looking to get my first spider

[Freaky_mummy]

im looking to get my 1st sspider, what wold u recommend ????

[annarism]

i started i with a grammostola rosea but i like anything from the avicularia genus there are so many to choose from it depends on if you want an arboreal or a terestrial tarantula

[pepper29]

chile rose are an ideal starter, some would say red knee's and avics

[Peacemaker1987]

It depends what your looking for.
If you are looking for a nice arboreal that looks great and you may want to handle without the risk of a nasty bite then i definitely recommend avics, especially a.avicularia or a.versicolour.
However if you are looking for a solid terrestrial tarantula that has a mellow personality but still looks great then there is a big list to choose from, b.smithi, b.emilia, g.rosea, b.albopilosum (curly hair).
Or if you are looking for a really stunning spider that isn't really suitable to handle but it relatively easy to house then i would recommend greenbottle blue (chromatopelma cyaneopubescens).

[Mutley.100]

Have a look at the Chaco Golden Knee - Grammostola pulchripes or maybe the Brazilian Black - Grammostola pulchra . Both are good lucking T's that should be nice and calm (you do get the odd one that's a bit of a psycho) while being fairly hardy .

Anything from the Grammostola or Brachypelma genus (families) should make a good starter although Brachypelma's for the most part do seem to like to flick urticating hairs (barbed hairs used for defence that lodge in the skin and itch like crazy) .

[Peacemaker1987]

Originally Posted by Mutley.100

Anything from the Grammostola or Brachypelma genus (families) should make a good starter although Brachypelma's for the most part do seem to like to flick urticating hairs (barbed hairs used for defence that lodge in the skin and itch like crazy) .

The only real brachy's i would warn against would be boehmei and maybe vagans because they are a little more hot headed than most others.

[ph0bia]

As everyones saying, for a terrestrial species; anything Grammostola or Brachypelma. I'd also add Aphonopelma to that list of genera too, especially Aphonopelma chalcodes (avoid A.moderatum though...).

For arboreals, anything of the Avicularia or Iridopelma make good(ish) starters. I'd recommend a terrestrial though as a first, then an arboreal when you're a bit more used to keeping spiders.

Here's a list of recommended (in no particular order besides alphabetical) with the AAS CCN common name.

Aphonopelma chalcodes (Desert blonde)
Brachypelma albopilosum (Curlyhair)
Brachypelma emilia (Mexican Redleg)
Brachypelma smithi (Mexican Redknee)
(I'd normally have B.auratum in that list too, as mine is immensely docile, but they tend to cost a lot)
Grammostola pulcheripes (Chaco Goldenknee)
Grammostola rosea (Chilean rose - please note it is Chile, not Chilly or Chilli )
Paraphysa parvula (Chile beauty)

As secondary options, only if you're a bit more confident, consider the following as they're a bit different (do some hefty research on these first).

Acanthoscurria geniculata (Brazilian Whiteknee - very pretty black and white spider, again good for display but generally not good for handling and can be a bit highstrung)
Avicularia sp. (Pinktoe tarantulas - I'd recommend against a A.versicolor as a first pinktoe, they're quite expensive, more touchy than other avics...)
Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (Greenbottle blue - stunningly beautiful species that requires a dry enclosure, they're a little more high strung than the original list and a bit more expensive, but still relatively docile)
Lasiodora parahybana (Salmon Pink - grow huge, and get there really quickly. They're also great display, but recommended against handling)
Pterinochilus chordatus (Kilimanjaro mustard - a pretty African spider. They are quite defensive, will bite if you provoke them and have nasty venom. Why do I include this then? Because with respect it's very hard to get bitten, they're a bit different, tough as old boots and not as fast and much more predictable than an OBT)

And best yet? Go to the "Spiders and Inverts" section of this forum, and click the sticky topic "Tarantula Caresheets". They're all in there.

There's also a link in my signature for these caresheets.

[Pleco07]

I started with all slings under 2cm (I know most of them are gonna take aaaages to grow but theres less chance of anyone noticing them in my room ) I got all these within a month, brachypelma and Grammostola are pretty hardier so often ideal starter T's.

B. smithi
B. albopilosa
G. pulchripes
G. pulchra (my fav)
L. parahybana

[FreakOonique]

G.Pulchripes - chaco golden knee

Doooo it



I cant stop posting this pic lol, Oreo, freshly moulted This is why you should get a Chaco

[spicewwfc]

I got my first spiders about 3 months ago and i went for 5 grammostola pulchripes slings. They are very interesting always digging around making new burrows etc.
But after 6 weeks or so i decided i wanted to get something a bit more exciting so after a lot of research i decided to go for a juvie avicularia versicolor witch is an amazing T, and a p irminia who is even more fascinating.

I know the p irminia's are fast, have fairly strong venom and are a bit on the defensive side, but i don't really see the problem with a beginner getting a more an intermediate T that still has fairly simple care requirements.

As long as you show them respect and don't be foolish I'm sure you will be fine.