Brachypelma albiceps - for beginners?

[lukatr]

Hello arachnoboards!
I'm looking to get my first tarantula(s) soon, I've done extensive research and B. albiceps has really caught my eye. I've read/watched a few care guides but I can't find that much info on them (compared at least to more popular species like G. pulchripes/T. abopilosum, etc.)
From what I've read/heard they're quite docile and easy to care for, but slow growers. The sling I'm interested in is 1.25", so not terribly small, but I'd still like to know how long it would take for it to fully develop into a juvenile or adult (mostly because I'd want it out of the fragile sling stage asap, personally I don't mind having a small spider for a long while).
If anyone has kept/raised this species, and could tell me about their experience with growth rate, hardiness, temperament and whether or not they'd recommend them for a first-time keeper, it would be greatly appreciated!

(Other species I've been considering are: T. vagans, G. pulchripes, and A. iodius.)

 

[EpicEpic]

What I recommend for all beginners is to find a genus they like and pick from there.

In this instance you picked Brachypelma which is a great beginners choice.

And albiceps is one of the prettiest in the genus imo.

Hardy + docile for the most part but they grow extremely slow!

So if you can find one and are willing to spend the $....a juvenile would be an excellent choice.

Be warned though. They are a bit of a pet rock. A BEAUTIFUL pet rock!

 

[viper69]

Any of the Brachy's are beginners. G pulchripes is a better species, generally less flicky, faster grower, and much better eater as sling/juvi. I haven't raised albiceps, but they aren't the best eaters as slings from owners.

Growth varies on LOTS of things, but all things being equal I would say 4 yr to get to 4"

@cold blood you own one, what say you.

Caresheets kill tarantulas DO NOT USE THEM.

 

[Liquifin]

B. albiceps is a very hardy and beginner friendly T. the care is very simple as any Brachypelma genus. Growth rate for these guys are the biggest drawback for most people as they grow slow in my experience. I've gotten 3 of them at .25'' a year ago and today one is about 1.5'' and the other two is about 1'' so growth is kind of slow and also specimens may vary. It's impossible to guess how long it'll take to reach an adult as growth is always reliant on care, species, and the specimen itself. If you don't want to be stuck with a slow grower I highly recommend the T. vagans as it's basically similar to the B. albiceps but faster growing and different carapace color. If you're patient with a slow growing T. then B. albiceps may be worth the wait to grow. But T. vagans is a better choice if you don't want to be stuck with a slower grower.

G. pulchripes is a very good choice but they grow somewhat slow. I have three I bought 3 years ago and today, two of them are now about 3''-3.5'' with one being male and the other female and the third one is still 1.5'' which it has not molted in about 1.5 years. G. pulchripes do make quite a jump in size every molt so it is worth the wait. Never kept A. iodus so I can't have a say in that species.

 

[testdasi]

Hello arachnoboards!
I'm looking to get my first tarantula(s) soon, I've done extensive research and B. albiceps has really caught my eye. I've read/watched a few care guides but I can't find that much info on them (compared at least to more popular species like G. pulchripes/T. abopilosum, etc.)
From what I've read/heard they're quite docile and easy to care for, but slow growers. The sling I'm interested in is 1.25", so not terribly small, but I'd still like to know how long it would take for it to fully develop into a juvenile or adult (mostly because I'd want it out of the fragile sling stage asap, personally I don't mind having a small spider for a long while).
If anyone has kept/raised this species, and could tell me about their experience with growth rate, hardiness, temperament and whether or not they'd recommend them for a first-time keeper, it would be greatly appreciated!

(Other species I've been considering are: T. vagans, G. pulchripes, and A. iodius.)

Pretty much everything in the BAG genera (Brachypelma, Aphonopelma, Grammostola) are beginner friendly so you can't really go wrong with the B. albiceps. The only reason they don't appear too often in those "top 10" list is just because of availability. They are actually quite rare.

1.25" is already out of the fragile stage so there's no need to worry too much. It should get to 3" around 2 years from now and reach adult size (4"+ to 5") in about 4 years or so.

 

[lukatr]

Thanks everyone for your responses! It's reassuring to see folks agree that B. albiceps is a beginner-friendly T. Being a slow grower isn't much of a concern to me since I'm a patient guy, but who knows! I've never kept a tarantula so I might have a different opinion after 6+ months with no molts
@viper69, you mentioned care sheets being dangerous and I fully agree, many are outdated and with crappy husbandry info that's sure to kill your tarantula. Do you have any links to websites or videos with proper care info for this species?

Also T. vagans is definitely a good contender, it's quite beautiful IMO and definitely much easier to find and cheaper (also a faster grower!), my main reservation with them is their feisty temperament. I'm still a mildly arachnophobic newbie so I might get intimidated by this old-world in new-world's clothing haha.

 

[fried rice]

Thanks everyone for your responses! It's reassuring to see folks agree that B. albiceps is a beginner-friendly T. Being a slow grower isn't much of a concern to me since I'm a patient guy, but who knows! I've never kept a tarantula so I might have a different opinion after 6+ months with no molts
@viper69, you mentioned care sheets being dangerous and I fully agree, many are outdated and with crappy husbandry info that's sure to kill your tarantula. Do you have any links to websites or videos with proper care info for this species?

Also T. vagans is definitely a good contender, it's quite beautiful IMO and definitely much easier to find and cheaper (also a faster grower!), my main reservation with them is their feisty temperament. I'm still a mildly arachnophobic newbie so I might get intimidated by this old-world in new-world's clothing haha.

Tom Moran

A companion channel for my Tom's Big Spiders blog, this channel is devoted to arachnoculture and the husbandry of tarantulas. (https://tomsbigspiders.wordpre...

m.youtube.com

 

[EpicEpic]

Thanks everyone for your responses! It's reassuring to see folks agree that B. albiceps is a beginner-friendly T. Being a slow grower isn't much of a concern to me since I'm a patient guy, but who knows! I've never kept a tarantula so I might have a different opinion after 6+ months with no molts
@viper69, you mentioned care sheets being dangerous and I fully agree, many are outdated and with crappy husbandry info that's sure to kill your tarantula. Do you have any links to websites or videos with proper care info for this species?

Also T. vagans is definitely a good contender, it's quite beautiful IMO and definitely much easier to find and cheaper (also a faster grower!), my main reservation with them is their feisty temperament. I'm still a mildly arachnophobic newbie so I might get intimidated by this old-world in new-world's clothing haha.

Use the search bar here. Might take some tweaking and looking through multiple threads but stuff like "albiceps care" is a good way to start.

 

[Magicis3]

The B. Albiceps is a really calm tarantula. I would definitely recommend it to a beginner. They are slightly more pretty majority of the other Brachypelma genus. You've done loads of research so I think your pretty good. Most beginners don't do research so they have poor husband.
Hope you have fun.

 

[cold blood]

B. albiceps has really caught my eye

Yeah, they are indeed quite stunning, aren't they.

From what I've read/heard they're quite docile and easy to care for,

Easy to care for, absolutely, but not exactly docile. They can be extremely skittish, flicky and sometimes defensive.....very much like T. vagans in many respects.

but slow growers

Under-statement of the year. A. chalcodes grow faster and eat better.....slings grow at a pace I can only describe as glacial.....terrible eaters, too. I've had slings eat once and then fast for up to 8 months...and I am taking about 1/2" slings.

By 1.5" though, they do become better eaters (and that just keeps improving) and with this increased appetite, growth actually can pick up in the juvie stage.

The sling I'm interested in is 1.25", so not terribly small, but I'd still like to know how long it would take for it to fully develop into a juvenile or adult (mostly because I'd want it out of the fragile sling stage asap, personally I don't mind having a small spider for a long while).

At 1.5", it is out of the fragile sling stage already. Good size to get IMO.

G. pulchripes is a very good choice but they grow somewhat slow.

Not my experience at all.....I find them to grow at a medium pace to about 3" unless housed in an over size enclosure. Their growth rate doesn't even compare to albiceps.....its apples to airplanes.

IME they're one of the faster growing beginner species, and one of the best eaters, too...they compare very much to T. albo in most respects. I consider G. pulchripes to be the ultimate beginner species...T. albo is right behind.

I don't consider albiceps slings to be beginner friendly....juvies and adults are more suited (and that's what you are getting op).....but be aware of their potentially testy, skittish nature.

Do you have any links to websites or videos with proper care info for this species?

You're on it

The B. Albiceps is a really calm tarantula

Ive raised 10, not one has been what I would describe as really calm...lol

 

[lukatr]

Interesting info for sure, I've heard most people say it's really docile but after 10 skittish slings I'm sure there's something to be said about how greatly temper can vary within the same species, docile ones might even be the outliers.
I'll definitely be doing some thinking on the matter. Between T. vagans and B. albiceps the former definitely has the upper hand in terms of price (3" juvenile for less than half the price of a 1.25" B. albiceps). However I'm still captivated by the beauty of the latter, at the end of the day they'd both make good beginner T's.

G. pulchripes is also still definitely on the table, so I might get it alongside B. albiceps/T.vagans.

 

[cold blood]

but after 10 skittish slings

Not just slings, I have raised most to adulthood.

B. albiceps

• cold blood
• Nov 11, 2017
• 2

G. pulchripes is also still definitely on the table, so I might get it alongside B. albiceps/T.vagans.

Good idea....IMO if you want an albiceps, go for it, just get an albo or pulchripes along with it.

 

[viper69]

Do you have any links to websites

Yes this one! AB is the best site, largest and most diverse audience in the world for T keeping. We have people from every continent giving advice except down at the South Pole.
This site has been around for a long time.

Pro tip- learn how to use Google to search WITHIN a website rather than the entire net.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I'd recommend literally any other Brachy unless you have the patience of a saint, their growth rate is heinously slow even by Brachy standards (seriously, mine's taken 3 years to reach 2").

 

[WolleWolf]

My 0.1 B albiceps 4.5-5" is my most docile T she has not even kicked hairs once. And a true beauty!

 

[Colorado Ts]

Hello arachnoboards!
I'm looking to get my first tarantula(s) soon, I've done extensive research and B. albiceps has really caught my eye. I've read/watched a few care guides but I can't find that much info on them (compared at least to more popular species like G. pulchripes/T. abopilosum, etc.)
From what I've read/heard they're quite docile and easy to care for, but slow growers. The sling I'm interested in is 1.25", so not terribly small, but I'd still like to know how long it would take for it to fully develop into a juvenile or adult (mostly because I'd want it out of the fragile sling stage asap, personally I don't mind having a small spider for a long while).
If anyone has kept/raised this species, and could tell me about their experience with growth rate, hardiness, temperament and whether or not they'd recommend them for a first-time keeper, it would be greatly appreciated!

(Other species I've been considering are: T. vagans, G. pulchripes, and A. iodius.)

As a beginner species, wonderful choice.

My understanding of the growth rate of this species is that they are almost geologic...about the time that Plate Tectonics adds another 1000 miles to the Atlantic...you'll have a nice adult spider.

As a first spider, I would consider a species with a faster rate of return, just sayin.

 

[EpicEpic]

As a beginner species, wonderful choice.

My understanding of the growth rate of this species is that they are almost geologic...about the time that Plate Tectonics adds another 1000 miles to the Atlantic...you'll have a nice adult spider.

As a first spider, I would consider a species with a faster rate of return, just sayin.

I agree. If you're going to have 1 spider---I don't think you would want one of the slowest growers in the tarantula . Especially since its a beautiful display spider. It won't climb like an arboreal....or dig like a fossorial. It's hardly a great eater, and barely webs. It's merits come when its BIG and COLORFUL and constantly OUT.

That's why I strongly advised getting a juvie or older and will so again. A FINE spider B. albiceps is indeed. But if you can find one....shell out for a juvie or even an adult female!!

That way you will get to enjoy what makes that particular spider enjoyable off the bat and not later this decade!


[Plus if you do shell out the $$$ for a juvie/AF you will LIKELY be offered a freebie and can enjoy watching another spiderling grow ]

-Peter K.

 

[BeginnerConnoisseur]

Late to the party, but I found this thread for the same reason OP posted. Figured my experience might be helpful for future users. I was lucky enough to find myself a confirmed juvie female about a month ago. ~3.5", showing adult colors.

Temperament: extremely skittish and flicky. I don't mind it; I like an animal with healthy boundaries. As she's settled into her enclosure (8x8" cube from Tarantula Cribs) I've gotten to see more and more interesting captive behavior. There hasn't been any hair flicking since her rehouse, and no bald spots thankfully, so she's looking gorgeous. Had a great feeding response so far, but she'll only take crickets. She likes to climb and patrol her space at night, so I'm resisting the urge to overfeed.

Personally, it's been super rewarding to see such a jumpy T relax and get comfortable, but the key here (I believe) is that I don't mess with her, keep maintenance to a minimum, and have never once tried to touch her (besides the paintbrush). I'm also fine with the slow growth rate; I wanted my first T to be with me for the long haul. She's the redwood sapling in my garden, lol.

I also appreciate the veteran keepers' comments here. I was prepared for her skittish nature thanks to this thread!