New to the hobby

[Rs50matt]

Hi all. My names matt. And I guess here's a lil story of my journey so far

Around 2 years ago I started watching a few tarantula videos on YouTube. Nothing much came of this other than I started finding them fascinating. Over the last few months I've been watching more and more videos , researching into different species and finally I've decided to go for it.

I'm waiting delivery but I have purchased myself a brachypelma hamorii (ex smithi)
It isn't very big but the reason for this is I believe I'll find a bigger spider intimidating (as stupid as this sounds) Hopefully the "we'll both grow together" story will help my confidence. I am also wanting to get a Euathlus sp. red. But from what I've found so far I've got a better chance of winning the lottery. Maybe someday.

I'm hoping to be fairly active in the forum and would massively appreciate any tips/advice. I think the learning about the species is almost as interesting as owning them so I'm in no rush to get myself something pretty that'll cause me issues

 

[Dave Jay]

Welcome!
I have found this forum to be very friendly and helpful, just reading old threads will keep you occupied for quite a while!
I'm fairly new to keeping tarantulas myself but my long experience in keeping "enclosures" has come in useful.
Don't be afraid to buy a juvenile as opposed to a sling (sling is a contraction of spiderling, a very small baby spider). In most ways something a bit larger is easier to manage, and not as fragile as a tiny one.
You're starting a great hobby, welcome to the ranks of the infected!

 

[Nunua]

Hello and welcome to the addiction!
It's totally understandable and normal to find a bigger T intimidating, but I can already tell you that several members on this forum are former arachnophobes Happy to hear that you have gotten interested in Ts and actually purchased one - I'm sure you'll learn with your upcoming B. hamorii!

The forum is full of helpful people who are nothing but willing to help - So when in doubt just ask!

 

[Enn49]

Hello Matt and welcome. I'm sure you'll enjoy watching your little one grow and develop its adult colours and soon be wantig more.

 

[Rs50matt]

Thanks all. Enn49 your absolutely right. I wanted to start with an Euathlus sp. red but there not exactly readily available lol. The hamorii from what I've seen and read is a good starter and I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival

 

[Enn49]

Thanks all. Enn49 your absolutely right. I wanted to start with an Euathlus sp. red but there not exactly readily available lol. The hamorii from what I've seen and read is a good starter and I'm anxiously awaiting its arrival

You need the patience of a saint to raise an E. sp red, mine is over 3 years old an still not 1" dls. The Hamorii is a far better starter T, placid, great feeder and more likely to be visible.

 

[Rs50matt]

The end result will be incredible and worth it maybe I should be more patient thou and wait for the right one to turn up

 

[Arachnoclown]

Welcome to the group!!

 

[Kymura]

Hello there and welcome, gratz on your first
What have you got set up for its housing if I may ask?
Perhaps we can eyeball everything for you pre-spider to help you avoid any issues?
Also, all of us enjoy LOTS of pictures so don't be shy about sharing them!

 

[Rs50matt]

Hello there and welcome, gratz on your first
What have you got set up for its housing if I may ask?
Perhaps we can eyeball everything for you pre-spider to help you avoid any issues?
Also, all of us enjoy LOTS of pictures so don't be shy about sharing them!

Thank you as it's only small I've got a plastic "jar" effectively. I've created holes for ventilation and around 2" of substrate . I've used a coco fibre brick and expanded it.

 

[Enn49]

Thank you as it's only small I've got a plastic "jar" effectively. I've created holes for ventilation and around 2" of substrate . I've used a coco fibre brick and expanded it.

The substrate needs to be dry for B.hamorii, if there is room, a water bowl if not trickle water down the side every couple of days and give it a small piece of cork bark and/or plastic plant to hide under or climb on and it should do fine.

 

[Rs50matt]

Yea thanks enn49. I did think that the bricks were a good idea( and they are) but I have been drying it out as I thought it was very moist
I will get a small hide and maybe even a small water dish.

 

[Enn49]

Yea thanks enn49. I did think that the bricks were a good idea( and they are) but I have been drying it out as I thought it was very moist
I will get a small hide and maybe even a small water dish.

I never bother with a "hide" as such just a small piece of bark is enough for a little one to burrow under. Save your money for when it's bigger and then you can go to town with the décor.

 

[LC72uk]

Welcome to the Group Matt......LC72UK

 

[Whitelightning777]

They are a nice genus with plenty of great looking species therein. What exact size did you get?

 

[Rs50matt]

I'll be honest I only really got it as I couldn't get hold of a Euathlus sp red (managed to find one now) but it is only a sling really . Realised I said water dish and I shouldn't get as it could drown the poor lil fella. I am hoping to go to BTS tomorrow just to get a feel for the hobby and maybe get people's general opinions and ideas . For now thou I'm sticking to what I got ( I hope lol )

 

[Enn49]

I'll be honest I only really got it as I couldn't get hold of a Euathlus sp red (managed to find one now) but it is only a sling really . Realised I said water dish and I shouldn't get as it could drown the poor lil fella. I am hoping to go to BTS tomorrow just to get a feel for the hobby and maybe get people's general opinions and ideas . For now thou I'm sticking to what I got ( I hope lol )

If you have room for a water bowl in the container then put one in, a T will not drown in it no matter how small a sling it is. Bottle caps are good, an upturned Lego brick is an option or some people use the blister that tablets are packed in.

 

[Rs50matt]

Ah ok. I'd heard that they can drown in them. I guess that's if it's a pool. A pill blister is a good idea. I'll look see if I have 1

 

[PanzoN88]

Ah ok. I'd heard that they can drown in them. I guess that's if it's a pool. A pill blister is a good idea. I'll look see if I have 1

They will simply float

 

[Whitelightning777]

An animal that can walk up one wall, across the ceiling and down the other one won't drown in a water dish.

Still, if you're worried, use bottle caps with threads on the inside where they spin on the bottle. They can use those to get out.