Help me out...please!

[MyLilRed]

I'm new to this addicting hobby, but i'm not in it to get the biggest baddest T's, I am interested because I find that T's are beautiful and very fascinating. I have had bad advice when started out and ended up with a very crazy g. Porteri. My intention was to get a Euathlus sp.red but that same person told me "NO" to skittish and not a good beginner. Meanwhile here I am with a crazy and boring g. Porteri and wishing I went with my gut feelings to start. But it's not late, I am going to get the Euathlus after all as well as one more. This is where your advice comes in......

*1...I am very fond of the little T's and interested in the Cyriocosmus family( elegan or leetzi) Does anyone here own anyone from this family? What are their temperament, requirements and eating habits? Can you handle them?
*2...I am interested in the GBB'S. What are their temperament, requirements and eating habits? Can you handle them?
*3...brachypelma baumgarteni (Mexican orange beauty) "" same question
*4...Eupalaestrus Campestratus (Pink zebra beauty) "" ""
*5...Hapalopus sp. Colombia "small or large" (pumpkin patch) """ """

If you own any of these, please tell me about them and if any would be OK as a newbie

 

[kormath]

GBB are a great beginner species. Very active and very viscous when eating. Any of the Brachy would be good also.

I don't recommend handling any, handling has no benefit for them at all

 

[Telson]

You said your G porteri is crazy? But boring? How so? By the way those are all cool species. They all just kind of eat, and sit there. Not very exciting behavior. They poop. They make web. Sometimes theyre defensive, like when you pick them up, and they get scared. Most folks treat them like fish, no holding or petting. But you can hold them safely, if they let you. If they don't let you, you may get bitten for forcing the issue. Sometimes nice ones turn mean. Sometimes mean ones turn nice. Lol, hope this helps.

 

[Enn49]

Firstly I don't handle any of my Ts so I can't help too much on that.

I have a couple of Cyriocosmus, an elegans and perezmilesi. They are good feeders, heavy webbers and beautiful but if you want a dwarf T that will be visible a good deal try an Ami sp Panama or a Phlogiellus.
Hapalopus sp. Colombia are very fast and probably one to wait until you have a little more experience before you buy.

 

[Tomoran]

Someone told you that Euathlus sp. red was "too skittish and not a good beginner?" Whaaaaaaaat? Although temperament will vary from specimen to specimen, that species is considered to be one of the most calm and tractable of any available. Good for you for recognizing this person likely doesn't know what he/she is talking about and seeking better advice.

2 - GBBs can be great beginners. Good growth rate, great feeding response, easy husbandry (dry sub and a water dish) and they grow into gorgeous adults. They also web copiously, which can be awesome. They are also usually high strung, fairly fast, and quick to flick hairs. I personally wouldn't even attempt to handle either of mine.

3 - B. baumgarteni are a slower growing species and much more high-strung than most Brachypelma. Husbandry is quite simple, and they are very hardy. I have what is likely a Boehmei/buamgarteni hybrid, and she is VERY skittish and willing to kick hairs. Could be a good beginner.

4 - E. Campestratus are easy to keep and are widely recognized as being very calm and open to handling. Definitely a good species for someone new to keeping.

5 - Hapalopus sp. Colombia are vicious eaters, fast growers, and produce a lot of webbing. They are also VERY fast and high strung, and folks report them bolting whenever they open the enclosure. The husbandry is also a bit more complicated, as slings and juvies should be kept moist. I wouldn't put my hand anywhere near mine. Not what I'd label a "beginner species."

How is your porteri crazy? Does she just not tolerate handling?

 

[MyLilRed]

Firstly I don't handle any of my Ts so I can't help too much on that.

I have a couple of Cyriocosmus, an elegans and perezmilesi. They are good feeders, heavy webbers and beautiful but if you want a dwarf T that will be visible a good deal try an Ami sp Panama or a Phlogiellus.
Hapalopus sp. Colombia are very fast and probably one to wait until you have a little more experience before you buy.

Thanks Enn49 for your reply..

 

[MyLilRed]

Someone told you that Euathlus sp. red was "too skittish and not a good beginner?" Whaaaaaaaat? Although temperament will vary from specimen to specimen, that species is considered to be one of the most calm and tractable of any available. Good for you for recognizing this person likely doesn't know what he/she is talking about and seeking better advice.

2 - GBBs can be great beginners. Good growth rate, great feeding response, easy husbandry (dry sub and a water dish) and they grow into gorgeous adults. They also web copiously, which can be awesome. They are also usually high strung, fairly fast, and quick to flick hairs. I personally wouldn't even attempt to handle either of mine.

3 - B. baumgarteni are a slower growing species and much more high-strung than most Brachypelma. Husbandry is quite simple, and they are very hardy. I have what is likely a Boehmei/buamgarteni hybrid, and she is VERY skittish and willing to kick hairs. Could be a good beginner.

4 - E. Campestratus are easy to keep and are widely recognized as being very calm and open to handling. Definitely a good species for someone new to keeping.

5 - Hapalopus sp. Colombia are vicious eaters, fast growers, and produce a lot of webbing. They are also VERY fast and high strung, and folks report them bolting whenever they open the enclosure. The husbandry is also a bit more complicated, as slings and juvies should be kept moist. I wouldn't put my hand anywhere near mine. Not what I'd label a "beginner species."

How is your porteri crazy? Does she just not tolerate handling?

OMG... Are you the "Tom the big spider guy" with all the husbandry and feeding videos on YouTube??
I am honored that you replied to my post! I have watched all your videos and learned a lot. I wish you were local so I could chat with you more.. What is your advice on the Cyriocosmus elegan or leetzi? As you can tell I like the little guys Although still interested in GBB'S or pink zebra beauty.
I'm from Canada and some T's are harder to come by here than in the U.S.A (ex: pink zebra beauty) but for the most part still a good picking selection here. Thank you again Tom

 

[Tomoran]

OMG... Are you the "Tom the big spider guy" with all the husbandry and feeding videos on YouTube???

That's me! Hahaha

 

[MyLilRed]

You said your G porteri is crazy? But boring? How so? By the way those are all cool species. They all just kind of eat, and sit there. Not very exciting behavior. They poop. They make web. Sometimes theyre defensive, like when you pick them up, and they get scared. Most folks treat them like fish, no holding or petting. But you can hold them safely, if they let you. If they don't let you, you may get bitten for forcing the issue. Sometimes nice ones turn mean. Sometimes mean ones turn nice. Lol, hope this helps.

HELLO Telson,
Mine doesn't Web, doesn't eat and doesn't move.. but when you open the top she bolts into the corner and stands in a defense pose. She is one of those Rose hairs people comment about as being "Psycho"...

 

[MyLilRed]

That's me! Hahaha

I am honored that you replied to my post! I have watched all your videos and learned a lot. I wish you were local so I could chat with you more.. What is your advice on the Cyriocosmus elegan or leetzi? As you can tell I like the little guys Although still interested in GBB'S or pink zebra beauty.
I'm from Canada and some T's are harder to come by here than in the U.S.A (ex: pink zebra beauty) but for the most part still a good picking selection here. Thank you again Tom

 

[Tomoran]

I am honored that you replied to my post! I have watched all your videos and learned a lot. I wish you were local so I could chat with you more.. What is your advice on the Cyriocosmus elegan or leetzi? As you can tell I like the little guys Although still interested in GBB'S or pink zebra beauty.
I'm from Canada and some T's are harder to come by here than in the U.S.A (ex: pink zebra beauty) but for the most part still a good picking selection here. Thank you again Tom

Thanks for the kind words!

Cyriocosmus species are amazing little Ts, and they could be okay for a beginner. They are relatively easy to keep, hardy, have ferocious appetites, and grow very fast. That said, slings are incredibly small, and tiny slings can be stressful for some keepers. Their temperaments may vary, with most being described as skittish and more likely to bolt to their dens than to stand and fight. That said, if they feel cornered, they will toss up the old threat pose. They are also have an amazing food response, meaning that they go at anything that touches their webbing as if it's something to eat. Neither of these is a species I'd recommend handling. I hope that helps!

 

[MyLilRed]

Thanks for the kind words!

Cyriocosmus species are amazing little Ts, and they could be okay for a beginner. They are relatively easy to keep, hardy, have ferocious appetites, and grow very fast. That said, slings are incredibly small, and tiny slings can be stressful for some keepers. Their temperaments may vary, with most being described as skittish and more likely to bolt to their dens than to stand and fight. That said, if they feel cornered, they will toss up the old threat pose. They are also have an amazing food response, meaning that they go at anything that touches their webbing as if it's something to eat. Neither of these is a species I'd recommend handling. I hope that helps!

Yes, Thank you again!

 

[MyLilRed]

Thanks for the kind words!

Cyriocosmus species are amazing little Ts, and they could be okay for a beginner. They are relatively easy to keep, hardy, have ferocious appetites, and grow very fast. That said, slings are incredibly small, and tiny slings can be stressful for some keepers. Their temperaments may vary, with most being described as skittish and more likely to bolt to their dens than to stand and fight. That said, if they feel cornered, they will toss up the old threat pose. They are also have an amazing food response, meaning that they go at anything that touches their webbing as if it's something to eat. Neither of these is a species I'd recommend handling. I hope that helps!

One more thing Tom!! Which T would you be OK with handling every now and then? I know you are strongly against it, but If you were to handle one which would it be (besides the Euathlus)

 

[Tomoran]

One more thing Tom!! Which T would you be OK with handling every now and then? I know you are strongly against it, but If you were to handle one which would it be (besides the Euathlus)

Our of the the ones you mentioned in your post? The E. Campestratus is the only one I'd personally attempt it with. I'm sure that others have probably held the other species, but the other ones you mentioned are not particularly recognized as being tractable.

 

[MyLilRed]

Our of the the ones you mentioned in your post? The E. Campestratus is the only one I'd personally attempt it with. I'm sure that others have probably held the other species, but the other ones you mentioned are not particularly recognized as being tractable.

Figures!!! Haven't seen this one available by anyone up here in the Great North!

 

[Tomoran]

Figures!!! Haven't seen this one available by anyone up here in the Great North!

Hahahaha. Yeah, they aren't particularly easy to find down here, either!

 

[Redacted]

You said your G porteri is crazy? But boring? How so? By the way those are all cool species. They all just kind of eat, and sit there. Not very exciting behavior. They poop. They make web. Sometimes theyre defensive, like when you pick them up, and they get scared. Most folks treat them like fish, no holding or petting. But you can hold them safely, if they let you. If they don't let you, you may get bitten for forcing the issue. Sometimes nice ones turn mean. Sometimes mean ones turn nice. Lol, hope this helps.

Pretty well put.

 

[leaveittoweaver]

I don't have a whole lot to add other then to echo that GBB's are pretty fast and nervous species. They generally have great appetites though. I set them up as semi terrestrial, they web heavily and like it very arid. I would not handle them.

All the other species, I have not personally kept but from my research, for someone new, the E.Campestrus is a great species to start with. They are hard to find though in my experience as adults. Net-bug has some slings right now.

 

[kormath]

I don't have a whole lot to add other then to echo that GBB's are pretty fast and nervous species. They generally have great appetites though. I set them up as semi terrestrial, they web heavily and like it very arid. I would not handle them.

All the other species, I have not personally kept but from my research, for someone new, the E.Campestrus is a great species to start with. They are hard to find though in my experience as adults. Net-bug has some slings right now.

i've never seen anything over a sling being sold, fearnottarantula.com also has them but Tanya's are tiny my little one is in premolt buried again, i'm hoping after this molt she'll pass the 3/8" dls mark lol.

 

[MyLilRed]

Thanks everyone... I have made my decision to stick with the Euathlus sp.red and cyriocosmus perezmilesi... I might even consider the Ami sp Panama, but
I will read up on it more if I can find any info??