First potential tarantula

[Shrike]

I respectfully disagree with the notion that all newbies should avoid Avicularia as a first purchase. If a person takes advantage of these boards and other resources to adequately prepare themselves, caring for Aviculiaria really isn't that complicated. It's no different than successfully caring for any number of exotic pets. Don't make an impulse buy. Do your research first because getting the details right is important. This is common sense stuff. A little goes a long way!

 

[Poec54]

I respectfully disagree with the notion that all newbies should avoid Avicularia as a first purchase. If a person takes advantage of these boards and other resources to adequately prepare themselves, caring for Aviculiaria really isn't that complicated

I wouldn't say all newbies should avoid Avics, but most should. There's been thousands of Avics that have died in moist stuffy cages. Yes, it's avoidable, but it requires the keeper has a feel for the range of acceptable cage conditions (moisture/humidity/ventilation) and for most people that takes a little time. This genus has such alert and intelligent species, it's a shame that so many died horrible deaths in captivity.

 

[KevinsWither]

Yeah I do my homework. But sometimes I overresearch things and freak out if I don't have this specific thing ready for it.

 

[KevinsWither]

Well thats what I am going to do. Now is there any places where I can find slings for low prices?

 

[viper69]

Well thats what I am going to do. Now is there any places where I can find slings for low prices?

Whatever you do, do not buy from Blackwater, you might as burn your money. Always check reviews here FIRST before buying.

 

[KevinsWither]

I'll check all reviews. Now is it worthwile to get one sling or to get many?

 

[viper69]

I'll check all reviews. Now is it worthwile to get one sling or to get many?

Depends on your goal, what's your goal of wanting more than 1.

 

[cold blood]

I'll check all reviews. Now is it worthwile to get one sling or to get many?

The more you buy, the better...when paying higher shipping costs, its more cost effective to buy several per order, although there are exceptions. Buying one at a time will get expensive quickly.

Say you buy one spider for $10, plus $40 shipping you are looking at a $50 spider. Buy 10 of that spider (or, for the sake of easy numbers, 10 different $10 spiders), add the 40 bucks to that and you are getting the same spiders for $14 a piece when shipping is considered.

 

[KevinsWither]

My goal is to have one than one sling so that I can have a chance of having a female as I heard that males don't live that long.

 

[Trenor]

My goal is to have one than one sling so that I can have a chance of having a female as I heard that males don't live that long.

In that case, buying several at the time is worth the while IMO.

 

[KevinsWither]

Now for the problem with enclosures. Are there any 4-5 gallon rubber totes that do well for tarantulas and can stack?

 

[symbol]

Now for the problem with enclosures. Are there any 4-5 gallon rubber totes that do well for tarantulas and can stack?

You mean like this? This could also work depending on whether or not the front opening feature would be a benefit or a drawback for your purposes. And this is a similar size but without the open front. I'm sure there are others as well, but those are the products that immediately spring to mind for me.

 

[Poec54]

My goal is to have one than one sling so that I can have a chance of having a female as I heard that males don't live that long.

You catch on fast. Nice to see. I preach this to people that have been buying tarantulas for years. There's no reason believe a tarantula species' sex ratios are 50/50, it varies widely depending on how far the males have to travel, and how concentrated the females are. Predators and hazards take a toll on traveling males. Some species are heavy on males, others have few males. From what I've seen over the decades I've had tarantulas, is that the overall ratio of males is often 60-65 percent. If you get one sling, the odds are usually against you getting a female. If that one sling turns out to be female, you could still lose it in a bad molt along the way. Then you have to buy another and start all over again; what are you really saving by buying just one at a time?

I always try to get 5 or 10 slings of a species to ensure a female or two. Many species can be vent sexed at 2", and you can sell/trade off the surplus males to breeders. Many times that will cover the cost of the one(s) you kept.

 

[KevinsWither]

Dang, now I need to start saving up cash for like 5-10 slings of one species. Do slings require a lot of space when there young?

 

[darkness975]

View attachment 220971
B. smithi is one of those ts I was referring to. I had zero interest, thought they were nothing special, then I got one...its become one of my favorites in a collection of hundreds.

I got this girl as a 1" sling 3.5 years ago....she's already near 5"...some do grow real slow, others, like mine, can grow at a decent pace. Its not a difficult t to raise as a sling, I would just suggest at least 3/4". When they're tiny, they're appetites aren't always so good and their growth rates can actually be much slower as a result, meaning a long time with a small sling.

Your girl looks like mine, I will have to take some better pictures of mine than the crummy ones that are on my media page >_>

Funny how even among the same species individuals have differences sometimes in patterning and such.
Mine was around 4.5" DLS when I got her and she molted a while back so she is around 5" DLS as well.

 

[darkness975]

Do slings require a lot of space when they're young?

No. There are a lot of threads on the boards that people have made which show how they set up their deli cups for slings.

 

[KevinsWither]

Would cocofiber do well for the slings? I have cocofiber does it mold if improperly used?

 

[cold blood]

Coco fiber is the industry standard substrate...it will work fine.

 

[Poec54]

Dang, now I need to start saving up cash for like 5-10 slings of one species. Do slings require a lot of space when there young?

When you buy 5+ of a species, try to negotiate a package deal. Dealers don't like packing and shipping a single spiderling (waste of everyone's time).

For me, all slings that are 1/2" & up go into deli cups: 16 oz (terrestrials and Avics) or 32 oz (other arboreals). You can get them by the sleeve at restaurant supply stores, or online.

 

[Poec54]

Would cocofiber do well for the slings? I have cocofiber does it mold if improperly used?

My disdain for cocofiber is well known in the spider community. I only use bagged top soil (the cheap stuff without anything added). $1.50 for a 40 lb bag, and it's the best stuff I've ever used.