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Pterinochillus Murinus - OBT

Getting a Tarantula

There are a few basic things we should know when we visit a petstore to purchase a tarantula. Remember that it is recommended to go to a trusted petstore which knows at least the very basic information about tarantulas. If not.. whats the point .. ?

How do i know if i am getting a healthy Tarantula?

How is the tarantula sitting? if thier legs are curled under (AKA Death Curl) it means that T is about to die. Be smart. I've read a post from a forum Arachnoboards that there is a petstore that has dead Ts for sale. When a customer ask about it, the pet store keeper actually said it was molting when its already dying/dead! Also try touching the tarantula gently( ASK THE PETSTORE KEEPER TO DO IT IF U R NOT SURE HOW TO DO IT ) and see if it reacts to touches. If it reacts very slowly or doesnt react at all, it means its either old or dying soon. Take a closer look at the Tarantulas abdomen. if it has shrunken like a raisin, it means it is dehydrated(check if there is a waterdish in the tank). Dehydrated Ts can still be considered purchasing provided u know the way to make it healthy again. But the risk is there.

What species should i buy?

Get the scientific name of the tarantula, dun just listen to common names. Get the scientific name and do a search on the web and find out more on that species before buying it. Buying a female is more advisable if it is ur first. Generally, females have much longer lifespan than males.

Advice from MTS

Petstores these days aren't like the olden days anymore where petstores these days only think about profit till they eventually neglected thier responsibility to educate and take care of the living animals [ before anyone starts taking things too personal, we're not referring or pointing out to anyone in specific ] So it means that when u visit a petstore one day and decided to buy a tarantula, u have to think very carefully beforehand. Some of u might think , tarantulas are spiders, and they're all the same, you're wrong. Buying a tarantula also means buying a pet. Although Tarantulas are known to be easy to keep, it does not mean there is no commitment. Tarantulas can live for a very long time, provided u take good care of it. So think about it in the long run . Dont just buy a tarantula for fun and Throw it away as you wish. About a Starter Tarantula Many of the  new hobyist will start to think .. what should i get as a starter tarantula, which is the beginner species ? well if this were your question, through experience, we would recomend a few species which is suitable for those who are really a beginner and has no experience in keeping arachnids before.

1. Gramostola Rosea - its commonly called Rose Hair, it is one of the docile species which is slow moving and calm. It is also quite common which means it is not too costly to be a beginner tarantula.

2. Brachypelma Smithi - Commonly known as the Mexican Red Knee. It has beautiful coloration, quite docile but sometimes would move around very fast. One thing you must take note is that this species has URTICATING HAIRS on the abdomen which they will kick in defense, these hairs will make u itch [depends on how sensitive u are to the hairs] This is also quite costly in the malaysia..

whatever it is, the final decision is still up to you. Think carefully and choose carefully.. Why i would say these? If you get a Pterinochilus Murinus - Orange baboon T for instance, the risk are, getting bitten, or an escaped tarantula. This species is well known to its defensiveness and speed. f you arent fammiliar with the tarantulas body language, they might be as unpredictable as u can expect. And the venom from these species is slightly more toxic than others . So the decision is up to you. If u have further questions regarding geting a Tarantula or caring for them, contact us at any time and we will reply ASAP. You can also make use of the forum.