Good vs. poor novice tarantulas-

[CeraDigital]

I'm faaaar from a professional on Tarantulas. I've just kept quite a few species, and made many mistakes....like starting with a group of P. murinus "RCF" :p I figured I'd make a thread to help out all of the people wanting to get into tarantulas, but don't know where to start...

In general: Tarantulas make for one of the best, as well as interesting pets. They're very low maintenance, require little food comparative to other animals such as mammals, and take up little space. All tarantulas are venomous. It must be taken into consideration; especially if your allergic to other invertebrate stings/bites.
(Please note: There has never been a properly recorded, nor reported case of a theraphosid causing a human fatality, nor any severe damage. There has been one case of a Poecilotheria sp. causing an induced 2 day coma, but it was never reported if the individual was allergic to the venom or not. Theraphosids are not considered medically significant.)

Tarantulas are more of a hands off pet. More eye candy, than a handleable animal. They're flighty, spook easily, and fragile. A fall could easily kill one, rupturing the abdomen or carapace. Think of them as a pet fish...

There are some beautiful animals available to the hobby, as well as new species. As for docility, nervousness, and ease of care/handling capabilities, these species make some of the best-
(None of the photographs are mine. They are all googled for representative purposes. Tis' why they're linked :D)

Common Pink Toe Tarantula - Aviculara aviculara (http://www.cityofportsmouth.com/School/dondero/msm/spider/pinktoe.jpg)

Honduran Curlyhair - Brachypelma albopilosum (http://www.sainverts.com/curly_med.jpg/curly_med-full.jpg)

Mexican Redleg - Brachypelma emilia (http://www.bigspider.com.ar/IMAG.WEB/brachypelma_emilia.JPG)

Pink Zebra Beauty - Eupalaestrus campestratus (http://www.spidy.goliathus.com/foto/0412_e_campe.jpg)

Chaco Gold Knee - Grammostola aureostriata (http://www.pticjipajki.com/g.aureostriata.jpg)

Red Rose Hair - Grammostola rosea (http://www.minizoo.donetsk.ua/G.roseaRedF1.jpg)

Chilean Rose Hair - Grammostola porteri (http://static.flickr.com/54/135345836_fe5edf3c0a_o.jpg)

Brazilian Black - Grammostola pulchra (http://www.tarantulas.ru/photo/Grammostola_pulchra_6_foto.jpg)

Mexican Red Knee - Brachypelma smithi (http://www.minizoo.donetsk.ua/Br.smithiF2.jpg)

Purchasing s'lings (Spiderlings) are some of the best ways to learn about tarantulas, as your fascination grows. You get to raise them to maturity yourself, and watch as their temperament, size, and color develop. Slings look completely different from their adult counterparts. Many resemble pink spiders, with black butts.

Here are what most spiderlings look like-
-Spiderling photo- (http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5232/img1491am7.jpg)

[CeraDigital]

A lot of the aggressive/nervous species are very beautiful, but best avoided by novice keepers until they learn how to act, or react to the animals; as well as care for them.

Pterinochilus sp., and Haplopelma sp. are multiple biters, when they do manage to land one. They have fairly strong venom as well, as far as theraphosids go. Tarantulas in these genus' include Starburst mountain baboons (OBT's), Ft. Hall Baboons, Mustard Baboons, Cobalt Blue's, Black Earth Tigers, etc.

The King Baboon (Citharischius crawshayi) will land a bite, and push down. They have some of the largest fangs in the Theraphosidae family. These fangs could do some decent tissue damage. These are some to best avoid.

Here are some genus' to best avoid (Not all genus' to avoid are listed)-
-Acanthoscurria: Giant White knee's, Bolivian Salmons, etc.

-Ceratogyrus: The horned Baboons. Greater Horned, Straight Horned, etc.

-Chilobrachys: The "Fawn" species. Asian Fawns, etc.

-Citharischius: Only one species is represented in captivity. The King Baboon Tarantula.

-Cyrtophylis: The Pigmy's, such as the Puerto Rican Pigmy.

-Haplopelma: The old world, Asian burrowers, such as the Cobalt Blue, the Earth Tigers, Zebra's, etc.

-Hysterocrates: The Cameroon Red Baboon and related species.

-Lasiodora: The Giant Bird eaters. Brazilian Salmon/Salmon Pink bird eater, Fiery Redrumps, etc.

-Megaphobema: Relatively new to the hobby. Beautiful, but aggressive. Animals such as the Colombian Giant Redleg.

-Nhandu: Very aggressive but very beautiful. Another Bird eater group. Brazilian Reds, Brazilian Red and White, Giant Blonde's, etc.

-Poecilotheria: The infamous "Pokies", or Ornamentals. Sri-lankan ornamentals, Indian Ornamentals, Gooty ornamentals, etc.

-Pterinochilus: The most noted for their aggression. The African Baboons. Some have very strong venom regarding tarantula species. Represented by Usumbar Baboons, Ft. Hall Baboons, Mustard Baboons, etc.

-Theraphosa: Only a couple species represented in collections. Genus most known for the Goliath Birdeater. The record holding giant tarantula species.

I hope this helps in any way, and if anyone has anything to add, please feel free :)

[The Snake Guru]

That's a neat little guide there.....the species you outlined and their categories I definitely agree with.

~B~

[CeraDigital]

Thanks. I'm just trying to help out with what I can :D

[mcem]

But I love pokies and think everyone should start with them!!!! LOL Just kidding everyone bad beginnner!!

Nice list Andrew!

[The Snake Guru]

LOL....Matt.....not only a bad Beginner....I would venture to say the WORST beginner! LOL

~B~

[CeraDigital]

LOL....Matt.....not only a bad Beginner....I would venture to say the WORST beginner! LOL

~B~
Couldn't be any worse than starting with the infamous OBT's, aka, orange bitey things :pound:

[The Snake Guru]

Couldn't be any worse than starting with the infamous OBT's, aka, orange bitey things :pound:

LOL, I imagine you refer to King Baboons?
I would actually say Pokies are worse than those too, just because of level of toxicity they are at, Most Tarantulas including Baboons if they bite won't have much of an after effect unless there's an allergic reaction. In contrast the bite from say a P.regalis can cause a whole multi-tude of issues including debilitating stomach cramps, numbness, dizzieness....and the symptoms can reoccur years later with no rhyme or reason...LOL So I pretty much put them at the top of the list..LOL

~B~

[CeraDigital]

LOL, I imagine you refer to King Baboons?
I would actually say Pokies are worse than those too, just because of level of toxicity they are at, Most Tarantulas including Baboons if they bite won't have much of an after effect unless there's an allergic reaction. In contrast the bite from say a P.regalis can cause a whole multi-tude of issues including debilitating stomach cramps, numbness, dizzieness....and the symptoms can reoccur years later with no rhyme or reason...LOL So I pretty much put them at the top of the list..LOL

~B~
Actually I was referring to Pterinochilus murinus, which is debated upon being more potent than majority of the Poecilotheria species :) Poecilotheria regalis isn't all that potent compared to Poecilotheria miranda. Pokies cause symptomatic effects..mainly flu like symptoms. Almost like your sick. I've been bitten by P. regalis, and the most I got was a bit of localized effects, such as cramping in my forearm, localized swelling, and numbness.

Pterinochilus murinus leaves muscle-type effects, such as severe cramping, vomiting, pain, lost of motor skills, muscle control loss, and nausea. The effects could reside/last for upwards of a year from whats been reported. I was almost hospitalized for my P. murinus bite ;)

I've been stung by Centruoides vittatus, and Pandinus imperator. I've been bitten by Poecilotheria regalis, Pterinochilus murinus, Acanthoscurria geniculata, Scolopendra h. castaneiceps, Aphonopelma waconum, Ceratogyrus brachycephalus, Ceratogyrus marshalli, Pterinochilus lugardi, Pterinochilus chordatus, and Haplopelma lividum. By far, the two worst I've taken were P. murinus, and C. vittatus.

On the other side...Cithariscius crawshayi doesn't even make the top 5 most potent tarantulas :p

[The Snake Guru]

Interesting.....

It can be rather difficult to actually gage the strength of the bites as well, since it seems people react quite differently to them.

Truth be told I've never been bit by a tarantula, but I'm not real big on free handling them anyway, pretty much just sit back and watch them. LOL

Good info. though man....I'll have to look into that strength of toxicity a little more, I just know when I was researching the regalis there was a whole list of possible side effects from a bite (as was for many of the "Pokie" clan) seemed like they were quite the hard hitting group.

~B~

[CeraDigital]

I can agree. :)

What sucks, but is interesting at the same time....from what I have been told by more experienced keepers and arachnologists is tarantulas have the same delivery systems, and mechanisms as scorpions, so they have the ability to give dry bites, mild envenomations, or full blown envenomations. This could also make the effects from person to person differ, which would make it hard to judge the actual potency of each species venom.

What would greatly help is an LD50 chart made on their venom, but since their venom isn't considered medically significant or harmful, I don't see it happening anytime soon :( The other thing is those charts are made, with the venom tested on lab animals such as mice and rats...basically, we could have a reverse effect. The venom could be less, or more potent to us. Take into consideration the Sydney Funnelweb spider. The venom reaction in small mammals is much different than it is in primates....its more lethal in primates, than animals such as mice or rats. Basically, in a nutshell, it could mean they could have varying effects and potencies on us as well.

[Jess]

What a thoughtful post!!
I have to say You guys know your T's. I have a hard enough time with the snake. Let alone all the T's..

I liked the Pink Zebra..
Again. Nice Post.
Jess

[CeraDigital]

Thank you :D

Pink Zebra's are probably one of the calmest, and yet the cheapest pet tarantulas you can buy. You can pick up an imported adult female for somewhere around $7-10 easily :)

[jmugleston]

Hahaha. Just read through this thread. Is it bad that a bit over a decade ago when I first started keeping Ts my first six I bought in the first month were as follows: Usambara OBT, ORnamental Baboon, Goliath Pink Toe, Sri Lankan Ornamental, Straight Horned Baboon, Common Pink Toe? I guess I just jumped in head first. Never had a problem, but since four of the six above mentioned species are more flightly and aggressive, I would recommend waiting until you have had a few species before keeping them.

[Jess]

LOL,
Well, You have read I believe in facing my fears..LOL
You all have been great on Idea's though.
Jess

Hahaha. Just read through this thread. Is it bad that a bit over a decade ago when I first started keeping Ts my first six I bought in the first month were as follows: Usambara OBT, ORnamental Baboon, Goliath Pink Toe, Sri Lankan Ornamental, Straight Horned Baboon, Common Pink Toe? I guess I just jumped in head first. Never had a problem, but since four of the six above mentioned species are more flightly and aggressive, I would recommend waiting until you have had a few species before keeping them.