Looking for a beauty

tarantulaperson

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
25
I am seeking the wisdom of the tarantula community for advice on getting a new T. I want a pretty one that i can also take out and hold. Something i can show my friends then take out so they can get a closer look. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Maybe one with extra color i know a lot of colorful ones are not as good for holding. I like the green bottle blue and the costa rican tiger rump. I have read a little but also want some more ideas. Thanks for your help!
 

jigalojey

Arachnoknight
Joined
Dec 23, 2012
Messages
206
I am seeking the wisdom of the tarantula community for advice on getting a new T. I want a pretty one that i can also take out and hold. Something i can show my friends then take out so they can get a closer look. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Maybe one with extra color i know a lot of colorful ones are not as good for holding. I like the green bottle blue and the costa rican tiger rump. I have read a little but also want some more ideas. Thanks for your help!
I hear B.Smithi are super docile, look cool as well.
 

BobGrill

Arachnoprince
Old Timer
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Jan 25, 2011
Messages
1,669
I hear B.Smithi are super docile, look cool as well.
The majority of them are. However mine gave me a threat pose when I tried changing its waterdish. That's why I don't like saying ANY species is "docile" since that's not always true with every individual.
 

tarantulaperson

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
25
I have a sling B. Smithi, can't wait to see it grow. Its so small though. I hear they don't grow fast. So it is a nice species, but the adults are bank breakers, for me. Any other ideas? I love the B. Smithi.
 

Lacey

Arachnopeon
Joined
Mar 6, 2014
Messages
4
There's no guarantee that any tarantula will be handleable, so get a few ;)! I love G. Pulchras, they're a rich black colour and not prone to flick or bite. Euathlus sp. Red is a pretty black and red tarantula, a dwarf but an awesome personality to make up for their size. A. Seemannis are known to be docile, a little nervous but not prone to bite. Under the right light they look kind of blue with white banding.

Genuses like Grammostola, Brachypelma, Aphonopelma are notorious for being slow growers. They are hardy slings but if you intend on handling, I would suggest you get a larger specimen. Euathlus slings are teeny tiny, they also take a bit to grow.
 

cold blood

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I have a sling B. Smithi, can't wait to see it grow. Its so small though. I hear they don't grow fast. So it is a nice species, but the adults are bank breakers, for me. Any other ideas? I love the B. Smithi.
You can feed them more and keep them warm and they will grow much quicker...My B. smithi was 1" in January, over 3" by June and now about 3.75" and beautiful...If I handled this would be one of the few I have that would be a prime candidate. The other is my beautiful blue T. cyaneolum. Very, very easy going t that is quite the looker...good eater, too....downside is that finding one (that's properly identified) is a bit tough to say the least. T. okerti is another relative that's arboreal and also gorgeous.

There are also several Avic species with more docile tendencies, I'm sure some Avic specialists could point you in the right direction as to which tend to be most docile...they are all crowd pleasers with people not "into" t's.

Eauthalus sp are great for handling, although the most common ones aren't really head turners, but E. parvula (formerly P. parvula) is an exception....docile and VERY beautiful and they only get about 4", also a great choice IMO.

As for Brachy's, aside from the smithi, B. emelia is another. Good looks, generally calm attitude, not as big of hair flickers in general....people that have them absolutely love them.
 

awiec

Arachnoprince
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Messages
1,325
CB is correct in that T. cyaneolum is awesome. My girl was actually the vendor's handling specimen and they are very pretty and easy going spiders. Of course any spider can and will defend itself if it feels threatened. The whole genus is pretty cool but they are uncommon. I've read that T.okerti is more flighty than the rest of the genus so I wouldn't suggest handling them. Really brachys fit your description as they are easy to find, usually calm and are very pretty when older; but they are expensive as adults.
 

cold blood

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CB is correct in that T. cyaneolum is awesome. My girl was actually the vendor's handling specimen and they are very pretty and easy going spiders. Of course any spider can and will defend itself if it feels threatened.
The cool thing is that when threatened, they don't rear up or flee, they raise their pretty rump and kind of shake it at you. When I first re-housed mine I got the full display, it was reallllly cool to see. :wink:
 

awiec

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The cool thing is that when threatened, they don't rear up or flee, they raise their pretty rump and kind of shake it at you. When I first re-housed mine I got the full display, it was reallllly cool to see. :wink:
Yeah that's the unique genus trait but I've also seen an ocketi just straight up threat posed. Mine never did any thing she just waltzed out of the container. I can open the cage and do maintenance while she's out and she just kinda chills; crickets on the other hand she dives for.
 

CEC

Arachnoangel
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Joined
Feb 28, 2011
Messages
952
I agree with Avicularia.
sp. metallica is a great beginner T for newbies to admire and handle. Generally well tempered, their main defense is to butt rub their hairs on you. A. sp. metallica is beautiful, large, bulky, cheap, common and easy to work with. Arboreals also take falls better than terrestrials, but sometimes with Avics they are not falls they are jumps. The worst thing I have experienced handling an Avic. sp. metallica was getting pooped on. Avicularia avicularia works too but IMO and from the reaction of people I've shown in person, they are not as impressive.
 

tarantulaperson

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
25
Great options, thank you i will keep my eye out for them. i only found a G. Pulchras for $40 for a half inch. Paraphysa parvula 3 inch for $60. Kinda wanted three inch minimum. What should my price range be? I was thinking less than $100 USD. I could go for something smaller 3 inch is just ideal. What about GBB and Costa Rican Tiger Rump, any thoughts on them? I also only know of ken the bug guy and tarantula canada haven't really checked out Tarantula canada yet. Point being do you know of reputable sites to buy from? Thanks for all your help.
 

Zigana

Arachnosquire
Joined
Apr 8, 2014
Messages
93
Take a closer look at the classifieds on this forum. There are 3/4- 1 inch G.pulchra for $42-$45. One breeder has very reasonable shipping.
 

CEC

Arachnoangel
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Feb 28, 2011
Messages
952
I wouldn't hold my GGB, nor do I think Cyclosternum fasciatum is a good handling T.

Unless you have a import permit I wouldn't look into Tarantula Canada too much.

reputable dealers I recommend:

Michael Jacobi- Spidershoppe.com

Kelly Swift- swiftinverts.com

---------- Post added 10-21-2014 at 11:01 PM ----------

The avicularia versicolor is more blue and the avic avic has a more red abdomen. Is that correct?
Vericolor and avic avic are not comparable at any stage in their life, it doesn't take a train eye to tell the difference between the two.
 

cold blood

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I'd jump on that parvula, they top around 4" and are everything you are looking for IMO.

I agree GBB and C. fasciatum are both too fast and skittish to handle.

+1 for the classifieds here....Its the only place I shop....I "window shop" the big retail sellers.
 

tarantulaperson

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jun 17, 2009
Messages
25
---------- Post added 10-21-2014 at 11:01 PM ----------

[/COLOR]

Vericolor and avic avic are not comparable at any stage in their life, it doesn't take a train eye to tell the difference between the two.[/QUOTE]

I know they don't look that close but they appear on the same search. If i look up avic avic or avic versicolor they both appear. I just want to know which is more blue. I prefer that species, at least for looks. The only reason i asked is because i haven't found out which tarantula is which. I apologize for my lack knowledge. here is a picture (i do not own just found on google rights got o respective owners).

https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2097/2231570671_3ab16f55fd.jpg

http://memberfiles.freewebs.com/54/70/62817054/photos/Avicularia/p3050654.JPG

if the images don't open its mostly blue with six, 2 rows 3 side by side orange or tan dots

This is my second time in the hobby and i had trouble the first time figuring out what species this was again i apologize, but i do want to know what species it is so i am no longer confused.
 

CEC

Arachnoangel
Arachnosupporter
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Feb 28, 2011
Messages
952
Those are both A. versicolor slings.

Avic avic are not blue as slings, they turn blue as they grow. A. versicolor turns shades of red, purple, and green as they grow.
 

Drache

Arachnosquire
Joined
Sep 23, 2014
Messages
53
Are you set on blue and metallic kind of spectacular? Because if you're looking for mellow and handleable, I can't speak highly enough of my A.chalcodes. I know they're written up as dull brown, but mine is definitely a gorgeous strawberry blonde. I got her from Anastasia from net-bug.net, except I got her in person at a show.
Do look at net-bugs too when you're shopping. And you can check the review threads on these boards to get feedback about most sellers.
 

awiec

Arachnoprince
Joined
Feb 13, 2014
Messages
1,325
I certainly would not recommend an avic for handling, they will preform their paratrooper skills if spooked. They are great "gate way" specimens to look at though as they are very cute little slings. My sister used to be scared of spiders but she has grown very fond of my versi as how can you be scared of a fluffy blue sling? I still hold to my suggestion of a Brachy or a Thrix but the local Aphonopelma species are very chill and some of them are very pretty. I happen to have A.seemani Blue Color Form but I don't think I'd dream of holding her as she is on the more feisty side of the genus, but she is rather pretty whenever I see her.
 

MatthewM1

Arachnoknight
Joined
Apr 27, 2013
Messages
245
Great options, thank you i will keep my eye out for them. i only found a G. Pulchras for $40 for a half inch. Paraphysa parvula 3 inch for $60. Kinda wanted three inch minimum. What should my price range be? I was thinking less than $100 USD. I could go for something smaller 3 inch is just ideal. What about GBB and Costa Rican Tiger Rump, any thoughts on them? I also only know of ken the bug guy and tarantula canada haven't really checked out Tarantula canada yet. Point being do you know of reputable sites to buy from? Thanks for all your help.

I wouldn't handle my C. fasciatum. Skittish and quick. Also quite defensive since his last molt. I couldn't get a good look at him but he looked like he had matured so I was trying to get him into a deli cup to look for emboli and he started threat posing and throwing his fangs around like he was an OBT.
 
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