New to the site, with a no doubt old question.

[Michael Seils]

First of all I'd like to say Hi, and thank anyone in advance for the help you give me.

I'm new to the site, and I've never kept a tarantula in my life. I've decided I'm going to get one for myself as a christmas gift this year and I'm looking for advice on the equipment I will need to buy first. I noticed a few places have starter kits (such as this onehttp://www.thespidershop.co.uk/insec...roducts_id=531 ) and I was wondering if these kits are worth buying.

I'm thinking of getting a mexican red knee or red leg.

[Guy Tansley]

Hi Michael and welcome to the forum.

The starter kits you mention are ideal for a first spider. I can thoroughly recommend Lee from the spidershop too.

[Michael Seils]

Thanks, they looked pretty decent to me but what do i know, I thought I'd ask the experts. Also seeing as I am a complete beginner, would you recommend I go for an adult or a spiderling as my first?

[Simon Batten]

id recomend an adult or sub adult for your first one the spiderlings tend to be tiny and a bit more fiddley and a tank like that would probably be too big my spiderlings live in cricket tubs or little cannisters a bit bigger than a film pot, I dont know about you but when I first got one I wanted one that was bigger, good starter species are chilean rose, mexican red knee and curly haired tarantula all are hardy and can be handled, and as for the kit it looks good every thing you need and I wouldnt say its a bad price. hope that helps a bit

[Adam Smith]

I would suggest go for a juvenile as spiderlings especially when they are really small can be a challenge with feeding when the tinyest cricket is bigger than the spiderling or worry that a single drop of water could be hazardous. An adult though big and impressive can mark its age and how long it has lived. With juvenile you can guess its a year maybe 2 years old (in a red leg and red knee case) and isnt fully grown but is easy to feed, take care of and live a long time.
Red knee are ideal that was my first tarantula I ever got and is the staple species anyone who mentions tarantula and everyone thinks of a red knee. It is also worth mentioning another good beginner tarantula available over the years is A Grammostola Aureostriata (Chacoan Gold Knee) these are really remarkable marked species and grow to be a nice big size and have good life span with tempremant the same or more docile than a red knee

[Andrew climance]

As far as the kit goes, I just returned to Ts after a long time out and Lee set me up with a great set-up, loads of advice and brilliant service. I couldn't recommend him highly enough!

[Larry Shone]

Another thing with a spiderling is that most are slow growing. I have a chile rose spiderling that is just about a juvenile now but I've had it since August. Spidershop.co.uk looks good but never used them,and I can recommend Nigel M on this site who is a private seller.

[Adam Smith]

Before I had the internet access on a regular basis I used to get the spiders from pet shops but since had my own computer ive always used and always will use spidershop they are by far the best shop and most reasonably priced online pet shop selling at realistic prices. Highly recommended. However there are a number of BTS members who I highly recommend that I have either bought spiderlings from or who are well known for many successful breedings and 1 is Layla M cInnes, have bought a few slings from her and has alway had results and receive healthy slings

[mischaaussems]

Hi Michael. I think the starter kit you mentioned is good for your first tarantula. Personaly I prefer a glass tank, but that's mostly because I keep a lot of my tarantulas in my livingroom and I think it just looks better.

I started with a grammostola rosea, its a very docile spider and rarely flicks its hairs not unlike brachypelma smithi. But I'm not shure what you want out of the hobby. Gr. rosea isn't the most beautiful spider. If you just want to look at your spider and disturb it as minimal as possible than you can choose any species. Some burrowing species I own like theraphosa blondi are seldom seen outside their burrows. So they don't make the best display spiders. I think that if you seriously want to start with this hobby and read alot about the spiders you want to keep than any species will do. Every spider has different features wich are atractive to one and apalling to another. If you want to handle your spider (wich I don't recommend) you can go for most grammostola species and most brachypelma species. These are also spiders that can tolerate a greater range in temperature and humidity.

good luck and keep us posted on your choice

[Larry Shone]

good thing about G rosea tho is that it always seems to be out and about, easy to see, whereas many will hide a lot.
My white knee is also opu in the open but not sure this one is as easy for beginners?

[Michael Seils]

Well having taken all the advice in here into consideration I have now purchased my very first tarantula. It's a G. rosea. I ordered from the spider shop and I think it will be here on tuesday, I bought a book (the tarantula keepers guide) and a heap of other stuff too, I want to make sure I'm well prepared and get it right. I'm looking forward to the many years (touch wood) of enjoyment with my new pet and adding a very interesting interesting hobby to my list.

Thanks for the help, I'm sure you'll see more of me. Especially when I start to panic about stuff, but I'll do my best to contribute to the forums as well as hassle people with questions.

[Larry Shone]

Very good choice,both the T and the book! Word of warning tho,in that book your T will be listed as Phryxotrichus spatulatus. This is the old name for G.rosea. Other than that its an excellent source of info. Enjoy your T and post pics if possible!