To some whose looking to be a tarantula keeper always wondering, "hurmmm...which species am i suppose to get?"..the words like Arboreal (Tree Dwellers), Terrestrial (Ground Dwellers) or maybe Burrowers (Duhh!) always shows up during the Internet research..Basically, the most common tarantula anyone could suggest to them is Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula (Grammostola Rosea)..Well, it is true..but please people..everybody know how boring Rosea is..hahaha..
Above all, the North/South American (New World Tarantula) species is the best choice for beginner, there a few selection that can be considered. Why? This is simply because "tarantula" is a general word like the word "human"...we know every man like women..but what kind of women do u guy like most? educated? kinky? cute? and which levels of lunatic you dare to go to get your dream women? (to gay, change the word women as you like!)...hahaha...same goes to tarantula some are really crazy and some quite calm..personally, we doesn't like the word "Aggressive Tarantula"...we prefer, Very sensitive (like women mehh...)...like i say the personality of each species is differ form the other....
FAQ
Terrestrial or Arboreal?
I would suggest the terrestrial one, Arboreal?? Nah!! some of you may end splatting (SPLATT!!!) RMXX Avicularia Versicolor on your nose..they are tree dweller , so they jump a lot and some of the are good runner. No need to find burrowing one..trust me..because once the burrowing..you'll see nothing rather than your beautiful substrate and if lucky..your decoration...haha..take the Parahybana for example..they almost never eat in their hideout (but eat like a DRAGON), and grow well (very fast grower), quite large ( 9-10 Inches), almost no urticating hair, less powerful venom (yes, tarantula is venomous, not poisonous) and not bad looking too..and if there is a crazy newbie try to handle them...Parahybana is considered as handle able..slow speed, and prefer to flee rather than to stand in a fight..also..got a cute common name (who the hell give that common name, must be like sushi a lot).
Tank/Case?
Depending on the size mehhh, if u get your first tarantula is a 9 Inches leg span Parahybana,duhhh!!! so get your self a bigger gallon tank...but if you get a slings, please don't buy fancy looking Exoterra Desert Den, please don't..ever hear about deli cup? disposable container? what ever you call it..depending on the size, use the container to take care of your slings..if the word "why" with multiple question marks appear on your mind, it is more easier to care & maintain them..small and hide-able (for under 18), translucent and visible from every angle..easy for the tarantula to find the "fresh" food you offer...cheap, just throw away if give up raising them (disclaimer:not with the tarantula inside..) Don't forget to poke a few small air-hole on the topside of your container, not the cap..later you will know why..no need a fancy rock or hideout and currently Exoterra doesn't yet launch their 1cm slings water bowl..so get your self a water sprayer and spray the case wall as a water source and automatically, humidify the case..
Substrate?
Coconut Peat (Full Stop)...hahaha
Put a sufficient amount of substrate for ground dweller..these to prevent the sling from fallen to high if it decide to climb the wall as the abdomen is very delicate and easily erupt..puft!!some species may need the substrate to be a bit moist (please don't make a swamp decoration) and some species don't..please ask for advice from dealer or expert keeper or even mister Google for the best result..=)
Food?
Again, I would suggest a delicious meal-worm Tenebrio molitor (Linnaeus, 1758), as a life food. Depending on size of the tarantula, if the slings is very very very small nymph, you may cut the worm into half (as the worm seller usually sell the worm at bigger size)..please do not challenge your 0.5cm nymph with live 2cm worm..i prefer to kill the worm first before feeding it..remember, the worm is wiggling and may injure your slings..these worm are easy to get, aquarium shops or local pet store, cheap, breed-able (level:easy)..but unfortunately..you cant buy it in a small quantity...so, if u decide to keep tarantula as a pet, luckily you will end up to get a meal worm as your pet also..haha..to keep them alive..just use a bran or oat as their substrates and don't forget to offer the any kind of vege or fruit you may get in the fridge..they will be fine..=)..after the slings grows bigger, you may consider Super-worm, Zophobas morio (Fabricius, 1776), or Crickets (to smoker, it is not a lighter) (who give a damn for its taxonomy..haha) as a feeder..yes yes..roach also can if you can afford it..preferably Gromphadorhina portentosa (1 roach = +-RM10/each, u thinks?haha)..fuhh!!Please remove the balance of the food (if any) from the container after a day or two..if not..it will grow moult and these will make the tarantula uneasy..
Molting?
these process is when your tarantula change its exo-skeletal, usually, during pre-molt, the tarantula will refuse any food given, i say just feed them like normal, but do remove the uneaten ASAP..at some point, your tarantula will lay on its back..these where the point the shred their old skin to get new one, the time taken usually varies depending on size and species. if u lucky just enjoy the fascinating process, i think it don't mind a few snaps of picture, even with flash..hahaha..if some of your slings legs (disclaimer: head or abdomen loss tarantula doesn't molt) "accidentally" missing..it will grow back..after the molting done..it will take sometime for the tarantula to eat, since all its body, including the fang are soft and unable to digest..u may try to feed them..but please be sure the feeder is 100% death!
Venom and Urticating Hair?
Most of New World Tarantula have less powerful venom to compare with the Old World Tarantulas(Asian & Africans Tarantula) venom, it is comparable to bee stung..these are why we don't encourage you to handle Your tarantula..urticating hair is a flick of tiny hair usually from its abdomen that have been kicked out by the tarantula as defensive mechanism..if it end up on ur skin..you may feel itchy..but most of the tarantula prefer to flee rather than try to fight..although, tarantula venom not dangerous to human, it is always good to be careful at all time to ensure your own safety..
Here, Im not trying to suggest any tarantula as your first, but to share my experiences when I was a noob!haha...If you still have definite ideas about your beginner tarantula, then the best studied in the Internet for pictures and care-sheets, some may wanting something colourful, and some may prefer XL size of tarantula. we tried our best to give basic detailed of information you need to know as a keeper. but the best is to ask experience keeper..i trust they will answer your questions..ask everything, Does she always hiding? Is it defensive? Etc. I think this is the best solution for all involved...sometime you will end up having 10 first tarantulas like me..hahaha
Cheersss!!
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