How much research did you do before getting your Tarantula/s?

[charm271]

There seems to be all different levels of knowledge out there. My question is how much knowledge did you start out with when getting your first tarantula/s? I did some before getting my first tarantula (a curly hair), I found out early on there are different temperaments (before I though all tarantulas where like the red knee in temperament and in housing requirements) to tarantulas and some of the very basic requirements of the curly hair tarantula. The seller I got my tarantula from at least knew what was good for a novice. If I had gone to the pet store at that time I would have walked out with a colbalt blue and been to the hospital that evening. Did any of us start out with alot of knowledge? Is the only way to really learn about keeping any "pet" is jumping in feet first after you have all the required supplies?

 

[freedumbdclxvi]

I did a bit of research before buying our first T, a G rosea. However, I didn't really get into the research for each species until I wanted my second species, an A avicularia.

 

[panterafreak21]

After i bought my first T i began researching other sp. but i didnt end up buying my second for a yr..... i would say you can never reaserch enough. but when you feel you have some good knowledge about your next T then its time to buy.... No matter the sp, i always recommend starting with a sling, If its going to be an old world T theres no question you should start with slings. CONFIDENCE IS KEY.

 

[Formerphobe]

I'll go ahead and date myself... Before I got my first tarantula, circa 1978, there was precious little info available. It helped that I was working for a pet distributor and could pretty much order whatever critter books I wanted, and at wholesale prices to boot. I was also in charge of the reptile and invert room where I got hands on experience before bringing home my first B. smithi several months later. When I got back into inverts a few years ago I was amazed at the books in print and the information available on the internet. I confess that when I got back into Ts in 2008, I just went to the local Petco and picked up a WC MF G. rosea for a few bucks. I only needed one tarantula for a medical zoology class I was taking... She got me hook, line and sinker. (RIP 'Ramoth'.) The collection is now 50 something strong.

Whenever I consider getting a species that I am unfamiliar with, I research environment of origin and talk to as many keepers as possible to get the general consensus on recommended husbandry for that particular species well before purchase. I have had to do some seat of the pants research on receipt of gift Ts and some online order freebies. There have been the occasional, "OMG, what am I going to do with this T" moments.

 

[Chris_Skeleton]

Did about two months of research before I got my girlfriend a G. rosea, another month before I got my own, and haven't stopped since.

 

[le-thomas]

I researched for about 3 weeks, which was probably a little more than I needed, but I still made noob mistakes even then. Now I can just look over the information available on a certain species and would be able to care for it after just about 10 minutes of research. Tarantulas are great that way.

 

[Vespula]

11 years worth. I got into tarantulas at 6yrs old. My parents wouldn't let me actually get one, though, so I did the next best thing. I started reading every book and source I could about them. When I learned how to use the Internet, I started reading online sources and caresheets. When I was 17 I finally got my first tarantula: my little B. smithi. I havent stopped since.

 

[Bugmom]

Species specific research? Not much. I've always had an interest in inverts and herps so I have always read stuff related to them, even when I wasn't keeping any. I guess I can't say I've done "research" so much as absorbed bits of info here and there for the last 15 years.

I dove head first learning as much as possible when my A. chalcodes wandered into my yard a couple months ago and reminded me how much I love tarantulas and just, insects in general. I was already planning a degree in biology - I owe it to Baldi for helping me narrow that degree down to entomology. Good girl

Sent from my SAMSUNG using Tapatalk 2

 

[SuzukiSwift]

Unfortunately I hadn't done any research when I got my first, it was going to be a present to a friend as a joke. Ended up liking her so much that I kept her instead of giving her to him lol I feel very bad about the whole thing now, I have a new respect for spiders. I made many mistakes by not doing enough research when I first got her, but soon after I looked for information religiously and now she's very happy =)

If you want to get a tarantula I can't stress how important it is to do research on what the species requires to live comfortably first! They're amazing creatures and deserve the best care you can provide them with! =)

 

[BoehmeiBabe]

I researched for months, just on the basics of tarantulas, before I got my T, reading books, talking to breeders on their reccomendations, checking different websites and forums on information. As for species specific not too much, only when I decided on the species I was getting did I really delve into specifics. wouldnt have had it any other way

 

[spiderengineer]

I was one of those kids that love nature. I was always reading biology books, field guides, and pet care books. I watched documentaries on the discovery channel all the time (anybody ever remember bug week almost as important to me than shark week.) before it change into the garbage that it has become now. Hell I was going to major in entomology for the longest time, but my mom said their was no money in that and I would be broke all my life. Sadly I then became an engineer and still have regrets of not becoming a entomologist, but then again at least I have money for this hobby :biggrin:. So for me it was more on the experience side that I lacked then knowledge, which I found out are two completely different things in dealing with T's.

 

[poisoned]

None. My first T was given to me as a gift. I was always saying to my girlfriend it would be cool to own one, but actually I've known nothing about them. One day, I came home and found a B. smithi in gravel filled enclosure. It was rehoused the same day and I ordered my next T in 2 weeks

 

[rockhopper]

I got a tarantula and a book from the pet store the same day when I was a kid. So absolutely none! Now I do quite a but before getting a species.

 

[skar]

Uh . . I did No research at all . I saw a pretty blue versi sling and got it, no problems.
Now I am comfortable and have understanding of their needs.

 

[advan]

I research environment of origin

I can't emphasize this enough!

I also like to read papers on the species.

 

[Anonymity82]

I didn't do any actual research at first. The care guide they gave me was pretty spot on though. I learned this after I started researching. Luckily, my first tarantula was a G. rosea who's about as easy to care for as a box of sand.

 

[Aviara]

I did about a week's worth of heavy research before I got my Grammostola rosea, but I found the most valuable research was done immediately after purchasing her. When I actually had a tarantula, I had a ton of questions that never occured to me beforehand. So I really dove into the research once I brought my first tarantula home. Now, I do a good deal of research on any species before purchasing it, although it is also easier for me to know which questions to ask and to find answers quickly, so the research process is far more efficient.

 

[emc37]

When I was 12 I held my first tarantula (a G. rosea), and from then on I was hooked! :biggrin: My mother, of course, didn't understand my enthusiasm :sarcasm: But when I was away at college and able to dedicate some time and resources to researching them, I bought the TKG3 (I read it cover to cover) and started lurking on the forums for about a month or so. After learning the difference between NW/OW, venom toxicity, general temperaments, potential health problems and what to do about them, and housing/care requirements, I bought 5 Avic avic slings about 3 years ago and am now up to 18 Ts. Ironically, now that I'm back home again after graduating, my mom loves to watch my Ts, is always wanting to know more about them, and even has a "favorite," my GBB. (I caught her baby-talking him the other day, telling him that he is "a very pretty spider".) :laugh:

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Honestly I didnt do any research because when I got my first tarantula.... I was age 12 or 13
I didnt ever use google to research them , and the library probably had no books..
Ill-y informed my first Avic died due to lack of humidity & the wrong substrate
I did all my research after I got my 3rd T G rosea:biggrin:

 

[Theist 17]

While I would love to say I read the TKG cover to cover, I didn't.

Instead, I used my considerable Google-fu and did a large amount of research online. This forum and the Q&A forum were a large part of that research. I used the search function extensively (gasp!) and learned tons that way.

When I felt comfortable with taking on the responsibility of caring for a spider, I ordered my G. pulchripes sling, now confirmed to be female, named Persephone.