I can't help you but I do want to say that it kind of bothers me that breeders give spiderlings away for free.
I understand they have so many but I ordered a B. Smithi a few years back and had never owned a T before. They sent me a Brazilian Black and White as a freebie and I just didn't know how to care for it properly.
Before I could find an experienced keeper to give her a better life she died. I still have the B.Smithi because I researched the species and knew I could handle it. Yeah, sorry. It still bugs me (no pun intended) that I was given a tarantula that was out of my league.
I was thinking the same thing - I'm more concerned with the "freebie" attached. I know people think they're being nice and such, but often times the person receiving the extra animal isn't prepared. This happened to a buddy of mine with Crested Geckos. She was not overly-pleased to receive a freebie crestie, but fortunately did have the room for it, and the ability to care for it. It's just...warn the person you'd like to send them a gift, you know? Give them the opportunity to say whether or not they can currently take on an extra animal.
You're not the only one who thinks freebies are a bad idea. I'm looking at buying my first tarantula (either a B. smithi or G. pulcripes, something sweet and slow) and a freebie would be too much for a new owner, especially when they open the box and find out they only budgeted and prepared for one and got two!
I can get a free sample if you're ordering like... something edible or a body product but an animal? Animals take budgeting planning and research.
I agree completely with your sentiments about freebies. At the time of receiving that freebie (luckily the only one I've ever received), I only had experience with one tarantula who was quite big already and the b. emilia I had ordered was also rather big. When I saw the extra small container that said "g. formosa," my heart dropped. I slowly opened it to see a little dust speck (it literally looked like a dust speck) and then 3 tiny spider legs in the cloth around it. A baby tarantula who'd lost 3 legs. A baby tarantula who I had no idea how to take care of and had no container for. I spent the next 48 hours rush-learning how to take care of it and, thankfully, I managed and it has thrived and is now bigger than any spider outside.
It's still upsetting to think about. I'm so sorry yours died and that you had to go through that stress. :
I've never owned this species myself, but the last thing a grammostola would be is fast XD Though my Pulchripes is unusually aggressive. A little looking and the Paraguay White Hair looks to be easy to care for, though I also see others looking for care sheets. I saw it mentioned to go with the pulchra care sheet for them. Hopefully other members have owned them and better care tips. It's kind of strange to me for people to toss in freebies unless they know the person or that they're an avid collector.
I have a g. pulchripes, too, who isn't exactly the gentle giant she was advertised as... heh.
So far my formosa has been pretty easy to care for, thankfully. I wish there was more information about the average temper of them, though. Bite reports. Anything.
My Pulchripes started out as a big sweetie. She was the only tarantula that let me hold her out of my small group. Then, when she went into premolt and turned into a hair kicking OBT D: Calmed down a bit after her molt, but not enough for me to trust picking her up again. XD They're not exactly as advertised, that's for sure. Still love her cranky butt, though.
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I understand they have so many but I ordered a B. Smithi a few years back and had never owned a T before. They sent me a Brazilian Black and White as a freebie and I just didn't know how to care for it properly.
Before I could find an experienced keeper to give her a better life she died. I still have the B.Smithi because I researched the species and knew I could handle it. Yeah, sorry. It still bugs me (no pun intended) that I was given a tarantula that was out of my league.
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I can get a free sample if you're ordering like... something edible or a body product but an animal? Animals take budgeting planning and research.
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At the time of receiving that freebie (luckily the only one I've ever received), I only had experience with one tarantula who was quite big already and the b. emilia I had ordered was also rather big.
When I saw the extra small container that said "g. formosa," my heart dropped. I slowly opened it to see a little dust speck (it literally looked like a dust speck) and then 3 tiny spider legs in the cloth around it. A baby tarantula who'd lost 3 legs. A baby tarantula who I had no idea how to take care of and had no container for.
I spent the next 48 hours rush-learning how to take care of it and, thankfully, I managed and it has thrived and is now bigger than any spider outside.
It's still upsetting to think about. I'm so sorry yours died and that you had to go through that stress. :
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So far my formosa has been pretty easy to care for, thankfully. I wish there was more information about the average temper of them, though. Bite reports. Anything.
Thanks for trying to help! ^3^
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