Advice on Theraphosa. Reccommended or no?

[x_raphael_xx]

So I've had a blondi on my wishlist for a while, and now I've found a vendor who has blondis available, as well as stirmi and apophysis.
They are also doing a deal if you want all 3. They are all 3-6cm so just babies, so I do have time to 'grow' with them.

I've only been keeping T's for 4 months, a mixture of NW & OW, but I'm always careful with my T's, never undersetimate them and would consider myself responsible.

I know theraphosa are considered to have the worse type of urticating hairs, and can be fast and 'aggressive'. So I'm certainly under no illusion this will be an easy addition to the collection/

So, shall I wait until I am a lot more experience?
Get one? (Which one)
Get all three?

 

[Arachnoclown]

My first tarantula was a stirmi. Yes the hairs are unlike any other tarantula. They all seam to have their own personalities. Defensive to aggressive would be a accurate description of their behavior however. Also faster then one would think a spider that size would be. Starting with a sling would be good to grow and learn as it does.

 

[Memo7]

Urticating hairs are different for everyone. They are great feeders so they respond when you are in their enclosure. But if you have arboreal T’s shouldn’t be an issues.
Like stated above they all have their own personalities.
I say if they are that young go for all three. But then again I find it hard to pass up a good deal.

 

[x_raphael_xx]

My first tarantula was a stirmi. Yes the hairs are unlike any other tarantula. They all seam to have their own personalities. Defensive to aggressive would be a accurate description of their behavior however. Also faster then one would think a spider that size would be. Starting with a sling would be good to grow and learn as it does.

Urticating hairs are different for everyone. They are great feeders so they respond when you are in their enclosure. But if you have arboreal T’s shouldn’t be an issues.
Like stated above they all have their own personalities.
I say if they are that young go for all three. But then again I find it hard to pass up a good deal.

Thanks for the advice. Bf just rolled his eyes and asked if I had enough/right sized enclosures

I've been kicked at by a couple of T's, hamorii and chalcodes, and had no reaction at all. I know they are on the milder side, but I'm hoping this means I'll have less of a reaction than some. Not that I'll be tempted to test it unless necessary!

Looks like I'm breaking out the credit card!

 

[Memo7]

Thanks for the advice. Bf just rolled his eyes and asked if I had enough/right sized enclosures

I've been kicked at by a couple of T's, hamorii and chalcodes, and had no reaction at all. I know they are on the milder side, but I'm hoping this means I'll have less of a reaction than some. Not that I'll be tempted to test it unless necessary!

Looks like I'm breaking out the credit card!

Yes!!
my girl rarely kicks but I also let her be I am not in her enclosure unless I need to and if I do. I take her out do what I need to do then put her back.
Have fun with the credit card!

 

[x_raphael_xx]

Yes!!
my girl rarely kicks but I also let her be I am not in her enclosure unless I need to and if I do. I take her out do what I need to do then put her back.
Have fun with the credit card!

Whoops, my finger slipped and another couple on my wishlist got added to the basket as well.

 

[QuinnStarr]

My second was a T. apophysis. I did exhaustive research, memorized Tom Moran’s husbandry Vivek forwards and backwards, and practiced moisture levels in the enclosure I’d put it in for weeks before I bought it. I practiced my husbandry for my own confidence. I don’t like stepping into something totally green.
Imo, it’s not that “advanced” if you can keep up with the necessary moisture levels. But the T apophysis sling is F A S T - I put its shipping vial into its new enclosure and didn’t even have the lid on before it got a gnarly case of the zoomies and was half teleporting around its new home.

The hairs can be nasty but mine is still small, so I haven’t had the (dis)pleasure but everyone reacts differently.

From what I’ve seen with mine, Theraphosa have got a great feeding response and they’re absolutely worth it. Just be prepared for them to be faster than you expect and make sure you’re keeping their substrate moist.

 

[x_raphael_xx]

My second was a T. apophysis. I did exhaustive research, memorized Tom Moran’s husbandry Vivek forwards and backwards, and practiced moisture levels in the enclosure I’d put it in for weeks before I bought it. I practiced my husbandry for my own confidence. I don’t like stepping into something totally green.
Imo, it’s not that “advanced” if you can keep up with the necessary moisture levels. But the T apophysis sling is F A S T - I put its shipping vial into its new enclosure and didn’t even have the lid on before it got a gnarly case of the zoomies and was half teleporting around its new home.

The hairs can be nasty but mine is still small, so I haven’t had the (dis)pleasure but everyone reacts differently.

From what I’ve seen with mine, Theraphosa have got a great feeding response and they’re absolutely worth it. Just be prepared for them to be faster than you expect and make sure you’re keeping their substrate moist.

Thank you for tips

I've just got the dispatch notice, so they should arrive tomorrow. I'll be sure to post pics!

 

[QuinnStarr]

Thank you for tips

I've just got the dispatch notice, so they should arrive tomorrow. I'll be sure to post pics!

Enjoy your babies! They’re only little for a little while

 

[VaporRyder]

So I've had a blondi on my wishlist for a while, and now I've found a vendor who has blondis available, as well as stirmi and apophysis.
They are also doing a deal if you want all 3. They are all 3-6cm so just babies, so I do have time to 'grow' with them.

I've only been keeping T's for 4 months, a mixture of NW & OW, but I'm always careful with my T's, never undersetimate them and would consider myself responsible.

I know theraphosa are considered to have the worse type of urticating hairs, and can be fast and 'aggressive'. So I'm certainly under no illusion this will be an easy addition to the collection/

So, shall I wait until I am a lot more experience?
Get one? (Which one)
Get all three?

I’ve had my apophysis sling a couple of months now and it has moulted twice. It’s super-fast and even did a ‘ninja-roll’ catching a cricket once.

It has been an entirely unproblematic experience thus far - no defensive hair flicking at all, no itching or sensitivity from any hairs that have been shed around the enclosure. Of course it’s early days and still relatively small, but growing quickly.

If you’re responsible and committed to giving them your best, I would take this opportunity to grab whichever you want. They don’t come up that often and are priced accordingly. I'm assuming you’re comfortable with their final size potential.

 

[VaporRyder]

I’ve had my apophysis sling a couple of months now and it has moulted twice. It’s super-fast and even did a ‘ninja-roll’ catching a cricket once.

It has been an entirely unproblematic experience thus far - no defensive hair flicking at all, no itching or sensitivity from any hairs that have been shed around the enclosure. Of course it’s early days and still relatively small, but growing quickly.

If you’re responsible and committed to giving them your best, I would take this opportunity to grab whichever you want. They don’t come up that often and are priced accordingly. I'm assuming you’re comfortable with their final size potential.

Haha! Late to the party as always!

 

[m0lsx]

My largest stirmi is called Felicity, or flick for short. She is reasonably laid back & easy to work with. But some of my other, smaller Theraphosa are certainly feisty & most are impressive eaters & as Arachnoclown said, fater than you think.

If buying slings, be prepared to end up with a male, as a larger percentage of Theraphosa slings seem to turn out male, than with any other species I have owned.

Oh & as Theraphosa get larger, be prepared to get hissed at. It is called Stridulation & can be heard from several feet away.

Flick before her last molt.

 

[holotype]

Get em all! My first T was a sub adult male stirmi... a year later he's pushing ~9"+. No regrets.

 

[WolfSpider]

My largest stirmi is called Felicity, or flick for short. She is reasonably laid back & easy to work with. But some of my other, smaller Theraphosa are certainly feisty & most are impressive eaters & as Arachnoclown said, fater than you think.

If buying slings, be prepared to end up with a male, as a larger percentage of Theraphosa slings seem to turn out male, than with any other species I have owned.

Oh & as Theraphosa get larger, be prepared to get hissed at. It is called Stridulation & can be heard from several feet away.

Flick before her last molt.
View attachment 61170

concur. seems hard to get a female Stirmi.

I found they are easy to raise. Moist moist well ventilated substrate, esp.for the blonde. But I will never own another. The itching!!!! I never want to feel that again. Maybe I am just super-sensitive.

 

[x_raphael_xx]

My largest stirmi is called Felicity, or flick for short. She is reasonably laid back & easy to work with. But some of my other, smaller Theraphosa are certainly feisty & most are impressive eaters & as Arachnoclown said, fater than you think.

If buying slings, be prepared to end up with a male, as a larger percentage of Theraphosa slings seem to turn out male, than with any other species I have owned.

Oh & as Theraphosa get larger, be prepared to get hissed at. It is called Stridulation & can be heard from several feet away.

Flick before her last molt.
View attachment 61170

I’ve had my apophysis sling a couple of months now and it has moulted twice. It’s super-fast and even did a ‘ninja-roll’ catching a cricket once.

It has been an entirely unproblematic experience thus far - no defensive hair flicking at all, no itching or sensitivity from any hairs that have been shed around the enclosure. Of course it’s early days and still relatively small, but growing quickly.

If you’re responsible and committed to giving them your best, I would take this opportunity to grab whichever you want. They don’t come up that often and are priced accordingly. I'm assuming you’re comfortable with their final size potential.

The size is why I added them to my list I like the thought of having the biggest T you can get
Next would be to research what the smallest T is!

Flick is beautiful! I've watched videos where they've commented that the T is stridulating, but I just couldn't hear it. It would be interesting to hear. (The first time I heard my firebelly toads bark I was confused about what the sound was and where it was coming from)

I've paid extra for a female apopysis, the 20 years compared to 3 years lifespan convinced me. Fingers crossed I'll get lucky with the other two.

Yes I went for all 3

 

[MBullock]

im too ginger for a theraphosa. i dont wanna look like i have eczema, it's the one thing stopping me from buying them when i find them. which SUCKS because i want one. lmao

 

[Konstantin]

I’ve had my apophysis sling a couple of months now and it has moulted twice. It’s super-fast and even did a ‘ninja-roll’ catching a cricket once.

It has been an entirely unproblematic experience thus far - no defensive hair flicking at all, no itching or sensitivity from any hairs that have been shed around the enclosure. Of course it’s early days and still relatively small, but growing quickly.

If you’re responsible and committed to giving them your best, I would take this opportunity to grab whichever you want. They don’t come up that often and are priced accordingly. I'm assuming you’re comfortable with their final size potential.

Hi
be careful with exposure to urticating setae (hairs) from any tarantula species and take precautions as while you not feeling it now with time and with multiple exposures it is possible to get worse no matter how mild is atm.Unlike with other things that with multiple exposures we build immunity with urticating hairs is quite the opposite it gets worse and there are some people in the hobby that can't keep new world tarantulas at all(or at least some species with nastier hairs )as they had developed sensitivity and bad reactions.
Regards Konstantin

 

[Noodlelove]

My first tarantula was a stirmi. Yes the hairs are unlike any other tarantula. They all seam to have their own personalities. Defensive to aggressive would be a accurate description of their behavior however. Also faster then one would think a spider that size would be. Starting with a sling would be good to grow and learn as it does.View attachment 61139

Good to know. Thank you for the information.

 

[x_raphael_xx]

They have arrived!
Along with my other new babies

Apophysis Female
She's soooo pretty! I'm 99% sure I'm going to name her Ungoliant.

Stirmi

Blondi

And the others:

H.pulchripes - To be named HB as their adult colours remind me of those HB pencils from my school days.

D.pentalore (freebie!)

T.truculentus (freebie)

P.sazimai - To be named Mystique

All but the pulchipes behaved (he made a break for it but didn't get far.

 

[MBullock]

baby theraphosa are freakin' adorable hahaha