Second Tarantula Recommendations

J

Jormandr

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 6, 2019
Messages
14
So I am looking for some recommendations on what would make a good second T. I currently have a GBB sling as my first but unfortunately(or fortunately depending on how you look at it.) I seem to have caught the tarantula bug. Cause I'm already getting the itch for a second T. I like to describe myself as a color freak. Anytime I see a really pretty spider my wallet starts to sweat. My dream spider is something like a P. Metallica or Ornata if I can find one locally when I'm ready to make that leap. I would like to invest in species that would help prepare me to go for one of those down the road. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 
The Grym Reaper

The Grym Reaper

Arachnoreaper
Joined
Jul 19, 2016
Messages
4,830
Acanthoscurria geniculata
0.1 Acanthoscurria geniculata

0.1 Acanthoscurria geniculata

Rogue nomming

Nhandu chromatus
View media item 61526
Grammostola iheringi
0.1 Grammostola iheringi

0.1 Grammostola iheringi

Gratuitous Sareena photo.

If you're looking into getting OW arboreals down the line then look into Aviculariinae
View media item 64838
0.1 Caribena versicolor

0.1 Caribena versicolor

Mileena's still looking gorgeous even though she's at that point in her moult cycle where her...
1.0 Avicularia minatrix

1.0 Avicularia minatrix

Ermac rocking his new suit, thought he was going to hook out with this moult but apparently he...
1.0 Avicularia variegata

1.0 Avicularia variegata

Nebula being an adorable murder floof.
Iridopelma zorodes

Iridopelma zorodes

New suit for Blizzard.

Then once you've kept one of those for a little while get a Psalmopoeus (If you can keep one of these without any mishaps then you should be good to care for a Pokie)
0.1 Psalmopoeus irminia

0.1 Psalmopoeus irminia

Shadowcat chilling out in the open again.
0.1 Psalmopoeus pulcher

0.1 Psalmopoeus pulcher

Banshee rocking her new suit.
View media item 64711
0.1 Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus

0.1 Psalmopoeus ecclesiasticus

Mercury rocking her new suit.
View media item 60393View media item 61666
 
basin79

basin79

ArachnoGod
Active Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2013
Messages
5,893
Jormandr said:
So I am looking for some recommendations on what would make a good second T. I currently have a GBB sling as my first but unfortunately(or fortunately depending on how you look at it.) I seem to have caught the tarantula bug. Cause I'm already getting the itch for a second T. I like to describe myself as a color freak. Anytime I see a really pretty spider my wallet starts to sweat. My dream spider is something like a P. Metallica or Ornata if I can find one locally when I'm ready to make that leap. I would like to invest in species that would help prepare me to go for one of those down the road. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
For a 2nd I'd personally recommend a sexed juvenile female of a species. That way you get a bigger impact. You still get to care and see a sling grow but get an immediate impact of a larger tarantula.
 
Arachnophoric

Arachnophoric

Arachnoangel
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
947
Agree with all the previous recommendations. Considering you're specifically looking to get into OW arboreals down the line, I'd recommend an Avic of some flavor. They're often written off for being a common pet store bought beginner species, but A. avicularia is a gorgeous, colorful, interesting T that would be a great choice for you given your experience and end goal. I mean, just look at this girl. How can you say no to this face??

Puppy Eyes

Puppy Eyes

If a tarantula could give the good ol "puppy eyes", I think this is what it'd look like. Waiting...

Sexed juvenile/subadult females go for pretty cheap as far as tarantulas go and usually aren't too hard to find. A great way to break into arboreals. After that, I'd invest in some P. cambridgei slings.
 
nicodimus22

nicodimus22

Arachnomancer
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Sep 26, 2013
Messages
715
Jormandr said:
I like to describe myself as a color freak.
Click to expand...
B. boehmei (terrestrial)


C. versicolor (arboreal, since you mentioned you may want to go towards OW arboreals eventually)


I'll also throw in D. pentaloris, which has a wild orange and black pattern like a tiger (although I don't have a good photo of mine yet. You'll have to look it up.)

B. auratum is another really pretty one, although mine is still a juvi and doesn't have full colors yet. Look it up, though. Gorgeous.
 
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Thekla

Thekla

Arachnoprince
Joined
Oct 13, 2017
Messages
1,873
vancwa said:
G. pulchra, T. albo, B. boehmei
Click to expand...
Fixed that for you. :smug:

@Jormandr I would also recommend getting an Avic/Caribena/Ybyrapora and raise them for a while before you even think about getting an OW arboreal. You've had your GBB sling for approx. 2 weeks, no offence, but you don't have the faintest idea yet what fast and bolty really means, let alone the much more potent venom of OWs. :)

And if you're willing to do your research I'd always recommend a C. versicolor. They're readily available, medium growers and strikingly colourful.

Mine grew from a tiny sling...
thirsty blue ball of fluff

thirsty blue ball of fluff

Caught my 3/4" C. versicolor sling drinking for the first time. So cute! ♥

...to a beautiful sub-adult
Mrs Blue Berry being pretty!

Mrs Blue Berry being pretty!

I just rehoused my C. versicolor into her - hopefully - forever home. And you know how it is...

in about one and a half years. :kiss:
 
J

Jormandr

Arachnopeon
Joined
Nov 6, 2019
Messages
14
Thekla said:
Fixed that for you. :smug:

@Jormandr I would also recommend getting an Avic/Caribena/Ybyrapora and raise them for a while before you even think about getting an OW arboreal. You've had your GBB sling for approx. 2 weeks, no offence, but you don't have the faintest idea yet what fast and bolty really means, let alone the much more potent venom of OWs. :)

And if you're willing to do your research I'd always recommend a C. versicolor. They're readily available, medium growers and strikingly colourful.

Mine grew from a tiny sling...
thirsty blue ball of fluff

thirsty blue ball of fluff

Caught my 3/4" C. versicolor sling drinking for the first time. So cute! ♥

...to a beautiful sub-adult
Mrs Blue Berry being pretty!

Mrs Blue Berry being pretty!

I just rehoused my C. versicolor into her - hopefully - forever home. And you know how it is...

in about one and a half years. :kiss:
Click to expand...
Yeah I definitely don't plan on getting an OW for a good bit. The main reason I was asking is I like to plan and do my research way ahead of acting on anything. So I was more looking for a good road map to follow going forward. That said I really appreciate all of the great input.
 
Arachnophoric

Arachnophoric

Arachnoangel
Joined
Aug 29, 2016
Messages
947
donniedark0 said:
I second this right here. Pulchras are gorgeous but not colorful, just velvety black!
Click to expand...
Aaah yes, the G. pulchra. A fantastic T in its own right, but for something so beloved there are a couple drawbacks;

- As slings they can be incredibly boring. They're not quite that brilliant black they're known for and grow/molt ridiculously slow. I have 3 slings that were among the first 10 in my collection. The biggest one is MAYBE pushing 1.5-1.75". One of the three took two whole years to even molt. :hurting:

- Expensive as hell. Slings still fetch prices around $75 on the websites of popular dealers. Sexed females usually go for nearly $200 minimum, regardless of the size. That is, IF you can find one.

G. pulchra is certainly a gentle giant that is a favorite in the hobby for a reason, but for a person who has just started the hobby with one sling and is wanting to gain experience that may lend to keeping OW arboreals, it doesn't even touch the list of suggestions for second T. Maybe as a 4th or 5th T when the keeper has a few more Ts to keep them busy while their glacially growing sling does a whole lot of nothing for the next 3 years or so. :rofl:
 
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Martikhoras

Martikhoras

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 12, 2019
Messages
24
basin79 said:
For a 2nd I'd personally recommend a sexed juvenile female of a species. That way you get a bigger impact. You still get to care and see a sling grow but get an immediate impact of a larger tarantula.
Click to expand...
That's what I think, too.

If I would be in your shoes, OP, and know what I know now, I would try to find a juvie Caribena versicolor.

Why a juvie?
Well, currently I have 2 slings as my only tarantulas. For feeding I buy small crickets. While feeding the Ts once or twice a week I have to keep the crickets healthy (as a good food source). But the crickets grow faster than the Ts, so the males eventually start chirping, which is pretty annoying.
So in addition to the affore mentioned experiences you get with a bigger T you can get rid of the noise...
(At least that's the reason I tell myself for buying a bigger T next year. But maybe it is just to justify another purchase.:angelic:)

Why a C. versicolor?
Just look at those gorgeous Ts! :embarrassed:

(If you decide to get an C. versicolor, follow these instructions here: https://arachnoboards.com/threads/avicularia-care.291340/ )
edit: added the avic-care thread
 
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Colorado Ts

Colorado Ts

Arachnoangel
Joined
Oct 16, 2019
Messages
829
Here is my List of Species to collect & own:

Acanthoscurria geniculata

Aphonopelma
bicoloratum
moderatum
seemanni sp black
Seemanni sp blue(Nicaragua)

Avicularia
minatrix
sp metallica
sp purpurea

Chromatopelma cyaneopubsecens

Brachypelma
auratum
beohemei

Caribena versicolor

Dolichothele diamantinensis

Grammostola
pulchra
iheringi

Lasiodora parahybana

Megaphobema robustum

Pamphobeteus
sp Duran
sp esmeraldes
sp Platyomma
sp Ultramarinus

Phormictopus
auratus
concerdes
sp purple
sp blue
sp green
sp violet

Pterinopelma sazimai

Theraphosa apophysis
 
The Grym Reaper

The Grym Reaper

Arachnoreaper
Joined
Jul 19, 2016
Messages
4,830
Martikhoras said:
Why a juvie?
Well, currently I have 2 slings as my only tarantulas. For feeding I buy small crickets. While feeding the Ts once or twice a week I have to keep the crickets healthy (as a good food source). But the crickets grow faster than the Ts, so the males eventually start chirping, which is pretty annoying.
Click to expand...
Just use mealworms instead, if you keep them in the fridge it slows their growth considerably, and if you have multiple slings you can just cut them in half until the slings are big enough to take them whole.
 
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