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New to this site, and want to get my first tarantula

garrenn

New Member
3 Year Member
Messages
22
Hi everyone! I'm new here and wanted to quickly introduce myself. I'm new to the idea of even keeping a tarantula as a pet. I've had dogs, cats, birds, hamsters, fish, and rats, but nothing like a tarantula.

I'm currently going over what I can find for myself, but any links/tips on how to get started would be appreciated. I don't go anything halfsies, so I want to find as much information on what kind of tarantula would be best for me as a newbie. Thanks in advance and glad to meet you all!
 

Josh

Administrator
Staff member
1,000+ Post Club
Messages
1,257
Hello and welcome to the forum! Have you decided if you're going for terrestrial or arboreal?
 

garrenn

New Member
3 Year Member
Messages
22
Well I wouldn't be against either really. I like the way the pinktoes look so I might get one of those, but there's a lot of pretty terrestrials that look nice.
I plan on going out to the small pet shop in town and see what they have. It's not like Petco by the way. I have to say that before people jump on me about getting rats and things from a pet store. Things like rats and tarantulas and other small animals are bought from the local breeders (with a lot of the rats coming from one of the workers actually) and so the rats there are not bred to be feeding rats but rather pets.
And so the tarantulas would be of better quality and health at this store than somewhere like Petco.

I'll still keep my eyes open though, and I plan on doing plenty of research on whatever I can find!
 

Sabeth

Moderator
3 Year Member
Messages
816
Location
USA
The Tarantula Keeper's Guide by Stan & Marguerite Schultz is definitely a book you should make sure you buy. Not everything you find over the internet is accurate. Unless, of course, you come to a site like Tarantula Forum!!! :)
 

garrenn

New Member
3 Year Member
Messages
22
I all ready know about that book and plan on getting it.
Aand I'm sure that was somewhat sarcastic because, though I've seen much great advice here, I've seen people being wildly incorrect so far even on this site. I'm still going to be doing my research though.
 

Cobalt

Active Member
3 Year Member
Messages
175
Location
Norway
STANS'S RANT - A Little Nudge in the Right Direction
http://people.ucalgary.ca/~schultz/stansrant.html

Jon3800's T recommendations
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL98A32AEF390AAE40&feature=plcp

Jon3800 - Tarantula handling
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAEC354FA9F38D540&feature=plcp

Jon3800 - Mythbuster series - detailed information about various tarantula genus/species
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD3DC46229486A7D6&feature=plcp

Tarantulaguy1976 and Jon3800 on youtube has alot of great videos and you'll definately be entertained for hours on end.

I recommend getting a terrestial T above arboreal as your first T.
 

garrenn

New Member
3 Year Member
Messages
22
Well I think I've decided to get either the Pink Zebra Beauty or the euthalus sp. I love the pink toes, but I'd be too worried they could jump away from me because I'm not used to tarantulas.
 

garrenn

New Member
3 Year Member
Messages
22
Not really, but there's too many to keep up with. I'm probably gonna get a simple Rosea at a pet store more than likely, but I still plan on getting either Pink Zebra Beauty or the Euthlus sp. I may get some others down the line though :D
 

garrenn

New Member
3 Year Member
Messages
22
That's a very nice looking T. I'll have to look into it. I definitely plan on getting more than one (though I doubt I'll start breeding or I'll be overrun D:), so I'll be looking into others as well. I know I definitely want a pink toe down the line for sure, but I want to get a LITTLE more experienced first.
 

Cobalt

Active Member
3 Year Member
Messages
175
Location
Norway
That's a very nice looking T. I'll have to look into it. I definitely plan on getting more than one (though I doubt I'll start breeding or I'll be overrun D:), so I'll be looking into others as well. I know I definitely want a pink toe down the line for sure, but I want to get a LITTLE more experienced first.

They are the third largest Ts in the world..very interesting T
 

garrenn

New Member
3 Year Member
Messages
22
I don't care too much about the size of the T, I just want something good and easy to take care of to help get me into the whole thing!
 

garrenn

New Member
3 Year Member
Messages
22
Just got my first tarantula! A cute little g.rosae. Since I don't plan on handling my tarantulas all that often, I'm not too worried about the mood swings, and I understand that they tend to fast quite a bit and I'm hopefully prepared for all that.
I'm being forced to use a bark substrate because they were out of everything else, but I plan on mixing myself something better for the T.

I haven't decided on a name yet.
Is there a way to detect the gender before a molt? I'm still pretty new to this and haven't really gotten to sexing yet.
 

Bast

Well-Known Member
1,000+ Post Club
3 Year Member
Messages
1,397
Location
Canada
Welcome to the boards and the hobby!! Congrats on your new addition :)

Definitely ditch the bark substrate ASAP!! If you can get a good ventral shot you may be able to sex it without a moult....there's a few people on here that would be more than happy to help try and sex it via picture :)
 

BigTGirl93

Active Member
3 Year Member
Messages
429
Location
Maryland
Well I think I've decided to get either the Pink Zebra Beauty or the euthalus sp. I love the pink toes, but I'd be too worried they could jump away from me because I'm not used to tarantulas.

Hello and welcome to the forum! I am new as well and new to the obsession of all types of T's, I recently just bought a male Pink Toe from a Reptile store that sells many different types of Reptiles, and Arachnids. I myself was also a little nervous about purchasing a Pink Toe because they are tree climbers and jumpers and are speedy quick, I know a lot of different people are different when it comes time to holding their T's, but the first time I held mine he was really relaxed and calm, he just crawled when he wanted to and when he didn't he just hung out on my arm or hand. I don't handle mine often, just because you never know when they can bite or kick off hairs on you. But just thought you should know that I love my Pink Toe Aragon and he is really low maintenance and fun to observe! Cannot keep my eyes off of him! :D
 

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