Back to the hobby - years later.

[Skruffy]

When I was in high school, many years ago, I had a tarantula purchased at pet store. At the time there was almost nothing available in the way of advice on husbandry, this was before the internet after all. In the last 10 years I have been looking at Youtube videos and cruising the tarantula forums, not to mention the seller's sites, but I was still not in a living situation where I could keep the woolly little devils. Fast-forward to about a year ago when I bought my first house. After finally figuring out how to keep them comfortable, and where, I bought 5 slings last spring. I now have a Chromatopelma cyanopubescens, a Davus pentaloris, a Aphonopelma seemanni, a Lasiocyano sazimai and a Phormictopus sp. Dominican purple. It seemed like the perfect time to join the forum and here I am. I am looking forward to learning a lot from you guys and enjoying our shared passion for these amazing creatures.

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

When I was in high school, many years ago, I had a tarantula purchased at pet store. At the time there was almost nothing available in the way of advice on husbandry, this was before the internet after all. In the last 10 years I have been looking at Youtube videos and cruising the tarantula forums, not to mention the seller's sites, but I was still not in a living situation where I could keep the woolly little devils. Fast-forward to about a year ago when I bought my first house. After finally figuring out how to keep them comfortable, and where, I bought 5 slings last spring. I now have a Chromatopelma cyanopubescens, a Davus pentaloris, a Aphonopelma seemanni, a Lasiocyano sazimai and a Phormictopus sp. Dominican purple. It seemed like the perfect time to join the forum and here I am. I am looking forward to learning a lot from you guys and enjoying our shared passion for these amazing creatures.

My situation was similar to yours in respect that hadn't kept T's for many,many years. Almost 40 years since my last T's demise back in the day. As you stated there was no Internet and every Tarantula I bought was from Mexico. Mexican brown,black and my favorite " Mexican Rose hair!" None were correct I believe! Started watching You Tube (Exotics lair, then Deadly Tarantula Girl) and now have bout around 100 or so T's with more coming! Welcome back and hope your journey will be as fun and rewarding as mine! Happy Spoodering!! BTW have all those species but the Seemani. My Phormictipus are the crazy actors in the bunch and love them for this reason. Hair kicking or threat poses you gotta love them Phormictipus!!

 

[m0lsx]

I am similar too. I became interested in Tarantulas back in the late 70's or early 80's, via a friend. A Herpetologist. He did rescues & was licensed under the then, reasonably new, DWA. To keep venomous snakes. And occasionally he ended up with non snake rescues as part of a snake rescue, or to help others. He had no interest in T's, but I found that I did & thus I started doing my homework to learn what I could. But I was working in construction, moving around & lost contact with the friend & the interest.

 

[Enn49]

Hello SKruffy, welcome back to the hobby.

 

[Skruffy]

Thanks for the warm welcome, guys!

 

[Skruffy]

I am similar too. I became interested in Tarantulas back in the late 70's or early 80's, via a friend. A Herpetologist. He did rescues & was licensed under the then, reasonably new, DWA. To keep venomous snakes. And occasionally he ended up with non snake rescues as part of a snake rescue, or to help others. He had no interest in T's, but I found that I did & thus I started doing my homework to learn what I could. But I was working in construction, moving around & lost contact with the friend & the interest.

So what brought you back into the hobby?

 

[Skruffy]

My situation was similar to yours in respect that hadn't kept T's for many,many years. Almost 40 years since my last T's demise back in the day. As you stated there was no Internet and every Tarantula I bought was from Mexico. Mexican brown,black and my favorite " Mexican Rose hair!" None were correct I believe! Started watching You Tube (Exotics lair, then Deadly Tarantula Girl) and now have bout around 100 or so T's with more coming! Welcome back and hope your journey will be as fun and rewarding as mine! Happy Spoodering!! BTW have all those species but the Seemani. My Phormictipus are the crazy actors in the bunch and love them for this reason. Hair kicking or threat poses you gotta love them Phormictipus!!

The first time I fed my Phormictopus, which was about 1/2 inch, it hit the little cricket like a freight train. It actually rolled several times, losing momentum as it clung to its prize. I knew I was going to enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to the blue color phase, hopefully after the next molt.

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

The first time I fed my Phormictopus, which was about 1/2 inch, it hit the little cricket like a freight train. It actually rolled several times, losing momentum as it clung to its prize. I knew I was going to enjoy this one. I'm looking forward to the blue color phase, hopefully after the next molt.

Was filling the water of my male Phormictipus Auratus and he literally attacked the water stream to the very top of the enclosure! Most of my T's attack the water stream but run from it when they realize it's not food! Not this guy! All the way to the top and thought he was gonna come out so I had to stop! Phormictipus are the crazy actors of NW T's no doubt! Already love them!! The Dominican Purples are just beautiful spoods and just as crazy! Happy Spoodering!