First tarantula for a beginner?

EulersK

Arachnonomicon
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Feb 22, 2013
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The mexican red knee or chalcodes?
I was talking about A. chalcodes.

Try and use scientific names - common names are garbage. I only know we're taking about B. smithi because you've brought it up. I would have no idea what you mean if it weren't for context. B. smithi will take about the same time to mature, possibly longer. They're also much more prone to kick hair.
 

REEFSPIDER

Arachnobaron
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May 6, 2016
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412
What I mean is get one take care of it for a while, and when your ready get the other. Either one is a great beginner t to have and you will surely end up with multiple T's if you are into this hobby like most of us.
 

REEFSPIDER

Arachnobaron
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Take advantage of those European prices mate. You'll be getting away for atleast half what I pay for the same stuff in america.
 

TheShrubbery

Arachnosquire
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Aug 30, 2016
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Yeah dude, weirdly when I buy anything "PC" related I always import it from america because its cheaper xD
 

EulersK

Arachnonomicon
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Take advantage of those European prices mate. You'll be getting away for atleast half what I pay for the same stuff in america.
Are A. chalcodes cheaper, though? They actually roam wild here in the states, you'd think they'd be cheaper here. I haven't particularly looked, of course.

Actually, I know they're cheaper here. I can go get one for free right now if I wanted :D
 

Haemus

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Feb 11, 2016
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Alright so big, I've got pretty big hands like my hands must be about 6 inches or something. I have a Logitech G700s gaming mouse, and my index finger + flip off finger (wink wink) [don't know what its scientifically called) and my thumb just about fit on it. My marriage finger and tiny finger hang off the end. This might be a good size comparison.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-G700s-Rechargeable-Gaming-Mouse/dp/B00CJAF194

And ugly would be about something like this: http://www.narbc.com/images/uploads/115-Brachypelma albopilosum.jpg

And what I would consider nice looking would be these:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=G.+pulchripes&client=firefox-b-ab&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwju7oPs1enOAhUFaxQKHVIQAsUQ_AUICCgB&biw=1920&bih=971#imgrc=HmfcCHocmRQgZM:
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=A.+chalcodes&client=firefox-b-ab&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwihzOzf2OnOAhVEchQKHQHwAVEQ_AUICCgB&biw=1920&bih=971#imgrc=VjgXLBF4T-0egM:
http://www.jonathansjungleroadshow.co.uk/images/brazilianblacktarantula2.jpg?crc=445763478

I was thinking of this guy, as my first T: http://www.hamiltonreptile.com/caresheets/images/Bsmithi.jpg
G. pulchripes are definitely beautiful, here's a shot of my sub adult male. This too was my first T, and so far so good, very easy to care for. And don't sleep on the B. albopilosum's looks, they can be stunning as well :)
DSC_9350.jpg
 

REEFSPIDER

Arachnobaron
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May 6, 2016
Messages
412
True @EulersK very true. I was reading recently how some European collectors covet there aphonopelma more than South American ts. Lol
 

mistertim

Arachnobaron
Joined
Sep 4, 2015
Messages
548
B. smithi and G. pulchripes may be your best bet. They are both very attractive (though, as others have said, that is quite subjective), grow to a pretty decent size with G. pulchripes being a bit bigger, have a more or less "middle of the road" growth rate, and are usually relatively laid back. A couple things to remember with B. smithi is that they do tend to kick hairs and are more expensive than G. pulchripes. Not sure what the UK prices are but here you'd probably pay a couple hundred bucks at least for an adult female.

And again, there is no guarantee with any tarantula that it won't bite you or freak out and make a jump for it or change its temperament completely after a molt. There are several pretty valid reasons why most here (many of whom have been collecting for decades) do not handle their tarantulas and discourage it. At the end of the day its your spider, but just be mindful of the risks to you and the T.

I guess one saving grace is that you didn't come in and say "Hey, what is a big, pretty Old World tarantula that I can handle pretty regularly??"
 

Matabuey

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Aug 9, 2016
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Last edited:

Ceymann

Arachnoknight
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Jul 3, 2016
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185
B. smithi and G. pulchripes may be your best bet. They are both very attractive (though, as others have said, that is quite subjective), grow to a pretty decent size with G. pulchripes being a bit bigger, have a more or less "middle of the road" growth rate, and are usually relatively laid back. A couple things to remember with B. smithi is that they do tend to kick hairs and are more expensive than G. pulchripes. Not sure what the UK prices are but here you'd probably pay a couple hundred bucks at least for an adult female.

And again, there is no guarantee with any tarantula that it won't bite you or freak out and make a jump for it or change its temperament completely after a molt. There are several pretty valid reasons why most here (many of whom have been collecting for decades) do not handle their tarantulas and discourage it. At the end of the day its your spider, but just be mindful of the risks to you and the T.

I guess one saving grace is that you didn't come in and say "Hey, what is a big, pretty Old World tarantula that I can handle pretty regularly??"
When I see some of those you tubers handling OBTs and colbalt blues I just think to myself : "did they spike this Ts water with benzos and Prozac er' something?
 
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