Help me choose species

[kestrel123]

Back to this -

For the species that I'd be looking at getting first, are there ones that you'd recommend getting as a sling or NOT getting as a sling?
I would prefer not to get a tiny sling at first (worry about care) but wouldn't be totally opposed to one that was hearty and a faster grower.

Ideally I'd only be getting 2"+ spiders, but some are harder to find, so....

- B Boehmei / Klaasi (slow growers, can find larger so think will try to get 3-4+)
- T Cyaneolum - slow grower, but harder to find... Recommended for a newbie to raise a smaller sling or no?
- C Versicolor - sounds like they're doable as long as you don't keep too much moisture
- G Iheringi - "medium" growth speed is what I have listed. Might be a better sling?
- A Genic - "medium-fast" growth. Better sling?

The rest will come after I have a little experience under my belt. Including any dwarves just because of their speed.

 

[Charliemum]

Start with albo, then bracy , acanthoscurria, Thrixopelma, Psalmopoeus, once you can rehouse a cross psalmo without incident then your ready for ow . That would be my order was my order except albo n Brachypelma were the other way round n I got several Grammostola in between a few avic ect too. But no one can really give you an order of get these, you know what's right for you and what sp attracted you most, that's the t you should start with, research research research then get the viv ect then once you have everything ready get your t. I have a feeling it will be albo though I noticed is the only must have on your list .

I said only getting 10 max, 4 years later and I have 100+ sitting on my side , these are extremely addictive, the more I learned about these amazing creatures the more I needed to experience every one. Some ppl can keep only a few like @ladyratri but most of us can't control the urge to get more, t's =happiness .
There is no right or wrong number or time frame though, as long as you can give the care they need and are comfortable and safe doing so crack on .

Back to this -

For the species that I'd be looking at getting first, are there ones that you'd recommend getting as a sling or NOT getting as a sling?
I would prefer not to get a tiny sling at first (worry about care) but wouldn't be totally opposed to one that was hearty and a faster grower.

Ideally I'd only be getting 2"+ spiders, but some are harder to find, so....

- B Boehmei / Klaasi (slow growers, can find larger so think will try to get 3-4+)
- T Cyaneolum - slow grower, but harder to find... Recommended for a newbie to raise a smaller sling or no?
- C Versicolor - sounds like they're doable as long as you don't keep too much moisture
- G Iheringi - "medium" growth speed is what I have listed. Might be a better sling?
- A Genic - "medium-fast" growth. Better sling?

The rest will come after I have a little experience under my belt. Including any dwarves just because of their speed.

I started with a 1cm Brachypelma baumgarteni sling nothing wrong with starting with a teeny sling, n tbh imo better because you grow with your t they are more delicate and need a little extra fussing but you do that with your first t's anyways so doesn't matter if its 1cm or 6inches really, again it's what you feel comfortable with.
With small slings you get the joy of feeding twice a week and interacting through that older t's (juvie up) is a once a week job so again if you have the time for a sling ting then why not but if your looking for something that needs less care go bigger . It's all down to you n what your comfortable with we can give you advice but in the end you know what your capable of not us

 

[Charliemum]

Boehmei are one of the faster growing Brachypelma they also like to kick if you breath. But they are pretty n fun to keep. Slings are fine take a bit to get out of the sling stage but once they hit 2inches they moult alot more frequently.
Thrixopelma cyaneolum ah Thrixopelma are my favourite genus but coz they are crazy, they don't know if they want to dig or climb and everyone of my Thrixopelma slings have had an amazing food response even going for my fingers through the viv wall, I love them but they are not everyone's cup of tea. Thrixopelma also aren't as common so you would probably have to start with a sling regardless.
Versi go bigger my boy has been a pain in my side since day 1, he won't take food unless I offer it to him ie tong feed (I have bamboo tongs just for him!) Flings himself off the roof all the time, I had to put several inches of moss on his sub to stop him hurting himself, and they grow slowly my boy is 4 in January and he still hasn't matured. Itsy maybe a special case but versi are a faf on imo. Go older less hassle.
Ihiringhi are great I have raised 2 one was bought as a Juvie about 2.5/3 inches n the other I raised from a sling . You can't go wrong with any Grammostola ay any age they are tanks with a great food response, same for your last choice geniculata amazing tanks although I found my geniculata to be less skittish them my ihiringhi, but great at any age for both.

Slings are not hard to keep, as long as you get their care right they will thrive for you plus then you get to see every stage of their life something I think most ppl take for granted, I mean how many ppl really get to experience a t at every stage?
I would always go sling if I can its to good an opportunity to pass up

 

[ladyratri]

Ideally I'd only be getting 2"+ spiders, but some are harder to find, so....

The first T I got, in February 2022, was a .75" A. purpurea sling. April 2022 I added a 1.5" C. versicolor. When they were little and kept in deli cups, I saw them quite often. The purpurea (female, not full size yet) has always been more bold than the versi (male, passed a few months ago) was, and I continue to see her out exploring regularly.

Freshly molted A. purpurea

• ladyratri
• Jul 3, 2024
• 2
• avic avicularia avicularia purpurea female purpurea

Female A. purpurea showing off her gorgeous new clothes.

I added my G. pulchra and two P. irminia (4" female, 1" sling) in October 2022. My irminia girl is... Unusually visible and likes to pose for the camera like a Prima Donna.

P. irminia on the hunt

• ladyratri
• Sep 20, 2024
• 1
• irminia mature female psalmo psalmopoeus psalmopoeus irminia

A rare unobstructed view of my beautiful girl Irma. Believe she's just about 5" DLS now.

To be fair, if I were that beautiful, I'd probably be a bit of a Prima Donna too

I only had those 5 until just this past July. After my versi expired, and with my irminia sling now being a mature male, I had the space to add a few more. I ordered a G. iheringi sling and it turned out to be pretty much a juvi when it arrived. Also likes to pose.

Another modeling career getting underway

• ladyratri
• Oct 13, 2024
• 3
• feeding grammastola grammastola ihrengi juvenile

This one sure seems to like showing off after a good catch.

Good eater, frequently find chilling out in the open or visiting the water dish. Highly recommend.

Really though, when it comes to actually getting to see them, what I have found is that with between 5 and 8, almost every time I check the spider room, there is at least one of them out... So even if someone does hide away for oh say 183 days and counting (I'm looking at you, Lava...) there's always a different one out to admire.

And they are pretty unbearably adorable as little floofy babies... I'd get at least one as a sling.

P. ecclesiasticus "Spot"

• ladyratri
• Nov 24, 2024
• 2
• ecclesiasticus psalmo psalmopoeus psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus sling

I think this one may have molted this weekend. It wasn't interested in food just yet but did...

Friend diversipes

• ladyratri
• Jul 26, 2024
• 5
• new additions ybyrapora ybyrapora diversipes

Newbie #1: Y. diversipes walking the tightrope

PXL_20220911_102051475.jpg

• ladyratri
• Sep 11, 2022
• 5
• avicularia avicularia purpurea

Avicularia purpurea sling looking just a little smug after the first meal in its new enclosure.

Just keep in mind that if they start out crabby, they're pretty likely to grow up crabby too

P. irminia threat pose

• ladyratri
• Feb 16, 2024
• 5
• irminia psalmo psalmopoeus threat pose

"Breathed too close to the vent hole" -- October 2022 vs today. Ok, Spunk, stay mad about it.

 

[sparticus]

Brachypelma slings are hardy, they should be pretty easy to raise, just expect long periods of no activity and slower growth.
C. Versicolor is an easy first arboreal. The biggest issue people have these days with this species in my opinion is restricting water (they need to drink- quite a lot compared to other species, and may not leave their web to do so). Drip a couple drops in their web tunnel a couple times a week, along with plenty of ventilation and they do great.
G. Iheringi is pretty big even as a small sling and grows pretty fast.
A. Genic also eats like crazy and I assume grows pretty quick, I've only had mine a few weeks.
N. Incei or pumpkin patch would be good species to start learning care for really small slings as they are good eaters, fairly hardy, and grow pretty quickly.

 

[kestrel123]

This is why I love forums - thank you all for the insightful, super helpful responses.

I feel better about slings now. I am currently raising a phipiddus regius sling, so I know I can do small, and with them I do need to 'worry' about humidity, so with all of your reassurances, I might do some slings.

I really appreciate every comment, I am soaking it all in.

 

[kestrel123]

Brachypelma slings are hardy, they should be pretty easy to raise, just expect long periods of no activity and slower growth.
C. Versicolor is an easy first arboreal. The biggest issue people have these days with this species in my opinion is restricting water (they need to drink- quite a lot compared to other species, and may not leave their web to do so). Drip a couple drops in their web tunnel a couple times a week, along with plenty of ventilation and they do great.
G. Iheringi is pretty big even as a small sling and grows pretty fast.
A. Genic also eats like crazy and I assume grows pretty quick, I've only had mine a few weeks.
N. Incei or pumpkin patch would be good species to start learning care for really small slings as they are good eaters, fairly hardy, and grow pretty quickly.

I was going to wait for the dwarves like N. Incei because it was recommended by some because of their speed. Do you agree on that, or no? I was thinking after some of the above guys but before Pokie, Phormicoptus etc.

 

[sparticus]

I was going to wait for the dwarves like N. Incei because it was recommended by some because of their speed. Do you agree on that, or no? I was thinking after some of the above guys but before Pokie, Phormicoptus etc.

I don't find them particularly challenging as long as you are prepared that they can move quickly when they want to. Mine will always dart back into their web tunnel (whenever it's an option) once established in the enclosure. I do rehouses inside a bigger empty container in case they bolt, with a catch cup at the ready. As long as you prepare for it they're not that difficult, IMO. N. Incei is the first species I've bred and produced, and I really enjoy them.

 

[kestrel123]

Ok, cool!

I will be over-prepared for rehousing.