Three tarantulas, no experience, new to the hobby!

[MrsFrizzle]

Hello this is pink toe (pinky), greenbottle blue (blue) and Curly hair (curly)

What better way to learn than variety!?! I’ve had them for a week. Got them at my first reptile show. The vendors didn’t have a lot information on them but I wanted them so bad. Well lots to learn and observe.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Usually you want to learn how to take care of an animal before you purchase them so you can properly care for them and they don’t die. Please read here first.

Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com

I’d start by raising that substrate height a lot. Within 1.5x the diagonal leg span of the T. Hope that’s not an arboreal enclosure you have the curly in. I can’t tell from above. Avic needs leaves up high to web to and GBB needs anchor points to web to. These are very common species and there is tons of info on the boards here. Tom’s Big Spiders videos are also very helpful.

 

[Mustafa67]

What better way to learn than variety!?! I’ve had them for a week. Got them at my first reptile show. The vendors didn’t have a lot information on them but I wanted them so bad. Well lots to learn and observe.

That first enclosure is NOT suitable for your T albo. Should be placed in a terrestrial setup (not a cube) and also needs more substrate. That enclosure looks small and unsafe for your T. Sub should be dry for that T.

Can’t comment on the others as can’t see the whole enclosures. But search the forum for info on these Ts care, lots of good info on this site and knowledgable people. Also read the beginners guide @IntermittentSygnal put in, it has lots of very useful information which can be helpful for beginners.

 

[MrsFrizzle]

Usually you want to learn how to take care of an animal before you purchase them so you can properly care for them and they don’t die. Please read here first.

Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com

I’d start by raising that substrate height a lot. Within 1.5x the diagonal leg span of the T. Hope that’s not an arboreal enclosure you have the curly in. I can’t tell from above. Avic needs leaves up high to web to and GBB needs anchor points to web to. These are very common species and there is tons of info on the boards here. Tom’s Big Spiders videos are also very helpful.

I’ve done a whole lot of research before I got them! The curly hair is not in an arboreal terrarium, too! I agree. It’s best to know more before you get them! I did a whole month of research before I got them so I know how to take care of them, but I know true experience comes from hands on.

 

[Brewser]

Welcome Aboard, and nice choices by the way.
Good advice from above.
The 3 Ts look Healthy from the Pictures provided.
Best Wishes to You and Yours,

 

[MrsFrizzle]

Welcome Aboard, and nice choices by the way.
Good advice from above.
The 3 Ts look Healthy from the Pictures provided.
Best Wishes to You and Yours,

Thank you! I want to be the best caregiver for them! My greenbottle hasn’t touched his water, so that is worrying me. I’m hoping it is from adjusting to his new home.

 

[LucN]

Hello and welcome to the boards ! You did well in coming here for advice. The beginner's link is a useful one, so be sure to check it out. Many of the most common questions will be answered there. Another point that should be made is that anything with tarantulas take time. You will gain a deal of patience by working with them. There's no rush to do anything once their enclosures are set up appropriately. Give them a couple of weeks to settle in. Terrestrials needs more space and arboreals need more height.

Be sure to read @viper69 's Avicularia/Caribena guide for your pinktoe.

Aside from that, stick around and don't be afraid to ask questions. The only bad question is the one you don't ask. Before asking though, take some time to search through the forum first, you might be able to find your answer in a past thread.

Best on luck on your keeping journey !

 

[kingshockey]

1. dont be offended or discouraged by any of the blunt replies you will get back we all want you to succeed(some of us are a blunt spoken bunch)
2. you jumped in with both feet best thing you can do is get started on the research you needed to do prior buying them lots of reading to do lots to learn
3.take a look at tom morans site lots of info that will help. a search functionis located at top right corner will also help you or just google a question and you will find alot of links that usually just lead you right back to this forum
4 welcome to the forums good luck and enjoy your new pets

 

[viper69]

Come back with Specfic questions- please don’t ask for “tips”, as peeps could tell you stuff you already know

 

[MrsFrizzle]

Come back with Specfic questions- please don’t ask for “tips”, as peeps could tell you stuff you already know

Thanks for the advice!

1. dont be offended or discouraged by any of the blunt replies you will get back we all want you to succeed(some of us are a blunt spoken bunch)
2. you jumped in with both feet best thing you can do is get started on the research you needed to do prior buying them lots of reading to do lots to learn
3.take a look at tom morans site lots of info that will help. a search functionis located at top right corner will also help you or just google a question and you will find alot of links that usually just lead you right back to this forum
4 welcome to the forums good luck and enjoy your new pets

I learned a lot on here before I even got them! I don’t know how many forums I read enough to drain my energy from reading so much, but very helpful. Memorizing was what got me, because you have tarantulas from different parts of the world. Thx

 

[WolfieKate]

I learned a lot on here before I even got them! I don’t know how many forums I read enough to drain my energy from reading so much, but very helpful. Memorizing was what got me, because you have tarantulas from different parts of the world. Thx

I was a beginner in july. And now I have 17 18 is on her way. My go to gurus are Tom Moran and Dave's Little Beasties. Watch the breed specific videos a few times. Your GBB will never drink from its water bowl, well mine doesn’t, I just keep it topped up. It does need webbing points and mine has webbed high. Use your common sense, don’t watch too many videos because there is also a lot of conflicting and appalling advice out there. Good luck. This forum does work best if you have a very specific query regarding a breed. Watch your spiders closely, my GBB was my first spider and she taught me so much about behaviour and her instincts. Even food can be a huge variable, half of mine will eat worms, the other half are like that is not food take it away. You get to know their likes and dislikes.

 

[MrsFrizzle]

When you say topped up, what do you mean?

 

[Gevo]

When you say topped up, what do you mean?

Welcome! It means you keep the water dish filled, even if it doesn’t seem like your tarantula is drinking from it. They often don’t drink regularly like a cat or dog does. I’ve never seen one of my tarantulas use his water dish, and I’ve seen my other one use it maybe 3 or 4 times over the last year. They don’t perspire, urinate, and respirate like we do, so their hydration needs are quite different. It’s not a concern that you haven’t seen one of yours drink, but it’s important to make sure water is available because when they do need it, it’s important they can access it.

 

[MrsFrizzle]

Welcome! It means you keep the water dish filled, even if it doesn’t seem like your tarantula is drinking from it. They often don’t drink regularly like a cat or dog does. I’ve never seen one of my tarantulas use his water dish, and I’ve seen my other one use it maybe 3 or 4 times over the last year. They don’t perspire, urinate, and respirate like we do, so their hydration needs are quite different. It’s not a concern that you haven’t seen one of yours drink, but it’s important to make sure water is available because when they do need it, it’s important they can access it.

Yes, thank you!! I always make sure it is topped off lol. My pinky wasn’t drinking any then I went to check on her and the bowl was empty, so that made me happy!! Curly has no problem drinking water. It’s my GBB! Hopefully today it does

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

If you see any dirt in your T’s water dish, they’re using it. I don’t often catch mine drinking, but I see they’ve all been there. They don’t drink a lot at once. In other words, they won’t empty a water dish. Evaporation, webbing wicking out water, T water dish flipping are all possibilities if the water is emptied out quickly. Once you’ve provided enough anchor points for your GBB to web to, you can also drop a couple drops on the web. I’ve only witnessed my GBB drinking a couple times in the past couple years, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t use it.

 

[MrsFrizzle]

Much appreciated for the reassurance! My GBB is starting to web right now. I will try that out.

 

[Wolfram1]

this thread really has an unfortunate title

makes you want to go balistic and then it turns out the content is just fine

I learned a lot on here before I even got them! I don’t know how many forums I read enough to drain my energy from reading so much, but very helpful.

as you should, good luck to you and welcome to AB.

 

[Glorfindel]

A good way to gain experience keeping tarantulas, is the experience gained by keeping tarantulas.

 

[MrsFrizzle]

What is your opinions on using tongs to feed your tarantula? I was afraid I broke pinky fang when I fed her or him. I'm really not comfortable with using the tongs.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

I do not. I let them hunt. I also watch to make sure they get their prey and have occasionally poked a feeder lightly through a vent hole to get them to move towards the T if needed. If you tong feed, use bamboo or something that won’t break a fang.