Thoughts on beginners tarantulas

[lynn mawdesley]

The phrase 'medically significant venom' is a bit of a grey area where tarantulas are concerned. There is a lot of misinformation regarding tarantula bites around, with precious little of it based on fact it seems.

Hi Phil,
Tarantula bites and the effects is something that interests me is there a database put together or been put together about the effects of different species?

Cheers
Lynn

[Phil Rea]

Hi Phil,
Tarantula bites and the effects is something that interests me is there a database put together or been put together about the effects of different species?

Cheers
Lynn

No there isn't Lynn. Effects can vary from person to person, secondary infection can be a factor etc.. which is a bit of a spanner in the works where a standardised database is concerned.

[Aaron Knoblich]

Hi!

I would suggest that one distinct advantage of G. rosea juveniles/adults is that they're very tolerant. They can be kept in less than optimal conditions and still thrive, which is a good thing for a beginner.

I think that´s the wrong way.
The beginner keeps the spider in bad conditions and won´t change them, while the spider is alive.
Would it die, the beginner would start thinking and would start to better the conditions.. (let´s hope so)
Some people must see the worst case until they change their view.

Regards,

Aaron

[Phil Rea]

Hi!


I think that´s the wrong way.
The beginner keeps the spider in bad conditions and won´t change them, while the spider is alive.
Would it die, the beginner would start thinking and would start to better the conditions.. (let´s hope so)
Some people must see the worst case until they change their view.

Regards,

Aaron

I agree partly with you, but if a beginner buys a tarantula, 'looks after' it to the best of their ability and then it just ups and dies, there's a distinct possibility they will lose interest and depart from the hobby.

As they see the spider growing and thriving, then they are more likely to gain the relevant experience and information and as the spider matures, so does their knowledge

[Nicola Dolby]

Despite the fact that I'm being a hypocrite here, as my first spider was a P. metallica (along with an A. metallica) and my second purchase was an S. calceatum; this is my list.

1) Avic metallica: gentle arborial spid which has bags of non-aggressive atitude and even if gets miffed will head-butt rather than bite or flick hairs.

2) Brachypelma baumgarteni: completely docile

3) Theraphosa apophysis: another with a completely gentle disposition. I have never seen aggression from one (except toward crickets).

4) Ephebopus murinus: can be hard to see out and about but a beautiful spider and no problem provided you don't startle them.

5) Brachypelma smithi: still one of the most beautiful spiders going and generally docile but I've found can be tempremental and when the do lose their temper they are nasty.

6) Poecilotheria miranda: I think the hype around Pokie aggression is quite sad. Yes they do have powerful venom but I've always found mine, especially this species, rather shy and beautiful.

7) Haplopelma lividium: again rare to see but provided you don't antagonise them, they're no serious worry.

Heteroscodra maculata: very fast and aggressive. Treat as "goldfish without the water".

9) Selenotypus plumipes: one of mine has already charged at me out of her burrow and seen me off; she's only 2cm long!!!!!!!!!!!!

10) Ornithoctonus sp. Koh Samui: forget the size, these are very beautiful (both males and females) but they are viscious so-and-so's. For experienced only!

I haven't mentioned about living conditions because anyone keeping a tarantula should find out how they live first and if they aren't confident with that shouldn't keep that species. Think of your spid!

[Mrs Linda Street]

[quote=nicoladolby;37150]. calceatum; this is my list.




3) Theraphosa apophysis: another with a completely gentle disposition. I have never seen aggression from one (except toward crickets).






{quote]
Hi Nicola, I'd certainly take you to task over your 3rd choice, the T. Apophysis. I don't know whether you have kept or are keeping them, we've got 3 and we have found them, without doubt, fast, nervous, and mostly aggressive, add to that the hairs which are hightly irritating, they are certainly not a suitable choice for a beginner to take on, unless they are well informed of what to expect. In fact we find these more aggressive than the Blondi.

[Nicola Dolby]

Hi Linda,
I have kept all the species listed, in fact apart from A. metallica I currently have specimens of them all (although my Koh Samui has gone off to breed now). I've found with T. apophysis that as long as you move slow and deliberate then there is little reaction. I've reached into my sub-adult's tank and removed his water bowl on more than one occasion with him being about an inch or two away. If you know you have a spider which can be startled then you naturally compensate, and I have never had an apophysis flick hairs at me. I could have listed Aphonopelma, Chromatopelma or Grammostola instead, but I have never kept them so I don't consider myself as being qualified to say. Most of the spiders I have kept are Poecilotheria species, though more recently I have been keeping more Asian terrestrials. Hope this explains my choice!

[Mrs Linda Street]

All I can say then Nicola is that you've been lucky with your Apophysis, one of our females will attack at any opportunity, no matter how you approach it, and it's quite normal for her to jump 4-5" and attach herself to our 12" tweezers in normal tank tidying, and pick up her water dish by hand - no way !!! lol.

[lynn mawdesley]

All I can say then Nicola is that you've been lucky with your Apophysis, one of our females will attack at any opportunity, no matter how you approach it, and it's quite normal for her to jump 4-5" and attach herself to our 12" tweezers in normal tank tidying, and pick up her water dish by hand - no way !!! lol.

Linda my B albopilosum did this yesterday while i removed her water dish with the tweezers jumped up and attatched herself to it ...obviously i nearly crapped my pants as she is generally chilled out ...she must of mistook the movement for prey! all i can say is im glad i used them yesterday as normally i dont with her lol

[Mrs Linda Street]

A good job you were using the tweezers then Lynn. I think the bottom line is that no T can be trusted, I think that we all get carried away with giving them pet names, as I do with all of mine, but I still think that certain types of T's do need extra caution, because at the end of the day I certainly don't want to get bitten by a large T, or that matter a small one, and hopefully extra care avoids this happening.

[lynn mawdesley]

A good job you were using the tweezers then Lynn. I think the bottom line is that no T can be trusted, I think that we all get carried away with giving them pet names, as I do with all of mine, but I still think that certain types of T's do need extra caution, because at the end of the day I certainly don't want to get bitten by a large T, or that matter a small one, and hopefully extra care avoids this happening.

It was a good learning curve for me tho i can laugh about it now and its very true what you say 'no T can be trusted' i think we find we get so attatched to them sometimes and every now and then have to remind ourselfs they are wild inverts and cannot be domesticated

[Craig Mackay]

I think it's best to get used to something slower moving as a first T. When you first start out it can be hard to predict what your T's gonna do next and get used to the way they move. Once you've accustomed yourself to that then you can start climbing the ladder at your own pace. Also when starting out you tend to make mistakes with tank setups reagrding access & maintenence. A slow, docile T will forgive you for this and you can change things around on the fly easier but a fast aggressive species may not be so kind to you. Once your comfortable with them there nothing holding you back though I feel.

[Peter Lacey]

well said Craig, exactly my thoughts. Keeping Ts isnt hard but experience with keeping one will certainly help in any further species you get.