Tarantulas boring?

[JamesJ]

I have never kept tarantulas because I am under the impression that they "boring". Now I'm not saying tarantula enthusiasts find them boring too. I am not an enthusiast so tarantula qualities enthusiasts like may not interest me. I do keep praying mantis. They don't "hide", they stay out in the open and you can see their feeding behavior. I'm trying to say is that a tarantula acts like a tarantula. Hide alot, ambush prey ect. In other words inactive/shy. I fear I won't be able to observe a tarantula like I would a praying mantis. That is why I never got one. But a tarantula caught my attention, P. Metallica. It is beautiful! What I'm trying to ask is how active or shy are P. Metallica and tarantulas in general? Are they more out going and bold then I think. Or do they hide most of their life?

 

[moricollins]

*pops popcorn, grabs a chair to wait for the onslaught*

Poecilotheria metallica are a terrible first tarantula.

Most beginner friendly Tarantulas are not going to be any more boring than a mantis would be. Many will stay out in the open, waiting to eat their prey when they get fed.

 

[EpicEpic]

I have never kept tarantulas because I am under the impression that they "boring". Now I'm not saying tarantula enthusiasts find them boring too. I am not an enthusiast so tarantula qualities enthusiasts like may not interest me. I do keep praying mantis. They don't "hide", they stay out in the open and you can see their feeding behavior. I'm trying to say is that a tarantula acts like a tarantula. Hide alot, ambush prey ect. In other words inactive/shy. I fear I won't be able to observe a tarantula like I would a praying mantis. That is why I never got one. But a tarantula caught my attention, P. Metallica. It is beautiful! What I'm trying to ask is how active or shy are P. Metallica and tarantulas in general? Are they more out going and bold then I think. Or do they hide most of their life?

There are so many species of Tarantula that you could write down what you would find as perfect behavior by your standards (webbing, eating, how often hide, colors, etc.) And the "Tarantula Machine" would pick out one that's perfect for you. Just describe what you want in a T.

 

[Liquifin]

A highly venomous species and you don't have any experience with tarantulas, so I would avoid them. Tarantulas are nocturnal and they're not the most active of pets, so don't expect a lot. Tarantulas are observational pets and not pets that should handled and it should be avoided as much as possible especially since the P. metallica is on the higher levels in terms of venom. Reclusive nature is subjective to the species and individual specimen itself, so there is no 100% to say that they're reclusive or not. Just note that tarantulas are usually reclusive in nature, but in captivity it varies much differently. Also I see dark clouds and misfortune coming for you if you truly want one of the higher venomous tarantulas in the hobby.

 

[DaveM]

P. metallica tend to be a little more light-sensitive and secretive than other Pokies, still seem plenty interesting and worthwhile having to me. No Pokie is a good first tarantula for a beginner, though. One additional consideration: enthusiasts rarely keep just one tarantula. Get several to start, then more, then hundreds! With lots of spiders, there's always something interesting going on. Once you start down this dark and twisted path.... there's no turning back, but it's OK: you won't want to stop.

 

[JamesJ]

*pops popcorn, grabs a chair to wait for the onslaught*

Poecilotheria metallica are a terrible first tarantula.

Most beginner friendly Tarantulas are not going to be any more boring than a mantis would be. Many will stay out in the open, waiting to eat their prey when they get fed.

Lol. I was kinda worried about the flame war I was gonna start.
I understand that the P Metallica is not a beginner tarantula. I however did keep a variety of advanced animals from freshwater to saltwater reefs to reptiles so i am not too concerned that I am starting off with a harder tarantula than a Chilean rosehair for example. I feel confident that I can handle it.
I am glad that I was wrong that tarantulas hide a lot. If I can watch and observe them, that is all I need.

There are so many species of Tarantula that you could write down what you would find as perfect behavior by your standards (webbing, eating, how often hide, colors, etc.) And the "Tarantula Machine" would pick out one that's perfect for you. Just describe what you want in a T.

I'll definitely check that out. Thanks!

P. metallica tend to be a little more light-sensitive and secretive than other Pokies, still seem plenty interesting and worthwhile having to me. No Pokie is a good first tarantula for a beginner, though. One additional consideration: enthusiasts rarely keep just one tarantula. Get several to start, then more, then hundreds! With lots of spiders, there's always something interesting going on. Once you start down this dark and twisted path.... there's no turning back, but it's OK: you won't want to stop.

Uh oh. Lol. I understand. I just wanted two praying mantis, a Chinese (big and handleable) and a orchid (pretty to look at). Now I have ghost and African and planning on getting a spiny flower and devils. This kind of hobby is like drug and you can't stop.

 

[moricollins]

Lol. I was kinda worried about the flame war I was gonna start.
I understand that the P Metallica is not a beginner tarantula. I however did keep a variety of advanced animals from freshwater to saltwater reefs to reptiles so i am not too concerned that I am starting off with a harder tarantula than a Chilean rosehair for example. I feel confident that I can handle it.
I am glad that I was wrong that tarantulas hide a lot. If I can watch and observe them, that is all I need.

I'll definitely check that out. Thanks!

I would highly recommend a new world terrestrial tarantula, you're much more likely to see it out and about than a Poecilotheria (in my experience)

 

[Frogdaddy]

so i am not too concerned that I am starting off with a harder tarantula than a Chilean rosehair for example. I feel confident that I can handle it.

Mods, can we reopen the Bite Reports? There's a new entry coming.

 

[JamesJ]

Mods, can we reopen the Bite Reports? There's a new entry coming.

I am no fool. When I said "I can handle it" I did not mean I'm literally going to hold it in my hand. I meant I can handle the care requirements this species will have.

 

[Arachnopets]

Mods, can we reopen the Bite Reports? There's a new entry coming.

No guarantee a bite is definitive.

BTW, the bite reports is not closed (only the forum). The Bite Reports new location is here: https://arachnoboards.com/reviews-reports/categories/bite-reports.10/


To the OP:

I know you have said that you are not concerned as you have kept "advanced" animals before. I have no doubt that you are quite capable either, based on what you claim your previous experiences to be. However, please understand that it means actually little to nothing when it comes to tarantulas. People always think they are kept similar to other exotic (advanced) animals, when that is the furthest from the truth.

We all can NOT tell you what to do, as you will do what you want regardless. But I would be remiss, as any other keeper, to not offer advice and reasons as to why we feel it may not be the best first choice.

That is all we can do, is simply offer our opinions, advice and our experiences and hope you are making the best decisions for your animal.


Debby

 

[EpicEpic]

By your theorem, because I own "advanced" Tarantulas.....I can own a coral reef tank succesfully?!

Lmao....no I can't.

 

[Matt Man]

FWIW here's my take as a Pokie Owner. A) if you set them up right, with a hollow log or curved bark to replicate their native habitats you will rarely see them. They hang on the inside/ backside most the time because that's where they feel safe and secure. Of my T collection, my arboreals are the most reclusive and the Pokies are the most of them. So if you set up a healthy habitat for them they will be out of sight the majority of the time. It makes it more of a big deal when they come out. So here's the other rub, they are ridiculously fast and can bolt faster than you can react. If they are disturbed they will most likely hide, or sit still. If they decide to bolt, they are arboreals which means they bolt up which means, usually onto you. The last bit is, they can bite, and if they do, it's gonna hurt, and people will tell you that hurt is bad, real bad. So people are going to question your experience, because skill in other exotics may not translate unless it is in venomous snakes. There are plenty of terrestrials that are out all the time, feed aggressively and are as entertaining, if not more than Manti.

last, Ts are time investments. Manti as adults give you half a year. Ts can give you decades, so be prepared for the long haul

and there are literally dozens of people here who will help you make an awesome choice, if this isn't just one massive troll

 

[kingshockey]

keeping a reef tank is nothing like keeping tarantulas. i have kept both succesfully both corral and fish only with live rock if i didnt have a stroke i would still be selling and growing frags. your a grown man and are entitled to make your own mistakes.only suggestion i have for you is to dig and read much as you can about the t you are interested in keeping.make your family aware to the risk to them and any dogs/cats you may own good luck

 

[Matt Man]

keeping a reef tank is nothing like keeping tarantulas. i have kept both succesfully both corral and fish only with live rock if i didnt have a stroke i would still be selling and growing frags. your a grown man and are entitled to make your own mistakes.only suggestion i have for you is to dig and read much as you can about the t you are interested in keeping.make your family aware to the risk to them and any dogs/cats you may own good luck

reef tanks are tough, fish tanks in general are a ton of work. most corals though, won't bite and send you to the hospital

 

[kingshockey]

no they do the chemical warefare which can be very bad if your dog or cat happens to drink some of the old tank water during a water change

 

[Matt Man]

no they do the chemical warefare which can be very bad if your dog or cat happens to drink some of the old tank water during a water change

so I have heard. My neighbor was a SW and Coral Guy so I* have heard a few stories. I was amazed at the amount of work that went into the hobby and have the utmost respect for those who do / have done it. FWIW I got to meet the Great One at the SLC Olympics. Kings fan as well

 

[Frogdaddy]

On the plus side keeping T's will seem a lot cheaper hobby than a reef tank.

 

[Matt Man]

On the plus side keeping T's will seem a lot cheaper hobby than a reef tank.

indeed

 

[Ian14]

I've only been keeping tarantulas since November 2019 so I am very new to this hobby. Like the OP, I had a view that as I had had a lot of success keeping and breeding snakes for 30 odd years that these would be a doddle.
To an extent, yes.
But what you won't be prepared for is the speed that a tarantula can move, even some of the "calmer" species. Unlike reptiles, they rarely give much of an indication when about to go from impersonating a rock to teleporting!
A Metallica, while stunning, is very quick.

 

[Matt Man]

even the lowly T albiceps has an impressive burst