Pigs flying through a frozen hell

[jbm150]

My girlfriend absolutely hates spiders. I made a whiny thread a while back about how in no uncertain terms would I be allowed to have any more spiders other than the one H. mac I had. Pandora (the H. mac) was an adorable and beautiful fluffy little T but my gf almost couldn't tolerate even her. But after Pandora's untimely death, she said I could get another to replace her. I got a P. regalis which came with a LP sling freebie. Wouldn't you know it, my girlfriend thinks the sling is adorable and now wants one of her own But of course, she doesn't want one that will grow into a monster and in fact, she doesn't want one that'll grow at all. Now, of course, I really want to get her one but I want to weigh the options. I'm thinking a slow growing species that is easy to care for would be good. I want to go through adult pics and have her pick one she would like. Alternately, I could also surprise her with one but which? Something docile, small to medium-sized, pretty, easy to care for (as sling and adult), acts interesting, etc. There's plenty that fit the bill:
Aphonopelma moderatum
Avic avic/versi
Any brachy
Grammostola pulchra/pulchripes/rosea

Other less likely possibilities include:
GBB
C. fasciatum

Or I could just be mischievous and get her a S. calceatum sling and watch the hilarity ensue

Well, I think I'm leaning to a brachy or g. pulchra. Not sure if a black spider would freak her out though. But I suppose she would grow into it.

Anyways, I'm beside myself! I can't believe she's actually interested in getting a tarantula sling. I hope the devil has warm boots and a good umbrella!

 

[codykrr]

all i can say is blue!

not being sexist, women like bright colors...and the "teddy bear" look

my wife, hated spiders...and bugs...but one day she seen a picture of a very bright blue little tarantula...and said "awwwww.... how cute" so i said il get one. it came in and se fell in love. i pulled out a 1/2 inch A. versicolor, and that was it. she loved it. even held it.

since that moment (4 years ago) she likes tarantulas. not love but likes. she currently has 3 versi slings of her own...yes of her own. i care for them and she holds them(she wont even look at a roach) but i belive it to be a big step...

so my advice is to get her a A. versi, there cheap, pretty, docile, easy to keep, and women eat them up. not to mention when there full grown there down right stunning.

just make sure you DO warn her than they can shoot poop. literally shoot poop.

 

[Satellite Rob]

Any Brachy or Avic is a good starter T.But the Avic's grow quick.So if you
want a T that takes longer to grow.I would pick any Brachy except a Vagan.
Because Vagan is a much faster growing Bracky than most of the others.But
for size and looks you can't beat them.

 

[WRXspecR1]

If you want something that stay small, go for Cyriocosmus elegans.

 

[Mack&Cass]

My vote is Avic versi or B. albopilosum. While the albo isn't the most gorgeous Brachy, it's what got my fiancee to jump into this hobby. We have an albo and for the longest time he was beside her computer and he was her first everything. He was the first one she fed and held, and if it weren't for him I don't think she'd be as into it as she is.

 

[Spyder 1.0]

Perfect T for her is avicularia Minatrix or purpurea. Minatrix matures in 3-4 years (slow grower) and is cute as a button.

 

[Caramell]

What about a C. elegans? They stay very small, and the coloring is gorgeous!
I certainly want one...

 

[-Sarah-]

I'd definitely vote for any Avic or Brachy at this point - B. albopilosum are cute and fuzzy, and Avics are... well, cute and fuzzy! GBB's are gorgeous but some can be downright freaky, the one I had kicked hairs more than my N. chromatus and A. geniculata combined.

And, you can't go wrong with cute and fuzzy!

 

[jbm150]

Good point on the versi, her favorite color is blue. And they don't get very big. Purpurea are gorgeous as well. Aren't avics, especially as slings, somewhat more prone to just up and dying? And needing humidity even as adults, an avic might not be the best. Perhaps good ole' smithi? Or a boehmei?

Thanks for the suggestions everyone, I'll show her the versi and tell her about its requirements and see what she says. Then I'll show her the others and tell her about their virtues. LOL it'll probably be like it is with all of us, you can't just have one! She'll have a bigger collection than me....


well, I can dream anyways :}

 

[Steve Calceatum]

A. versicolor is the spider for her. My little versi sling has won more hearts in the two months I've had it, than any of my others. Even more so with women's hearts than my C. fasciatum, and none of my "Arachno-drama-phobe" friends seem to mind it growing bigger either.

The C. elegans is also a very good choice, but I'd stick to the blue and fuzzy.

 

[dantediss]

Id say any avic would do.Their brightly colored and very docile,And for some reason just funny (mine makes me laugh).Id say stay away from a pulchra just because most people who fear t,s and spiders alike ALWAYS say did you see that huge black furry spider

 

[dantediss]

Irregardless what color it is hahaha. For some reason its synonomous with a spider ,I dont know why hahaha...My friends always see my brachys and o.b.t and always ask how i keep such big black fuzzy spiders...they cant even look at them so they just assume..its funny

 

[sean-820]

go for a versi. As a sling its blue and cute, while when an adult it only gets better. If she seriously wants somethign that stays as sling size, get a c. elegans as they only get to 2". i would pick one up at an inch or so though becasue she probably wouldnt enjoy a 1/8" sling. As slings, yes its not rare for avic versis to just die, but they are usually fine. Mine was fine, but i have heard of others loosing multiple. Thing is you just have to keep the vial moist so the substrate can hold as much water as possible without being soggy as well as ventilating well.

I say get a versi if she doesnt mind a t that gets to a size large then a sling (5-6" and 100% fluffy), but if she seriously wants an adult sling, look into dwarf species as adults are pretty much sling sizes of other t's. Dwarfs are also pretty neat looking including C. elecans which has a heart on its abdomen. Like i said earlier get an adult or juvie preferably female if you can as i would think a 1/8" t would turn her off as they have no colour and would resemble a house spider. A G. pulchra would be cool to as after a coule inches it practically stops growing.

 

[jbm150]

Thanks guys, perhaps a versi is a way to go. I've never seen one in person so I don't really know what they're like. But from the pics, they are pretty little Ts.

Its funny though, she thinks my LP sling is really cute but it is tiny with no color at all. Maybe I should just get her a sac spider and call it a day

 

[sean-820]

versi's as juvies arre metalic blue then will become red furballs in under a year.

elegans look great to and stay small so i say get both to suprise her lol.

 

[Ts are #1]

1 more vote for the versi i love mine shes very docile and blue and alot of times the one girls like.

 

[presurcukr]

versi's as juvies arre metalic blue then will become red furballs in under a year.

elegans look great to and stay small so i say get both to suprise her lol.

i agree 100%

 

[mickey66]

Cute Brachy

Oh look honey it's cute,fuzzy and Venomous

 

[MrRogers]

I totally support the idea of getting something "cute" to lure the lady into further interest in Ts

Then you can get pretty orange ones, and blue white and yellow ones...

 

[sean-820]

p metalica are pretty...