What Should I Get

[pokie99]

Hello!
I wanted to ask you for advice. I saw unsexed Grammostola iheringi being sold for about $80. I asked the person who sold them about the size and he sent me a picture. They're pretty big (maybe about 3" legspan). He also told me he would be able to sex them when they molt. The problem is that this price is a bit high for me and for a female it will be at least 100$. For the same price I can buy a female murinus, rosea, S. calceatum and B. Emilia all together. So I'm asking you: should I get the iheringi or the other females? I wanted something different and rare which a few people have. On one hand, don't want to have only common species which every newbie has. But on the other hand, I like all these species. I still haven't collected the money but I will have by the end of next month. What should I do?

 

[Poec54]

You can vent sex most species at 3" fairly accurately. Doesn't require a molt.

You can get sexed females of 4 species for $100? How big are they?

Are you sure you're ready for a calceatum? It's the most feared species in the hobby. Do some more research.

 

[pokie99]

I don't know the exact size of the tarantula. I know that the body is around 1,7" and from what I see in the picture, the tarantula doesn't have a sling appearance (it has a full adult coloration). About the other species: the rosea is a mature female for about $30, the calceatum is also about $30, the Emilia is around L10 and is $25, the OBT is about $20. I'm not sure about the calceatum - maybe I'll wait but the fact that it's a female really tempts me.

 

[Poec54]

I'm not sure about the calceatum - maybe I'll wait but the fact that it's a female really tempts me.

Before you decide, see what people have to say about them, and what they sometimes do.

 

[pokie99]

I'll see about the calceatum. But what do you think? Should I buy the more expensive and unsexed T instead of several cheaper, but more common females? How beautiful is the iheringi according to you? Or should I buy a female P. smithi for about $60?

 

[Poec54]

I'll see about the calceatum. But what do you think? Should I buy the more expensive and unsexed T instead of several cheaper, but more common females? How beautiful is the iheringi according to you? Or should I buy a female P. smithi for about $60?

- What do you do if an unsexed iheringi turns out to be a male? Can you send him out on breeding loan? You'd have no more iheringi and may or may not get any slings out of it. It would be much better to start with a sexed female.

- What's your experience with OW arboreals? They're advanced species. Have you read bite reports to know what could potentially happen to you if bitten? Emergency rooms in the middle of the night aren't a lot of fun. People should work their way up in stages with species and build a foundation of experience. Are there other people or cats and dogs in your house? An escaped spider drags them into this.

- 'Murinus' as in 'P' or 'E'? Both are fast and feisty, and tend to hidden most of the time. Definitely not for beginners.

- You said you wanted some that are 'rare and different' and then you list rosea and (P) murinus as candidates? They're cheap and plentiful. Back to the drawing board.

- If I was you, I'd be looking at some of the big South American/Caribbean terrestrials, less common species in Pamphobeteus, Phormictopus, Acanthoscurria, Lasiodora, Xenesthis, & Sericopelma. They're great eaters and fast growing.

 

[pokie99]

Thanks for the reply! Here are my answers to your questions:
-That's why I'll wait for them to molt and be sexed. I still haven't collected the money but I wanted to ask you because I have found cheap females of the other species (which I can afford at the moment) and I'm afraid they'll be sold by the time I collect all the money and decide.
- I actually bought my first OW about two months after I bought my first tarantula (A. geniculata). It was a Chilobrachys dyscolus sling. I know this was very irresponsible but I really wanted to get into the hobby quickly. Now I have two speciesof the poecilotheria genus, the female chilobrachys, a balfouri sling and I also had a P. chordatus sling but it died several months ago by an unknown reason. I have read a lot of bite reports from different OW species and am aware. I don't want them to bite me so I treat them with great caution and respect. I have a big dog but I don't let her stay in my room if I'm not there. I also check the lid several times after I have fed a T to see if it is closed. I'm more concerned about my two rats but they're in a cage.
- I meant P. murinus. And I know about their attitude.
- I want something rare but I also have always wanted these common species I have listed.
- I had a Xenesthis immanis but it died tragically as I spooked it as it was in an open box on my desk. It jumped and ruptured its abdomen. I still can't forgive myself!!! There is a female Pamphobeteus sp platyomma sold for $60 at the same breeder who sells the iheringi but the females aren't very interesting from what I have seen ( I also have read that the platyomma are really mixed up) and the nigricolor slings are very expensive. What do you think? Oh... and thanks again for all the advice you gave me! It takes a lot of time and effort.

 

[Therasoid]

Before you decide, see what people have to say about them, and what they sometimes do.

pokie99, I have a nearly 4 1/2" S. calceatum, these are one, if not the most venomous species one can own. They ARE teleporters, IMO their speed is unparalleled. I have many OW species but, these deserve the MOST respect and caution is of utmost importance when doing cage maintenance and feeding. Mine has literally flew from the opposite side of the cage, in the blink of an eye, and attacked 18" tweezers. IMO, an OBT is docile in comparison to this species. I have mine in a 10"X10"X18" enclosure and will have to rehouse one last time, using extreme caution.

I highly agree with Poec54, do a lot more research about S. calceatum. I won't suggest this species to anyone but a Advanced keeper. The decision is ultimately yours, I just thought to give you my experience on these. [emoji4]

 

[pokie99]

pokie99, I have a nearly 4 1/2" S. calceatum, these are one, if not the most venomous species one can own. They ARE teleporters, IMO their speed is unparalleled. I have many OW species but, these deserve the MOST respect and caution is of utmost importance when doing cage maintenance and feeding. Mine has literally flew from the opposite side of the cage, in the blink of an eye, and attacked 18" tweezers. IMO, an OBT is docile in comparison to this species. I have mine in a 10"X10"X18" enclosure and will have to rehouse one last time, using extreme caution.

I highly agree with Poec54, do a lot more research about S. calceatum. I won't suggest this species to anyone but a Advanced keeper. The decision is ultimately yours, I just thought to give you my experience on these. [emoji4]

Thanks for the advice! I was just really tempted by the fact that it was a determined female. I won't buy a calceatum for now. I'm not that afraid of the pain and effects of the bite - I'll get over it, I'm more afraid how my mom will react to this. She'll be devastated and I don't want to cause her such pain. What do you think about the platyomma?

 

[Poec54]

Thanks for the advice! I was just really tempted by the fact that it was a determined female. I won't buy a calceatum for now. I'm not that afraid of the pain and effects of the bite - I'll get over it, I'm more afraid how my mom will react to this. She'll be devastated and I don't want to cause her such pain. What do you think about the platyomma?

Oh, there are big men that have brought to their knees, in tears from some OW bites. Guys that were going to 'tough it out' and went to an emergency room in the middle of the night. They weren't 'afraid of the pain and effects' either, until they got bit.

I have platyomma. Males are gorgeous as adults. Females don't have wild coloring, but are still attractive. Any Pampho is worth getting. Check into the other genera I mentioned. Some great spiders there. If you're still living with your mom, you really need to reevaluate the species you own now. Once you get a place of your own it's different. An escaped spider can get anywhere in the house.

 

[spidey noob]

there is a lot of exallent advice above !!!

 

[pokie99]

Thank you again. I don't underestimate the potency of OW tarantula venom. I know that the bite hurts a LOT. I've read and seen many bite reports where people write or say this was the most painful experience in their lifes - even more painful than breaking a hand or leg. I know about all of that. I know that the OW species I have aren't as fast and aggressive as the Stromatopelma, Pterinochilus and Haplopelma genus, but I have some experience. Once a person who was bitten by an OW told me that the skin on his arm turned black and for a week he felt like he had pieces of glass in it. I also have read bite reports that weren't so scary. I'll wait for the OWs I have now to become adults so I can see what they are capable of and then decide if I want more. I live with my mom because I'm 15. I don't want to bother her with medical bills because I got bitten. I really appreciate the time and effort you've put into trying to help me and I'm very grateful!

 

[Poec54]

Thank you again. I don't underestimate the potency of OW tarantula venom. I know that the bite hurts a LOT. I've read and seen many bite reports where people write or say this was the most painful experience in their lifes - even more painful than breaking a hand or leg. I know about all of that. I know that the OW species I have aren't as fast and aggressive as the Stromatopelma, Pterinochilus and Haplopelma genus, but I have some experience. Once a person who was bitten by an OW told me that the skin on his arm turned black and for a week he felt like he had pieces of glass in it. I also have read bite reports that weren't so scary. I'll wait for the OWs I have now to become adults so I can see what they are capable of and then decide if I want more. I live with my mom because I'm 15. I don't want to bother her with medical bills because I got bitten. I really appreciate the time and effort you've put into trying to help me and I'm very grateful!

You're young, there's plenty of time. I got my first tarantula over 40 years ago, and for my first several years just had NW terrestrials. It gave me a foundation of experience and prepared me for the OW's, which are 60% of my collection now.