What are some good beginner tarantulas?
I would love to own a tarantula. However, I have never owned one before. I would prefer to own one that: 1- Loves/needs to be handled (if there is such a spider...if there isn't its okay) 2- Hardy 3- Large 4- Not excessively venomous/irritating I am doing all of the research and early preparations I can before I commit to owning such a beautiful creature :) All help, information and advice is greatly appreciated.
Tarantulas for beginners?
1. If you do your research and know what to expect, any species would be fine for a beginner in my opinion. Usually the ones recommended the most are Chilean rose tarantulas (Grammostola rosea) and Pinktoe tarantulas (Avicularia genus). Chilean roses are generally docile (but there are the occasional mean one) and are voraceous eaters. They will eat everything in sight, even if they are not hungry. Comming from the Atacama desert they are very hardy, and can take a wide range of temperatures and very low humidity much better than most other tarantulas. They are also pet rocks, and are fairly inactive, even for a tarantula. They also grow very slowly and live long. When handling, they tend to just stay still on your hand. If annoyed, they may kick hairs at you that can cause itching for several days. Pinktoes are a bit more active and are active climbers. In nature, they live in trees in the tropics of western Brazil. They require higher humidity and stable temperatures since they are tropical. They grow a lot faster and move a lot more when handled. They don't kick hairs like Chilean roses do but instead they may jump or shoot a jet of poo at you. Neither are likely to bite you or cause any lasting problems if they do bite you. 2. Any tarantula will be fine on a diet of crickets or roaches. I personally prefer roaches because they are cleaner, smell less, and live a lot longer than crickets. Food should be store bought, because wild bugs can expose your pet to pesticides or parasites. 3. All tarantulas are generally nocturnal, and more active during the night. 4. Tarantulas will never learn to trust you, but frequent disturbances *may* make them more irritable, as they will always view you as a potential attacker. I suggest never handling your tarantula more than once or twice a month. I also recommend getting "The Tarantula Keeper's Guide" by Stanley A. Schultz, Marguerite J. Schultz and/or "Tarantulas and Other Arachnids" by Samuel D. Marshall. These are the two best books on tarantula care and are invaluable for tarantula keepers.
Tarantulas for beginners?
I own all of these species and they are all relatively docile and pretty to look at. The most docile of the list is the pink zebra beauty, I've never handled one that wasn't mellow regardless of the size. Chacos are also very docile and grow larger. The mexican red knee can be quite speedy as a youngster and can flick hairs but does mellow with age. The curly and the brazilian black can grow quite large, I've handled 8" specimens. As for price it depends on where you are. If you buy online from a reputable breeder (google for one in your area that has experience with shipping) and if you buy a spiderling or juvenile the sex isn't guaranteed but you get an inexpensive pet $10-$60 for the spider depending on size. If you buy from a pet store the price will be quite a bit higher, particularly if the sex is guaranteed. Adults can cost as much as $150 depending on size. Of the list, the mexican red knee is the most expensive to buy as an adult. You need not panic about it not eating, it will eat when it is hungry and that varies. It can display pre-molt behaviours for months and not eat a thing. The main issue is to keep it hydrated by providing a shallow water dish (with pebbles in it) and lightly mist one half of its habitat every three to four days. Some of my adults have gone as long as ten months without eating. This is completely normal. If you have other questions feel free to email me.
Best beginner Tarantula???
You will have to ask that in a pet-store.
Fast growing beginner tarantula???
The Lasiodora parahybana is a great beginner species. They are relatively calm and grow to a very large size. Our mature male had his mature molt at only 9 months, so they are fairly fast growers. I would also highly recommend any of the Avicularia species as they are very docile (though they do tend to shoot poo at you if they are irritated) and some, like the Avicularia versicolor, have amazing colors (purple legs, bright green carapace - or head - and a red abdomen as adults. As spiderlings, they are bright electric blue)! I would not suggest a Grammostola Rosea (rose hair) as a beginner tarantula to anyone simply due to the massive amount of reports out there of them being extremely tempermental. Some have great luck with theirs and have a tarantula they can readily hold and that is very docile, while others have one that is very defensive and doesn't hesitate to throw up a threat display. We have two G.roseas and one is very calm, while the other will attack anything that gets near her enclosure!
Best tarantula for beginners?
I agree with Sairy18 that the Honduran Curlyhair is one of the best, if not THE best, tarantula species for beginners. Chilean Rose tarantulas can be temperamental and prone to flicking hairs very readily. I have what some hobbyists call a "psycho rosie," haha! Brazilian Blacks are absolutely gorgeous (want!) but are slow growers and tend to be pretty expensive. Another species that I personally feel is a decent starter (since you've said that you've cared for one before and know about them) is an Avicularia avicularia, or a Guyana Pink Toe. They're arboreal (preferring vertical surfaces and tank height because they live in the rainforest naturally and rarely touch the ground), which means a different tank setup would be required, but they're gorgeous and fantastic to watch them doot-doot around the tank while walking around their enclosure. :) The tunnel webs they make are very interesting, as well. A. avicularia are considered somewhat of an intermediate-level tarantula, but with good care (especially tank ventilation!), they can be an amazing pet. Good luck in choosing a tarantula of your own!