selection and price when buying a T

[mschemmy]

A few questions about buying T's

Why do places like Petco and PetSmart only caring Rose Hair T's instead of a variety of T's?

I found an exotic reptile shop with a wide variety but they want $250 for a Giant White Knee and $40 for Rose Hair. I didn't even bother to find out the price of the other species! Why so much?

I am thinking about getting a GBB (however still contemplating between GBB and several other species) but even online haven't had very much luck. What is the best way to find online suppliers? :?

 

[Hamburglar]

I don't have any first hand experience, but I am sure they carry them because they are attractive, easy to care for, and people are familiar with them. I am sure it is also handy for some pet shops that they can neglect them severly, but they will hand on and survive until they are sold. Some people think that certain spiders will carry off their dog or something. Rosies don't have that stigma. I have also found that many times the few places that do have a variety want exorborent amounts of money for them. Your best bet is to browse the classifieds here and search that specific forum for the species you are looking for. Make sure you check their reviews though. I am fairly sure I have seen a good many GBB's recently. Good luck.

 

[Shrike]

1. I've occasionally seen A. avicularia and A. seemani at these stores as well. If I were you, I would avoid purchasing a T from these stores anyway.

2. Greed? Those prices are bit inflated in my opinion.

3. Right here on the boards. In fact, I got a great deal for a GBB sling just last week (Thanks Dave Grimm).

 

[Kuro]

i just got a GBB sling last week from the same person as mking. if you want nice Ts for a reasonable price look at some the ads here on the boards

 

[Nomadinexile]

Arachnoboards!

You're here, just go to the classifieds, look who's selling what you want. Check reviews, and I bet you will end up happy. There are also people who get out of keeping, or have a need to raise cash and will sell below market value on here sometimes. I have seen some nice big T's sold for hardly anything because they are common on here and people needed to move or whatever. There are online stores that advertise on here as well. They also have good deals sometimes. You could find just about any tarantula or scorpion or centipede on here. And unless you just have to have an 7" Gooty ornamental or something like that, you will find something reasonable. Have fun. But be careful, it's addicting. :O)

 

[Sathane]

I've spoken to the local PetSmart about the possibility of supplying them with Ts occasionally and was told that the PetSmart head office has a list of approved sources for inverts. They also have a list of approved inverts so all they are allowed to carry, as of January this year, are Pandinus imperator, Grammostola rosea, and Avicularia avicularia. That being said, my local PetSmart is selling a P. cavimanus as P. imperator while knowing full well that it isn't an Emp. The associate told me that they sometimes get species that they know aren't the right thing but they sell it anyway as an approved species.

Don't get me started on their pricing model. It's incredibly retarded. Their current A. avic specimen is a MM and selling for $90.

 

[whitewolf]

My local Petco and Petsmart only carry King Babbon, Avic Avic, OBT, and Cobalts. :? Odd to me they'd be selling such defensive T's to kids saying their not that bad. Yah the avics aren't. Did find two other locals though one I sed to work for as a kid that can get me just about anything I want very cheep. IE 2" Smithis and Bohemis for 20.00. Think its funny how people jump for those petco T's since they are way over priced. Rather do business here or with the locals anyway since they are honest about them. "I don't know but I can find out." or "It is a ..." Good thing about their Emps is ya keep watching well my local one their Scors are kept communally and ya can pick up some major gravid ones. Guy that raises them and works their told me he is always buying them to pull them out of the tanks cause they start having babies on them. Their dealer keeps them communal as well.

Can pick up some great deals on here if ya don't get in a hurry and some good dealers too. Bought a few things from Dave and had a great experiance. Pet Center USA (Paul Becker) is great too very good prices too. Just keep watching and be prepared I started out by saying I just want these 2 then these 4. Now lol they need their own room.

 

[jbm150]

$40 for a rosie? Unless it walks upright with a cane and top hat and speaks with a cool accent, thats too much.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

Why do places like Petco and PetSmart only caring Rose Hair T's instead of a variety of T's?

I found an exotic reptile shop with a wide variety but they want $250 for a Giant White Knee and $40 for Rose Hair. I didn't even bother to find out the price of the other species! Why so much?

The answer to both questions is because you're looking at terrible places to buy tarantulas. Stores are overpriced and rarely selling healthy, well-cared-for animals. Anytime you think to buy one and "rescue" it you're only paying them for animal abuse and encouraging them to buy another one and do it again. (They also rarely see fit to train their employees to know anything about what they're selling, but said employees will gladly act like they know what they're talking about when selling you hot rocks and pine bedding and claiming they can tell your new tarantula is female because it's fat.)

Online is the way to go. As other people have said we have a classifieds section, but the REAL prize is the section for breeder/dealer reviews. You can go check up on almost anyone you want to buy from, and make sure they aren't someone who packs badly or otherwise isn't that great.

Online dealers are also almost always hobbyists who actually know what the heck they're selling, including whether it's male or female if it's big enough to tell. And the good ones don't overcharge.

 

[ExoticMangos]

I always try to stay away from large corporation owned pet stores for that reason. They are always overpriced and dont know anything about what they are selling. I purposely drive the extra 7 miles to get to these 2 exotic petstores so I can buy from their store and keep them in business. Roses by me are $15, and they have several to choose from. Pinktoe $20, metallic $30, some $50 cobalts that are about 2 inches. Pokies are around $70 for 1-2 inchers. B.smithi slings for $19.99. Etc etc. It just depends where you look. I think it would be interesting to start a thread where everyone can post the prices of their local pet store Ts. What do you think?

 

[whitewolf]

Might be kinda cool to see what people are paying compared to bigger chains in diffrent areas.

 

[the_mask86]

on the gbb i'd recommend waiting!

cos i'm in malaysia and i only trust one supplier, i always check back on his page.

then i was desperate for GBBs, i found out in my country there was zero stock.

decided to wait it out, and once my favourite seller got stock, i got 15 at a go from him!

my best buy ever in my opinion.

 

[Sooner]

I bought an A. avicularia from a local Petco early last year for 20 bucks. It had molted at the store and my g/f sexed it as female when an employee removed the molt.

Apparently the tarantula had escaped several months earlier and was hiding in the furry cat toy section when a kid and his mom found it. I would say it's a good price