Getting back into the hobby after hiatus

[LucN]

Thanks! I agree with T albo 100%. At first I had one at the top of my list and thought I wouldn’t place the order without one, but then I remembered back in the day I got so many T albos as freebies I was giving them away So I’m holding out for an eventual freebie

do you have a preference for the Honduran or Nicaraguan form? My Honduran got a decent size, but the Nicaraguans were still juvies when the fire happened so i couldn’t make the comparison yet

Mine would be the "classic" "Honduran" form... But I would love a Nicaraguan at one point. They seem way more "floofy" than the Honduran.

 

[CarbonBasedLifeform]

I love how you used G quirogai. You have obviously been doing your research, getting back into the game.

i missed my luck with an E camp, who knows in the futur.

I look forward to hearing your experience with the other tarantula.

as well as new contributions from a new old timer. Its always fun to see the evolution, and you are well placed to share observations on you are doing things now, vs back then.

Thanks, I appreciate that. A lot of name changes to get used to (since when is the curlyhair not a brachypelma? lol), but other than that the basic care is mostly what I remember. Just a lot easier to find the info now, and easier to follow with the amount of tarantula YouTubers making video demonstrations of rehousings, setups, etc

 

[HoneyOilers]

Thanks, I appreciate that. A lot of name changes to get used to (since when is the curlyhair not a brachypelma? lol), but other than that the basic care is mostly what I remember. Just a lot easier to find the info now, and easier to follow with the amount of tarantula YouTubers making video demonstrations of rehousings, setups, etc

There’s a few changes, wait until you hear about Avicularia Versicolor or Haplopelma Lividum

 

[CarbonBasedLifeform]

There’s a few changes, wait until you hear about Avicularia Versicolor or Haplopelma Lividum

caribena, isn’t that the clip on my keychain?

also fun fact about H lividum: around 20 years ago I picked an adult one up at a pet shop, only months after I got my first rosie. The guy working there pointed to the cool blue spider when I asked “I’m looking for my second tarantula, what do you suggest?” Maybe if it was C lividus back then I would have had second thoughts, sounds more ominous lol

That led me to finding and lurking on arachnoboards until I had enough info to safely deal with an angry T and keep it alive for years to come. And to stop trusting pet store employees

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

caribena, isn’t that the clip on my keychain?

also fun fact about H lividum: around 20 years ago I picked an adult one up at a pet shop, only months after I got my first rosie. The guy working there pointed to the cool blue spider when I asked “I’m looking for my second tarantula, what do you suggest?” Maybe if it was C lividus back then I would have had second thoughts, sounds more ominous lol

That led me to finding and lurking on arachnoboards until I had enough info to safely deal with an angry T and keep it alive for years to come. And to stop trusting pet store employees

dang you didn’t watch any feeding videos back then? To know those were nuts. I used to watch john3800. I had a s cal get loose last year then die for unknown reasons after I caught it. The pet store near me sold me multiple sick Ts that died within a month or two. But they don’t offer refunds. I won’t get hot species anymore or fast ow because there escape prone issues and I don’t want the cats to get bitten. My main t room is in the basement wide open now no longer in a bedroom closed off. I’m almost out of Ts now down to 15 from significantly more. Curly hairs still have the same care as brachy basically despite the remame. I have a old female and a unsexed sling.

 

[CarbonBasedLifeform]

dang you didn’t watch any feeding videos back then? To know those were nuts. I used to watch john3800. I had a s cal get loose last year then die for unknown reasons after I caught it. The pet store near me sold me multiple sick Ts that died within a month or two. But they don’t offer refunds. I won’t get hot species anymore or fast ow because there escape prone issues and I don’t want the cats to get bitten. My main t room is in the basement wide open now no longer in a bedroom closed off. I’m almost out of Ts now down to 15 from significantly more. Curly hairs still have the same care as brachy basically despite the remame. I have a old female and a unsexed sling.

I found jon3800 after and learned a lot from him. Amazing channel. I’ve been watching a lot of Tom’s Big Spiders lately too and taking lots of notes.

Sorry to hear about the sick Ts and the escape. How did the escape happen? Was it during a rehouse?

 

[Spifdar]

I love the options you have listed. I feel like you can't go wrong lol.

I am a newcomer to the hobby in general but if you DO have the option of an E. campestratus I can say that for someone who was looking for docile & hardy, I couldn't be happier. I only have a single tarantula sling, but it's of that species and it's a joy to care for. A busy landscaper, a good eater, and very slow/careful.

 

[HoneyOilers]

caribena, isn’t that the clip on my keychain?

also fun fact about H lividum: around 20 years ago I picked an adult one up at a pet shop, only months after I got my first rosie. The guy working there pointed to the cool blue spider when I asked “I’m looking for my second tarantula, what do you suggest?” Maybe if it was C lividus back then I would have had second thoughts, sounds more ominous lol

That led me to finding and lurking on arachnoboards until I had enough info to safely deal with an angry T and keep it alive for years to come. And to stop trusting pet store employees

Yeah I had a pet store employee tell me it was ok to try to handle, almost got bit by it lol. Never felt a tarantula warning slap before that hahaha, glad it didn’t feel like actually biting me

 

[CarbonBasedLifeform]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. I decided to add a GBB to the list, and started making the list for my second order (after a few molts) which includes all of the recommendations since the vendor I chose to go with doesn’t have a lot of them in stock, or the ones they do are juvies and I’m looking to get slings.

I see an update on their website that orders won’t go out until June 2nd, so I’m going to take this time to get everything set up, test the new T room to see how fast the soil dries up etc.

Assuming they are all still available when shipments resume, 2 of the Ts would be 1/4”, the GBB would be 1”, and the rest are between 1/2 to 3/4”.

so my plan is to set up dram vials for the small slings, small amac boxes for the 1/2-3/4”, and a larger amac for the GBB.

For soil I did 50/50 peat and coco coir, with a small handful of vermiculite mixed in. Partially buried cork bark with starter burrow poked out underneath. Sphagnum moss packed in behind the cork bark with one of those tattoo ink cups for a water dish. Poked a hole in opposite corners of the substrate so I can moisten the bottom layers easier. One extra made up in case of a freebie, I’ll do the same when I set up the dram vials in case it’s a tiny freebie.



For the GBB, same soil mixture as above but instead of vermiculite I mixed in some sand to help it stay bone dry. Leaving the top off the container so any moisture from the bag can dry faster Partially buried cork bark with starter burrow dug out just in case. Plenty of room and anchor points for lots of webbing. Bottle cap for water dish (at least until it’s webbed over )



I’m also considering adding a scorpion to the mix. They have C celebensis available, from what I gathered so far you just keep them like you would a tiny emperor (more or less). Need to do a bit more digging through the available info before I decide though