Thank you so much for your post. really enjoyed reading the back story and how you came to see my for sale list. I had also been selling on Preloved for a few years now but really happy that interest is increasing on this wonderful forum. After all, you are going to be more confident that the spider is going to a loving home. I have refused so many sales on a more generic site as you just don't get "the right vibe" from someone. Thanks again.I'm new to Tarantulas, having only started keeping them since going to the Southern Invert Show in Brighton this November, and I wanted to write this review as I think there isn't enough credit or recognition given to independent breeders in the UK.
I Bought my first T in Brighton, a beautiful juvenile Caribena Versicolor from Portsmouth Tarantulas. It was the one I really wanted to start off with. Shortly after, I bought 3 slings from The Spider Shop. Poecilotheria Miranda, Psuedoclamoris Gigas & Avicularia Kwitara. I have to say that I was extremely happy with my purchases, but knew I wasn't going to stop there. I wanted more.
I kept looking at Portsmouth Tarantulas, The Spider Shop & So Many Legs (the 3 big suppliers here in the UK), but nothing else really caught my eye. So I started to look further afield, scouring the internet for other shops or breeders to see what they had in stock. But still nothing really grabbed me.
Then, on Instagram I saw someone handing a juvenile Ybyrapora Diversipes, and I knew then exactly what I wanted. Hours more searching and the only place I could find slings for sale was here on the forum, from a man named Phil. His list of spiders is seriously impressive, both his own collection and what he has for sale. You really need to check them out. I started a conversation with him and he confirmed that he still had the Y.Diversipes, an Avicularia sp Blue Velvet & a Nhandu Coloratovillosus for sale (I couldn't help myself).
Payment was safe and easy through PayPal, so no questions about being covered should the worst happen. A delivery date was set, and he kept me informed every step of the way, updating me on progress daily. Any questions I had were answered swiftly and I couldn't have felt more confident about the deal.
Needless to say, I was like a kid in a sweet shop when they were delivered and I couldn't have been any happier when I opened the box. The spiders were very carefully packed, wrapped up nice and tight so they had no chance of being bounced around by even the most careless postie. I'm glad to say that they were sent along with a heat pack, which was still warm on arrival, as the weather here is utter crap at the moment.
The Spiders themselves are amazing, I'll add some photos at the end. All are healthy and happy in their new homes. The A. sp Blue Velvet has about 3/4 inch span, the Y.Diversipes has roughly 1 inch span, and the N.Coloratovillosus is close to 2 1/2 inches. That one was an interesting rehouse too. It was so comfy in it's travel pot that it even gave my paint brush a threat posture and a strike when I tried to coax it out.
And here is the point of everything I've written. If you're new to Tarantulas like I am, you're obviously going to start looking at the big name shops when buying your first T. But can I suggest you try looking in a different direction? Talk to Phil. You'll get the best quality spiders at great prices from a man who is clearly passionate about what he does and wants you to be as happy with his Tarantulas as he is. And believe me, you will be. I am.
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