Quote Originally Posted by Mike41793 View Post
If you're thinking about getting one then definitely start off with a sling so its smaller and easier to work with. Go for a docile, slow moving species. As it grows, so will your confidence in working with it. I don't really handle my T's unless they come out to me or mayyyybe during a transfer. They're more look but don't touch pets. Especially the Old worlds haha. They make great pets because literally all you have to do for months on end is feed and water them. Rehouse only when they outgrow whatever you have them in. Easy!

Lmk if you have anymore questions.
On the other end of the spectrum...
In my opinion I would stay away from slings as a beginner. They are small, delicate and sometimes very hard to keep alive. They can be very finicky when it comes to temps and humidity. They don't have the wow factor (small and most species are brownish colors) of an adult, they can be very fast and quick to escape. Some species take years to grow and mature. If it's a second or third instar you would need pinhead crickets or fruit flies which can be a pain to obtain and keep.

I honestly would buy a sub adult, at least 3-4 inches. This way it has a great chance of survival and also can be easily sexed at this stage by a breeder, and still has more growing to do. Females can live 20-30 years so take that into account, males mostly 5-10 years, all depending on the species.
I would go with most any of the Brachypelma species, Grammostola is another good beginner T species variety. Stay away from arboreal which is most of your old world T's. They are lightning fast, aggressive, and most have a more potent venom. Not quite beginner T's.

I used to have an irrational fear of spiders and some insects too but when i met my boyfriend he told me to pick out one I thought was really cool looking and care for it and i would change my mind. I did, and I still to this day have not held a T (seems ridiculous) but I've kept them for about 3 years now, and I have over 20 different species. You don't every have to hold them if you don't want to. Mostly I choose not to just in case one falls and hurts itself or escapes. I choose not to take that chance. But I assure you if you get a T as a pet you will grow to appreciate many different kinds of insects after that. You'll be hunting in the garden with a plastic vial looking for spiders in no time.