New to this

[Spiderlady333]

Hello everyone, this is my first post. I'm looking for some assistance in finding my first Tarantula. I would prefer to not buy from a pet store. I've done an online search and can't seem to find any breeders or any to adopt. I live in the Twin Cities of Minnesota.
Thank you for you assistance.

 

[m0lsx]

Hello & welcome to the forum & the hobby. Pet shops are in general a very poor way of buying T's, but there are plenty of specialist Tarantula dealers around, who provide not just excellent customer service, but more importantly a knowledgeable service too.

Tarantulas when packaged correctly survive perfectly OK, within the mail system for a few days. Providing temperatures are not too low.

 

[octanejunkie]

Hello and welcome!

Several people here breed and sell, myself included.

What do you think you are looking for as a first T?
What research have you done?

 

[Enn49]

Hello and welcome.

 

[Spiders&Snakes]

Welcome! You're definitely in the right place. I've only been a member for a few weeks, and our fellow members have been super knowledgable and friendly.

Don't rush into purchasing your first T. Do your research, and ask plenty of questions (which is exactly what you are doing - which is awesome!).

My first T was a T. Albopilosus - nicaraguan curly hair. I wanted something calm, handsome, and that I could handle occasionally. I wasn't disappointed.

But everyone wants something different from their pet.

Let us know what you'd like from your first T... and maybe the guys can make a few recommendations.

Welcome aboard

 

[Oursapoil]

Hello and welcome to the forum/hobby
You can't go wrong with @octanejunkie or @Casey K. for your first T.
Cheers.

 

[Casey K.]

Hello and welcome to the forum/hobby
You can't go wrong with @octanejunkie or @Casey K. for your first T.
Cheers.

Yeah yeah @octanejunkie is definitely 2nd to best, lol......isn't that right, pal? Hehehehe.

 

[Spiderlady333]

Welcome! You're definitely in the right place. I've only been a member for a few weeks, and our fellow members have been super knowledgable and friendly.

Don't rush into purchasing your first T. Do your research, and ask plenty of questions (which is exactly what you are doing - which is awesome!).

My first T was a T. Albopilosus - nicaraguan curly hair. I wanted something calm, handsome, and that I could handle occasionally. I wasn't disappointed.

But everyone wants something different from their pet.

Let us know what you'd like from your first T... and maybe the guys can make a few recommendations.

Welcome aboard

Thank you. I'm looking for one that easy to maintain and that I can handle. I keep reading that the Chilean rose hair might be the way to go. I found a site called "Fear not the tarantula" but don't see this bread for sale there.

 

[Spiders&Snakes]

Thank you. I'm looking for one that easy to maintain and that I can handle. I keep reading that the Chilean rose hair might be the way to go. I found a site called "Fear not the tarantula" but don't see this bread for sale there.

See, when I initially started the hobby I also wanted a T that I could handle (and there's a few species that are more tolerant of this). But it's also important to know that none of them particularly enjoy being handled, nor do they gain anything from it - so handling is purely for our own benefit.

I'm not saying handling is a terrible thing to do (I do very occasionally get my T. Albo out) but it's a very sticky subject among the Tarantula community, and many would say that no tarantula should ever be handled. Just giving you a heads up, that some people are very adamant about not handling.

As for specific species that would be a good fit for you; I'm sure some more experienced keepers will chime in shortly. I still consider myself a beginner, so it's not my place to be giving species recommendations just yet...

Hang tight, and you'll probably get some more feedback

 

[Spiders&Snakes]

Any species recommendations for this young lady? @octanejunkie @Casey K. @Oursapoil @Arachnoclown @Enn49

 

[octanejunkie]

Yeah yeah @octanejunkie is definitely 2nd to best, lol......isn't that right, pal? Hehehehe.

Depends what you consider best, I guess

@Casey K. Is definitely the better looking between the two of us

 

[octanejunkie]

Any species recommendations for this young lady? @octanejunkie @Casey K. @Oursapoil @Arachnoclown @Enn49

Almost any Grammostola, Brachyperlma or Tlitocatl would make a good first T

If I were doing it over again I'd start with 3-4 slings at once to increase my odds of getting a female

That being said I have lots of 4 Tlitocatl vagans and 4 Tlitocatl albopilosus "Nicaraguan" slings available as well as juveniles of each sp

 

[Spiders&Snakes]

My T. Albo nicaraguan is a cool dude. He is usually so chill. But the feeding response is out of this world. He literally leaps at the tongs and hangs off them.

I can see how newbies might be frightened to handle a T that does this

The reality is; once he is well fed, he is calm

He's only defensive when he's a hungry boy

 

[Oursapoil]

Depends what you consider best, I guess

@Casey K. Is definitely the better looking between the

Almost any Grammostola, Brachyperlma or Tlitocatl would make a good first T

If I were doing it over again I'd start with 3-4 slings at once to increase my odds of getting a female

That being said I have lots of 4 Tlitocatl vagans and 4 Tlitocatl albopilosus "Nicaraguan" slings available as well as juveniles of each sp

A lot of good advices on this thread. My two cents is not to go for a sling as your first tarantula. A big juvenile or young adult would be best, you will be able to get slings later on when more familiar with regular husbandry. T. albopilosus is a great first choice but you might want to do a search on the forum about the different threads dealing with handling as there are many different things to consider and be aware of (it is only cute when the first time when tarantula scratch her butt....). A T. albopilosus (I have 5 of all different sizes) will not disappoint you, it is also available everywhere and quite inexpensive. FearNotTarantulas is not bad at all but for the same price or cheaper you could get one from one of the forum breeders and this will qualify you for a lifelong advances and questions support
Needless to say it will also allow you to build relationships in the hobby by dealing with "humans" rather than a store.
Hope this help, cheers.

 

[Enn49]

My best advice is to get the species you really want as long as you know what to expect in terms of temperament you can deal with it.
I do agree though that @octanejunkie's suggestions of any Grammostola, Brachyperlma or Tlitocatl are good ones.

 

[octanejunkie]

Juvenile starter Ts FTW!

 

[Spiders&Snakes]

I remember when Chilean Rosehairs were like the "go to" choice for first time keepers.

But I think beginners have a much wider selection now, and there's more info out there on other species.

 

[octanejunkie]

I remember when Chilean Rosehairs were like the "go to" choice for first time keepers.

But I think beginners have a much wider selection now, and there's more info out there on other species.

Literally almost any Grammostola, Brachyperlma or Tlitocatl would make a good first T, EXECPT Grammostola rosea lol

JK
I was sold a rosehair sling by an LPS that turned out to be something else...

Can you guess what she is?

 

[Oursapoil]

Literally almost any Grammostola, Brachyperlma or Tlitocatl would make a good first T, EXECPT Grammostola rosea lol

JK
I was sold a rosehair sling by an LPS that turned out to be something else...
View attachment 54856
Can you guess what she is?

Could be T. vagans (likely) as well as a T. sabulosum or epicureanum (less likely as a little more expensive and less available). Am I right? Do I win anything?

 

[octanejunkie]

I'm thinking she's T vagans, but it's a hunch/educated guess

You already won my heart, now you've won my respect