Goliath Bird Eater price?

[Squid]

A local store has a large female (maybe around 5 inches) Goliath Bird eater Tarantula for $300. I didn’t ask too much about it last time since I didn’t have the money and I was there for a n. Coloratovillosus so I don’t know it’s exact size or if it’s a stirmi or blondi, although it’s definitely a theraposa.

Would $300 be a good deal for either? The only other theraposa I’ve been able to find was from Tarantula Canada, 2/3 inch. I’ve read on other threads that people were finding them for $50-100 so it seems like neither Tarantula Canada or local store would be the best place to get one?


I can’t afford one right now, but I plan on getting one eventually, and the local place is pretty small so I don’t see it getting sold in the near future

 

[Arachnophoric]

Sounds like that'd be around the right price for T. blondi, but that'd be way inflated for a T. stirmi. I got my female at ~4.5" for $150.

 

[Squid]

Sounds like that'd be around the right price for T. blondi, but that'd be way inflated for a T. stirmi. I got my female at ~4.5" for $150.

That’s a pretty significant difference. Thanks, I’ll have to make sure I get a good look at it next time I go to see which one it is

 

[Arachnophoric]

That’s a pretty significant difference. Thanks, I’ll have to make sure I get a good look at it next time I go to see which one it is

Actual T. blondi are difficult to find, thus their higher price tag. Other than that they don't have much of a difference from T. stirmi, besides T. blondi having a little more hair on their legs where it's absent on T. stirmi. To the untrained eye they pretty much look the exact same - a lot of shady people will sell T. stirmi as T. blondi to those who don't know how to spot the difference. If you can get some good pics, we can get a positive ID.

Personally I wouldn't pay twice the price to get T. blondi. There are some claims that T. blondi get bigger but I'm pretty sure they get around the same size. If you're wanting a Theraphosa, I'd recommend you at least start with a stirmi so you can make sure your Theraphosa care is on point. Accidentally killing a T. blondi is an expensive mistake.

You should have your tarantula husbandry in general down pretty good before getting any Theraphosa species though.

 

[Squid]

You should have your tarantula husbandry in general down pretty good before getting any Theraphosa species though.

For sure, I’m still fairly new and I’ve only kept the hardier species so far so I definitely want to get more experience before trying one of the more expensive species. It’s on my list for the future though

 

[Arachnophoric]

For sure, I’m still fairly new and I’ve only kept the hardier species so far so I definitely want to get more experience before trying one of the more expensive species. It’s on my list for the future though

You definitely should, I think they're quite pretty for big hairy brown spiders. just be sure you watch out for those hairs though.

 

[The Mantis Menagerie]

I saw tarantulas labelled as "Goliath bird-eater tarantulas" last time I was at Repticon. They were $50, and, although I am not experienced in tarantula identification, they looked like a Theraphosa species.

 

[Arachnophoric]

I saw tarantulas labelled as "Goliath bird-eater tarantulas" last time I was at Repticon. They were $50, and, although I am not experienced in tarantula identification, they looked like a Theraphosa species.

Sounds pretty in line with what you'd see at an expo. At those prices though it had to be stirmi if they were Theraphosa. Unsexed T. blondi slings go for $200+, iirc.

 

[The Mantis Menagerie]

These were not even slings. The tarantulas had about a 4'' leg span.

 

[Arachnophoric]

These were not even slings. The tarantulas had about a 4'' leg span.

Yeah, definitely not T. blondi.

 

[Theneil]

Sounds pretty in line with what you'd see at an expo. At those prices though it had to be stirmi if they were Theraphosa. Unsexed T. blondi slings go for $200+, iirc.

Price seems fair if it is actually a T. blondi. Pretty steep for a T. stirmi.

They can cost that much but i have seen them from reliable sources for almost half of that (from a reliable source). I

even saw them for under 50each (just had to buy a lot of 250x LOL)

NOTE: My knowledge is basically limited to the USA market. Not sure what the standard prices in Canada are or how potentially different availability might affect the prices there.

 

[Arachnophoric]

Price seems fair if it is actually a T. blondi. Pretty steep for a T. stirmi.

They can cost that much but i have seen them from reliable sources for almost half of that (from a reliable source). I

even saw them for under 50each (just had to buy a lot of 250x LOL)

NOTE: My knowledge is basically limited to the USA market. Not sure what the standard prices in Canada are or how potentially different availability might affect the prices there.

$50 for a blondi sling seems fair? I must be out of the loop on things looking up a vendor whos considered pretty reliable in the USA, they're selling a small juvenile for $175, but it's a sexed male.

 

[Theneil]

$50 for a blondi sling seems fair? I must be out of the loop on things looking up a vendor whos considered pretty reliable in the USA, they're selling a small juvenile for $175, but it's a sexed male.

Like i said, needed to buy 250 of them to get that price. LOL. Buying individually i think i saw about 135.

 

[Arachnophoric]

Like i said, needed to buy 250 of them to get that price. LOL. Buying individually i think i saw about 135.

Ah, totally missed that bit! That makes more sense lmao.

Now I have to wonder if anyone really did drop $12k on 250 blondi slings.

 

[Theneil]

Ah, totally missed that bit! That makes more sense lmao.

Now I have to wonder if anyone really did drop $12k on 250 blondi slings.

I don't know. LOL

 

[Bigme213]

Chances are in a pet shop it’s not blondi

 

[Squid]

Chances are in a pet shop it’s not blondi

I didn’t specify in the post but it’s an individual run store rather than a chain, I’m pretty sure the majority of the tarantulas there are the guys personal collection that he’s selling.
That being said though he had three Goliath birdeaters and they more than likely aren’t all blondis but I wouldn’t be too surprised if one of them was

 

[Bigme213]

I didn’t specify in the post but it’s an individual run store rather than a chain, I’m pretty sure the majority of the tarantulas there are the guys personal collection that he’s selling.
That being said though he had three Goliath birdeaters and they more than likely aren’t all blondis but I wouldn’t be too surprised if one of them was

Well if she’s got hairy knees it’s blondi in which case that’s about what they go for. If it’s stirmi they’re usually closer to 100 than 300

 

[Nightstalker47]

To all the US members, keep in mind that these are Canadian prices, our dollar is significantly weaker then yours. 300 CAN comes out to roughly 225 US.

Most pet shops will not carry blondi, its almost always WC stirmi. Its not a great price IMO, I would personally look for CB slings, you could get several for the same amount...and they grow like weeds anyway.

 

[Bigme213]

Personally I would rather stirmi anyway but I wouldn’t 3 bills for one