Need opinions on which T to get please

[Jennifer Waltering]

Ok so I am just getting back into the hobby after about 8 years and I have found a few T's I am interested in.
I am by no means an expert on these amazing creatures, so I need help deciding which one to get.
I want to get one that doesn't stay burrowed all the time.
It needs to be fairly easy to take care of, for example I don't want one where I constantly have to worry if it's humid enough in the enclosure.
I don't necessarily need to be able to hold it, but it would be nice if it didn't try to escape every time I open the top for feeding.

So here's the list of my choices:
*Lasiadora parahybana - $18 (3/4-1in)
*Pternochilus murinus - $25 (1.5-2in)
*Brachypelma albopilosum - $36 (2-2.5in)
*Cyriopagopus schiodteii - $36 (1-1.5in)
*Cyriopagopus sp. "Hati hati" - $36 (1.5-2in)
*Poecilotheria ornata - $36 (2.5-4in)
*Lampropelma violaceopes - $38 (1.5-2in)

If you have any of these, let me know which one you think would be the best re-starter T to have.

For some of the ones I've been looking at, it says you can use potting soil for their substrate, now does that mean I can go to the store and buy a bag? or do I have to order a special kind? or what is the best substrate to use? Last time I had them we were using the blocks of EcoEarth.
Also, how hard is it to take care of slings? I have seen some on the website I'm looking at that are like .5 inches and that just seems so tiny and fragile, I don't know if I could take care of it that tiny.

 

[Entity]

Jennifer,
it isnt hard to take care of a sling if u get a hardy one. I just started keeping them in January of this year and started with a b. smithi sling about .5 inches. Also from ur list other than the b. albopilosum, looks like a list of intermediate to advanced tarantulas. i would suggest going with one from the brachypelma genus. b. smithi if u ask me, but i might me a bit bias. And if you need anything just let us know. everyone on here loves to help out.

Happy hunting,
Frank

 

[Jennifer Waltering]

Jennifer,
it isnt hard to take care of a sling if u get a hardy one. I just started keeping them in January of this year and started with a b. smithi sling about .5 inches. Also from ur list other than the b. albopilosum, looks like a list of intermediate to advanced tarantulas. i would suggest going with one from the brachypelma genus. b. smithi if u ask me, but i might me a bit bias. And if you need anything just let us know. everyone on here loves to help out.

Happy hunting,
Frank

Thank you, I do really want to get a B. Smithi. They are so beautiful, but the only ones I can find (that I can afford right now) are slings. I just don't want the heartbreak of finding it dead if I mess up . But if they're not that hard to take care of, I might consider it a little more.

 

[Entity]

Thank you, I do really want to get a B. Smithi. They are so beautiful, but the only ones I can find (that I can afford right now) are slings. I just don't want the heartbreak of finding it dead if I mess up . But if they're not that hard to take care of, I might consider it a little more.

nope not at all. mine is about 2 inches now. and i love her/him.

 

[Enn49]

I've kept the following 4 from slings
Lasiadora parahybana - easy as anything to care for, they grow like weeds.
Brachypelma albopilosum - adorable and very placid
Brachypelma smithi - again easy to keep and placid.
Cyriopagopus schiodteii - builds great web tunnels up into the branches but will run to hide if disturbed