What are T. blondi so expensive?

[efmp1987]

Hi,

Was checking old price lists and T. blondi's were cheaper just a few years back. Newer price lists see inflation rates up by 1000%. Why? Does it have something to do with restrictions I am not currently aware of?

 

[Moakmeister]

Because they're really rare and sought after.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

For that matter here in Italy are very priced even T.stirmi incredibly, probably the only case where a Theraphosidae is by far cheaper in the U.S and not viceversa like for the rest.

But the reason for that, here where I live, has nothing to do with restriction but involves a kinda 'Myth' of the "huuuge Theraphosidae". Mah.

As Moakmeister said, however, true T.blondi are rare, that's why. I also think that lot of people were scammed during years

If you ask me my opinion, pay that much for one, it's like throwing cash straight in the toilet

 

[MetalMan2004]

This is just my guess, but a lot of stirmis used to be sold as blondis. Stirmis are much cheaper so fake blondis that were really stirmis were cheaper. There are a lot more serious keepers these days that know what to look for and who to buy from to get a real blondi, but they have to pay for it. As stated, they are somewhat rare.

 

[nicodimus22]

Because people are dumb. They look up the largest species of spider in the world and decide that they want one to show off to other people, not taking into account if they can meet the steep husbandry requirements or not. I'm sure a few people do a good job, but lots just want to say that they own the biggest spider in the world like it's a damn trophy or something.

 

[MetalMan2004]

I find it funny that one of the "similar threads" you see at the bottom of this one has the same title and its from a decade ago. http://arachnoboards.com/threads/why-are-t-blondis-so-expensive.70311/

 

[Atrox084]

I bought a true blondi sling, I wanna say it was '04-'05 for $60. Obviously, at that time people didn't have any idea that almost all blondi in the hobby were actually stirmi. I grew her up an eventually sold her when I got out of Ts probably around '09. I think I asked something like $125 for her. I regret selling her every day, not because of the money, but because she was just such an awesome T. It's funny because I only recently started dabbling in the T hobby (I'm a reptile guy) again and I was shocked at how expensive some of these animals are these days. I'm seeing slings of certain species going for $450. I really didn't expect that and honestly, I was pretty disappointed as one of the things that always drew me to the hobby was that, compared to reptiles, it was a fairly inexpensive hobby. I remember buying a couple of 2" X. immanis from, I believe Ken the Bug Guy in '04, for $75. Now, a guaranteed female of the most common species will run $150, and forget about some of the more rare species. Pamphobeteus, for example, is one of my all time favorite genus, but I have a hard time dropping $400+ on one of these guys.

 

[Bread]

I'd offer to bring you a few slings when I come to Monza next week ChrisLXXIX, but I doubt the little guys would appreciate 900 miles on the back on a bike

 

[Rittdk01]

Cause people are crazy and pay $150 more for hairy knees.

 

[petkokc]

They are pricey because they are really hard to breed, I believe no one managed to captive breed it in US? Not really sure if I'm right though.

 

[Anoplogaster]

Short answer: Anything is as expensive as someone is willing to pay for it

 

[Nightstalker47]

They have very small sacs, are hard to successfully breed and often aren't kept the proper way.

Many people do buy them solely because they think it's the "largest spider in the world" when in reality T.stirmi get just as large. Unfortunately, it's often inexperienced keepers who think this way, wich ultimately leads to bad husbandry/care and the death of the spider.

They are pricey because they are really hard to breed, I believe no one managed to captive breed it in US? Not really sure if I'm right though.

I believe there have been a few CB sacs reared in the US. Although I'm not sure if anyone is breeding them there now, nowadays most true T.blondi are coming out of Europe.

 

[Venom1080]

blondi look better.

 

[cold blood]

blondi look better.

pfft, looks the same as a strimi.

 

[MetalMan2004]

They are pricey because they are really hard to breed, I believe no one managed to captive breed it in US? Not really sure if I'm right though.

If true thats very surprising to me. It seems someone is breeding a bit of everything here. They just charge like heck for it when they are successful.

 

[Venom1080]

pfft, looks the same as a strimi.

What can I say, I like em fuzzy.

 

[efmp1987]

I bought a true blondi sling, I wanna say it was '04-'05 for $60. Obviously, at that time people didn't have any idea that almost all blondi in the hobby were actually stirmi. I grew her up an eventually sold her when I got out of Ts probably around '09. I think I asked something like $125 for her. I regret selling her every day, not because of the money, but because she was just such an awesome T. It's funny because I only recently started dabbling in the T hobby (I'm a reptile guy) again and I was shocked at how expensive some of these animals are these days. I'm seeing slings of certain species going for $450. I really didn't expect that and honestly, I was pretty disappointed as one of the things that always drew me to the hobby was that, compared to reptiles, it was a fairly inexpensive hobby. I remember buying a couple of 2" X. immanis from, I believe Ken the Bug Guy in '04, for $75. Now, a guaranteed female of the most common species will run $150, and forget about some of the more rare species. Pamphobeteus, for example, is one of my all time favorite genus, but I have a hard time dropping $400+ on one of these guys.

That sounds terrible. Q__Q I guess the person who bought it is probably snickering with delight right now >_> There have been significant price decreases (Peocilotherias etc).

 

[efmp1987]

Okay so maybe true blondi isn't that cheap since before. As people noted, a lot of those advertised as blondi were actually stirmi

 

[cold blood]

If true thats very surprising to me. It seems someone is breeding a bit of everything here. They just charge like heck for it when they are successful.

Hard to breed will always equal a more expensive animal.

When I first paired GBB for instance, I was like, hey, everyone breeds these things and they have big (ish) sacs...there's no reason why they are always so expensive...then the pairing started...lmao...I quickly learned why they remain expensive....pairing is brutally time consuming, and even if you get it done, its no guarantee. Took literally weeks of all night pairings...finally he got there...2 months later a fat sac...which she promptly made a snack out of.

 

[MetalMan2004]

Hard to breed will always equal a more expensive animal.

When I first paired GBB for instance, I was like, hey, everyone breeds these things and they have big (ish) sacs...there's no reason why they are always so expensive...then the pairing started...lmao...I quickly learned why they remain expensive....pairing is brutally time consuming, and even if you get it done, its no guarantee. Took literally weeks of all night pairings...finally he got there...2 months later a fat sac...which she promptly made a snack out of.

I totally agree. I am very pro- supply and demand. If you go through all that and get a sac, you deserve to charge the highest you can get for the slings.

I am on my 2nd breeding attempt. First one was C cyaneopubescens and she molted out. I'm a little over a month into the 2nd attempt and I seem to change my mind every time I look at her whether she is gravid or not. Its hard and stressful work! You deserve to be compensated for it.