or shops that would likely sell these South Australian Selenocosmia spiders?
Additionally, I hear that Selenocosmia generally live in a burrow. For those of you who keep Selenocosmia spiders, are they hidden away most of the time or do they show themselves a reasonable amount now and then? I assume they would at least reveal themselves at feeding time. With keeping any pet, I think part of the pleasure is in seeing the animal so visibility is a key factor for me.
After reading the ‘Beginner Info’ section in the forum, I note that it’s best to start off with a New World Tarantula as they generally seem to be less aggressive and venomous. However, as I live in Australia, I really have no choice but to start off with an Old World Tarantula. I notice in the US there is a large assortment of tarantulas with varying temperaments and habitat requirements but none of these are available here. In Australia, we are limited to Selenocosmia (the whistling and barking spiders.) I live in South Australia and although it is rare for pet shops here to stock tarantulas, I get the impression that the very few who do would likely obtain the Selenocosmia spiders that mainly live in Queensland. I would actually prefer not to keep this particular tarantula because I am not very fond of creating humid conditions in my room (where I would keep the tarantula) as I also keep my photographic gear in here and humidity is no good for camera gear. Additionally, this spider would need a warm environment and South Australia can get quite cold in winter.
Just recently, I learned of a type of Selenocosmia (I can’t recall the exact full name but it may be 'stirlingi') that occurs naturally in South Australia, Victoria and Queensland. These must be extremely rare because I have never seen a tarantula in my state in the wild (and I observe spiders and other wildlife as much as possible when I am out in the wilderness.) I would prefer to keep this particular spider because it shares the same climate that I live in - ie no need to artificially create a particular kind of environment for it. I would also prefer to obtain one from a captive breeding program as opposed to buying one from a place that would likely sell ones that have been caught from the wild. I am wondering if anyone on this forum would know of any dealers, breeders or shops that would likely sell these South Australian Selenocosmia spiders?
Additionally, I hear that Selenocosmia generally live in a burrow. For those of you who keep Selenocosmia spiders, are they hidden away most of the time or do they show themselves a reasonable amount now and then? I assume they would at least reveal themselves at feeding time. With keeping any pet, I think part of the pleasure is in seeing the animal so visibility is a key factor for me.
second of all, don't be scared about the "old world" T's, every T has it's own personality. hey, my rosie is actin all mean right now whereas my lividum and murinus aren't bad... so no worries. third, don't worry so much about keeping humid-type environment Ts. i house roseas and lividums and many others all in my room (quite dry) and they all do fine. with the humidity loving T's, just keep the substrate moist and leave a water dish. this little world that we subject them to can be controlled how we want- dry for a rosea, or humid/damp for lividums. just keep the substrate and the container for a specific type species. fourth of all, i've never had an australian T 
