NEWBIE looking for advice.

[kellygirl]

i only have 5 species but i love em all.

you really cant go wrong with a g.rosea (my first T)... unless of course you end up with a crazy one like some of the people on this forum. but my rosie is a sweetheart and doesnt mind being held at all. she's never flicked as long as i've had her.

a.avics are adorable! you'll fall in love with them the first time you hold one. they are so cute when they walk! mine hasnt made extensive webbing yet, but i'm looking forward to it.

i have 2 itsy bitsy slings: b. vagans and b. smithi--i mostly got them for their future coloration. the smithi, i'm hoping, will be docile and sweet but you never know! my vagans is an avid burrower already (in his tiny deli cup) so i doubt i'll be seeing him much but i bet it'll be worth it when he does venture out! have you seen them?!

but the one that i havent seen mentioned so far on here is my b. albopilosum (sp?)--my curlyhair! this little guy is so cool! he molted a couple weeks ago and emerged with the long hairs that are his namesake. sometimes he thinks he's a burrowing terrestrial and sometimes he thinks he's a climbing, jumping arboreal, so handling him can be interesting to say the least. mine is still only about 2 inches or so but they are supposed to get pretty bulky. and they are totally affordable and easy to get a hold of! (i acquired 14 1-inch slings for under $2 apiece, including shipping)

you know what, hillie? just get a bunch of em now! you will eventually so you may as well. brachys seem to be a good group to start with across the board. some are a little pricey but GORGEOUS (check out B. ruhnaui and B. klaasi).

good luck with picking your Ts--then you have to figure out who you're going to buy from!

kellygirl

 

[Botar]

Originally posted by hillie16
I think I'm gonna start out with four.

Acanthoscurria geniculata
Brachypelma smithi
Grammostola rosea
Lasiodora parahybana

And someday work my way up to

Haplopelma lividum
Haplopelma minax
Theraphosa blondi


Should I start out with slings, or start out with ones that I know are females?

Of the seven you mentioned, both for now and later, I have all but the H. lividum. I would, and have, gone with the younger T's with your first four, with the exception of the G. rosea. They are so readily available and inexpensive as adults, you might as well get an adult of that species. That will give you a good mix in sizes as well. I've found that for me, the slings have been very rewarding to care for.

Botar

 

[AlbinoDragon829]

Re: w00t

Originally posted by Alonso99
Your wrong on that Albino, Cameroons are obviously african and they need nice humidity

Ehh, there's always the exception to the rule.

 

[AlbinoDragon829]

Originally posted by Immortal_sin
I would not characterize the Asians and Africans as 'evil' LOL
They are just more defensive, and mine are no problem, as long as I am not poking around in their burrow.

I agree. They aren't "evil" per say. They are defensive, but when you watch how they defend themselves and attack their prey, it is a marvel to watch.

 

[AlbinoDragon829]

Originally posted by hillie16
I think I'm gonna start out with four.

Acanthoscurria geniculata
Brachypelma smithi
Grammostola rosea
Lasiodora parahybana

And someday work my way up to

Haplopelma lividum
Haplopelma minax
Theraphosa blondi

Kickass list dude

 

[hillie16]

Thanks

I was at Petsmart yesterday...Beta cups aren't that big. How big will the sling be before I transfer it to something bigger? Also, with fish you have to move them somewhere and change the gravel at the bottom....how often should the substrate be changed? If at all.....

 

[Wade]

I think Shultz (Tarantula Keeper's Guide) recomends moving them up when the legspread is equal to about 50% of the diameter of the container.

Wade