Where did you purchase your tarantula from?

[Youlovejordan]

I've seen online pet stores where they sell tarantulas locally and internationally. I personally wouldn't buy one online because I don't know exactly what I'm getting. What if they shipped me a poisonous spider or something? I purchased mine from an exotic pet store.

 

[Josh]

While I understand wanting to see before you buy sometimes the local exotic pet shop doesn't have exactly what you want. Reputable breeders and online retailers aren't likely to mess up your order and some of them (like Ken the Bug Guy) have loads of positive reviews. I guess to each his own but sometimes you need/want a little more than the local store carries...

 

[BigOtto]

I have bought online from Kenthebugguy.com, Michiganachnids.com, and petcenterusa.net. You can see what you are going to get by selecting the species you want. If you mean see what your buying by actually holding the enclosure thats different.

All of the above mentioned dealers have extensive reviews on multiple forums as being very good at what they do. They will guarantee your order arrives at your door alive in one day. Two day deliver is available but they don't all guarantee them arriving alive if two day shipping is used. You will get what you asked for.

 

[Josh]

If we get enough reviews of vendors I will create a separate subforum specifically for reviews of different companies. Kinda like the Fauna BOI

 

[jetfire]

I'm a hands-on kinda guy,I love browsing through tables at shows.I usually try to make a list of what I'm interested in before I go into the show, it helps ward off impulse buys

 

[jetfire]

No matter where you procure your new baby from, please do yourself the favor of dealing with reputable people; I've seen shady vendors at shows who had a whole table full of deli cups with slings in them, with no identifying labels on the cups. I had a friend buy what she was told was a red-knee sling for really cheap, after a couple months growing and molting, she had herself a young rosehair. Thankfully, the majority of vendors these days actually seem to care more about customer service these days, so incidents like the aforementioned aren't as common anymore...I would still be wary about people intentionally mislabeling animals (not common at all, but I have seen it happen before-I sold a couple 1/2 grown Arizona striped devil scorpions to a vendor at a show, and he turns right around and labels them as African fat-tailed
Scorpions. it didn't matter that I bought them from a friend who only breed that species, the vendor said that since he had been "doing this for years", he was sure he was better at identifying scorpions than my friend was.I had to get neighboring vendors to bust him, so to speak.

 

[Brina916]

I have gotten all my slings from www.jamiestarantulas.com she is wonderful to do business with and really cares about her Ts and customer service. She has deals where you can get a sling and enclosure setup for a great price. For my first purchase she did make a mistake and send me a "personal use" enclosure, the only difference is this one had a tiny crack in it (I honestly didn't know if I had done it myself or not). Anyways SHE contacted ME and apologized and said she would include and "good" enclosure with my next order and to keep the other as a gift.

 

[laurarfl]

I bought my first T from a local pet shop. I bought my recent two from an on-line reputable exotics dealer/pet shop. You have to know what you are buying and how to recognize it when it arrives. That holds true whether you are buying T's, lizards, cars, shirts, etc. Always be a smart shopper. All spiders and tarantulas are venomous you just don't want one that is very toxic or aggressive as a beginner.

 

[Josh]

Definitely be a smart shopper whether you're at the local shop or at the reptile show. There are some folks out there just trying to make a buck. Luckily other members have already mentioned some reputable vendors!

 

[Ravenrose]

I purchased mine from a breeder in southhampton. She advertised on preloved and my partner agreed i could have one. So i ordered her and was surprised how small she was. About the size of a 10 pence piece. Shes now quite a lot bigger but shes still small for her age.

 

[Dana C]

I purchased almost all of mine from Ken the Bug Guy. All are first class, healthy and well shipped. He also has a very large selection and adults if you are willing to pay for them.

 

[harleyqueen]

Mine came from local shops. Everything i want turns up eventually. I wanted an avic avic for years and then a load of them appeared in my nearest shop so i got three. I have four aracnid and reptile shops very close to my home and i forget i have bills to pay when faced with shelves full of baby ts.

 

[jetfire]

I get mine at reptile/exotic animal shows, usually

 

[donna]

here in leeds. there is a pet shop that we have bought two from but their containers & housing have been wrong both times& one had tiny mites in the wood chip so i wont go there again. they have only a few breeds as sling anyway & their adults are expensive . there is a reptilian specialist where we can get cheap slings but his selection is limited & then there is a pet shop that has just started stocking slings, the pet shop has a bad rep though & i didnt go look at the slings cos i know i cant resist!!

 

[john m shires]

is that leeds in west-yorkshire Donna or kent ?

 

[donna]

leeds west yorkshire

 

[donna]

new stockist in leeds market , mostly juvvie chillians
pet & aquatic center armley leeds, had a bad rep but has a great selection now
tyrannasaurus pets in kirkstall leeds, great little shop
paws for thought leeds not so greathousing or advice but varied stock

 

[Bast]

Found Karina for free on Kijiji....but plan on purchasing a B. smithi at some point in the near future

 

[john m shires]

thank you Donna i will be having a day looking around

 

[john m shires]

well just had a look at pet & aquatic center Armley Leeds not much there so went on to tyrannasaurus pets in kirkstall leeds great little shop very helpful and know what there on about. Ended up getting a 3 week old Trinidad Cheveron Psalmopoeus cambridgei wow is it fast only cost £3.00. Thanks Donna for that post i will be looking at the other shops later.