Advice needed on poecilotheria metalica

[Gordon]

Hi guys I am new to the hobby of keeping ts and and currently just own 1 brachypelma smithi juvenile and getting on great with her, allready I can see it makes sense to get more ts and not waste as many feeder bugs, I'm really wanting g to keep a poecilotheria metalica and poecilotheria regalia allthough I understand that these aren't meant for the begginer, basically what I am wanting to figure out is can i handle this type of t? I don't mean handle as in pick it up or hold I wouldn't dream of handling a pokie. I feel like if it's safely in a display terrarium and I'm carefull dropping in food for her there is no need to wait for more experience before getting the ts I want, I am new to this so if this just sounds ridiculous please say so and reasons why. If I'm being careful is there any reason a newcomer couldn't own one of these beauties? Thanks for taking the time to read and help a newcomer learn

 

[Enn49]

My second T was a P.metallica, my first was an OBT, so you could say I started at the wrong end of the scale and I got slated on another forum for being stupid enough to buy them.

My view has always been that as long as you fully understand what they are capable of, treat them with respect and always keep an eye on them when feeding or doing maintenance then you can safely keep a P. met. Mine is in fact one of my calmest Ts although when she was a sling she could be incredibly fast. A good pair of tong is always recommended.

 

[Gordon]

Thanks @Enn49 that's what I was hoping to hear , so far I can only find slings for sale and ones around 4 to 6cm so it'll probably be one of them I go for, how long did it take till she matured? Also at what size did her colours begin to show fully? Thanks

 

[Enn49]

@Gordon She was around 0.75" dls when I got her and the first moult after she came she began to show the blue. She's around 5" now and just over 3 years old.

 

[Gordon]

Wow that's quick I thought it would have been a lot longer I can't wait to order one now, I wish more local shops would have these in stock

 

[Enn49]

@Gordon I buy most of my Ts from Poland now as they're much cheaper and a couple of sites do a courier service (next day delivery)

 

[WolfSpider]

Thanks @Enn49 that's what I was hoping to hear , so far I can only find slings for sale and ones around 4 to 6cm so it'll probably be one of them I go for, how long did it take till she matured? Also at what size did her colours begin to show fully? Thanks

Great idea to get a sling. They grow fast and it will give you time to get used to their speed before they get large enough to hurt you with medically significant venom. (Bites are VERY rare. They would prefer to run than bite.)

 

[Gordon]

Thanks @WolfSpider it definitely would be better to get used to them as a sling ideally not too small though so I can keep both ts on the same size of food

 

[Tricocyst]

Sorry about a very long delay but my life has been chaotic and busy with very little down time but I suggest pokies as long as you're ready to deal with lightning speeds lol.. I've switched over to only pokies after I got over the fear of the speed.. and trust me the regalia doesn't slow down in a small enclosure.. now that my pokies are in a good size enclosure they have calmed down a lot and my regalia is much less likely to run like a mad man and I'm grateful!! Pokies are amazing.

 

[Gordon]

Thanks @Tricocyst I've watched a good amount of videos on how fast they can be and they're quick lol, plenty of catch cups at hand just incase. I'm in the process of setting up his new home and managed to source a male of around 10cm to get delivered next Wednesday, he'll be going into one side of a 30"lx12"w×16"h that I've split with a divider panel in the middle with spider life substrate and some cork bark for climbing on and also some thick branches and plants , I'll post some pics up once it's all set up

 

[Gordon]

Hi everyone thanks for the help so far, my parcel was delayed a day but I've got my P.Metallica this morning and unboxed him without too much drama but damn he is fast lol, he's hiding behind one of the fake plants just now but once he starts exploring I'll get some pics of him

 

[Gordon]

This is his new enclosure, substrate is spider life with some sphagnum moss for humidity and a few cork tubes for climbing and hiding

 

[Gordon]

He just came out for a quick pic , not under the light enough to see his true colours but I'm glad he's ventured out so soon after being rehoused

 

[Gordon]

Here's another

 

[WolfSpider]

Hopefully you continue to see such an awesome creature. Very cool set-up. Puts my sterilite enclosures to shame. Keep us posted!

 

[Gordon]

Thanks @WolfSpider I will do

 

[LC72uk]

Congrats on New Arrival.............LC72UK

 

[Whitelightning777]

This is his new enclosure, substrate is spider life with some sphagnum moss for humidity and a few cork tubes for climbing and hiding

That enclosure is beautiful!! Maybe put our more info on it?

 

[Venom2090]

I consider keepers ready for potent arboreals like Poecilotheria when they have no more basic husbandry questions, and have kept and preferably raised a Psalmopoeus.

Smithi are like rocks next to Poecilotheria, you may as well have no experience at all with tarantulas.

This was a poor decision IME.

 

[Whitelightning777]

I consider keepers ready for potent arboreals like Poecilotheria when they have no more basic husbandry questions, and have kept and preferably raised a Psalmopoeus.

Smithi are like rocks next to Poecilotheria, you may as well have no experience at all with tarantulas.

This was a poor decision IME.

I thought smithi was a Poecilotheria not another genus. Might be wrong.