Best season to acquire T's?

[hopeful_tarantula]

Hello,
I was just browsing a few tarantula based website shops and I was wondering:
Is there a particular season/time of year that is best to start looking/acquiring T's?
I've noticed that there is a distinct lack of tarantula species around at this time of year - except that Grammostola rosea still seems to be going strong throughout the year.
Julia x

 

[HungryGhost]

Where are you looking? There are an abundance of species available on-line. The only problem with on-line orders is it is extremely cold right now, I would wait for a thaw to order.

 

[Poec54]

Best time to buy spiders is when they're cheap. That's usually when a lot are hatching out, but you can run across deals anytime. I've gotten a couple shipments already this month. It's best to hold off until severe winter storms or summer heat waves pass. Experienced shippers use heat and cold packs. I've even had a couple big dealers cook slings, so it doesn't hurt to ask that they tape a piece of styro in place between the spiders and the heat pack, as newspaper isn't enough and things shift in transit.

 

[hopeful_tarantula]

HungryGhost - I live in the UK, about 30 miles (or so) North of London. If you live in the UK (not sure) then you know that our weather can be fine one minute and completely throwing it down with rain the next lol. I have looked online, but only on the few websites I know about.

Poec54 - Thanks for the information about the heat/cold etc.

I think I might be looking around early February (next pay cheque) for my next T then lol.

Anyone else got any thoughts?

Many thanks

Julia xx

 

[Enn49]

I too am in the UK. Most shops will use heat packs at this time of year. I had a delivery from The Spider Shop a few days ago and they were really well packed and the heat pad was still warm, they ship overnight to arrive before 1pm next day.

Other good online shops in the UK are Bristol Tarantulas, Virginia Cheeseman, Exotic Animals, Martin Goss and Bugzuk.

 

[Ghost]

Hi
I live in the UK as well and as long as you get overnight postage then the T should be fine as all the good online dealers use heat packs and are very experienced when it comes to shipping in winter.
The only thing that could go wrong is if we had an overnight snow fall then the whole country would more than likely come to a standstill and the T could be stuck in transit.

 

[hopeful_tarantula]

Enn49 and Ghost - thank you for your responses. So it sounds like ordering T's should be fine pretty much all year round then. Thank you for the help with this. And it looks like I could be getting my 2nd T sooner than I thought lol.

Julia x

 

[hopeful_tarantula]

Sorry for double posting - something that I very rarely do...

I have a feeling that I will be needing to pass my driving test sooner than I thought lol. I've seen several adverts for shows in the UK and now desperately want to go to one lol.

Have also started checking these online shops as well

The Spider Shop
Virginia Cheeseman
Bugz UK (where I got Mystery from)
Blue Lizard Reptiles
Tarantulas Bristol
House of Spiders

Is there anymore to look at? as I do like to do my research on pricing etc. before even thinking of getting my second T.

Again - thank you for the help

Julia x

 

[Fuzzball79]

I've only used TB and TSS so far. I found them the best price wise, whereas the more reptile orientated shops like Blue Lizard or 888 have very steep prices for arachnids.
There's also Tartan tarantulas (only on Facebook) whose prices are more than reasonable and they usually have a great range of species.

 

[Enn49]

Exotic Animals (http://exotic-animals.co.uk/ ) and Martin Goss. I've used Exotic Animals but not Martin Goss although I've heard good reports of him.
I've given you the link for Exotic Animals as there is also a shop called Exotic Pets that comes up and I would not recommend them.

 

[Fuzzball79]

I forgot about exotic animals. Not used them, but I regularly "window shop" there (I'm still drooling over their A. Seemani "blue form", lol).

 

[spidey noob]

on line u can order all year round as stated above, but pet/reptile shops is march to september (uk) in general but does depend on weather.

 

[Ghost]

Here's a list of some of the ones I have used that you haven't mentioned.
Exotic-Animals.co.uk
Exotic-pets.co.uk
maringoss.co.uk
fangsfeastsandbeasts.co.uk
There is also metamorphosis.gb.com but I have not used them yet.
I also have a list of some in Germany and other parts of Europe if you are interested.

 

[sym]

Hi hopeful_tarantula.
Try (metamorphosis uk)... I ordered a sling last month when the weather was at it coldest and my sling was fit and healthy (heat pad still warm on arrival) .. It's just moulted tonight..
Which shows you planning on going to? Never been to 1 and really wanna get some new T's.

Sym