Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I am looking for a relatively calm, handable, captive bred and affordable at a large juvenile/small adult size tarantula to be maintained in a high school classroom. What species would best fit my criteria?
Thanks in advance,
Zach

Generally speaking, most species form the Aphonopelma, Brachypelma, or Grammostola genus would fit the bill as being calm and handleable. The main question I'd have is what do you consider affordable?

The easiest and probably cheapest specie to obtain would be Grammostola rosea (Chilean rose), which can be purchased at just about any pet store for $15-$20. The problem with these (according to your requirements) is that pet store tarantulas are almost always wild caught. Is there a specific reason you desire captive bred? If you want to go with captive bred from a tarantula dealer, then you have many options from the above genera, but at the size you want (probably at least 3", I'm assuming) they might be hard to come by and would be much more expensive. Many of the great species like B. smithi (Mexican redknee) are $30 for a ½" spiderling and go up to $50 or more when they get any decent size to them. Plus, it takes years for them to get that size and most dealers would have sold them all off before they get that size, hence they are hard to find at that size. Plus if you order from a dealer, you also have to tack on an extra $20 for overnight shipping, so it can get costly if only ordering one spider.

One of my favorite, and some of the most docile species come form the Aphonopelma genus. A. chalcodes (desert blond) and A. hentzi (Texas brown) are two very nice species which are very handleable. They latter may be cheaper to find.

If you can give me an idea of what you'd like to spend, I'd be glad to do some research for you and see what kind of deal I can find. I'll also help you set up the tank correctly and make sure you get the right supplies. If you ask at a pet store, they're likely to tell you to buy stuff you don't need. And you can get some stuff cheaper than at a pet store.
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KJ Vezino
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Thanks for the info... as far as affordable, about $25... as far as care, I have a buddy who has kept tarantulas for at least a decade... I have wanted to get one for quite awhile, and have done my research... the wife has cancelled any spiders (she drew the line with the snakes)... now I have a classroom, so the spiders can happen... I regularly attend Hamburg, PA reptile show if you know of a breeder in the area...
Thanks again,
Zach

I would recommend a Pink Zebra Beauty ( Eupalastrus campestratus ). They are ULTRA docile--considered about #2 in the top 5 most docile terrestrial T's. They are nice looking, decent sized at 5.5 - 6 inches, and have very simple care. And if you mess up on their care, they are VERY hardy. Their slow metabolism ( even for a tarantula ) means a feeding schedule can be erratic, and the creature is just fine. As for handling, I have had this species for 6 years, and it has proven a super handler. They can be a bit skittish, especially when first picking them up, but once out of their tank they calm right down and are quite sedate, well behaved little beasties. Hair flicking is not an issue either--they almost never do it. When they flick, it's a sign that you, the keeper, is overstressing the spider, which you basically have to TRY to do for it to happen.

As for price, I've seen fully mature adult females offered for $35 - $45. Juvies would be even less expensive. Other good possibilites would be the curlyhair tarantula ( Brachypelma albopilosum ), although it is flicker than the PZB. Cost for this is about the same, or a little less. Here are some relevant links for the two:

Species descriptions:

http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/B-albopilosum.html

http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/E-campestratus.html

Pictures:

http://www.birdspiders.com/archive/15B01725KD0B7KAEC2K144F4343DA3D5668.html

http://www.birdspiders.com/archive/15B017B1KD0B7KAEC2K1470A05E2748F93C.html

Available at:

http://www.botarby8s.com/pricelist.php?page=2&cat=

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/forumdisplay.php?f=24

--This last link is to a For Sale/ Trade classifieds forum, where breeders, dealers and hobbyists post what they have, want, etc. I've run a couple searches, and you should be able to find a vender there as well, for both species.

Anyway, good luck with your new T purchase! And let us know what you decide!

My red haired rose tarantula just laid a eggsack, no idea when, but if it does hatch I could ship a couple out to you if you pay for the shipping and some tips on how to send it, seeing how I never have before. Anyways it's just an idea.