first T. {oblig ten thing}

yeah I know there are a thousand threads like this, but....

i'm getting my first T from lee at thespidershop.co.uk. I already know it's gonna be a chilean sp. probably a grammostola. I saw a beautiful RCF rosea, and I think that is probably what i will get. then I saw a spiderling Euathlus truculentus. really nice looking T. but it's a spiderling and I hear they are really slow growers. and there a few other adult grammostola T's, "chile red zebra" , and the normal g.rosea.

that Euathlus truculentus is stunning as an adult... but soooo slow. ):

what do you guys think?

I would say, start with something "easy" for your first Tarantula.

The old fave, brachypelma smithi or emilia.

Maybe Grammostola rosea, colour variation doesnt matter.

Nice a doscile and forgiving to human mistakes!

Maybe also dont start with a spiderling since death can just happen randomly. A juvi would be a good place to start...

yeah I was thinking that... i just thought it would be cool to watch them grow.

it is sooo cool watching them grow. But sometimes they just randomly die.

Sometimes its nicer and easier for at least the first to be a juvi OR a spiderling but not teeny tiny but about...5 pence piece size at least. that way a bit more of a chance.
Adam lost an Avicularia avicularia as a small spiderling.
But then again ive heard these can sometimes be hard to raise if conditions not 100%

I would say, get a brachy for your first love and then when comfortable and confident you can move on and up the ladder if you so wish.
I wouldnt suggest brachypelma Albopilosum as a first because thse are pet holes. Lovely! I love out little "Anansi" but really is a super pet hole but a fast grower actually!

Ohh come on now... Everybody knows the first T you should get is a P.murinus (OBT) or H.lividium.
JK
Any Grammestola Sp. is going to be a slow grower but a good first time T. Brachys seem to kick alot more hair then Grammy's G.aerostriata(sp?) Chaco golden knee is another good choice

see.... our Brachy's never raised a hair to us...but the "chile rose" has a few times in a POOF random manner!

I think the best are brachys or grammestolas....

Both I think are good beginner T's
xxx

YAY!!! I just bought a g.rosea from the spider shop. it's a juvi i think. i've got the tank all set up, humidity is about 60% but will get dryer. they are really hardy so it should be ok.

god I hope it's a female.

our stigg kinda went in at the deep end, i bought him the chile rose for his birthday and the then pink toe. Then went straight to slings.

We've only lost one and that was to slight over-watering. but all have survived. You just have to be more vigilant with slings. the red knee was barely 1cm when we got it... now its doing well and looking like a proper little T now

dont forget to put pics up once you get him/her

i'll try.

if I can find something to take the pics with.

yaaaay!!

the T arrived today! shes so cute! and shes still quite small, deff a juvi. so happy! i'll deffinetly be buying more stuff from the spider shop in the future. avic avic is next on my list.

she's red and fluffy!

well i just found out she is VERY hungry. i lifted the lid to check on her and a wood chip fell down next too her and she dived for it. so i put in a cricket and she grabed it in the blink of an eye. she does look quite thin so this should perk her up a bit.

hehehe Lee will be happy then lol! Cant deny he's a good bloke! Looking forward to meeting him when we can go to shows!

Everything we have had off him as jumped on their food within 24 hours of receiving them.

yes, he's got very health T's!

well she spun a big sheet of webbing on the substrate and dumped the cricket on it. i take it this is a "food mat".

Im glad she has arrived safe and sound and seems to be feeding well and settling into her new home nicely

Any pics?

no, sorry! I really really wish i could take pics though... she's so cute! I will be getting a digital camera at christmas though. i know what i will be getting with my christmas money.....

right I got a good view of the T's undersides today. I saw a smiley face...

yay she's a girl!

damn... she seems REALLY active. every time I see her she's in a different position. i've made the hide smaller so it might seem... "snugger" for her. I don't think it's that the substrate bothering her, as she hasn't webbed over it or anyting. and it is perfectly dry.

hmmm.....

webbing over can take a while before its really noticable, is she clinging at te side of the tank at all

Probably still settling in.

yeah I suppose so. i'll leave her for as long as necesary to settle down.

update

ok, she's doing really well so far. I have noticed a little bit of webbing outside the hide, you can see the sheen when light hits of it. she sits on it and waits for prey to wonder by...

she's had 4 crickets this week, i'll feed her again in 2 weeks time. she is a good feeder!
as soon as she feels the slightest vibration in the ground... BANG, the cricket is dead.


I love this T!

Probably didn't eat much at the petstore. Don't be surprised if she fasts like an emp.

IHeartMantids wrote:

Probably didn't eat much at the petstore. Don't be surprised if she fasts like an emp.

yeah, she was a bit skinny when I got her.

update

okay, she is doing fine, webbed the cage up a little bit, I was gonna try to hold her at some point... but it's kinda lost its novelty now.

she is feeding fine as well, had a locust tonight, and spinned her little food mat thingy

she's brilliant! and she has put on a little bit of weight on, and has a nice plump abdomen ( not too plump)