Cobalt Blue: The Cobalt Blue is one of the more sought after tarantulas, primarily for its definite and striking metallic blue coloration. This is a spider with an attitude and is recommended for an experienced tarantula keeper. They are indeginous to the jungles of Southeast Asia. They are deep burrowers that require high humidity to thrive in captivity.The Cobalt Blue Tarantula looks almost black at a glance, but upon closer inspection, with certain lighting, this species shows a bright blue overall color! These tarantulas are very popular, but aren't good for beginners. Cobalt Blue Tarantulas are extremely aggressive and fast. Even the spiderlings of this species have been known to show aggression! The Cobalt Blue Tarantula is uncommon in the wild, but is becoming more and more familiar in captivity. These tarantulas spin large webs even though they do spend most of their time in their burrow if given the opportunity. The Cobalt Blue Tarantula is an amazing tarantula for anybody who dares to keep it!

Habitat:Burrows in tropical forests and humid clearings.  They experience a long summer rainy season that commences in April and doesn't end until September.
Size: Medium tarantulas.  Fully grown, they're about 5 1/2" inches in legspan.
Dwelling: Notorious for digging burrows and hiding in there for weeks, the cobalt blue needs plenty of substrate. They are very secretive and need lots of private time.

Usambara Orange: starburst:  These are fast-growing (and fast-moving) spiders
with black markings on their abdomens and a starburst pattern on the carapace.
They're generally orange with very reflective scopulae on their tarsi and metatarsi, and they have chocolate-colored undersides.  Some are more reddish overall and some are golden.  The "Golden Starburst" and "Usambara Reds" are of the same species, though they may be encountered in the pet trade under many different names (i.e., Pterinochilus murinus or Pterinochilus mammillatus, Pterinocihilus sp., etc.).
 

Range: The Usambara Baboon comes from east-central Africa, usually found in the highlands of Kenya and Tanzania (the Usambara mountains)

Habitat:  Semi-dry highlands, more humid climes in northeast Tanzania, under eaves, in piles of wood. . .this species is very adaptable.

Size: Not a large tarantula.  Fully mature, they're about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches in legspan.  I've bred females at slightly under 4", and I've had the same girls attain legspans of 5 1/2" before their deaths of old age.

Dwelling: These are some constructive bugs!  They will build elaborate, silk-lined tunnels through the substrate.  Sometimes they'll make impressive spires of web and dirt- they can't seem to decide if they're arboreal or terrestrial.

Rose Hair: Found in deserts and scrub lands of Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. They are a beautiful species, some specimens being more brightly colored than others. As with most desert dwelling tarantulas, these animals are nomads, living solitary lives and fending for themselves. They are also nocturnal, spending their days in the shelter of moist, cool burrows, and venturing out at night in search of prey or a potential mate.

Housing:In theory, tarantulas may be housed in any secure, well ventilated enclosure of appropriate size. Small plastic “Kritter keepers” and 2 to 5 gallon glass terrariums are ideal. Glass enclosures are more desirable due to the ease of heating them during cooler months. Tarantulas neither want or need a huge enclosure. They are nearly blind, and depend mostly on sense of touch to navigate and interpret their surroundings. Therefore, they do best in enclosures where they can roam about freely, but not feel overly exposed.

Feeding: Rose hair tarantulas will eat a wide variety of invertebrate prey, as well as the occasional pinky mouse. Crickets, mealworms, waxworms, and roaches should all be included in a balanced diet for this species. Additional supplementation of the prey items is not required, but the food items should be gut-loaded prior to being fed off. Gut loading is the process of feeding prey a variety of nutritious foods prior to being consumed themselves. This ensures that your tarantula gets all of the vitamins and minerals that it needs. These tarantulas will eat 3 to 5 large crickets a week, or a similar amount of other prey items. Food should be offered at least twice a week, and uneaten prey should be removed after 24 hours. Some rose hairs will eat more, and some will eat less. It is not uncommon for them to gorge themselves for several feedings and then to fast for up to a month.

Tawny Red Baboon Tarantula:This is a large African burrower indigenous to the West African countries of Cameroon, Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Guinea and Zaire. It was first described by Pocock in 1897. This tarantula is often commonly called the "tawny red" baboon. This Tarantula has varied colorations depending on it’s molting cycle. Just after a fresh molt, it is generally pretty much black looking, it will gradually turn a reddish brown color and even pick up some orange coloration prior to molt. This Tarantula is not "striking" in appearance, but very beautiful in it’s own way. It generally looks "tawny red" hence, the common name. They have thick rear legs which are believed to aid them in burrowing, though not as pronounced as the "King Baboon". As with all tarantulas, it is very important to research their natural habitat so that you can duplicate it as much as possible in captivity. This will keep your tarantula from being stressed and more happy, which in turn, will lead to a longer life. The Cameroon Red is a burrower in a tropical environment. It is very important to provide a suitable depth of substrate and humidity to properly care for this tarantula.The Cameroon Red is a very reclusive tarantula. It will dig some pretty elaborate burrows and tunnels and remain there most of the time. This is not a great display tarantula. Cork bark is a shelter they will appreciate as well. Sometimes, they will just burrow down one of the corners of a tank, which makes them visible even while in seclusion. They will often venture out at night, and certainly at feeding time. Like most tarantulas, they do not like bright light. While normally shy, if provoked, this tarantula becomes a super aggressive beast! They will rear up and strike repeatedly, and hard, much like a cobra. I have even seen them flop over on their back and kick their legs much like a child throwing a temper tantrum! This is not a beginner’s species due to their aggressive nature. It is also worth noting, that these tarantulas can seem almost lethargic, but can move with alarming speed. Not much is known about the venom of this species. From my research, I would rank it’s potency as greater than your typical "New World" species, but less toxic than say, a poecilotheria. In any event, I would not want to take a bite from this species and always use care when working in its cage.

Food: Crickets, cockroaches, superworms, pinkies, and small fuzzy mice. These tarantulas are fast growing and will attain a maximum leg span of 6 to 6.5 inches. They will attack and eat anything that moves.

Housing Requirements: These tarantulas need to be able to burrow. I use a 10 gallon aquarium with 7" of peat moss/ potting soil mix. I have a live African Violet planted inside which makes the aquarium look nice. This tarantula will often hang out around this plant during pre-molt. A larger tank with even deeper substrate can be used, but I would not use less than a 10 gallon tank once the tarantula reaches sub adult size and up.

Temperature: 80-85 degrees is best.

Humidity: Keep humidity high, 80-90%. I use a Mayonnaise jar lid for a water dish, Always clean and full. I water the Violet every couple days and mist the substrate, not to the point where mold develops, but it is not dusty. I mist daily.

Mexican Redknee:The Mexican Redknee Tarantula is probably the most popular of all pet tarantulas. It has been collected since the 1970’s and 1980’s. It was originally discovered by a collector named H.H. Smith in 1888. The Mexican Redknee Tarantula was one of the first species to enter the hobby and has been used as scary props in many films. This tarantula has been in films such as "Raiders of the Lost Ark", a couple James Bond series, and many others. The Mexican Redknee Tarantula is known to be one of the longest living tarantula species, with females living up to 30 years, which is an advantage over many other tarantula species. Whether you're a beginner, or an advanced hobbyist, you can't go wrong with a Mexican Redknee Tarantula. Due to this creature’s gentle nature, colorful appearance, large body size, and long life, it is easy to see why the Mexican Redknee Tarantula is such a desired animal in the hobby.

Housing: A small (5-10 gallon) tank is suitable for Mexican Redknee Tarantulas. The width of the tank should be two to three times wider than the leg span of the spider wide, and only as tall as the spider's leg span. 2-3 inches of peat moss, soil, or vermiculite can be used as a substrate. Wood, cork bark, or half of a small clay flower pot can be used for a shelter/retreat.

Temperatue:75-80 F (24-30 C)

Humidity:60-75%

Feeding:Crickets and other large insects (abolutely must be pesticide free), occasional pinky mouse.
Temperament: Mexican Redknee Tarantulas are generally docile and calm.
Notes: This is the "classic" pet tarantula and has enjoyed tremendous popularity due to its beauty, temperament and long life span.

Size: Mexican Redknee Tarantulas reach a leg span of about 5 - 5.5 inches.

Pink toe:This species of pinktoe tarantula, known simply as the Pinktoe Tarantula, is common, docile, beautiful, and can be speedy. Although generally easy to rear, they can become more of a challenge if more than one are kept together in a terrarium. Unlike other tarantulas, the Pinktoe Tarantula may be kept socially, if provided with certain conditions detailed under "Housing" below. Ventilation is very important with this species, and many people have lost tarantulas due to the poor ventilation. These tarantulas need higher humidity than most other species as well, making ventilation even more important! If the air in the tank is damp and stale, molds can grow, making it a dangerous environment for the tarantula. Death can occur from molds growing in the spiders' lungs. Overall, the Pinktoe Tarantula can be an inexpensive and rewarding tarantula species to keep in captivity.

Feeding: The Pink-toed Tarantula or Pink-toed Tree Spider is an aggressive feeder. It will eat a variety of insect prey including adult crickets, grasshoppers, roaches, and especially flying insects such as wax moths. In nature, they will also feed on small lizards such as Anolis species, but they are not typically fed vertebrate prey in captivity.

Environment: In the wild all the Avicularia species are primarily arboreal, They will live in human structures or on plants rather than on the ground. The Pink-toed Tree Spider should be kept in a large, vertically oriented enclosure. A modified or tall plastic storage tub will work well. Keep the enclosure dry and spray it lightly with water every few days. The cage should be allowed to dry out in between misting.
   By keeping several live plants within the enclosure you can add to the humidity. These plants can be placed within the enclosure still in their pots or can be planted in the deep substrate. Not only do live plants provide some more humidity, they will provide excellent areas for breeding and egg-laying. Provide one or two shallow water dishes in the enclosure.

Handling: The Pink-toed Tarantula, as an arboreal species, are very agile and active. They are quite docile if not handled roughly or pinned with their fangs near your skin. They do tend to be nervous and jittery when handled and are prone to jumping from hand to hand, hand to shoulder, or in extreme cases, from hand to floor (which can be dangerous). They will jump, so care should be taken when handling them. As with other Avicularia species, Pink Toes are also fond of shooting a small spray of fecal matter as a defense.