tarantula
- Thread starter kriztu
- Start date
Whoa big topic!
I work with a large scale breeder and can answer some questions.
1st make a few descisions to narrow thwe field.
1)Captive bred or wild caught?
CB is more eco-friendly, and specemins are usually much heartier, plus CB tarantulas are usually on northern hemisphere breeding cycle.
WC is much cheaper.
2)Adult or spiderling?
adults are much more expensive
spiderlings are much cheaper but somewhat fragile
also many species are not available as adults.
3)handleable or display only?
most old world species are agressive and can have more potent venom
most new world species are more docile, less potent venom, but have urticating hairs which can itch burn and cause allergic or eye problems
Well I really could go on for hours, but the sopranos is gonna be on soon.
Check out avicularia versicolor (antille's pink toe).
I currently have 13 of them.
They are beautiful and easy to handle, fairly easy to keep, but need high humidity.
Post some specific questions I'll try to help.
I work with a large scale breeder and can answer some questions.
1st make a few descisions to narrow thwe field.
1)Captive bred or wild caught?
CB is more eco-friendly, and specemins are usually much heartier, plus CB tarantulas are usually on northern hemisphere breeding cycle.
WC is much cheaper.
2)Adult or spiderling?
adults are much more expensive
spiderlings are much cheaper but somewhat fragile
also many species are not available as adults.
3)handleable or display only?
most old world species are agressive and can have more potent venom
most new world species are more docile, less potent venom, but have urticating hairs which can itch burn and cause allergic or eye problems
Well I really could go on for hours, but the sopranos is gonna be on soon.
Check out avicularia versicolor (antille's pink toe).
I currently have 13 of them.
They are beautiful and easy to handle, fairly easy to keep, but need high humidity.
Post some specific questions I'll try to help.
There are a few options you could go for. As your first spider you might want to stick with a rose hair or some other terrestrial(ground dweller). I find rosehairs to be very docile and not quite as jumpy as alot of the arboreal tarantulas. They are a desert species and do good in a slightly humid enclosure. Pink toe tarantulas (most species) are also pretty docile but they can climb up walls (that can be a little scary for the first timer, having a big spider scurry up the wall). They need a more humidity than the desert species becuase they aare from the jungle. I would go and buy a good book on tarantulas and read up on different species and then decide on what you think suits you best.
WARNING: collecting spiders can become addictive.
WARNING: collecting spiders can become addictive.
Great, i'm also interested in getting some...What do they eat and what size tank does a Young (small) tarantula need?
I was terrified of spiders, and chose to beat my fear by getting a spiderling- my first was a rose-grey- similar to a rose hair- and she was really cool. Very calm, and despite the fact I dropped her once when she climbed onto my arm, she lived five years and grew to the size of my palm- (at five she succumbed to a weird fungus when she was molting)
If you have any anxiety about spiders, I reccommend getting a non-jumpy species- a beautiful blue haired pink toe was climbing on a friend once, and suddenly leapt on me and about gave me a heart attack-
Good luck!
If you have any anxiety about spiders, I reccommend getting a non-jumpy species- a beautiful blue haired pink toe was climbing on a friend once, and suddenly leapt on me and about gave me a heart attack-
Good luck!
I agree that rose hair's are extremely docile and easy to keep.
If you can get a CB adult female that would be the perfect starter species.
I guess that your local pet store will have a few WC adults, and although I don't really agree with harvesting wild animals unless it's to start a CB program, that would be your cheapest and heartiest tarantula.
If you do get a spiderling then be prepared to not handle it much until larger. They are also more fragile, and will need access to tiny crickets. Most stores must special order 2 week old crickets in advanvce.
pick a species and then we can discuss caging/temp/hunidity.
If you can get a CB adult female that would be the perfect starter species.
I guess that your local pet store will have a few WC adults, and although I don't really agree with harvesting wild animals unless it's to start a CB program, that would be your cheapest and heartiest tarantula.
If you do get a spiderling then be prepared to not handle it much until larger. They are also more fragile, and will need access to tiny crickets. Most stores must special order 2 week old crickets in advanvce.
pick a species and then we can discuss caging/temp/hunidity.
go with a Rose hair, they're big, docile, easy to care for and cheap.