Would you rather...?

[AzTarant]

The given is that all the slings are the same price.
Do you buy all the same species to increase odds of getting females OR buy several species to increase your collection?

 

[Enn49]

AS I've no intention of breeding I tend to buy several species.

 

[TokeHound]

I am new to this hobby and currently, I would say I "collect" different species. I put that in quotes because I only have 3 slings. They are all diff species but I am hoping they are female. I have no interest in breeding right now, I am just working on trying to cure my Arachnophobia. Maybe in a few years I'll get into breeding

 

[m0lsx]

I normally buy at least 2 of each species. Mostly because occasionally slings die. I for example brought 2 johhnycashi slings a couple of years ago & I now have one. But even that does not sometimes work, we brought 2 B auratum's & lost both, as did someone else we know. So not really either of the above.

 

[Kazegal]

I buy both to increase the collection and with the intention of breeding. Sometimes I will notice that one of my juveniles is a male at which point I will most likely try to find either a female or a sling just so I can keep the species. I am, for example, now looking for B. cabocla as I recently had mine mature out. I've sent him off and am hopeful to get him breeding and receiving some of the slings.

 

[Jenniferinfl]

So- probably the smarter way to do it is to buy several at a time of slow-growing species like brachy and aphonopelma. I have not done it that way because I'm an idiot.. lol
Additionally, be mindful of the sizes you are purchasing. I got excited getting back into the hobby a couple months ago and 'convenience-purchased' quite a few from a local pet shop. These were practically juveniles and as they're molting it turns out they are all male.. lol I kind of think that a breeder grew them out large enough to find the females for their own breeding program. Can't blame them, especially selling to a pet store that is going to end up with a lot of people purchasing on a whim and not knowing much about tarantulas. A lot of pet owners probably feel like a male tarantulas lifespan in those species is plenty to be honest.
Realistically, if I was just getting pets, then a male brachy lives a decent amount of time. Right now, I have 34 different species because I bought one of each.
I don't feel like I need to buy several psalmo's at once just because they're pretty fast growers and I started with sub 1" a couple months ago and already have 2" that will probably be identifiable without a microscope next molt. My brachy slings meanwhile have put on tiny amounts of growth in two months and I regret buying just one of each.. lol

 

[octanejunkie]

We bought our fist sling in 2015, B albopilosum, now T albopilosus. Turned out to be male. Bought 3 more slings and 2 of those turned out to be male, too. Based on my experience I figured I had a 25% chance of getting a female, so I started buying in batches of 4 plus. I have since disproven my original theory, but I still buy in batches when buying slings, for various reasons.

If you want a female, regardless of your purpose, pony up and buy a female.

If your prize T turns out to be male, you can always ship him out to stud. If you want a 30- year friend, buy a proven female. If you want to breed you are going to need a few females and fresh males when you need them, specifically when your females are ready to pair. Timing is everything when breeding.

If you are just looking to grow your collection, maybe find the nicest display specimens, they buy at any frequency or depth your heart desires. The world is your oyster, go nuts.

 

[m0lsx]

Based on my experience I figured I had a 25% chance of getting a female, so I started buying in batches of 4 plus. I have since disproven my original theory,

From your experience, what are the % male to female?

 

[octanejunkie]

From your experience, what are the % male to female?

Depends on many circumstances, and species.

All my P murinus turned out to be female, purchased at different times and half my A avicularia (same sac) were female.

Out of a batch of 5 GBBs I picked up as unsexed juveniles, 3 are female. Out of a batch of T vagans, half are female

 

[Kazegal]

So far most of the unsexed ones I picked up turned out to be female. Had a balfouri and a b. cabocla turn out male. Now I have a t. alboplisum which I suspect to be male. Sometimes you are lucky and sometimes you are fooled. There is at least one seller at local shows known for selling males as females. Most experienced keepers avoid him.

 

[DustyD]

Recently I purchased two of the same species in the hopes of getting a female. I already have a male, so I figured I would take a chance. I don't have an interest in breeding at this point, but that could change in the future. Since I am limited by state law on what species I can have (just three) I don't think I will be trying to expand my collection too much more.

 

[PanzoN88]

I do a little of both. For example I’m focusing on US Aphonopelma species and depending on price I will buy 2-5 specimens of each with the hope of breeding them. So If there was an all of the above option in the poll, that is what I would pick.

 

[octanejunkie]

I do a little of both. For example I’m focusing on US Aphonopelma species and depending on price I will buy 2-5 specimens of each with the hope of breeding them. So If there was an all of the above option in the poll, that is what I would pick.

Same, usually, sourcing from multiple vendors insures unique bloodlines, too

 

[Steve's Ts]

The given is that all the slings are the same price.
Do you buy all the same species to increase odds of getting females OR buy several species to increase your collection?

Definitely several species. You're bound to get a few females still, and you'll have some beautiful new Ts to adore.

 

[nbm02ss]

Kind of depends on the price of individual slings vs. the price of a confirmed female since I am the sort who wants a female.

For instance: I bought a confirmed female GBB because at the time it was cheaper than buying multiple slings for a chance at a female, and my female LP cost roughly what 3 LP slings typically go for since LPs are obviously cheap since they have lots of babies. Rinse and repeat for your A. geniculatas, or Avics (as long as they aren't purple), Psalmopoeus, or even some Pokies like P. regalis.

The Cyriocosmus gensus is a good example of readily available slings but rarely available confirmed females, and typically those confirmed females will run you a good penny, so for Cyriocosmus I would get 3-4 slings if I was after a female.

Theraphosa blondi is a good example of rarely available and expensive slings but also rarely available and expensive females, so if I was after that particular species it would probably be whichever was available at the time.

 

[Wolfclans]

The given is that all the slings are the same price.
Do you buy all the same species to increase odds of getting females OR buy several species to increase your collection?

I did and I got a female and a male LP

 

[Kazegal]

But in that scenario they won't mature at the same time, no? It's great if you don't breed and can then send the male off, but not for breeding.

Bought a pair N. incei just last week and am chuffed, but they are the same size slings. I will have to hold off feeding the male while upping feeding and temps on the female to have any chance at breeding these.

 

[timc]

I’m not interested in breeding so I just get the species I want. If it’s a female, great, if it’s a male I still give it the best life possible just for a shorter amount of time. Where it gets tough for me is do I replace the males? For instance the only T. albopilosus in my collection right now is a MM, hooks, sperm webs, wandering and all, and I’ve enjoyed raising him so much I fully intend to get another, sex be damned. On the other hand, I have a K. brunnipes that recently hooked out, and while I love my little guy and also enjoyed raising him from a speck of sand, I really have no intention of getting another of this species. Now I feel bad having said that lol