Overrated and underrated tarantulas

[FrDoc]

Form your experience, is the OBT out all of the time or mostly just as an adult?

I see mine much more as it gets older.

 

[Insects Glorify God]

I see mine much more as it gets older.

Ok. Thanks!

 

[WolleWolf]

IMO people look too much after rarity and high prices.

If you want to decide which T looks the best for you, you have to ignore prices and if the T is common or not.

And ask yourself, what would be, if Brachypelma smithi ( or take any other common T) were a new discovered species, how much would they cost? Then you will notice, that the best T´s are the common ones and not the most expensive ones (or rare (in most cases)).

 

[Insects Glorify God]

IMO people look too much after rarity and high prices.

If you want to decide which T looks the best for you, you have to ignore prices and if the T is common or not.

And ask yourself, what would be, if Brachypelma smithi ( or take any other common T) were a new discovered species, how much would they cost? Then you will notice, that the best T´s are the common ones and not the most expensive ones (or rare (in most cases)).

Thanks. I will take that into consideration.

 

[Cemykay]

Overrated: Chromatopelma cyaonpubescens, Grammostola pulchripes
Underrated: Every Nhandu, Xenesthis genera and so many dwarfs

 

[Rigor Mortis]

Resurrecting this thread cos I have nothing else better to do. I find a lot of the blue Ts to be overrated like C. lividus. Sure the blue Ts are gorgeous but a lot of the more earthy toned species get overlooked for the shiny ones.

 

[Royalty]

Resurrecting this thread cos I have nothing else better to do. I find a lot of the blue Ts to be overrated like C. lividus. Sure the blue Ts are gorgeous but a lot of the more earthy toned species get overlooked for the shiny ones.

what earth tone ones do you think are overlooked?

 

[Rigor Mortis]

what earth tone ones do you think are overlooked?

The Aphonopelma genus in general. While A. chalcodes and hentzi are often recommended for beginners I don't ever really see anyone chomping at the bit to get one since they're brown and beige but I find them lovely. Selenotypus wallace is gorgeous too.

 

[Paul1126]

The Aphonopelma genus in general. While A. chalcodes and hentzi are often recommended for beginners I don't ever really see anyone chomping at the bit to get one since they're brown and beige but I find them lovely. Selenotypus wallace is gorgeous too.

I agree, they're great! If i see them available as slings I will get them but I only ever see juveniles/adults

 

[zeeman]

Overrated - Old Worlds

Underrated - New Worlds

Reasoning: People view New Worlds as a gateway to Old Worlds. Yes, there are those that don't and those that appreciate New Worlds for what they are; and they are probably the most common of the two in the average keeper's collection, but they don't seem to get the same admiration or praise. Popular YouTubers have admitted this and so have people on here.

NW's have more display T's as far as I can tell, which in and of itself is a win. Sure T collectors like their pet holes, and seeing them snatch their prey is exciting, but if I offered a jar of webbed dirt, aside from feeding that'd be the only time you'd know the difference. OW's pack a punch in their venom and sound just as bad as hot snakes in some cases for potential side effects. Is it really worth it or is it just the ego that comes with owning them? You can't guarantee things won't go wrong, and everyone has stated the unpredictable nature of T's. I don't see the allure when most of the beautiful pictures you see of the OW's are situational or created by the photographer (not natural). Meaning the T's don't just hang out for photos they are forced out or somewhere they can't hide.

All that said, each owner's perspective on their keeping and collection is justification enough for having their T's. As long as they are cared for it doesn't matter.

 

[Ic4ru577]

Personally, I choose spider and try to find information about them. Instead of over rated or under rated, they are better termed as readily available or talked about. Good info created exposure which lead to demands of certain species. Demand creates supply. So, some spider maybe over rated to someone, or under rated to another. Just be happy we are introduced to beautiful creatures and find something to cherrish about in our daily life. Love all my spidey from the pet hole to the forever present, from the voracious to the bullimic, the tiny to the huge one. I do feel some spiders are rarely talked about or given false impressions. Just be careful in dealing with T, they will never give u a problem.

 

[asunshinefix]

I think the genus Sericopelma is criminally underrated! My S. sp. Boquete juvie is the most beautiful grayish-purple right now, with creamy pale yellow bands on the first segment of its legs. It's got a ridiculous feeding response and it's growing like a weed. It was 3/4" when I bought it and only cost me something like $40.

 

[Matt Man]

Overrated: Chromatopelma cyaonpubescens, Grammostola pulchripes
Underrated: Every Nhandu, Xenesthis genera and so many dwarfs

What is the reasoning behind G Pulchripes being over rated?
Cheap, docile, pretty, get really big, live a long time and are typically out.
I find no negatives to make them over rated

I agree, they're great! If i see them available as slings I will get them but I only ever see juveniles/adults

I have 4 Aphonopelma, 2 Chalcodes and 2 Steindachnei. I think Chalcodes are lovely and they have some cool color morphs that are subtle, but when you have seen enough of them become quite obvious. As for Steindachneri, fresh after a molt they are jet black, but the color turns this really lovely deep mink brown

Overrated - Old Worlds

Underrated - New Worlds

Reasoning: People view New Worlds as a gateway to Old Worlds. Yes, there are those that don't and those that appreciate New Worlds for what they are; and they are probably the most common of the two in the average keeper's collection, but they don't seem to get the same admiration or praise. Popular YouTubers have admitted this and so have people on here.

NW's have more display T's as far as I can tell, which in and of itself is a win. Sure T collectors like their pet holes, and seeing them snatch their prey is exciting, but if I offered a jar of webbed dirt, aside from feeding that'd be the only time you'd know the difference. OW's pack a punch in their venom and sound just as bad as hot snakes in some cases for potential side effects. Is it really worth it or is it just the ego that comes with owning them? You can't guarantee things won't go wrong, and everyone has stated the unpredictable nature of T's. I don't see the allure when most of the beautiful pictures you see of the OW's are situational or created by the photographer (not natural). Meaning the T's don't just hang out for photos they are forced out or somewhere they can't hide.

All that said, each owner's perspective on their keeping and collection is justification enough for having their T's. As long as they are cared for it doesn't matter.

To me this rings of the H Mac. I mean they are lovely Ts but you typically NEVER see them and they are quite the bite risk during husbandry. They have some serious negatives in the plus -minus columns, which is why I think they are pretty cheap to buy

 

[ErikElvis]

The Aphonopelma genus in general. While A. chalcodes and hentzi are often recommended for beginners I don't ever really see anyone chomping at the bit to get one since they're brown and beige but I find them lovely. Selenotypus wallace is gorgeous too.

I recently picked up a 3+ inch female chalcodes and she’s beautiful. A real sleeper in my book. I believe p sazimai are underrated as well. They look amazing as adults.

 

[Cemykay]

What is the reasoning behind G Pulchripes being over rated?
Cheap, docile, pretty, get really big, live a long time and are typically out.
I find no negatives to make them over rated

Oh i can see your reasoning, i just find the pulchripes a bit bland. There are just more interesting grammostolas and a lot of people swear that you need this one. It's just personal preference

 

[Matt Man]

Oh i can see your reasoning, i just find the pulchripes a bit bland. There are just more interesting grammostolas and a lot of people swear that you need this one. It's just personal preference

I concur they aren't the prettiest of their genus. I think people hype them because they are a great starter species for the reasons I mentioned. I just don't see it as 'over rated' it's rating to me seems pretty fair. It's just a question of interpretation

I recently picked up a 3+ inch female chalcodes and she’s beautiful. A real sleeper in my book. I believe p sazimai are underrated as well. They look amazing as adults.

I own 2 Chalcodes and agree. I have a lot of experience with these and totally concur, all the more so that at least out west here they can be had for a song

 

[Iamconstantlyhappy]

I recently picked up a 3+ inch female chalcodes and she’s beautiful. A real sleeper in my book. I believe p sazimai are underrated as well. They look amazing as adults.

I love my A. anax. I have found 0 luck finding any more of them in Europe or the UK. The underrated/overrated thing is purely in the eye of the beholder. Having said that here is my small list based on experience. Overrated: C. cyaneopubescens/webbing not as prolific as others. P. irminia/ most beautiful spider you will never see

Underrated:
N. Incei/ small feisty assassin engineers.
A. geniculata/ stripped deadly rocks

 

[Matt Man]

This is what I love about this forum. Our European Brethren love our Aphonopelma and to them they are 'exotic' . The Moderatums are quite lovely and under rated as well, though the Southwestern members of the Genus seem a tad more cranky

 

[Craig73]

I wouldn’t exactly say underrated, but not commonly available would be the Avicularia Minatrix. One of my top favorites in the midst of all the other avics /ex-avics in my collection.

 

[Vanessa]

I wouldn’t exactly say underrated, but not commonly available would be the Avicularia Minatrix. One of my top favorites in the midst of all the other avics /ex-avics in my collection.

This is a very under represented species, but not underrated. They are rarely offered in Canada and are gone in a heartbeat. They seem to be more difficult to breed than other Avicularia. I know several people who have tried and never gotten a successful egg sac and then, in a blink, all the males are gone.

Overrated: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, Pterinochilus murinus.
Underrated: All dwarfs, Neoholothele incei, Brachypelma albiceps, Phormictopus cancerides.