Ed, Edd, Eddie!

Don't listen to these terrestrial loving people! :starwars:

I like your H.lividum or H.gigas idea - if you customize their enclosure with false burrows on the sides of the enclosure, then you'll see them everyday We did that with our P. muticus - she never ever ever ever ever comes to the surface, not even to molt - she is busy molting now, I am so excited... but back to the topic..... :laugh:

I like putting some of my burrowers (especially slings & juvies) in long tanks with lots of peat... they can dig to their heart's content and I can see them anytime of the day.

The gigas are somewhat more active, especially if you create a communal. But just be careful when they reach adult stage... some say : One gigas to rule them all!

If you want a little fighter, go for the Chilobrachys huahini (Asian fawn) - they are pretty and very feisty and burrow with very extensive webbing.

Obviously you have to be very careful with ALL tarantulas - I've never been tagged by an Old World T - because I take the necessary precautions... and I'm sure you will too

Hi there my 2c

Everyone warned me against pokies but soon i bought a couple and they are now some of my favorite T's.
Avic avic is a good beginner seeing that they are rather docile, pokies and the others tend to be a bit more skittish and they are rather quick. Thus I would recommend an Avic first then a pokie then a suntiger and lastly a Singapore blue, Suntigers are epic construction workers and that is a sight to behold all on its own too.

My very first T was a Cobalt Blue (haplopelma lividum) and i found that its all about setup.
I give mine a starter burrow in the corner and then he/she burries down and you can see him all day long. Secondly I keep him/her at 26degrees seeing that they like warmer weather, he/she will on a regular basis come out and sit on/at his/her entrance. I try to mimic his/her native habitat as much as possible and I have found by doing this i see him/her quite often.

Thus I would recommend this T to anyone too, however they tend to be a little feisty, I tend to like this character trait but they are not for everyone.