Overrated and underrated tarantulas

[Deb60]

Just gonna throw my biased hat in and say that A. Chalcodes are severely underrated. They're so pretty, and I don't think enough American keepers give them a chance because they don't seem 'exotic' enough.

I second (forthen?) the B. Vagans as underrated, they're the only 'wild' species where I live and I think they're gorgeous. I'd love to have one.

I've seen G. Pulchras in person and they're just... not as eye catching as I thought they'd be. Maybe that one was nearing a molt but it was looking pretty rough. I think they're priced way too high for what they are. Especially when you can get a G. Pulchripes or a B. Vagans and have a similar experience for much cheaper.

The A Chalcodes is a lovely T , just them being Blond , I’ve been told they don’t breed well in captivity, and due to our cold weather they don’t get sent over to us in the winter months . I’m in the UK .

 

[StampFan]

You folks sure like your B vagans. Perhaps I need to plunk down the $5 or $10 and get one.

I'd say the same thing about the A chalcodes but I don't think I feel like waiting 10 years for an adult....

 

[awiec]

over-rated:

LP, H. Mac, G. pulchra, C. lividius, OBT.

LP is overhyped by sellers exaggerrating what they are...all their best qualities are shared with hundreds of better looking species...same for their size.

Macs, OBTs and lividius excite people because if beautiful pics...which are better seen in pics than in person....all ghosts.

Pulchra are just over-hyped, period...cool, but IMO not as special as peoples irrational love...i can think of a dozen more striking black ts....And i could think of many Grammies i would rather have.

All are cool, just over-rated Imo.

Under-rated:

B. cabocla, B. vagans, N. incei, Tappies and all Thrixopelma sp., G. pulchripes.

Cabocla are just cool, beautiful as anything after a molt, great feeding response and growth, yet surprisingly unpopular.

Vagans are cheap and abundant, causing a lot to just gloss over them....one of the best looking black ts...great eaters and decent growth.

N. incei might be the most under-rated...no urticating hairs, not defensive, super fast...spectacular eaters, really one of the most enthusiastic eaters anywhere, and one of the heaviest webbers...and very beautiful.

Tappies just get no love, they should....they should also be more available than they are as they just arent bred enough.

Thrixopelma always seem to be an unknown by a lot, no one asks for or about them, so no one breeds or seems to regularly sell many of them....yet the whole genus is incredible.

G. pulchripes....glossed over by many like vagans...low cost and high availability...yet one of, if not the best starter species readily available in the hobby....a t everyone at every level should own.


Just like hundreds of others...not unique qualities.

I didn't think I would sell off my T.gigas slings as fast as I did but lo and behold, mine was of only a few sacs that year and from what I was told, they sold rather fast. They're usually skipped over in favor of Psalmo's, which IMO are a bit overrated to me, Taps offer more in the speed and color department.

The Thrixopelma problem I specifically was told that usually breeders that export will sex them and send the female over to the US as A) a desire to keep males for future breeding and B) there is still the notion that people here just want pets and not to breed anything. Also doesn't help that people are unaware of the genus or are just familiar with T.ockerti, which is out-shined by the other genus members.

 

[Little Grey Spider]

Underrated: G. pulchripes. I think they are quite beautiful. They're easy to keep, hardy, awesome eaters, often on display (when not in premolt) and cheap as dirt to acquire. I recommend these to anyone looking to get into the hobby and I agree with @cold blood that everyone should own one.
Overrated: P. metallica. I will never buy another pokie.

You know which species I love but may be considered overrated is Harpactira pulchripes. I personally do not think they are overrated. They're so beautiful, mine is out quite often and is a fantastic webber. I know you can get an OBT for a fraction of the price and they possess the same qualities, but I find the coloration of H. pulchripes to be far more eye catching. This is a species that I would buy over and over again. Plus, I've read that they are a little more laid back than P. murinus. In fairness to OBT's, I've never owned one so I cannot say that with authority. But what I will say is that I have no desire to own an OBT. I don't think I'd even take one as a freebie. Give me all the pulchripes!!!

 

[Minty]

I will never buy another pokie.

Any reason in particular?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Underrated: Goddess* 0.1 Pelinobius muticus PBUH (Peace Be Upon Her). This thanks to heresy, able to 'cloud' the mind and wise judge of people.

Overrated: basically everything else from the 'blue T's' to the 'scam-swag T's' (H.pulchripes, H.devamatha etc) to the 'rare T's'.

Cheapskate 'classic' T's (like G.pulchripes, A.geniculata etc) are fine: they do not bring war nor peace.

0.1 Pelinobius muticus PBUH (Peace Be Upon Her)

 

[Little Grey Spider]

Overrated: basically everything else from the 'blue T's' to the 'scam-swag T's' (H.pulchripes,

Those are fighting words!

Any reason in particular?

Yes, too skittish and prone to hiding. What I will say is that my pokie is a great eater. Perhaps when he gets a little bigger I'll change my mind, but probably not.

 

[Razzledazzy]

Why is it that every one of these posts about overrated and underrated tarantulas turns into Fighting About Blue Spiders: The Musical?

 

[cold blood]

Yes, too skittish and prone to hiding. What I will say is that my pokie is a great eater. Perhaps when he gets a little bigger I'll change my mind, but probably not.

Most pokes are not like this. They tend to rely on their camouflage which generally means they just sit in the open and hold their ground boldly. I have several adults of several species, and just one that is skittish, my striata. The rest just sit there in the open almost all the time.

 

[Greasylake]

Most pokes are not like this. They tend to rely on their camouflage which generally means they just sit in the open and hold their ground boldly. I have several adults of several species, and just one that is skittish, my striata. The rest just sit there in the open almost all the time.

He's hiding so well

 

[dangerforceidle]

He's hiding so well
View attachment 274344

Why did you post an image of an empty enclosure?

 

[Little Grey Spider]

Most pokes are not like this. They tend to rely on their camouflage which generally means they just sit in the open and hold their ground boldly. I have several adults of several species, and just one that is skittish, my striata. The rest just sit there in the open almost all the time.

I do so hope that becomes the case. I think perhaps it just has to grow on me.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Those are fighting words!

I'm so adorable that everything is forgiven
I'm just one of those peluches 'you' want to catch with those $ eating 'robot' machines

 

[Little Grey Spider]

I'm so adorable that everything is forgiven
I'm just one of those peluches 'you' want to catch with those $ eating 'robot' machines

I hate crane machines with their cheap carnival quality prizes! But yes, I get your point.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

es, too skittish and prone to hiding.

The rest just sit there in the open almost all the time.

Both of my boys (metallica/subfusca LL) sit out in the open the majority of the time, they might run/walk and hide when disturbed but I wouldn't say they're that skittish, the subfusca is pretty chill unless you're food.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

I hate crane machines with their cheap carnival quality prizes!

I hate those traps as well

But imagine me inside one - 'resized' a la Chucky the evil doll - I mean, that would be a 101% made in Italy prize and everyone loves the Made in Italy

 

[Misty Day]

I do so hope that becomes the case. I think perhaps it just has to grow on me.

All of my Poecilotheria hid as slings, it's instinct. Once my P.regalis hit 4" she stayed out in the open all the time. Even when she molts she builds her molt mat out in the open. Only one I bought as an adult was my P.metallica, and unless I spook her she stays out in the open also. Their confidence changes as they gain size. As always individuals vary.

As for overrated and underrated T's, IMO unless someone has kept a species, they cant claim its over or underrated. Keeping a species vs reading about it online are 2 different things.

The only T that I have had experience owning that I would say is overrated is the GBB. Both of mine have always been terrible eaters, and besides their webbing I don't see anything special about them. After my male matures and goes off I most likely won't be getting any more.

 

[tarantulaguns]

Nhandu tripepii seem rather underrated. I just picked one up along with a Bumba cabocla (which my boyfriend can't stop laughing at the name and he's scared of tarantulas!)
I love my G. Pulchripes as well, very endearing species.

 

[Little Grey Spider]

Their confidence changes as they gain size

I do hope that's true. He's a very pretty spider, he just stays behind his dirt curtains most of the time.

 

[TeddyBearTarantula]

I think A chalchodes are underrated! They are pretty and docile in my experience and they look like they are sat on a brown fluffy cushion from the hair on the underside of their femurs. What more do you need!?

Albos are deffo underrated their curly hair is a very unique feature and the lovely gold shimmer on their carapace! So cute.

B Emilia and B vagans are underrated too, imo.