Hello! Excited to enter the hobby!

[Osiris]

Hey everyone, my name is Noah!
A little bit of a background on me; I am your typical 18 year old freshman college student. I enjoy spending my time causing trouble with my friends, playing guitar and videogames, longboarding, and general fun activities.

I have some experience with exotic animals. I have kept a multitude of reptiles and amphibians such as a bearded dragon, red-eared slider turtle, several leopard geckos which I successfully bred and hatched, two crested geckos, anoles, alligator lizards, bullfrogs, the list goes on.

Whenever I get involved in something I usually dive head-first into the deep end but always do my homework and make sure I know what I'm doing. Recently I moved and my escapades with reptiles and amphibians sadly came to an end. Now that I am in college and have matured- somewhat- I would like to get into the arachnid/invertebrate hobby.

I've been doing a fair amount of research, and I know I have quite a bit more to do, but I am really starting to get caught up in the web of tarantula keeping.

So there it is, a little bit about me if you took the time to read it! You will be hearing from me much more in the near-ish future and I'm excited to get to know this community and all it has to offer.

Thanks for your time and I'm pleased to make your virtual acquaintance.
-Noah

 

[HungryGhost]

Welcome Noah. Do you have a tarantula yet, or are you still planning on which one to get? Are you panning on handling it? If so please reconsider, tarantulas do not like being held. They also don't like a lot of loud noise, I don't know what type of college housing situation you're in but consider noise and disturbance when getting a tarantula.

 

[hellknite]

Hi there. I too had reptiles before jumping into Ts.. Preparation takes time.. Learning take a lot more.. for this is far more addictive.. Welcome!

 

[Osiris]

Hey there Ghost! I haven't purchased a tarantula yet because indeed I am still deciding on which one to get. As of right now I am very interested in getting an arboreal species possibly an Avicularia or Poecilotheria. There is a local exotics breeder in my area who has a selection of tarantulas however I have not been able to see her collection. My local Petco also has an A. Aviculara which would be interesting and the upcoming Reptile Rally at Petco would mean I'd be able to get it 50% off and have time to set up the enclosure as well! In regards to handling- my goal is to create a naturalistic vivarium that looks like a slice of some foreign world in my room, and what better to complete that than one of the most alien looking creatures on earth.
As for my current living situations, I am attending a local community college and am still living at home with my parents so noise and disturbances will be kept to a minimum. My schedule is somewhat restricted as I have classes in the morning and work in the afternoons with weekends off, which is also wy tarantulas appealed to me as they seem slightly less involved than say, a bearded dragon.

I recently finished the initial construction of the enclosure. It's a 5 gallon aquarium stood on end with an acrylic piece that goes up 4 inches attached with silicone in order to hold the substrate and another piece with hinges and a hasp that makes a door. I have pictures on my camera but I am currently at school so I won't be able to post those for a couple hours.

Thanks for the welcome Hellknite, I am looking forward to contributing and learning all I can from you, ghost, and everyone else on the forum!

 

[Logan D]

i wouldnt just jump in feet first by getting a poecilotheria they are a vary fast species and there venom is potent stuff it wont kill you but it still hurts like hell i would suggest a avic versicolor or a b.smithi or any avic for tht matter but like said im not gunna stop you from getting the t you want but i would advise against getting a pokie for your first t let your experience build up then have a go at pokies look up tarantulaguy1976 bite videos on youtube

 

[Osiris]

Ah! Thanks for the advice, I've been looking at Rob's videos for a while but hadn't seen those. Yikes!

I like the look of a lot of the Avics and I'm going for a more naturalistic vivarium so do you have any recommended display Avics?

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Hello Osiris
I'm primarily into Avicularia, any avic will either choose to stay in their hide unless hunting. I have about 7 different types of avics,and I've seen the above in all of them. I'm adding 3-4 different avics soon,thus I will observe these as well. Avicularia are seen by many to be difficult to look after,I've been doing more than great with them and I'm happy. Feel free to ask any questions that need be, we all are still learning never mind how long you've been in the hobby.

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

As for going for arboreal,I'm in the same direction. I have about 5 types of Poecilotheria for now,they are not as aggressive as people might say I wont even classify them as that maybe skittish and sometimes defensive. I will say,no collection is complete without Poecilotheria. You can also look at Lampropelma,and some others. I have other genera that are arboreal, so you are far from limited going in that kind of direction.

 

[Osiris]

Thanks Martin, I'm really drawn to the P. Metallica, but who isn't right?

Jamie's Tarantulas has an awesome special right now, here.

She also has a few other specials cause the only thing I have right now is a 5 gallon arboreal enclosure which is most likely much too big for a ~1" T.

I am also considering a Psa. Irminia which is available locally and around 4 or 5 inches currently.

 

[Logan D]

yes there not aggressive but there fast thts the problem if you do get one i would suggest the metallica or the subfusca lowlandor the regalis

 

[Logan D]

another thing to think about pokies hate any kind of light your more likley to see them walking about at night time

 

[Logan D]

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

My Poecilotheria are all outside,but its just low light no sunlight seeping in.

 

[philflake]

Hello and welcome to the forum!