dgerndt
Well-known member
So I want to buy a tarantula for my boyfriend for Christmas, and neither of us have had any experience with taratulas. So, what in your opinion, is the best species to start off with?
Good first tarantula?
- Thread starter dgerndt
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Pet Duck Boy
Well-known member
more_rayne
Well-known member
Many people will say the Chilean Rose Hair (Grammostola rosea), but they can be unpredictable. A better choice would be Grammostola pulchra. There are many easy to take care of species, just depends on what he likes.
Rosies are THE starter tarantula. which means everyone has them and they are boring.
They are pretty docile to handle. In spite of their coloring mostly they look like all other tarantulas. Big hairy spiders.
If you're going to have a big spider, get a bird eater. Or get something pretty, like a singapore blue (expensive, but gorgeous).
If you want handle able, especially because it's your first spider, then sure, get a rosie.
Rosies are slow to grow, but adorable when they are small.
Mostly, you will have to decide if it is a first T, or an only T.
They are pretty docile to handle. In spite of their coloring mostly they look like all other tarantulas. Big hairy spiders.
If you're going to have a big spider, get a bird eater. Or get something pretty, like a singapore blue (expensive, but gorgeous).
If you want handle able, especially because it's your first spider, then sure, get a rosie.
Rosies are slow to grow, but adorable when they are small.
Mostly, you will have to decide if it is a first T, or an only T.
Jesskb
Well-known member
I got my first T earlier this year. And of course I got a rosie. I like her and everything, and she does have her own personality....but it's kinda like having a pet rock to be honest. They are cheap though and a good starter. I hear pink toes are good for the beginner too, might be getting myself one of them soon.
dgerndt
Well-known member
Well, I want to get him ONE tarantula. A pet, not part of a collection. I'm hoping that he'll start to understand my weird love of mantids by having a love for his pet. So it would be better if it was a gentle species that will allow handling, and is generally easy to care for. I guess it sounds like a rose hair is a good choice. That's what I saw at Petco.
Don't worry, he's already expressed a desire for a pet tarantula, so it's not going to be a "throw away pet".
Don't worry, he's already expressed a desire for a pet tarantula, so it's not going to be a "throw away pet".
dgerndt
Well-known member
Do they just eat other insects like mantids? Do they need heating from lamps? What size of a house should they live in? I'm completely new to tarantulas. I know NOTHING. lol
MantidLord
Well-known member
Rosies are definitely NOT boring. I have one, and she is amazing. Very active and has gotten more aggressive with food since I've gotten her from my teacher. I think temperament has much to do with the individual T and what it's going through. Especially considering none of you have experience with them, a Rosie would be a fine choice in my opinion.
To answer your questions, size of the container depends on size and species that you get. They generally don't require heating lamps or pads, and yes they eat insects such as crickets, mantids, roaches, etc. But they "usually" don't eat often. I highly suggest you do research on all the tarantula's you're interested in before making a purchase, that way you have all the necessary equipment (which isn't a lot).
To answer your questions, size of the container depends on size and species that you get. They generally don't require heating lamps or pads, and yes they eat insects such as crickets, mantids, roaches, etc. But they "usually" don't eat often. I highly suggest you do research on all the tarantula's you're interested in before making a purchase, that way you have all the necessary equipment (which isn't a lot).
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It is true there is some difference in temperament and activity with in a species. Of the 9 Roses we have some will climb the tank, and if you open it a little you can hand feed them. Others at the far end of the spectrum do just sit there.
That said, one of the good points about ChileanRoses is they don't need a burrow, and often don't if given the opportunity. As well as the ones that do make a burrow aren't in it 24/7.
All of this ultimately means that you will in fact SEE your tarantula sometimes. Which is not always true of other species, especially juveniles.
That said, one of the good points about ChileanRoses is they don't need a burrow, and often don't if given the opportunity. As well as the ones that do make a burrow aren't in it 24/7.
All of this ultimately means that you will in fact SEE your tarantula sometimes. Which is not always true of other species, especially juveniles.
mantidsaresweet
Well-known member
I own 4 tarantulas at the moment and think that the best beginner T would be something from the Avicularia genus. Maybe an Avicularia avicularia or an A. versicolor. These are both very pretty spiders that like to web up their enclosures and are very docile. That is what I would get for his first T.
Jake
Jake
dgerndt
Well-known member
Well I decided to buy a Rose Hair, and I've done a lot of research on this species. It seems like a good beginner tarantula, and doesn't seem to require much care, which is good for my lazy boyfriend. :lol: lol! Also a lot of pet stores carry Rose Hairs so I don't have to pay massive amounts for over night shipping; I can just go pick one up down the street. Now the only thing is trying to figure out the gender at the pet store with a juvenile. I obviously want a female, because males don't live nearly as long.
I found this page that tells you how to determine the gender even with juveniles. It has to do with checking to see if the tarantula has these extra spinarettes (sp?). If it does, then it's a male. But I don't really understand what I'm supposed to be looking for. They have photos and stuff, but they assume I already know a lot about spiders, and I really don't. So if anyone could check this page out and maybe give me a little help, that would be wonderful!
Here's the link: http://www.birdspiders.com/faq_sex.php
I found this page that tells you how to determine the gender even with juveniles. It has to do with checking to see if the tarantula has these extra spinarettes (sp?). If it does, then it's a male. But I don't really understand what I'm supposed to be looking for. They have photos and stuff, but they assume I already know a lot about spiders, and I really don't. So if anyone could check this page out and maybe give me a little help, that would be wonderful!
Here's the link: http://www.birdspiders.com/faq_sex.php
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