First T, few questions about N Chromatus, A Genic and T Albo

[Xharyel]

Hi guys!

I'm new to the hobby, in fact, I'll be getting my first T in a few days (just need to finish a few stuff at my home to be ready). And tbh, I'm VERY VERY excited!
I've been a lurker here for about 2 months now, I just started being fascinated by tarantulas so I did as much research as I could and finally decided to jump in. (I already bought all the necessary stuff, tweezers, paint brush, gloves, etc. etc. Just waiting for my enclosure)

Now, I still have a few questions, although I already have a rough idea by reading all the old threads, I want to prepare as much as possible before getting the T.

So, as a total beginner, I looked at all the species available to me and with the help of videos, threads, etc. I narrowed down my choices to these 3 species : N Chromatus, A Genic and T Albo (Nicaragua).

General questions about the 3 :

• 1) What are your personal experience with these 3? And who do you like most (in your opinion)?
• 2) Who of the 3 is more often in the open?
• 3) Who's the bigger eater?
• 4) The A Genic and T Albo available to me are sub adult, but the N Chromatus is still a juvie (~7cm/3"). I read that they're fast growers, approximately how long will it take to reach 12cm/5" from that size?

Other questions :

• 5) In general, for a juvie of that size, what size shoud the feeder be? (I guess dubia are for when she'll be adult? My local pet store only has dubia, mealworms and crickets (locusta migratoria and achatae domestica, not sure if it makes a difference?))
• 6) I read a lot about false bottom, and as I understood it, while not at all needed, can I still do it to provide the T the choice for more moist/humid substrate? Or is it a useless endeavor? (I plan to scape my enclosure with "2 levels" (kind of))
• 7) What is your experience with springtails + isopods? Is it overkill for a cleanup squad? Are springtails enough? I read that dwarf isopods are ok, but I'm still not sure (just too scared that something might happen during a molt)...
• 8) Is there such a thing as "too big of an enclosure"? I read many different things regarding this matter. Some say the rule of thumb should be 2 to 3x the DLS, and others go as far as 4x minimum to 8x? In my case, I only got myself a 35x35x30 (cm) enclosure. Is this size alright for a fully mature T? And isn't it too big for a juvie (7cm/3")? Or is it okay?
• 9) I'm a tad bit concerned about urticating hairs, not for myself but for my other pets (like my dog). If they kick hair, will the hair travel with the air like dust? And once they drop on the floor, are they still dangerous? Or should I clean asap? Would a air purifier help?

Lastly :

• 10) Not really a question, but more of a request I guess? I'm still extremely thorn between these 3 species as I find them absolutely gorgeous (I keep on changing my mind everyday haha)! The N Chromatus has been growing on me a lot these past few days. Can you guys send me pics of these 3 species if you have them please? It might help me make a choice! Haha.
  Also, if you have any 3" T, can I see a pic please? It's a bit hard for me to visualize how big or small 3" is for a T!
• 11) Any final tips you wish you knew when you first started?

That's about it! Other than these questions I think I'm set for everything else! I don't ever plan to handle my T, I just want to enjoy from a distance like I do with my fishes.
I'm sorry for the long post, but I really want to be sure about everything before I get the chosen one. I'm just so excited right now, feels like I'm being a kid again (ngl, feels like xmas haha)...

Thanks in advance for those who'll take their time to answer me.

 

[Edan bandoot]

In my opinion 95% of these questions could be answered by using the search function and/or browsing recent threads, so I'm only gonna answer one for the sake of my time, but here's your answer for the isopods

A loss due to disturbance during a molt.

I collected a Dark Fishing spider a month ago. Unfortunately, this morning it has passed, more accurately, mauled. I fed this spider Oniscus asellus Isopods 1-2 times a week. It was eating the isopods with no problems. Today, the Isopod took revenge. I found my spider chewed up and dead and...

arachnoboards.com

Also, just get all 3 spiders. They are all cheap and beginner friendly with an abundance of care information present around the internet. (Tom Moran, here and through study's )

 

[Xharyel]

Yes, I did a lot of research beforehand, all of these questions are a bit like "asking for confirmation", if all is okay before I do the jump.
As for my first questions regarding the 3 species, I know all 3 of them are big eater, but I didn't find any comparison between them, so I'm a bit curious thus I asked, just in case someone has those 3 (which is very likely I think).

And thanks for the isopods answer. I guess they're out of the question!

EDIT : I can only get one right now, it'll be a bit hard for me to get all 3 at once, but definitely in the future!

 

[Edan bandoot]

Yes, I did a lot of research beforehand, all of these questions are a bit like "asking for confirmation", if all is okay before I do the jump.
As for my first questions regarding the 3 species, I know all 3 of them are big eater, but I didn't find any comparison between them, so I'm a bit curious thus I asked, just in case someone has those 3 (which is very likely I think).

And thanks for the isopods answer. I guess they're out of the question!

Springtails will be more than enough

 

[Tarantuland]

Any of them are fine, T Albo is going to be the easiest for a beginner but grow more slowly. Feeder the size of abdomen, humidity is useless. The A genic or Nhandu want slightly damp substrate on one side, they're going to be quicker moving and more likely to kick hairs. I keep an air purifier running in my T room but I wouldn't worry too much about the dog getting hairs unless the spider is out and about, which it shouldn't be. Yes, enclosures can be too big. I don't think any of these T's should have enough moisture to support springtails besides maybe around the water dish.

Seriously the search function here will answer most of these questions.

Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com

 

[Edan bandoot]

Any of them are fine, T Albo is going to be the easiest for a beginner but grow more slowly. Feeder the size of abdomen, humidity is useless. The A genic or Nhandu want slightly damp substrate on one side, they're going to be quicker moving and more likely to kick hairs. I keep an air purifier running in my T room but I wouldn't worry too much about the dog getting hairs unless the spider is out and about, which it shouldn't be. Yes, enclosures can be too big. I don't think any of these T's should have enough moisture to support springtails besides maybe around the water dish.

Seriously the search function here will answer most of these questions.

Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com

I can speak for T albo and the Nhandu genus, they can both support springtails if you overflow the dish and keep the bottommost layer moist

 

[cold blood]

1) What are your personal experience with these 3? And who do you like most (in your opinion)?

Theyre all enjoyable.....albo is by far the calmest and simplest to deal with....chromatus are food aggressive and can be skittish at times...some can be flicky, not all are...genics are food aggressive...very food aggressive. None are hard to care for.

2) Who of the 3 is more often in the open?

Typically all 3 will be visible for the most part, especially as adults.

3) Who's the bigger eater?

I would rank them 1 genic 2 chromatus and 3 albo...but frankly, albos are excellent eaters with a fantastic appetite, so the real answer would be all three are great eaters.....chromatus and genic are just a little more enthusiastic about feeding.

• The A Genic and T Albo available to me are sub adult, but the N Chromatus is still a juvie (~7cm/3"). I read that they're fast growers, approximately how long will it take to reach 12cm/5" from that size?

This is highly variable and no one can give an accurate answer as there are many factors that can effect growth, and even then, growth between siblings can vary greatly.

5) In general, for a juvie of that size, what size shoud the feeder be? (I guess dubia are for when she'll be adult? My local pet store only has dubia, mealworms and crickets (locusta migratoria and achatae domestica, not sure if it makes a difference?))

Dont concern yourself with feeders...ts will literally eat anything they can over power...hell, you could feed them fish if you had to. Crickets are the hobby staple, mealworms are nice because they can last months on end in the fridge, your locusts are great as long as the t is large enough for them.....roaches are fine, but are hardly a necessary feeder.

read a lot about false bottom, and as I understood it, while not at all needed, can I still do it to provide the T the choice for more moist/humid substrate? Or is it a useless endeavor?

No t should EVER be housed with a false bottom. Fiirst, they dont have humidity requirements, some simply need dampened sub, so a false bottom would go way too far in complicating things without any real benefit at all....also, ts naturally burrow, and when they do, they almost always burrow to the bottom.

Useless endeavor, dont even consider it for another second.

What is your experience with springtails + isopods? Is it overkill for a cleanup squad? Are springtails enough? I read that dwarf isopods are ok, but I'm still not sure (just too scared that something might happen during a molt)...

Sure, they can help, but frankly, ts arent dirty creatures and its really easy to keep things clean. Ive been keeping ts over 20 years, and have never once seen a real need for any kind of clean up crews....use them if you like, they certainly wont hurt, but keep in mind, they will die out in dry enclosures, so they can not just be added to any t enclosure.

Is there such a thing as "too big of an enclosure"?

Yes, but it usually is more of wasted space with juvies and adults...its more of an issue for moist NW terrestrial slings as over size enclosures will induce reclusive behavior that can really effect growth rates negatively..

I'm a tad bit concerned about urticating hairs, not for myself but for my other pets (like my dog). If they kick hair, will the hair travel with the air like dust? And once they drop on the floor, are they still dangerous?

You are over thinking these hairs...its really as simple as closing the enclosure when they flick. Most people need a lot of exposure before hairs really start effecting you.

10) Not really a question, but more of a request I guess? I'm still extremely thorn between these 3 species as I find them absolutely gorgeous (I keep on changing my mind everyday haha)! The N Chromatus has been growing on me a lot these past few days. Can you guys send me pics of these 3 species if you have them please? It might help me make a choice! Haha.

Seriously, get all three. Having multiples is no more difficult than one and will give you a massive upside with regards to seeing behaviors and learning about them.

Albo is by far the best starter of the three, simply because of a calmer, more docile demeanor.

freshly molted

• cold blood
• Sep 11, 2019
• 4
• acanthoscurria acanthoscurria geniculata brazilian whiteknee tarantula geniculata giant whiteknee tarantula whitebanded tarantula

geniculata

• cold blood
• Apr 29, 2019
• 1
• acanthoscurria acanthoscurria geniculata brazilian whiteknee tarantula geniculata giant whiteknee tarantula whitebanded tarantula

"Honduras"

• cold blood
• Sep 6, 2018
• 3
• albopilosus brachypelma albopilosum curlyhair tarantula female tliltocatl tliltocatl albopilosus

Female albopilosum

curly hair

• cold blood
• Nov 4, 2017
• 1

I like how albos look in pics

B. albopilosum

• cold blood
• Nov 4, 2017

chromatus

• cold blood
• Nov 11, 2017
• 3

feed me

N. chromatus

• cold blood
• Feb 1, 2018
• 24
• chromatus nhandu nhandu chromatus

Every sac has its runts and giants....this one is the largest of a large sac....not quite 6...

chromatus sling

• cold blood
• Mar 24, 2018
• brazilian red and white tarantula chromatus nhandu nhandu chromatus sling

Any final tips you wish you knew when you first started?

Starting with one slow grower is stupid.....I did this and basically learned nothing for the first decade I had her.

Be patient, having only a few means you will see less activity as they are generally inactive and naturally go through long periods of inactivity prior to molting. This makes having more a good thing.

 

[Xharyel]

Thanks a lot for all these answers, helped me clear out a few doubts and concerns I had!! Especially about the hairs, I read so much about them but since I haven't experienced them myself I was a bit apprehensive.

If it were just me, I'd get them all tbh, but yeah, convincing others isn't easy haha.

Your Ts are gorgeous, it's making it even harder to choose... Thanks for sharing the pics!

I guess I'll go with the easier one first (T Albo) and see how it goes. It's already a sub adult, so I'll skip the sling and juvie stage.
(And try to work my ways in getting other Ts haha)

 

[Edan bandoot]

Thanks a lot for all these answers, helped me clear out a few doubts and concerns I had!! Especially about the hairs, I read so much about them but since I haven't experienced them myself I was a bit apprehensive.

If it were just me, I'd get them all tbh, but yeah, convincing others isn't easy haha.

Your Ts are gorgeous, it's making it even harder to choose... Thanks for sharing the pics!

I guess I'll go with the easier one first (T Albo) and see how it goes. It's already a sub adult, so I'll skip the sling and juvie stage.
(And try to work my ways in getting other Ts haha)

highly suggest getting all 3, you will thank yourself for this later. Your housemates should barely know they exist

 

[Tarantulafeets]

T albos are great, as slings and smaller juvies, they tend to run inside their burrow when the enclosure is disturbed, but mine is well over that stage and is always outside. Mine never kicked hairs at me, but every t is different. And you can never say no to that fluffy bootie.

 

[Kitara]

I love my T. albo and was really glad that I started with that one. I read a TON, but when it came to "doing" (rehousing, maintenance, etc) I realized that it was a little more difficult than it sounded. The T. albo was much more tolerant of my newbie mistakes than say my C. versicolor that wanted to show me just what bolting looks like and my GBB likes to remind me that flicking hairs is a natural pastime. My T. albo was very slow, never flick hairs, ate whatever I gave him, and just generally tolerated my intrusions. Now it's 2 years later and I have rehoused a bunch and feel a lot more confident dealing with my A. genic. When I first read about them being so food aggressive they'd run straight up the tongs I was like, "Oh heck no. Not ready for that!" But now I'm like, "Yeah, so easy. Just dump the food in from above and be aware." Mine just runs into his burrow if I get near the enclosure so he doesn't concern me at all.