Tarantulas boring?

[vounti]

Have you read about Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens?
Very beautiful T, awesome colors, impressive feeding response, heavy webbing and I have never seen a C. cyaneopubescens burrowing/hiding. They make a good first T. Although they can be fast, thats should not be a problem if you don't handle them.

Personally I often can see my sling doing its tarantula things. Webbing, grooming, eating. It is always doing something unless it's in premolt.

 

[kingshockey]

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

hell yeah !! glad to meet another hockey fan

 

[cold blood]

Get an A. geniculata, big, bold, beautiful and always out...like they just don't hide...stunning display species, easy to keep and new world...and their appetite will make mantids look like picky, tenative eaters...lol...they would even eat those mantids. No one ever regrets buying a genic.

A P. met would be just a terrible choice...its beautiful, but its just not what you are looking for....the better entry species check all your boxes....its exactly what you would want, you just don't know it yet.

 

[Kichimark]

I have kept reefs for about 20 years and interned as an aquarist (10 years ago) at the aquarium of the pacific. With that in mind, I have been stung by jellies and my own anemone when I had a cut on my arm when doing maintenance (good sting). The palytoxin on zoa's are no joke either.

With that said, T's are a totally different animal. All arachnids really. A couple years back I lost a beautiful S. heros centipede. I followed the guys advice (reptile store owner) who I thought had good advice but that included too wet of a habitat and pure coco fiber. After much research on here it probably died of mycosis. A real shame and I felt horrible but my confidence and the basic advice that was given seemed like it was good enough. I mean, If I can cultivate corals and all the stable parameters that are needed, a centipede would be no problem I thought. Lesson learned.

But going to the T's being "boring". I don't think so at all. I have all different kinds of animals (snakes, frogs, geckos, reef, fish, etc) and they all have their own unique personalities and niches in my life. I only have one T at the moment but had her for about 7 years and plan on getting more in a week or so. I like the Brachypelma genus and I believe someone mentioned that for a starter also. My Eve is always out and although she does not move around a ton, it is neat to see her behavior and feeding. When I see her molt (once a year or two) it is always an exciting time. Some folks just see a big spider but she is a little bit more than that to me.
My T (Eve)


My reefs.

 

[Arthroverts]

Well, remember you are coming in with the expectations you got from keeping mantids and applying them to tarantulas. That simply does not work. Tarantulas and mantids, and the wider invertebrate hobby in general, are so diverse and different that if you can't appreciate them for their own looks, abilities, and quirks it would probably be best to stay away from them. I've kept a very wide variety of invertebrates (I not limited to tarantulas, I really do love all invertebrates), and I've learned that if try to transliterate lessons learned from, say, keeping NW tarantulas to OW Scolopendra things aren't going to end real well oftentimes.

I agree a P. metallica is generally not for the beginner. With a proper level of maturity, certain precautions, and an understanding of how tarantulas act, you can definitely keep Old Worlds, but it is not recommended (as mentioned above they are one of the most photophobic Poecilotheria species). If you know you can properly mitigate the risks (having experience with venomous reptiles helps with this) and mostly eliminate that tarantula-neophyte disadvantage, I'm not going to tell you you can't keep them, but there is a reason New World terrestrials are so often recommended to beginners.

Thanks,

Arthroverts

 

[viper69]

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!


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.

All the animals you mentioned teach you NOTHING about tarantulas.

I’ve been keeping reptiles far longer than the decades I’ve been keeping Ts- they taught me NOTHING towards Ts.. N O T H I N G.

Your post is like all the others with previous exotic animal experience.

If you have kept hot reptiles such as cobra or black mamba I'd give you some credit towards a P met.

When a fish escapes from a tank how does that prepare you with an escaped T.. it doesn’t hahaha

Same for an escaped reptile.

The ONLY thing reptiles helped me with Ts is where to find exotic supplies.

I strongly suggest you read up first before getting one of these NOT BORING animals.

When was the last time fish spun silk


This is what I “saw” from your post

“ understand a Ferrari is not a beginner car, but I have ridden a tricycle and go-karts before”

One has nothing to do with the other.

Research research research

I have kept reefs for about 20 years and interned as an aquarist (10 years ago) at the aquarium of the pacific. With that in mind, I have been stung by jellies and my own anemone when I had a cut on my arm when doing maintenance (good sting). The palytoxin on zoa's are no joke either.

With that said, T's are a totally different animal. All arachnids really. A couple years back I lost a beautiful S. heros centipede. I followed the guys advice (reptile store owner) who I thought had good advice but that included too wet of a habitat and pure coco fiber. After much research on here it probably died of mycosis. A real shame and I felt horrible but my confidence and the basic advice that was given seemed like it was good enough. I mean, If I can cultivate corals and all the stable parameters that are needed, a centipede would be no problem I thought. Lesson learned.

But going to the T's being "boring". I don't think so at all. I have all different kinds of animals (snakes, frogs, geckos, reef, fish, etc) and they all have their own unique personalities and niches in my life. I only have one T at the moment but had her for about 7 years and plan on getting more in a week or so. I like the Brachypelma genus and I believe someone mentioned that for a starter also. My Eve is always out and although she does not move around a ton, it is neat to see her behavior and feeding. When I see her molt (once a year or two) it is always an exciting time. Some folks just see a big spider but she is a little bit more than that to me.
My T (Eve)


My reefs.

Cultivating coral- way cool!! Lovely salts!

 

[ColeopteraC]

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.

It’s not a question of care and requirements, almost every tarantula is dirt easy to keep. Its a question of unrivalled speed and potential, the likes of which no animal you’ve kept can compare. On that note no T is more exciting or active than any other, some may hide more and some may be display T’s but at the end of the day they are doing the exact same thing, resting.

Reptiles teach you next to nothing about T’s, I know it’s frustrating to start from scratch but that’s what happens when you begin a new hobby. So for your and the T’s sake please start with a fairly docile sp. (Chromatopelma Cyanopubescens comes to mind). They won’t be any less boring than a mettallica.

 

[Dorifto]

Get an A. geniculata, big, bold, beautiful and always out...like they just don't hide...stunning display species, easy to keep and new world...and their appetite will make mantids look like picky, tenative eaters...lol...they would even eat those mantids. No one ever regrets buying a genic.

A P. met would be just a terrible choice...its beautiful, but its just not what you are looking for....the better entry species check all your boxes....its exactly what you would want, you just don't know it yet.

+1 to coldblood, I was going to recommend the same species. It's classified as a intermediate species, because of their feeding response, everything that moves is food, you too but with a little bit more care and respect, you can handle this species.

Examples:

View attachment VID_20200417_023934.mp4

With a little blowing

View attachment VID_20200414_195330.mp4

 

[moricollins]

@Dorifto doesn't mean you can handle the Tarantula (as in pick it up and have it on your hands) but that with care and respect you can maintain/keep this Tarantula

 

[Asgiliath]

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

Lmao....no I can't.

Beautifully put, sir.

 

[Dorifto]

@Dorifto doesn't mean you can handle the Tarantula (as in pick it up and have it on your hands) but that with care and respect you can maintain/keep this Tarantula

Thanks autocorrector

 

[Vanessa]

Nothing prepares you for keeping spiders other than keeping spiders.

 

[EtienneN]

Sometimes I wish all tarantulas just looked like potatoes because then nobody woefully unprepared would be 'seduced' into buying something they have no business buying. And honestly as many others have said, there are many other spiders who are out and about more than a P. metallica. My female is over seven years old and I only see her about half the time. Just yesterday I checked on her with my phone light and all I could see in her den were the yellow parts of her front legs. Is she beautiful? Yes. But so is my T. albopilosus.

 

[Baby T]

I think what people here are trying to say is it would be irresponsible for THEM to even give this idea the time of day. No offence but nothing prepares you for the speed of a tarantula. Even my lethargic b.smithi gives me a mild heart attack sometimes if I'm feeling a bit tired! P.metallica is a stunner, but it's speed and bite may also stun you!! A GBB or A.geniculata are both great looking species, and both of mine are on show all the time.
Once you get one you'll be hooked anyway! Won't be long before you have enough experience for that sexy blue one!!

 

[Matt Man]

I have kept reefs for about 20 years and interned as an aquarist (10 years ago) at the aquarium of the pacific. With that in mind, I have been stung by jellies and my own anemone when I had a cut on my arm when doing maintenance (good sting). The palytoxin on zoa's are no joke either.

With that said, T's are a totally different animal. All arachnids really. A couple years back I lost a beautiful S. heros centipede. I followed the guys advice (reptile store owner) who I thought had good advice but that included too wet of a habitat and pure coco fiber. After much research on here it probably died of mycosis. A real shame and I felt horrible but my confidence and the basic advice that was given seemed like it was good enough. I mean, If I can cultivate corals and all the stable parameters that are needed, a centipede would be no problem I thought. Lesson learned.

But going to the T's being "boring". I don't think so at all. I have all different kinds of animals (snakes, frogs, geckos, reef, fish, etc) and they all have their own unique personalities and niches in my life. I only have one T at the moment but had her for about 7 years and plan on getting more in a week or so. I like the Brachypelma genus and I believe someone mentioned that for a starter also. My Eve is always out and although she does not move around a ton, it is neat to see her behavior and feeding. When I see her molt (once a year or two) it is always an exciting time. Some folks just see a big spider but she is a little bit more than that to me.
My T (Eve)


My reefs.

lovely T and lovely tanks. Brachys are a lovely lot

 

[BassCatPIV]

I'm just going to echo what everyone said to the OP. I really wanted to get the same t as you did and I'm glad that I listened to what everyone said. I would recommend what cold blood said as far as a recommendation for a new t. Good luck in your search.

 

[Craig73]

I will say as a newer T keeper with a P. Metallica that you are going to be in way over your head. It doesn’t matter how much experience you’ve had outside of owning a T, there’s absolutely zero comparison anyone can can apply to making this a first logical leap.

I enjoy opening up enclosures to feed my Other 12 T’s, but the p.met is one that I have to really put my game face on and its not as enjoyable, it’s a chore. Thing will fly off the rocker at the slightest movement and no matter how quick someone thinks they can react, it’s not humanly possible...it’s luck at best.

There are plenty of amazing options out there that are equally stunning. Half the fun is designing the enclosure and trying to find them.

Just my 2 cents.