New to the Forum

[Harry Armstrong]

Looking through the threads and posts within the Forum, I am glad to see there are so many friendly people willing to help when it's needed. I used to be terrified of spiders, then years ago a very good friend of mine asked me to look after his Tarantula. I reluctantly agreed. It only took about a month and I was hooked, facinated with the little fellow, very theraputic. I wanted my own, allas, nowhere to keep them. I waited and waited reading book upon book. My children have left home now so I have taken over the small bedroom as my study, and yes you've guessed it, a home for my T's. I'm older now, a bit wiser, and very much Happier. No one else in the family likes Spiders, Snakes and such like, but it's beggining to look like I might have a future fanatic in my 5 year old Grand daughter.

[Johanna Turner]

Hi Harry
Welcome and yes there are a good crowd of people on here and a wealth of experience and advice to boot!

I'm a fellow convert after having spiders a few years back and then recently getting back into them. Been back in the hobby for about 6 weeks now and already have a massive collection, mainly slings.

I love it, keeps me out of mischief and my friends think I'm bonkers!

[Mark Pennell]

Welcome Harry
Nice to have you here.
Regards
Mark

[Barbara Gittings]

New to Forum

Welcome Harry

Like you I used to be terrified of spiders I often used to shout for my husband to put them out for me (I'd never kill one tho). Then I was in my local pet shop who had just started to do reptiles and the owner said to me hold your hand out (not wanting to look too silly, being afraid of spiders) I held my hand out and he put this tarantua on my hand. That was it I was compeletly smitten.

I spent the next four weeks reading up, asking lots of questions on this forum and everyone was so helpful. Luckily last Thursday I finally brought her home, I love just watching her. Hope you enjoy your tarantulas.
My husband thinks I've gone completely bonkers but hey lifes too short!!

Barbara

[Harry Armstrong]

new forum member

Thanks for the replies you guys. I haven't actualy got any T's yet, I'm in the process of moving all my Commy gear at the mo, I need to do this so I can get more homes in the room. I've got a lot of stuff on order at present and I think I can make enough room for maybe 20 Homes. searching the web at the moment for a good heating system. I,m just a bit worried about mixing vermiculite with coir. I have x2 empty Exo 12x12x12's at the moment.

[Graham Mitchell]

new to forum

As a fairly new T keeper except for the two curly-hairs that have sat on a top shelf of my reptile room for about the last five years I'd be interested in photos of other keepers set-ups.Mainly so I could steal their ideas !

[Daniel Carpenter]

Welcome Harry welcome to the foum, send us some pistures of your first tarantula/s
Dan.

[Glen Feasey]

As a fairly new T keeper except for the two curly-hairs that have sat on a top shelf of my reptile room for about the last five years I'd be interested in photos of other keepers set-ups.Mainly so I could steal their ideas !

Graham, you might want to look at Robins posts mate!

[Neil Ashby]

Hi Harry

Welcome to the forum , unlike the tarantulas we dont bite !!

[mike halewood]

Welcome Harry,

This really is a fantastic hobby with some really great people. And believe me one soon becomes 11+

[Graham Mitchell]

Graham Mitchell

Thanks Glen.Sorry Harry I ran off with your thread.Welcome !

[Harry Armstrong]

cheers all, bit of a delay at the mo been a week now since i ordered some gear, including my Substrate from the Spider Shop. thought it would have been here by now. Still more time to decide on what T's to get first. Hope it's not gonna be much longer.
Is there any perticular ratio in mixing Vermiculite and Coir?

[Daniel Carpenter]

iI normaly do it do 2:1 = 2 parts peat and 1 part Vermiculite. but you could do it the other way round it does not relly matter i just thing it looks better like this
Dan.

[Harry Armstrong]

Hi Daniel.
Thanks for that. I wonder if you could answer me another question? Do you Microwave your Peat? If so, how long do you heat it for?
Thanks.....Haz

[Daniel Carpenter]

Harry, i buy organic peat this way it comes just like it was found untouched from any chemicals or stuff like that....but if you have just brought normal i should think it would be alright to use a microwave ...
You can buy organic peat from your nearest garden centre and it is about the same price as normal mabye a bit more, but not much...hope this helps.
Dan.