Help Choosing a First Poecilotheria

[Arachnoclown]

@Tortoise Tom I going to mate my female Ornata this summer. If you would like a few slings I could send them down I-5 to you. Starting with Pokie slings is the best way to grow with them. My first pokie was infact an Ornata.

 

[Metalman2004]

@Tortoise Tom I going to mate my female Ornata this summer. If you would like a few slings I could send them down I-5 to you. Starting with Pokie slings is the best way to grow with them. My first pokie was infact an Ornata.

Hopefully I have room for a sling or two as well!

 

[Arachnoclown]

Hopefully I have room for a sling or two as well!

I'll send some your way too...

 

[Whitelightning777]

Those gloves....looks like your going to cage fight that pokie.

Two words:

Bite reports!!

Like I said, he's the most well behaved tarantula I have. Hahahahaha. Perhaps that's part of the reason. Wearing all black will make it much easier to find him if he decides to take up residence upon my head or some such other place.

You have to respect them even if they are little angels until they aren't.

 

[Tortoise Tom]

Here's the latest pics of Patrick, P Striata. They came out fairly well. I'm posting them for inspiration. Still, finding a small sexed confirmed female might be a better choice then an unsexed sling.

I'm surprised you didn't get a pokie sooner.

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I already posted this here but it's relevant to this page. The video quality is subpar but I got some nice views of Patrick and there is some info that might help.

The protection isn't necessary, just a precaution.

I watched your video earlier today. Thank you for taking the time to do that and post it.

I've always liked the look of the pokies, but needed to learn more about them. There are just so many tarantula species available now. Its hard to not just get one of each. I'm trying to be picky and selective, but I'm not doing a very good job of it...

 

[Whitelightning777]

I also put up another one that is much better featuring Patrick.

 

[Tortoise Tom]

@Tortoise Tom I going to mate my female Ornata this summer. If you would like a few slings I could send them down I-5 to you. Starting with Pokie slings is the best way to grow with them. My first pokie was infact an Ornata.

SOLD! I'll take a half dozen!

Seriously, I'm glad you said something because I've been looking at sites to buy one ever since I saw your video that I asked you about. That tarantula is just one awesome looking beast. I can think of no better place to get one than directly from the source that inspired me to learn more about them in the first place. If her babies end up looking half as good as her, I'll be a very happy customer. I'll just pick up a P. rufilata sling to hold me over for a few months. Please keep me posted. And thank you!

 

[Whitelightning777]

P rufilata & P ornata are usually thought to be the largest pokies in terms of physical size. Which of the two is bigger is the subject of endless debate. You'll probably need something like an ExoTerra mini tall enclosure to give them enough room.

By contrast for most other pokies, an ExoTerra nano tall is perfectly adequate.

Temperment is also thought to be more defensive then P striata or P regalis or P Metallica by many owners.

P ornata is drop dead gorgeous however.

 

[Tortoise Tom]

P rufilata & P ornata are usually thought to be the largest pokies in terms of physical size. Which of the two is bigger is the subject of endless debate. You'll probably need something like an ExoTerra mini tall enclosure to give them enough room.

By contrast for most other pokies, an ExoTerra nano tall is perfectly adequate.

Temperment is also thought to be more defensive then P striata or P regalis or P Metallica by many owners.

P ornata is drop dead gorgeous however.

I like the ornata and rufilata because of their big size. Also, some of the care sheets, mentioned higher temps where these two come from, and higher temps is what I have. Since I'm starting with little slings, I'll have plenty of time to sort out larger final housing arrangements.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Temperament with Ornatas is no different then any of my other pokies. I could hold my 8" female if i wanted too...the guy I purchased her from held her when I got her. I choose not to though. Saying they are more defensive is what hobbiest that have never owned one say because the venom is much stronger. Its all rubbish as far as im concerned. If I had anything to say about Ornatas it would be they are more skittish. Skittish doesn't = defensive. I've never seen a threat posture from any of My four Ornatas or the ones if had in the past. My P. Metallica is my craziest pokie I have and that's the one "hobbiest" say to start with. It will throw up a threat posture if I touch it's enclosure. It really doesn't matter when you jump into pokies which one you get first. All of them are gonna make you wish you didn't get bit by them...if that were to happen.

 

[Arachnoclown]

I keep my Ornatas 65-82 degrees depending on what time of year it is. I don't use any artificial heat source except for my forced air furnace in the winter.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Temperament with Ornatas is no different then any of my other pokies. I could hold my 8" female if i wanted too...the guy I purchased her from held her when I got her. I choose not to though. Saying they are more defensive is what hobbiest that have never owned one say because the venom is much stronger. Its all rubbish as far as im concerned. If I had anything to say about Ornatas it would be they are more skittish. Skittish doesn't = defensive. I've never seen a threat posture from any of My four Ornatas or the ones if had in the past. My P. Metallica is my craziest pokie I have and that's the one "hobbiest" say to start with. It will throw up a threat posture if I touch it's enclosure. It really doesn't matter when you jump into pokies which one you get first. All of them are gonna make you wish you didn't get bit by them...if that were to happen.

Oops my bad....5 ornatas. I've got 6 but it's a 1" sling...aint going to throw a threat posture for sure.

 

[Arachnoclown]

Two words:

Bite reports!!

Like I said, he's the most well behaved tarantula I have. Hahahahaha. Perhaps that's part of the reason. Wearing all black will make it much easier to find him if he decides to take up residence upon my head or some such other place.

You have to respect them even if they are little angels until they aren't.

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I understand why you wear them. To me they pose as a extreme disadvantage if you need to react an grab a catch cup or a paint brush, tongs...ect. The bite ain't going to kill you...no one has ever died from a pokie bite. I would never bother owning a T that I would have to be in fear of. Not saying your in fear but you go to extreme levels to prevent anything to happen. That's not a bad thing. Are you sure your not a risk analysts for a insurance company??? Seriously though in all the years I've kept these creatures I've never had to wear gloves other than latex for Theraphosa and a few Brachypelma sp.

 

[Arachnoclown]

 

[MassExodus]

Poecis are fantastic. Adults crap literally everywhere. At least my regalis does. I'm fixing to rehouse her. Again. Messy..arboreals in general are messy little pigs. Sorry, it's something rarely mentioned in these threads. Enjoy! Btw their reputation is indeed, as Arachnoclown said, horse****. Ive had both of mine spazz out and ended up wearing, then handling them, not by choice. Neither showed any aggression whatsoever. But. All spiders are individuals...(scary violin music) and I admit, an adult regalis on my chest and shoulder puckered me up a bit. They. Are. Fast. Very fast.

 

[sdsnybny]

Pokies aren't as bad as they are made out to be but can be. I am still very careful around mine but not so overcautious as the OP.
This video is of a communal of 17 raised in a 32oz deli cup and then packed for shipping in the same size cup ALL Together!!!

 

[Metalman2004]

Pokies aren't as bad as they are made out to be but can be. I am still very careful around mine but not so overcautious as the OP.
This video is of a communal of 17 raised in a 32oz deli cup and then packed for shipping in the same size cup ALL Together!!!

Now thats impressive

 

[sdsnybny]

Now thats impressive

yep and it was 7 yrs ago as well

 

[Arachnoclown]

 

[sdsnybny]

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ROFLMAO!!!!!!!