new to t's

[John chambers]

First of all John I'd like to welcome you to the forum!
Now as to what happened to you as a kid, I cant understand any parent that would do that to a child, its ridiculous!! I would never dream of making my kids fear something that bad-it can have a lasting effect throughout your life! (My older brother gave me a fear of water by letting go of me in the deep end of the swimming pool as a kid and I hate water ever since!)
Good luck!

yes I totally agree and understand just how you feel.
fear is not a good thing to live with... and I hope that you one day can find away to over come it.
all the best.
John.

[Colin D Wilson]

so what age is best to buy a female b.smithi so I know 100% it's female .

Buy from someone who can guarantee a female (by sexing moult) or is prepared to give a refund or swap if it turns out male (it has been known for sellers to do this for buyers)

and I've seen a b.smithi for sale in my local rep shop he is asking £90 for it.. so what would a breeder sell these for?.

Depends on the size, £55 - £65 would be a more realistic price through a private sale for an adult female B. smithi, pet shop prices always reflect the fact that they have to "look after them" and cover other overheads that shops have.

[Larry Shone]

Buy from someone who can guarantee a female (by sexing moult) or is prepared to give a refund or swap if it turns out male (it has been known for sellers to do this for buyers)


Depends on the size, £55 - £65 would be a more realistic price through a private sale for an adult female B. smithi, pet shop prices always reflect the fact that they have to "look after them" and cover other overheads that shops have.

Crikey i never realised B smithis were so expensive! A common T too! I guess its down to too many being taken from the wild.

[Colin D Wilson]

They're expensive as they're a popular pet (supply and demand) and there's a little "well needed intervention" from CITES that has limited the import. They're in Appendix II which states ....

Appendix II, about 32,500 species, are species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but may become so unless trade in specimens of such species is subject to strict regulation in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. In addition, Appendix II can include species similar in appearance to species already listed in the Appendices. International trade in specimens of Appendix II species may be authorized by the granting of an export permit or re-export certificate. In practice, many hundreds of thousands of Appendix II animals are traded on an annual basis. No import permit is necessary for these species under CITES. A non-detriment finding and export permit are required by the exporting Party.

[Larry Shone]

They're expensive as they're a popular pet (supply and demand) and there's a little "well needed intervention" from CITES that has limited the import. They're in Appendix II which states ....

So WC is illegal with this species? Damn well should be if it isnt!

[John chambers]

in the book I'm reading ( the tarantula keepers guide )
it says that because the mexicans can't export the b.smithi they have gone back to killing them.
And my next task is to try and find a breeder near me ( in Essex ) or closer to my town then I can start working all the cost out .
when I was after my Harris hawk I was lucky to get a very good breeders name and he really did a good job matching me with the right hawk ( even if she was like a small eagle ) but with t's it's a totally new ball game.

[Lee Corless]

Just add, I was petrified of anything creepy crawly but i find tarantulas absolutely fascinating... Owning a T defiantly helped over come my my fear (after about 5 years though lol) but saying that i am still scarred of crickets and cockroaches and i refuse to touch them so feeding times are a nightmare hahahaha. but i am getting used them. My fear of spiders has subsided and i am more of an admirer of them now and no longer run a mile when i see house spiders....
Hope you decide to get one, it will change your life and understanding of these amazing creatures for ever!

[John chambers]

yeah that's just how I get..but the wife won't touch locusts or crickets so I feed the lizards by hand and have got used to it.
But garden spiders .. no way will I get on with them. house spiders get the sliper.
But a b.smithi is much better looking...
just hard finding a breeder of them at the mo.
if any one can help that would be nice.

[Lee Corless]

this lady, has got some slings, http://www.virginiacheeseman.co.uk/m...thi-p-249.html
but i would suggest you start off with one that is bigger if it's your first one.

[Joanna Pendleton]

wow, quite expensive for a sling isn't it? Mind you I paid the same for my GBB, so I can't comment really! x



UPDATE: Ive compared this lady's prices with those of the spider shop just to grab a quick idea and she seems very pricey (some double to price of what the spider shop sell for). Fantastic collection of spiders though I found the site confusing, as they are classed as small medium and large (which as far as I can gather is sling, juvie and adult/sub adult), and also as they are listed alphabetically by nickname rathert than scientific name, so I'll be here all day! pmsl. like I say though good collection, but Id be tempted to go somewhere else if they were available somewhere else, for the price.

J x

[Lee Corless]

I have bought off both suppliers and I had a few problems with the spider shop. I know that the spider shop is extremely reliable and Lee is excellent and very polite and helpful. It just bad luck that I have had a few problems. So i tend to pay the extra bit of cash, just for peace of mind. But saying that some of her spiders are cheaper than the spider shop and vice versa. example she is selling a P.regalis sling for £18 and i paid £18 for a sub adult from the spider shop. but i paid £24 for sub abult OBT from spider shop and she has them at £15. But on the whole she is more expensive.

Please do not think I am bashing on the spider shop, I will use them again I think they are great suppliers.

[John chambers]

this lady, has got some slings, http://www.virginiacheeseman.co.uk/m...thi-p-249.html
but i would suggest you start off with one that is bigger if it's your first one.

thanks lee I've emailed her to see what reply comes back.

[John chambers]

Joanna what I did read was she doesn't know how to sex her t's ..
I would of thought a breeder would know how todo this.
unless she gets her stock in from a breeder in that case he/she should inform her to what she has and how many.
regards.
John

[Vicky Child]

it might be worth emailing http://www.metamorphosis.zookeepers.co.uk too, they had a fair few b.smithi's in when I asked.

[Joanna Pendleton]

Joanna what I did read was she doesn't know how to sex her t's ..
I would of thought a breeder would know how todo this.
unless she gets her stock in from a breeder in that case he/she should inform her to what she has and how many.
regards.
John

hmmm, i saw this too on closer inspection. I know most places don't guarentee sexing, but to not know how seems wierd. I mean I wouldnt be able to but then again im not setting up business selling them.
also find it wierd that some of her Ts she wasn't sure whether they were captive bred or wild caught.

HOWEVER if people have had good experiences buying from her Im sure she's good, just would only buy from where I felt comfortable buying myself and that's not a website that puts me at ease

J x