What was your first Tarantula and why?

[anirwin]

I am still Tarantula-less but I was curious. What was your first Tarantula and why did you choose that Tarantula? Or did you have an odd story on how you got it? Was it because someone just gave you one or was it a cosmic moment at a petstore?

I'd love to hear your stories of your first T ever...

 

[EndlessForms]

well i guess i'm first lol. my first T was my big female G. rosea. i was at a small family owned thing and a guy there had one..i wanted one after seeing it lol he told me of a petstore near my house that sells them for 10$ as adults so thats how i got her

 

[Formerphobe]

My first tarantula was a Brachypelma smithi, circa 1979, because that's what was available at the LPS.

Next T was Grammostola rosea, 2009, because that's what was available at the LPS.

 

[RyTheTGuy]

My First T is Ovie my male Avicularia avicularia, I got him as a Christmas present from my brother. Sense then I have bought 6 other Ts.

 

[PhobeToPhile]

I am going to be getting a Chaco Golden Knee sometime next week, hopefully. The reason? Generally docile, generally not a big flicker, and grows to a nice size.

 

[lancej]

My first 2 t's (got them at the same time in 1992) were a red phase rosie and a H. minax. I'm not sure which one was more defensive! Both were quick to throw up threat displays. The minax would hold her positon until the lid was back on her enclosure, while the rosie would actually advance-even trying to climb the tongs!

 

[ranchulas]

My very first tarantula was an Avic Versicolor. I was drawn to the amazing colors!

 

[Jezabel]

My first Tarantula is a G. Pulchra (Jezabel). About 2 weeks ago I was in a pet store in the mall and on my way out (jokingly) asked if they had any Tarantulas & if I could hold one (to get over my HUGE phobia). The owner turned around and behind him on the shelf was about 10 or so deli cups, he grabbed one, opened the lid and allowed her to crawl out onto my hand (she's about 2 inches). She made such an impression on me I went back a 2nd time that same day just to hold her again and I fell in love. 3 days later after doing much reading & research on different species especially the G. Pulchra, I went back for a third time & bought her! Couldn't be happier with her, she's a sweetheart! <3

 

[ElevenBravo]

My first T was a G. rosea, a lady was passing him around to anyone willing to hold him. I went to this reptile show to try and find a T to help me over my fear of spiders. I was surprised he was for sale I got him for 10 bucks including the KK he was in. His docile disposition helped me realize I'm not afraid of spiders I'm afraid of what I don't know about them. He was not the only T I purchased that day I also purchased a G. pulchripes sling. Four months have passed and I have three.

I'm trying to chose my fourth now

L. parahybana
A. geniculata
N. chromatus
C. cyanopubesens
A. versicolor

I'm trying to decide which one would be the best fourth T decisions decisions.

 

[Jester]

G. pulchra. I did a ton of research before I dove into buying one. Picked this particular species because they're generally very docile, easy to keep, and good eaters. Plus, they get to a pretty good size and look beautiful in general, though they grow dreadfully slow..

 

[zosimos]

B. smithi because I loved the coloring, and thought I would be able to handle her. Turns out not so much, no kicking, instant threat posture! Mean little girl

 

[The Spider Faery]

My first was a Cyriocosmus elegans. I got it because I found the species surprisingly cute with the little heart, and it was so tiny that it didn't scare me. It was my gateway tarantula that eventually led to me completely getting over arachnophobia and having a passion for arachnids. I took little tiny baby steps.

 

[Kuro]

technically it was a A. Versicolor sling and i had got the darling after watching alot of RobC's vids on youtube and seeing their great colors as both sling and adults.

i most of the time dont count the poor thing though as it died a week after i got it cause it and it's enclosure got dropped twice and the little thing didn't survive the trauma from the falls.

the T i tend to count as my first is Socrates my 4" female GBB i got as a 1/2" or so sling back in 2009. she's my favorite of the 40 T's my collection has grown to....if i had sell all but one of my T's she'd be the one i'd keep. love GBB's so muchi bought another sling as i loved watching Socrates change as she grew and i love GBB's great appitite(mine always eat and hit like a ton of bricks)

 

[Hornets23]

Mine was a B.smithi. I had never seen a small sling so when i ordered it at .5 inch...I had know idea what I was really getting. That was about 5 years ago. It is still my favorite but much better looking now that the speck it was when i got it....

 

[Projecht13]

G.pulchra, got her as a 1.5 inch sling. Got her from an exotic animal show that comes into town twice a year. The people that were selling her told me all about the species and while they were talking she was constantly walking around moving dirt all over the place. I fell in love with her character and couldnt leave without her.

 

[synyster]

My first T was Grammostola rosea that I purchased for 10$ back in 1992 or 1993. I had a crazy fear of spiders and just wanted to overcome that as a lot of others seem to have done too!

Well needless to say that 17 years later I still have the same passion that I devellopped after owning that rosea (even though it managed to escape the following year and I found her dead in the cat's jaw 3 days later!)

 

[Tym Hollerup]

My 1st T was a Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (GBB). I named her Miley. Yes after Miley Cyrus. Yes again, I have a bit of an obsession. Grrrr. Stop laughing at me! Anyway, the reason I chose that species was simply due to the coloring!!! I ordered her online and spent $75 after shipping! Only got the one, but she (hopefully it's a she) was worth it! WAY smaller than I thought it would be! I knew NOTHING of the hobby and started freaking out because I thought she'd be bigger and I had no idea how to raise something so tiny! (She came at .75" and for some reason I thought that she would be much bigger. I was under the impression she would be at a Juvies size.) Now she's bigger though. Close to an inch and a half I'd say even! And now I keep anything no matter what the size! I have a 4" OBT and even a 1/2" H.mac! So now size doesn't worry me. Handling on the other hand I'm not really there yet. I've only held one spider in my life so far. And that was my 0.5" OBT. Probably the only time it's "safe" to handle an OBT anyway. But I'm not much for "creepy crawly's". Hell even the feel of a cricket touching me freaks me out! And now that I've started a Roach Colony, I don't know what I'm gonna do! Lastly I would like to mention that if it weren't for the movie "Salt" I may never have gotten into this hobby!

 

[anirwin]

Wow... I'm very surprised at how many people used Tarantulas as a way to slowly get over their fear of spiders. I also have a fear and this is but one reason why I'm getting one, I also worked at an Insect Pavilion and learned so much. Strangely... the more I learned the less i was afraid. I still can't even believe now that I want one. I was gonna just have one but now I'm finding it hard to pick just one... I might end up with a room of T's... I feel very sorry for my boyfriend....

 

[Bumblingbear]

Wow... I'm very surprised at how many people used Tarantulas as a way to slowly get over their fear of spiders. I also have a fear and this is but one reason why I'm getting one, I also worked at an Insect Pavilion and learned so much. Strangely... the more I learned the less i was afraid. I still can't even believe now that I want one. I was gonna just have one but now I'm finding it hard to pick just one... I might end up with a room of T's... I feel very sorry for my boyfriend....

If you don't want to spend any money, you can probably catch an A. hentzi.

They're really pretty too. The taxonomy of them is a little wonky right now (like with most Ts), but I'm really enjoying my sling.

I've considered driving south during the Summer and looking for some adults in the wild to observe.

 

[Scoolman]

Grammostola pulchra, started with 4, now have 11; plus a few other species.
Mature Female

Mature Male

Spiderling