Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello,
I was just curious as to what the biggest and most friendly (not known for biting) breed of tarantula is. I'm thinking a brazilian black, grammastola pulchra?? I'm trying to get my boyfriend into tarantulas, so I figure I'll start out with a pink toe and work my way up from there. Thank you!

pulchra is basically a black rose hair. they are expensive though. i have seen them range in price from $150-$325!! i know some keepers enjoy handling and interacting with their Ts, but i prefer to leave mine alone. personally, i think an ideal first T is a rosie or an oklahoma brown. they are cheap, known for being docile, and make hardy captives.

Grammostola pulchra (Brazilian black) are hard to find, and expensive when available, but worth it. They do get large (up to 8" and are the most docile T around.I saw some 1" spiderlaings available now for $65.

But back to your original question. Theraphosa blondi (goliath birdeater) is one of the largest Ts at 12" and Lasiodora parahybana (Brazilian salmon) is like 3rd on the list at 10" . Neither is known for biting. They use urticating hair as their first line of defense. L. parahybana is handleable, but I wouldn't recommend it for your first T. Get some experience like you said, wiht somehting like a Grammostola rosea (Chilean rosE) or Aphonopelma hentzi (Texas or Oklahoma brown) first.
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KJ Vezino
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Missouri Tarantula Enthusiasts Group

Thanx Vez, not my first at all, but first I'd be bringing home for him to get used to.

REALLY?? Bloni's are friendsly?? I always thought of them in the same catagory as cobalts! They're crazy! I've seen them CHEW threw plastis cages to get to a mate, like, they're out of control!! But handelable I never EVER thought, or attempted!! I think you're pulling my leg =)

I didn't say their were friendly, I said they could be handled. I also didn't say I'd want to try it either. But I've seen it done. They are New World so the urticating hair is what you need to watch out for. I've seen them handled, pretty roughly, and never saw a fang display like you see frequently in the old worlders.
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KJ Vezino
My Gallery
Missouri Tarantula Enthusiasts Group

I've never liked Rose hairs. The only bites I've ever had were by rose hairs, ha ha, everyone says how nice they are. I had a pulchra a long time ago when I worked at a pet store and she was a DOLL, and she was HUGE and scary looking. It was a great way to help people get over the fear of big spiders, for them to see something so "scary" and see how friendly they can be.

What else is there? I love love Love pink toes, they're teddy bear hamsters with 8 legs. Woolies are good, blondies are good...but all these top out at like 5-6 inches. Are there any handelable 7-8 inch tarantulas out there? Chaco Golds I've seen are friendsly, but again, the largest I've seen was only 6''

>>I've never liked Rose hairs. The only bites I've ever had were by rose hairs, ha ha, everyone says how nice they are. I had a pulchra a long time ago when I worked at a pet store and she was a DOLL, and she was HUGE and scary looking. It was a great way to help people get over the fear of big spiders, for them to see something so "scary" and see how friendly they can be.
>>
>>What else is there? I love love Love pink toes, they're teddy bear hamsters with 8 legs. Woolies are good, blondies are good...but all these top out at like 5-6 inches. Are there any handelable 7-8 inch tarantulas out there? Chaco Golds I've seen are friendsly, but again, the largest I've seen was only 6''

Chacos get bigger than 6" I'm pretty sure. Closer to 7 or 8 for the females.

Brachypelma smithi can get up to 7 ot 8. Might look at Acanthoscurria geniculata. Lasiodora parahybana is handleable, but I hear it is best if you start handling them around the 2" mark for them to get used to it.
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KJ Vezino
My Gallery
Missouri Tarantula Enthusiasts Group

Acanthoscurria geniculata are awesome looking, thank you!!