Hello Everyone! New to the hobby

[Speyeds]

Hi Everyone!

Been wanting to get into the hobby for quite some time and finally picked up my first T today. A Brachypelma emilia sling, about 1.25". Super excited to see this little cutie grow up while I grow in my T keeping. Any tips are much appreciated!

 

[DustyD]

Welcome aboard. Feel free to post some pictures of your tarantula and maybe even of your setup. A lot of experienced keepers here - I have only been at it for year - can advise you of any potential pitfalls.

 

[m0lsx]

Hello, welcome to the hobby & the forum.

 

[Enn49]

Hello and welcome to the addiction.

 

[Cor]

Hi and welcome to the forums!

 

[Nurse Ratchet]

Hello and welcome to the forum!

 

[Robotbutterflies]

Hello! I'm also pretty new here and I'm going to an expo next weekend to pick up my first T. Everyone here has been really nice about answering my questions. Welcome!

 

[octanejunkie]

Welcome to the forum and the hobby!

Brachypelma tend to be bashful bulldozers as slings so don't be surprised if it's nocturnal and you wake to a dozed-over water dish and buried decor; it's what they do.

Make sure to keep providing water but if the substrate is saturated hold back and let it dry out. Post pics when you can!

Happy to have you aboard!

 

[Yvonne G]

Welcome!

 

[Oursapoil]

Hello and welcome to the forum/family!

 

[Egon]

Welcome!

My advice as someone who’s six months into the hobby is to use enclosures specifically designed for tarantulas.

I have two slings in tarantula enclosures and the moisture stays perfect. I kept one sling in a deli cup enclosure I made myself and it was always drying up way faster.

I kept up with the watering in the deli cup all winter through our very dry Minnesota winters and sadly it got too dry recently and that sling perished. I can’t know for sure if it was the moisture, but it’s my best guess. I feel so guilty.

I know a lot of people will laugh at paying for tarantula enclosures for slings since they have to upgraded, but I find that they’ll give you a lot of peace of mind.

I have an adult curly hair in a Tarantula Crib enclosure and it also keeps the moisture level perfect. I have a sub adult G. pulchra in a Kritter Keeper and it dries up super fast—the water dish evaporates about four times faster than in the other enclosure.

Good luck!

 

[DustyD]

I prefer acrylic enclosures by Tarantula Crib and Herpcult. They are expensive but well made. Having said that, there are some super talented and creative people on this forum who have done a lot with everyday things for enclosures.

Some of the enclosures I use came with covers with a lot of holes which do make my enclosures dry out fast. But I have kept my G. pulchra in dry environments. Although Dave’s Little Beasties on YouTube keeps his in higher temp and humidity levels than I do. He says they grow faster and seem mellower under these conditions. I may try this.

 

[Speyeds]

Welcome to the forum and the hobby!

Brachypelma tend to be bashful bulldozers as slings so don't be surprised if it's nocturnal and you wake to a dozed-over water dish and buried decor; it's what they do.

Make sure to keep providing water but if the substrate is saturated hold back and let it dry out. Post pics when you can!

Happy to have you aboard!

Thank you for the warm welcome and info!! I’ve already noticed that it has started renovating it’s new home and the water dish is already full of dirt

 

[Lawrence b]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[Arachnoclown]

 

[arachbiodude]

Welcome. You may soon get one that is fast grower and great feeder. I have kept a little Texas brown and it never wants to eat but raised a Brazilian White knee from sling and it always wants to eat and moult and grow. Much more satifying for keeper.