How many slings is too many for a beginner?

[Xenocide]

I know this question almost can’t be answered as everyone’s limits and schedules are different so I’m gonna ask for people with larger collections and other newer keepers starting their journey, when did you personally cap out for a period of time and say enough is enough, I need to focus on what’s in front of me before I advance my collect any further? I’m currently at 12 slings. At first I thought 4 would be enough, then 8, now I’m at 12 and still, I’m browsing sites. It’s addicting. I could see my cap to settle on for the winter comfortably being 20, I’m also laid off in winters which helps. What was your experience with this inner drive to collect but remaining realistic on what’s best for you and your T’s? They are gonna get bigger is gonna be the eye opener. My space would probably be capped at 20ish without some major rearrangements as adults is my estimate.

 

[viper69]

I stopped at 1 when I first started. I waited years before I bought another one. Why? Because I didn't want to spread my inexperience across a collection. This happens a bit.

And most importantly I felt it important to learn as much as I could about these animals in captivity before I rushed off and collected them like skittles.

Also, I find the use of the word "addicting" a bit overboard, not by you, but by everyone that uses it. What I really think is going on for most is "BOREDOM", so they collect whatever they think is cool/pretty without really even understanding what they have, simply because these animals are not very active.

 

[Gutz323]

I know this question almost can’t be answered as everyone’s limits and schedules are different so I’m gonna ask for people with larger collections and other newer keepers starting their journey, when did you personally cap out for a period of time and say enough is enough, I need to focus on what’s in front of me before I advance my collect any further? I’m currently at 12 slings. At first I thought 4 would be enough, then 8, now I’m at 12 and still, I’m browsing sites. It’s addicting. I could see my cap to settle on for the winter comfortably being 20, I’m also laid off in winters which helps. What was your experience with this inner drive to collect but remaining realistic on what’s best for you and your T’s? They are gonna get bigger is gonna be the eye opener. My space would probably be capped at 20ish without some major rearrangements as adults is my estimate.

It is like asking 'how long is a piece of string?' Everyone is different. If you are a beginner (like me) don't go too overboard with too many species. Get a small collection and try to learn as much about the individuals you have got, otherwise you will end up with too many, before you even know how to look after the first one. There is no rush, tarantulas are not going to disappear off of the face of the earth.
I have been into the hobby for less than a year, so far I have 2 adults (both female) 2 juveniles, and 5 slings, and I don't plan on getting too many more for a while unless something takes my fancy.. I found that starting off with new worlds (obviously), that do not require too much moisture (humidity) is what worked for me. Don't think about numbers of T's, just concentrate on looking after what you have got. And don't take on more than you can handle.

 

[viper69]

Don't think about numbers of T's, just concentrate on looking after what you have got. And don't take on more than you can handle.

so true

 

[Timc]

At first it’s best to be thought of like a cat or dog; a long term responsibility. There’s a lot of people that start all “addicted” to the hobby, then their interest wanes, they decide they don’t think tarantulas are as cool as they did before, and have a bunch of spiders they struggle to find a new home for, provided they even care that much. Start with a couple to keep it interesting, give it a few years, if you still have the itch then start building a collection. Personally, I started with one, then two, some things in life happened and I went to 0, decided I missed them and really enjoyed the hobby, went back to one, then two, and after a few years started making purchases of larger numbers.

 

[Xenocide]

I stopped at 1 when I first started. I waited years before I bought another one. Why? Because I didn't want to spread my inexperience across a collection. This happens a bit.

And most importantly I felt it important to learn as much as I could about these animals in captivity before I rushed off and collected them like skittles.

Also, I find the use of the word "addicting" a bit overboard, not by you, but by everyone that uses it. What I really think is going on for most is "BOREDOM", so they collect whatever they think is cool/pretty without really even understanding what they have, simply because these animals are not very active.

Good points. In my defense I’ve raised one G. Rosea that I had for many years and raised to an adult so I kinda know what I’m in for to a degree. Addicting does sound somewhat.. inconsiderate but I can’t say I’m bored of my collection I just research lots of species and research the ones that appeal to me extensively, then get some of them. My 12 slings are all doing something different, some burrowed, some burying off the entrance to their dens to premolt/molt. Others out in the open, some feeding. I can’t say some of those points strike a chord with me in particular but I get what you’re saying too. Animals aren’t as simple as skittles or objective objects, for me personally.

It is like asking 'how long is a piece of string?' Everyone is different. If you are a beginner (like me) don't go too overboard with too many species. Get a small collection and try to learn as much about the individuals you have got, otherwise you will end up with too many, before you even know how to look after the first one. There is no rush, tarantulas are not going to disappear off of the face of the earth.
I have been into the hobby for less than a year, so far I have 2 adults (both female) 2 juveniles, and 5 slings, and I don't plan on getting too many more for a while unless something takes my fancy.. I found that starting off with new worlds (obviously), that do not require too much moisture (humidity) is what worked for me. Don't think about numbers of T's, just concentrate on looking after what you have got. And don't take on more than you can handle.

Not thinking of number of T’s is a good reminder. I’m more so saying what my endgame would be on where I would have to draw the line, if it came to that amount.

At first it’s best to be thought of like a cat or dog; a long term responsibility. There’s a lot of people that start all “addicted” to the hobby, then their interest wanes, they decide they don’t think tarantulas are as cool as they did before, and have a bunch of spiders they struggle to find a new home for, provided they even care that much. Start with a couple to keep it interesting, give it a few years, if you still have the itch then start building a collection. Personally, I started with one, then two, some things in life happened and I went to 0, decided I missed them and really enjoyed the hobby, went back to one, then two, and after a few years started making purchases of larger numbers.

That would be sad to buy a heap of living creatures and then let them collect dust. Unfortunately, I’m sure it happens. I’ve had a void missing ever since the gap between my first T and now these slings so I don’t see that happening for me but it’s a good reminder, anything is possible.

 

[USNGunner]

Not thinking of number of T’s is a good reminder. I’m more so saying what my endgame would be on where I would have to draw the line, if it came to that amount.

I now have 11 a year in. A mix of aboreals, terrestrials, and some dwarf species. I am at a "happy place" with my T's. I like the dwarves, I love colorful (My GBB/versicolor), and the aboreals (Psalmapeous). I have a red runner colony for feeders, and I learn something everyday.

I catch myself saying "shoo shoo Grandpa!", which is what my grandson tells me if he catches me looking at tarantula porn or the classified ads here.

Until I mentioned the P. Victorii and he said "Get it now Grandpa!", and we did.

There are so many very interesting tarantula's out there, I can see where folks get carried away. Frankly the psalmo's were my wakeup call. "Wait, they get how big? How big of an enclosure?"

I'm kidding. Kind of. And while I have all that covered, as they mature and I move them to their bigger homes, I look at the empty small enclosures and think;

"Well, you know, it's already sitting here........................................"

Vicious circles.

 

[l4nsky]

When my collection started to grow, I made a personal rule where I re-evaluate every 15 tarantulas or so. If I don't have plans for them (for example selling spare females or sending males for breeding loans), then I have to have their adult accommodations on hand and standing by before I acquire more.

 

[Xenocide]

I now have 11 a year in. A mix of aboreals, terrestrials, and some dwarf species. I am at a "happy place" with my T's. I like the dwarves, I love colorful (My GBB/versicolor), and the aboreals (Psalmapeous). I have a red runner colony for feeders, and I learn something everyday.

I catch myself saying "shoo shoo Grandpa!", which is what my grandson tells me if he catches me looking at tarantula porn or the classified ads here.

Until I mentioned the P. Victorii and he said "Get it now Grandpa!", and we did.

There are so many very interesting tarantula's out there, I can see where folks get carried away. Frankly the psalmo's were my wakeup call. "Wait, they get how big? How big of an enclosure?"

I'm kidding. Kind of. And while I have all that covered, as they mature and I move them to their bigger homes, I look at the empty small enclosures and think;

"Well, you know, it's already sitting here........................................"

Vicious circles.

I love this entire response . I think you’ve stayed well within yourself control a year in imo. Did you ever have T’s before? What drew you into them so late in the game? I mean that with the upmost respect. I have the same “problem” with having two LP’s and a Phormictopus Auratus sling. They are gonna get big but I’m looking forward to that and have reserved space for them. Then there’s my C. Lividus sling that my wife wasn’t insanely crazy on . I have the same mindset, I ordered 3 Jamie’s enclosures, one sling and two juveniles. They didn’t come in time for my first batch of slings so they now resides in deli cups. I thought I can’t let these go to waste! Second order placed. Then the third. I’m just trying to draw my ultimate line before it’s too late and I AM overwhelmed, I guess. I know I could handle high teens low 20’s, that I have faith in but beyond that . Then there will be species I want later on. Just trying to be patient and mindful right now.

When my collection started to grow, I made a personal rule where I re-evaluate every 15 tarantulas or so. If I don't have plans for them (for example selling spare females or sending males for breeding loans), then I have to have their adult accommodations on hand and standing by before I acquire more.

What is your current collection at?

 

[USNGunner]

When my collection started to grow, I made a personal rule where I re-evaluate every 15 tarantulas or so. If I don't have plans for them (for example selling spare females or sending males for breeding loans), then I have to have their adult accommodations on hand and standing by before I acquire more.

In this lies wisdom.

I love this entire response . I think you’ve stayed well within yourself control a year in imo. Did you ever have T’s before? What drew you into them so late in the game? I mean that with the upmost respect. I have the same “problem” with having two LP’s and a Phormictopus Auratus sling. They are gonna get big but I’m looking forward to that and have reserved space for them. Then there’s my C. Lividus sling that my wife wasn’t insanely crazy on . I have the same mindset, I ordered 3 Jamie’s enclosures, one sling and two juveniles. They didn’t come in time for my first batch of slings so they now resides in deli cups. I thought I can’t let these go to waste! Second order placed. Then the third. I’m just trying to draw my ultimate line before it’s too late and I AM overwhelmed, I guess. I know I could handle high teens low 20’s, that I have faith in but beyond that . Then there will be species I want later on. Just trying to be patient and mindful right now.

Nope. No Tarantulas. We've kept snakes before, I got huge into herp's when I was stationed in San Diego back in the 90's. I had quite a monitor collection going. I loved those guys. Then I retired and had to get a real job.

My grandson (13) got the T-ball rolling. If you look up my posts I've wrote up how I became a tarantula wrangler by accident. So in studying to keep his alive, and watching the little tank/dozer Hamorii in action, I got hooked. So I ordered my GBB while he was on vaca to surprise him and got a pumpking patch freebie. Those were my first two.

To boot, his mother would only let him have the one, and that she went that far surprised the hell out of me, so he lives vicariously through my collection as well. He's my "roach whisperer" as well.

So it's an "our" thing. We make a good team and we're learning together..

 

[YungRasputin]

in the past I’ve never really had a “collection” moreso just like 3-5 specimens at a time - now I’m currently working building up a collection proper and my limit is how many enclosures I can fit on 3 bookshelves in the room I have specifically dedicated for my arachnids

what’s key here is husbandry and experience and gauging the 2 - i feel comfortable expanding my collection because i have husbandry down pat and have accrued behavioral experience as well

and what’s also important to note is *what* species of spider you’re keeping and what level you’re honestly at

like being a novice that’s unfamiliar/inexperienced with spider behavior, basic husbandry spanning all the varying biome types, etc and going out and stacking up on a dozen OW’s is highly ill advised for example - why? because a fast and defensive 3/4 inch specimen isn’t that hard to deal with but a 5-8 inch specimen would be if you don’t have that background experience first - let alone the problems that can occur with improper husbandry

it would become extremely overwhelming super quick - in this respect it’s good to bare that in mind when composing and building your collection

 

[Neonblizzard]

I think a basic check for caring for me is "if they were an adult tomorrow where would i put them"

I have 5 and i would love more, i see people selling up on different sites and would love to take them in... The fact is though i simply don't have the space.

So instead that just motivates me to focus and take care of the ones i have. I don't want to jeapordise the care of the spiders i got already and end up hoarding just because of my own impulsiveness.

I understand its a bit different in the US because shipping is so expensive so buying multiple spiders is common practice, but it's also very very common to see people end up with 100 slings then a couple years down the line you need 100 adult enclosures and nowhere to put them - that's not right to me, we have to be responsible about the animals we buy

 

[Wolfram1]

I started with 2 because i wanted a female and wasnt sure how fragile they are, not fragile at all it turns out and initially i hadnt planned on getting any more spiders.

a year later a friend of mine was searching for a new home for 5 of his 6 adult Lasiodora parahybana females and i decided to adopt 2 of them

Pamphobeteus sp. grow quick but getting 2 huge spiders right from the get go was awesome.

Later i adopted another spider from the same friend, a juvenile male T. vagans. Incredible spider but he will most likely mature this winter or next spring.

It took me three years before i decided i liked my animals enougth and that i could get some more without turning into a crazy "(cat)spider" person.

In those 3 years i kept browsing ABs for more and more information on different species.

This summer i got 8 different Poecilotheria species, 11 slings total because i just find them most beautiful and interesting. I also really like large and hardy spiders.

I know i went a little crazy there and at some point i want a female of all of them and contribute to keeping them alive in captivity but for now they are all unsexed slings.

Potentially i might adopt 2 more adult spiders soon but thats it for me for a while, i need to keep myself in check when ot comes to adding more animals to my collection until i sorted out their adult enclosures.

i plan to get some glass cages made

 

[l4nsky]

What is your current collection at?

36. All but 4 either have an adult enclosure waiting or will be gracing someone else's collection upon maturity.

 

[Xenocide]

Nope. No Tarantulas. We've kept snakes before, I got huge into herp's when I was stationed in San Diego back in the 90's. I had quite a monitor collection going. I loved those guys. Then I retired and had to get a real job.

My grandson (13) got the T-ball rolling. If you look up my posts I've wrote up how I became a tarantula wrangler by accident. So in studying to keep his alive, and watching the little tank/dozer Hamorii in action, I got hooked. So I ordered my GBB while he was on vaca to surprise him and got a pumpking patch freebie. Those were my first two.

To boot, his mother would only let him have the one, and that she went that far surprised the hell out of me, so he lives vicariously through my collection as well. He's my "roach whisperer" as well.

So it's an "our" thing. We make a good team and we're learning together..

That’s a super cool backstory man. I hope I’m as fortunate as you someday and my kids or grandkids will carry on the T torch. My two youngest are fascinated but too young. I allow my 5 year old daughter to wrangle me the mealworms, pass them over to me and get the syringe filled with water which she then passes on to me and I fill the dish or let her fill it outside of the enclosure after she’s goes and rinses it off. Little steps but she loves it and asks every day if it’s time to feed or water . The youngest just goes “Spider eat!” while I hold the enclosure for him to look at before I put it back up. The oldest likes to help decorate the foliage in the enclosures when I set them up but isn’t as interested in the spiders themselves. It’s been a fun getting the family involved in little, safe ways and my wife is more interested than I thought, she’s partial to the GBB sling. Good times. All my T enclosures are high enough up where no kids, cats or even my 9 year old can access them, only an adult.

in the past I’ve never really had a “collection” moreso just like 3-5 specimens at a time - now I’m currently working building up a collection proper and my limit is how many enclosures I can fit on 3 bookshelves in the room I have specifically dedicated for my arachnids

what’s key here is husbandry and experience and gauging the 2 - i feel comfortable expanding my collection because i have husbandry down pat and have accrued behavioral experience as well

and what’s also important to note is *what* species of spider you’re keeping and what level you’re honestly at

like being a novice that’s unfamiliar/inexperienced with spider behavior, basic husbandry spanning all the varying biome types, etc and going out and stacking up on a dozen OW’s is highly ill advised for example - why? because a fast and defensive 3/4 inch specimen isn’t that hard to deal with but a 5-8 inch specimen would be if you don’t have that background experience first - let alone the problems that can occur with improper husbandry

it would become extremely overwhelming super quick - in this respect it’s good to bare that in mind when composing and building your collection

I definitely agree that going in green with a bunch of OW’s would be foolish. I have one and stopped there which was still foolish in itself but it leaves me one to focus and learn, grow with without becoming overwhelmed.

I think a basic check for caring for me is "if they were an adult tomorrow where would i put them"

I have 5 and i would love more, i see people selling up on different sites and would love to take them in... The fact is though i simply don't have the space.

So instead that just motivates me to focus and take care of the ones i have. I don't want to jeapordise the care of the spiders i got already and end up hoarding just because of my own impulsiveness.

I understand its a bit different in the US because shipping is so expensive so buying multiple spiders is common practice, but it's also very very common to see people end up with 100 slings then a couple years down the line you need 100 adult enclosures and nowhere to put them - that's not right to me, we have to be responsible about the animals we buy

The thought of having 100 makes me sweat a little and gives anxiety. I respect the folks that do it and still take superb care of there collections but I know I will never be that guy. My houses room, my family and my own personal limits would never allow it. I could have room for about 18-22 ish tops based off where I would feel comfortable keeping them without making any modifications. I have cats and younger kids so that limits me even further, I can’t just have shelves lying out and about with T’s on them for little paws or hands to get curious with.

I started with 2 because i wanted a female and wasnt sure how fragile they are, not fragile at all it turns out and initially i hadnt planned on getting any more spiders.

a year later a friend of mine was searching for a new home for 5 of his 6 adult Lasiodora parahybana females and i decided to adopt 2 of them

Pamphobeteus sp. grow quick but getting 2 huge spiders right from the get go was awesome.

Later i adopted another spider from the same friend, a juvenile male T. vagans. Incredible spider but he will most likely mature this winter or next spring.

It took me three years before i decided i liked my animals enougth and that i could get some more without turning into a crazy "(cat)spider" person.

In those 3 years i kept browsing ABs for more and more information on different species.

This summer i got 8 different Poecilotheria species, 11 slings total because i just find them most beautiful and interesting. I also really like large and hardy spiders.

I know i went a little crazy there and at some point i want a female of all of them and contribute to keeping them alive in captivity but for now they are all unsexed slings.

Potentially i might adopt 2 more adult spiders soon but thats it for me for a while, i need to keep myself in check when ot comes to adding more animals to my collection until i sorted out their adult enclosures.

i plan to get some glass cages made

That jump to 8 pokies must have been nerve racking, yet exciting. They are my favorite genus but I’m not ready yet. More of a reason to stop for now to save some room for later, my logistics won’t allow much more room than the low 20’s tops if I really wanted to go crazy. I think if you can come out of this with 8 mature and healthy pokies and your enjoying it, haven’t had any debacles, which I have faith you won’t, you are prepared for anything at that point, loosely speaking.

 

[Finikan]

I definitely agree that going in green with a bunch of OW’s would be foolish. I have one and stopped there which was still foolish in itself but it leaves me one to focus and learn, grow with without becoming overwhelmed.

I got my first OBT as a freebie, it was my number 8 addition. I can't tell you the order I've gotten all my spiders in, but that one sticks out because I couldn't believe it and was so scared to unpack it when I saw the label! I ended up watching some rehousing videos by Tom and getting to it with three catch cups ready.

 

[joossa]

I have 9 slings and I see them all as individual pets still rather than a collection. I figure if I ever consider the Ts I have as a collection, then I have crossed the threshold that goes deeper into the hobby where more of my time is being taken up.

 

[Wolfram1]

That jump to 8 pokies must have been nerve racking, yet exciting. They are my favorite genus but I’m not ready yet. More of a reason to stop for now to save some room for later, my logistics won’t allow much more room than the low 20’s tops if I really wanted to go crazy. I think if you can come out of this with 8 mature and healthy pokies and your enjoying it, haven’t had any debacles, which I have faith you won’t, you are prepared for anything at that point, loosely speaking.

No not at all, i have been catching and releasing all sorts of animals since i was a small child, i treat them with the respect they deserve but none are out to get you.

I never joined into the whole old world fear, i go by my own experiences and what i feel i can safely deal with. I am much more concerned keeping my guests safe and informed. Its sad but it forces me to scare them initially. I feel like most of the fear that is spread about those animals is spread in order to keep brash or simply very young people safe and that sometimes scares away some who might otherwise have a great time keeping them and thats ok, better safe than sorry.

In my 3 years keeping spiders i have never had anything go wrong and i dont plan on starting now.

they are molting fine, the winter will be the first hurdle since i keep all my animals in my bedroom for now and i wont heat it excessively, by then they will hopefully all have gotten big enough to withstand some temps around 18°C. Poecilotheria species are said to be very hardy and i don't foresee any problems but a weak animal might not make it. Unless my luck holds i wont have 11 females at the end and i will give the males away to be bred anyway but u are right space is the main issue when it comes to new additions. I will get a new shelf just for them soon.

 

[8 legged]

I know this question almost can’t be answered as everyone’s limits and schedules are different so I’m gonna ask for people with larger collections and other newer keepers starting their journey, when did you personally cap out for a period of time and say enough is enough, I need to focus on what’s in front of me before I advance my collect any further? I’m currently at 12 slings. At first I thought 4 would be enough, then 8, now I’m at 12 and still, I’m browsing sites. It’s addicting. I could see my cap to settle on for the winter comfortably being 20, I’m also laid off in winters which helps. What was your experience with this inner drive to collect but remaining realistic on what’s best for you and your T’s? They are gonna get bigger is gonna be the eye opener. My space would probably be capped at 20ish without some major rearrangements as adults is my estimate.

All animals that can still adequately look after ten years from now are allowed. You need space, time and the necessary change. A terrarium and the contents for an adult specimen cost more than a Deli cup! The animals are bought quickly, but you should be aware of your responsibility beforehand. You wouldn't be the first to screw it up...

 

[spideyspinneret78]

All animals that can still adequately look after ten years from now are allowed. You need space, time and the necessary change. A terrarium and the contents for an adult specimen cost more than a Deli cup! The animals are bought quickly, but you should be aware of your responsibility beforehand. You wouldn't be the first to screw it up...

The enclosures really are the most expensive part of having tarantulas, especially large numbers of them. I recently invested in a soldering iron and a few other tools so that I can start making my own enclosures....or at least modifying containers more easily without having to shell out more money. The expense of the enclosures and the fact that I don't have any more room on my shelves are what limits me.