Introduce Yourself

showofhands

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 8, 2020
Messages
3
Hello everyone! The pandemic has given me time to explore my own backyard in a deep, detailed way I haven't done since I was a child, which has subsequently re-awoken my childhood fascination with inverts. It has also given me (and surely many people) the opportunity to jump into new hobbies with both feet. Reading through the informative posts on this forum has played a big role in that for me - many thanks to the active contributors and people unafraid to ask questions.

It all started when I obtained half a dozen ghost mantises from mantidkingdom.com earlier this summer and began feeding spiders around the house with excess fruit flies. Since then I have adopted a wayward Steatoda triangulosa and Euagrus chisoseus, both found in my kitchen. Both of these are also tentative ID's so I will be seeking confirmation in the appropriate forums when I have suitable photos to work from. This morning I received my first tarantula: a beautiful little Aphonopelma gabeli from Pinchers and Pokies Exotics. So far I have no regrets: I am really having a blast and the vendors I've dealt with have been wonderful.

Stuff I'd like to have eventually: trapdoors and other mygalomorph spiders, harvestmen, blue death-feigning beetles, and vinegaroons.
 

Nix the Rather Short

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 17, 2020
Messages
1
-takes deep breath and steps up to the podium-
Hello, my name is Sean, though I usually go by Nix when table-top gaming and/or amongst friends. When I first thought about getting a tarantula as a pet, I then spent between two and three months researching what to expect, what is needed, etc.. as the time drew near where I knew I was going to get one (which then turned into three) I relied rather heavily a friend with my last minute questions.

I currently have a T. albopilosus, a G. pulchra/quirogai, an N. incei, and a C. lividus (which I shouldn't have bought being a beginner.. but the pic was super pretty and it's a cute sling). I will be getting, via mail, P. sazimai, G. iheringi, and an Hapalopus spp.

it's been just a couple of weeks now and I've successfully housed and fed all of them.. and rehoused the C.lividus when I read that it liked to burrow deep. They all seem.. content? Both the T. albopilosus and N.incei wander about quite a bit before going back into their dens.

While I do have a pic of the C.lividus, under the red light all you really see is a bit fo butt bump and dirt, while the G. pulchra/quirogai was evidently quite stressed from when I bought it and the entire substrate was sopping wet. I got it home, rehoused, and it immediately walled itself into the burrow I made. I then read that they enjoy around 3" of substrate, so I added a little more while being careful not to disturb the 'sling and keep the entrance clear. It's still hiding there.. so...huzzah?
 

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AcidbathTX

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 23, 2020
Messages
17
Hello people!

I am a prospective new hobbyist located in Texas, looking to get his first tarantula. Previously an aquarist; I could no longer swing the space and energy cost and so downsized until the fish were all gone.

I have zero experience with arachnids, aside from some marbled orb weavers I would catch in the woods in Alaska as a kid.

I have some reservations about what species I should start with. I love the appearance and behavior of the chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, but I worry that it may be too fast for me. I have no interest in handling, I prefer observational pets.

Would a c. cyaneopubescens spiderling be a reasonable first attempt at tarantula keeping? Or am I being too ambitious?
 

David1981

Arachnopeon
Joined
Aug 26, 2020
Messages
16
Hello and good morning from indonesia.
im an animal keeper coming back from 4 year off
about 11 years ago after i got married, i breed cornsnakes and kept some tarantulas also. after my 1st kid i stil breed them, but then time was a big problem so i have to choose and i choose family :p
now 2 new human pets later, and beter time management study , im starting again in the hobby, and started off with tarantulas last year and since couple of months ago with scorpions.

now i have 22 different species of tarantulas. and 11 species of scorpions and soon to be more :p

not mentioning some that i still keep since back then : a ball python, 8 aligator snapping turtles, a common snapping turtle, 2 malayan boxturtle. 2 redeared sliders, a sulcata tortoise, some birds and a dog ;)

i already been around here for some time and now its time to introduce my self i guess :)

cheers !

i can put the list of my tarantulas and scorpions later on in the right thread :)
 

ikeywill

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 24, 2020
Messages
1
good day to all!

Hi! my name is Erwin and I am new to this hobby of keeping tarantula. I got influenced from my cousin seeing how fascinating his T's are. I said to myself I'll just try a few and ended buying 6 different t's during the time of pandemic and now I have added 2 more species and I am not stopping yet. Hopefully my wife will just let me have as much as I can afford. Anyways happy keeping everyone and keep safe.
 

Sarah23

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 24, 2020
Messages
11
Hi! I'm new to the hobby, and to arachnoboards! I have an Avicularia Avicularia named jellybean, and I am hoping to start a collection! I've Had jellybean for almost a year now, and I'm hoping to start a collection with my friend, who also happens to love spiders! I don't know any other hobbyists, and I'm so excited to be able to interact with other people who love tarantulas! I'm so happy to be here, and I'm excited to be in a group that can help me become a better tarantula owner! Have a wonderful day!
 

Goboldlyjumping

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 25, 2020
Messages
1
Hello!

I'm a partially-reformed arachnophobe turned salticidae enthusiast and tarantula admirer. I have a Phidippus Audax that hopped into my life not too long ago that I'm still in the courtship phase of them trusting that I'm not some evil giant with and trying to crush - in the most metaphorical sense - being its owner before I go into the deep end of having a house full of eight-legged beings.
 

Sarah23

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 24, 2020
Messages
11
Hey everyone I just started keeping tarantulas this year even though I should have started last year, ants are my main hobby since they are easy to take care of and you can catch queens outside to start your collection but that’s only because one day I was watch g exotic lairs and I saw a ants Canada video which made me just get caught up in all the ant keeping and stuff I never decided to get a tarantula until now because they cost, I figured out my local pet store which wasn’t a chain pet store had a avicularia avicularia which I heard was a good beginner I did my research and because I kept ants and i just literally spent good money just on some harvester ants I got a avic now here we are I have a avic now which was very hard to get since my mom hates spiders and she just ate her first meal in her new home yesterday and she ate again today which is around three crickets already she is in a big enclosure which I will probably never have to rehouse her out of because it’s huge for her, well it’s great to finally be a tarantula keeper.

-Cam
Thanks!
That's awesome! Same here actually! I owned ants, and then a little while after they died (very sadly, because my dad wouldn't let me open the enclosure to take the dead ones out, and it eventually effected the whole colony. Don't ask me why he wouldn't let me take the dead ones out, there was no logic in that decision) I was like, "Wait, what am I thinking, why don't I just get a tarantula!", Not knowing that it's actually a hobby (at the time), and then it took my a few years to convince my arachnophob mother to let me get one. I too got an avicularia avicularia! I've had him for about a year now, but it doesn't feel like it's been that long. He's about to molt for the second time (his name is Jellybean 😁), and I'm so excited!!! Anyway, sorry for the paragraph, just thought that was cool 😁
My mom's favorite fraze when seeing a spider is "Ew, that's a big one... Let's squish it!", And then I grab it before she can 😂

Whoa! That’s impressive!!! #goals

4 daughters, that’s tough! Girls are much more difficult than boys, so much sass! Haha (but also super fun!) My oldest daughter and my niece I raised are both out of the house, two down, two to go haha - and 4 boys.
That's great! I want to have 21 kids, (mostly adopted, I don't think I could give birth to that many children 😅) when I get older, but that may be a bit ambitious... 😂 It's awesome that you have a bug lover though! The wide world of bugs, insects, and of course arachnids is so fascinating!

Hey guys! My name is Jacob. I am 26. I live in Alabama, USA. I was a LONG time arachnophobe. I eventually started learning about insects and arachnids and joined a big group on Facebook that studies entomology. I eventually started to overcome my arachnid fear about a year ago. A few weeks ago I decided I would try raising a T after weeks of research. I picked up a Pink-Toe (avic avic) named Thundara. I have handled her and she is extremely docile and amazing. She's my profile pic! Anyway I am super new to arachnoboards and a new Tarantula hobbyist. If any other newbies wanna be friends hmu! We can learn together! Welcome to all!
That's so great that you overcame your fear! I too have a avicularia avicularia! They are so gentle and docile! I am also new, got my avic in December, 2019. Nice to meet you!

I read other replies, and now I feel like I didn't give enough information 😂, so:
My name is Sarah, but I go by Abby (no one knows why), I'm 17, a christian, an artist (just for fun), I make and sell jewelry (a business I started), I work at a horse ranch full of horses that love kicking each other (definitely safe), and I have another job (cuz why not). I'm unnaturally flexible, which seems to freak people out. When I was little, my mom would dress me up in dresses and white tights, and I would proceed to sit in the mud and look for little creepy crawley friends 😊. I have always loved bugs, but I think what pushed me to get a T (and convince my mother to let me get one, because she was NOT a fan [she is now 😁]) was my friend, who thought he loved bugs(and arachnids) more than me (because he is delusional), has a bug collection (dead bugs) and he said that proved he loved them more, so I proceeded to have a living collection (I also have several black widows in my freezer to turn into resin jewelry). I have a doggo aswell (pointer, black lab mix named shadow) because doggos are great, and I don't have a horse because A. I live in northern California (bay area), and 2. Horses are a pain, unlike Tarantulas, and are extremely expensive, as one might imagine. And... I think that's it, besides what I put in the first comment above about my avicularia avicularia (Jellybean). Thanks whoever took the time to read all that!!!😅😂
My avic and doggo:
 

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Benjaminn

Arachnopeon
Joined
Sep 28, 2020
Messages
16
Hi, my name is Ben I’m 15 years old from Canada and I’ve been keeping tarantulas for 6 and a half years now. I got my first tarantula ( MM A. braunshauseni ) when I was just 9 years old. I now have over 30 animals including both New World and Old World tarantulas, True spiders, Scorpions as well as some reptiles. I plan on doing this for my whole life as just a hobby as well as to educate people about them. I would hopefully like to have a public facility with displays of tons of different species of arachnids and reptiles. Maybe I’ll even make a carrier out of this in some way.
 

lolthqueen

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 3, 2020
Messages
7
Hi, I’m Fiona from northern Colorado! I am very new to arachnid husbandry, I just recently adopted an a. avicularia who I believe actually to be a sp. blue velvet color variant! She just molted today and her name is Octavia, I also have a brachypelma. Whether she is a humorii or a smithi is yet to be determined but her name is Hestia! I’m excited to learn new things on this forum, and for you guys to check out Octavia and Hestia and other spiders I end up adopting too! I’m almost positive they are both females so I can’t wait to live a happy long life with these girls, and add new ones to the family!
 

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EmiM

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 4, 2020
Messages
2
Hey, I'm Emily, a new keeper here and previous arachnophobe. T's had always fascinated me but I felt my fear of spiders would hold me back, used some homegrown CBT to help me get over that fear and here I am! Let my example prove that anyone can get over their phobias if they work hard enough. Currently the owner of a young avic avic, whom I have creatively named Pink Toe, which I am suspecting to be male, but I'll have to wait to check for sure. Anyways, happy to be here joining you all!
 

SpTimoteo

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 4, 2020
Messages
3
Hello everyone!

I’m Timo and I live in Pueblo CO USA. I’m 100% a noob to keeping Ts, and have my first 6 slings coming this week!

I’m here to learn from other keepers, find other keepers in my area, and to look for more Ts to buy! Thanks for being a thing that exists, and for the wealth of information you all share.
M
 

Aline

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 5, 2007
Messages
52
Hello !
I have been on Arachnoboards for many years but have never introduced myself...
I am a Brazilian biologist and I've worked in an Arachnid lab for a few years. Got into the spider lab first year of my undergrad, always loved spiders. I did all kinds of spider work/research.
Changed for a while to bats... and then to science education in museums. I had an opportunity to work with a spider exhibit in the museum I was working for last year, and it really brought back the spark in my relationship with spiders! I had the amazing experience of taking care of the spiders from the exhibit.
Currently have 4 spiders at home: an Hapalopus sp. Columbia large, a Grammostola rosea and 2 jumpers (P. audax).
And I really love all the discussions here on Arachnoboards !!!
 

Gabe137

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 7, 2020
Messages
1
Hello, im Gabriel. I've always had a fascination with spiders when I was a kid and have just re-sparked my interest in arachnids. I currently have collected around 5 spiders and am hoping to get a jumping spider and a Tarantula in the future.
 

sanso

Arachnopeon
Joined
Oct 10, 2020
Messages
5
Hi all,

24 yo girl from the Netherlands and have been keeping tarantulas/spiders for quite a few years now.
Went on a break for a year or so with no tarantulas at all and now starting again.

First tarantulas I wanted after the break where M. Balfouri. I did have set up a communal in the past successfull and doing that now again. Bought 12 slings first molt for about a year ago and they are still all alive and are in their adult colours now, still growing very fast! Absolutely love this species.

I also own a Sicarius which I love and last week when I was in a store I saw the most beautiful B. Albipolosum so had to get her haha. Never thought I would own a Brachypelma ever again since I mostly owned old worlds but this individual was just to good not to get :)

Also got a couple (1.1) spinifers together for a while.

So that’s it,currently looking to upscale the collection once more :)
 

Jess S

Arachnobaron
Joined
Mar 10, 2019
Messages
572
Hi all,

24 yo girl from the Netherlands and have been keeping tarantulas/spiders for quite a few years now.
Went on a break for a year or so with no tarantulas at all and now starting again.

First tarantulas I wanted after the break where M. Balfouri. I did have set up a communal in the past successfull and doing that now again. Bought 12 slings first molt for about a year ago and they are still all alive and are in their adult colours now, still growing very fast! Absolutely love this species.

I also own a Sicarius which I love and last week when I was in a store I saw the most beautiful B. Albipolosum so had to get her haha. Never thought I would own a Brachypelma ever again since I mostly owned old worlds but this individual was just to good not to get :)

Also got a couple (1.1) spinifers together for a while.

So that’s it,currently looking to upscale the collection once more :)
Welcome! You will be delighted to know you still haven't got a Brachypelma, cos there was a revision and curly hairs are now called Tlitocatl albopilosus 😀
 

bobbibink

Arachnosquire
Old Timer
Joined
Aug 10, 2011
Messages
60
Hello 👋

53 yo upstate New Yorker. I was on this site years ago and found my way back. I’ve been keeping T’s for 11 years— nothing more rewarding than raising itsy-bitsy translucent slings to full grown fuzz balls w fangs! I recently acquired a yearling a.chalcodes and a teenie tiny a.geniculata.

I have a female g. rosea/ female b. emelia/ a female t. vagans

My g. rosea was a rescue/—abandoned and left in a shitty moldy dank enclosure— outside! In the Fall! When a friend called me about her there was no hesitation. So happy to have her (Tilda) and she looks so much better, healthier and is as calm as pillow.

Hello 👋🕷
 
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