Thinking too much about my choice of "my first"

[FoxtheLviola]

Well, it is not always addictive for everyone. My brother is perfectly happy with his 3 Lps and nhandu, and has no plans for more. I on the other hand planned on getting one little Singapore blue sling and now 4 months later, I have 10 tarantulas. Who knows you might be happy with 3. I think the B. smithi and G. pulchra are good choices, but I'd the Avic too because arboreals are fun. You could always get the terrestrials as juvies and the Avic a sling. Haha and you can always find room for more Ts.

 

[Hydrazine]

Was thinking smithi (or another B) juvie, the rest slings. I believe this way I'll archieve some degree of variety.
but...yeah, I pretty much have to get the avic now, talked to a friend who fell in love with A.versicolor on first (photo) sight and is like YOU HAVE TO GET THAT ONE!
She also told me to just go to the expo and get what I feel like.

By the way, in case of B.smithi unavailability (unlikely, but still..), what other B would you recommend? Or should I get an uncommon one in case it will be available as juvie?

 

[AlexRC]

I'm gonna put my thoughts into this as I was where you are now not too long ago.

1st off, it seems more like you're asking us to TELL YOU WHAT to get, rather than just recommendations. Not saying that this is your goal but it just kinda seems like that. The only thing I can say about that is that by reading all of your responses, it seems you took in a lot of advice, and already kinda made up your mind on what you want.

You say it may be too addictive to start now, and I say you're already hooked so it's too late. You obviously want some T's that you'll watch grow, are simple to care for, pose no threat, and will always show their beauty. You're in search of "the perfect T" as we all were during the early stages, but it seems you're already learning that it doesn't exist, just like with humans. They are all different, and have their own to offer. With all of your responses, you're choices have broadened, and you know exactly why you consider each one you mention. I think you got this and you'll be fine with whatever you go with as you can already explain why you want what you consider. Most beginners have no idea what they're getting into, and take their chances. It seems like you're not taking any, and I have faith that you'll choose wisely and be happy with whatever you choose.

This is how I started:
I did my research, bought a penultimate male G. rosea from the LPS on Oct. 16, 2010. (or was it 2009? Not really sure)
A month later, I bought a pair of juvenile P. imperator at an expo.
A couple of months after that, I bought 2 .5 inch slings at another expo, A. versicolor and B. smithi.
I currently have 19 T's, about 20 scorps (all Emps), and some other non-arachnid pets. My A. versicolor is now nearly 3 inches in leg span, and my b. smithi just molted a few days ago and is now just over 2 inches leg span. My G. rosea molted into a MM last January. I have mostly small slings, a few juvies, and a few adults. Would have a WHOLE lot more if money and space weren't an issue.

My whole point is if you're serious about getting in, and you obviously are, then just dive right in. You'll be fine, and with time will come ways to make more space and spend more money. You will eventually (a lot sooner than you may think) have what you originally wanted, and be working on more.
This is long enough so I'm gonna cut it here. I know I didn't help much because I didn't suggest anything, but I hope I was able to help in other ways.

 

[Hydrazine]

I'm gonna put my thoughts into this as I was where you are now not too long ago.

1st off, it seems more like you're asking us to TELL YOU WHAT to get, rather than just recommendations. Not saying that this is your goal but it just kinda seems like that. The only thing I can say about that is that by reading all of your responses, it seems you took in a lot of advice, and already kinda made up your mind on what you want.

Nah, I'm just constantly rethinking and overthinking things.
I blame the spare time before the expo.

Thanks, hopefully I actually get the spideys before my head explodes.
Too much time, too much time on my hands.

 

[sugarsandz]

I'm in no way a seasoned T owner but if you're worried about cost, I'd go with G. Rosea. I got mine from my sister because she got bored of it but I love this spider. Sure it's not colorful or an awesome web maker but I dunno, it is the unpredictability that I enjoy myself. My roseas pretty mellow most of the time, some days she is really active while others I don't see her at all, still again she is one the fasts then eats a lot then fasts again. I feel like because the G. Rosea is kind of a gamble for everyone who has one that it eases you into not worrying because at the end of each day my Rosea is doing fine.

And I got a B. Smithi 4" female (we will see) last weekend at an expo which was way more costly than my first spider and her feeding habits, attitude, everything is totally different than my first T. But I'm pretty comfortable with her and I'm not as stressed over having everything perfect and I don't freak out if she isn't hungry like I was at first with my Rosea. Really long story short in my opinion starting with the G. Rosea made the next step up or over seem easier. Oh and as many people on here have noted throughout these forums, the type of spider doesn't always guarantee a certain trait lol! My Rosea is not skittish and she's oh so slow and mellow, where as my new B. Smithi Azula is very skittish, fast and pounces on food as soon as it hits her tank.

Whatever you do decide to get, just enjoy it! I see many more tarantulas in my future, I'm sure my husband will be thrilled. . .but not really : P

 

[FoxtheLviola]

Was thinking smithi (or another B) juvie, the rest slings. I believe this way I'll archieve some degree of variety.
but...yeah, I pretty much have to get the avic now, talked to a friend who fell in love with A.versicolor on first (photo) sight and is like YOU HAVE TO GET THAT ONE!
She also told me to just go to the expo and get what I feel like.


By the way, in case of B.smithi unavailability (unlikely, but still..), what other B would you recommend? Or should I get an
uncommon one in case it will be available as juvie?

A. versicolor is a great choice. I have one and just love it. Fast when startled, but it has never made a dash for freedom. Also a great eater. I do not have a ton of experience with the brachypelma genus. I only have a B. vagans sling who is surprisely calm. I'm looking to ge a B. emilia in the future, but I honestly don't think you can go wrong with any species from that genus. If you want more color go with boehmei or maybe baumgarteni. I'm sure you will end up loving what ever brachypelma you choose.

 

[sugarsandz]

What about a Brazilian Black (Grammostola pulchra)? Aren't they like the Cadillac of Ts? I saw a few 2" ones at the show last week and almost jumped on one but then I thought about reading how hard they are to come by. How was I to know if they were actually a different species that just looks similar, so then I got my B. Smithi. Plus they were $75 a piece which seems kind of cheap for such a prized tarantula. If that price sounds about right for a 2" G. Pulchra unsexed please tell me because I will go out and find one.

 

[Hydrazine]

I actually mentioned in the first post G.pulchra is one of my top choices (and if available, will be part of the "power trio" along with B.smithi(or other species) and Avic(whichever will be available, I guess) that I'm PROBABLY going to get.)

 

[Storm76]

Like I said, with Grammostola spp. you'll probably encounter a fasting sooner or later at some point - just don't be alarmed then. Plus, G. pulchra are somewhat expensive over there, right? As for Brachypelma spp. you could try B. auratum (beautiful, but likely to be pricey, also one of the skittish species of the genus and often notorious hairkickers).

AlexRC pointed it out already very well - go to that Expo, look at the available T's, make your choice and then enjoy that new T for what he/she is!

As a little sidenote: A. versicolor -can- be become a handful sometimes (one of the couple I own already shows tendencies of right that), not always, but some of them can be quite defensive. If you want go for Avics and look for docile ones I'd suggest A. metallica, A. avicularia, or even A. azuraklaasi to start with. Those are nearly always docile (with very few exceptions) and usually don't get startled that quickly (thought they still have the same traits as the rest of the genus ).


Anyways, just make your choice, buy and enjoy

 

[Hydrazine]

Yeah, pulchras aren't common at all but I just gotta hope one will be available juuuuust at the right age/maturity level that I can still afford it because that velvet black is just mesmerizing.

As for avics, gotta say I'm still dazed and confused about their taxonomy, varieties and hybrids.

 

[macbaffo]

As for avics, gotta say I'm still dazed and confused about their taxonomy, varieties and hybrids.

Why confused about hybrids?

 

[Hydrazine]

As far as I know, hybrids bring even more chaos into already quite chaotic Avic taxonomy.

I'm not so sure if I can be sure what avic I'm actually buying

 

[macbaffo]

Get a versicolor or a diversipes...you shouldn't have hybrids problems. Thuse are recognizable even when they are slings . There were also other Avic whose slings are recognizable but i don't remember them now.

 

[charm271]

I think your problem is as the title of your post states you are thinking too much about your choice. Each genus of tarantulas has it's strong or interesting points and weak ones. Reality is if you did not like whatever you picked you can trade it or sell it. I thought I would like to have an H. incei colony so I got a few adults and kept them for a bit. Turns out they were not what I was looking for. I did not have any trouble selling them and I learned better what kind of tarantulas I like as well as a little bit more about the hobby in general.

 

[MarkmD]

We can only give you names of species and ones we own and a short description of how they act, I could make it simple,(a T is a T), everyone has given you good choices, Avics are a grate starter along with, B,smithi, L,parahybana, Brazilian,black, GBB, and more.

Good luck and let us know what you get.

 

[JungleCage]

I'd go with a LP or a A. Genic. Both are inexpensive and fast growers. They also grow huge. Best bet is to buy a few different species to keep it interesting. I'd get a terrestrial and also an arboreal like an avic.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[Hydrazine]

Can't wait till the expo. I'll contact the breeder to get an up-to-date list of available specimen. Chances are that I'll end up with something completely different than I planned :biggrin:

Just wish it was this Saturday instead of the next, I DON'T WANT MORE TIME TO THINK!
I SHOULD focus on the upcoming written part of my FCE exam (this Sat) buuuuut kinda hard to do so.

 

[cmcghee358]

I strongly recommend Lasiodora parahybana as the terrestrial and any Avic as the arboreal!

I love both of these genus. And avic's are just sweet little fuzzy butts, with POOFY FEET!! So cute!

Yeah I'm a grown as man, and I sound like my daughter.

Fuzzy spiders do that to me

 

[MarkmD]

I agree with, cmcghee358, L,parahybana are cute as anything I recommend a juvenile as you can watch it grow, and Avics are sweet little things with a good attitude both are worth having.

 

[Storm76]

Seriously, no matter all the suggestion we gave you here - YOU have to decide what YOU want! No one can take that decision from you and we can only share out personal experiences with certain species.

Go to that expo and look around completely once before narrowing it down

Go and buy the T (or T's even better) you like

Get home, get ready, rehouse them comfortably

ENJOY!