well when it comes down to it, if it bites me, it bites me. im not looking forward to it if it just so happens to tag me. but there is nothing I can do other than pay attention to what im doing. and if that doesn't even work oh well, guess ill just have to try to deal with the pain and probably be a bed body for a little bit. honestly though, I will be giving it a very little chance of being able to do so once it is re-housed.
Dont worry too much, they are not that crazy. it is just best to know what you are dealing with. Having experience helps a alot, that is why we reccomend people to have some of that before getting an poec or another of the more "exciting" T´s. Here in Europe there are now bans on keeping poecilotheria in some countries, so we all would like to see no more accidents involving this species!
Yeah, I'm lucky I live across "the border" of one of the major cities here - because if I wouldn't, I would need a permit (unlikely to get one) to keep them legally. Just one more reason to being responsible while dealing with them. As a sidenote: Color isn't everything!
No, it isn't. No Poec is. No arboreal is a good first OW. Much better choices are some of the terrestrial baboon spiders, like Ceratogyrus, Augacephalus, and Pterinochilus (except murinus). They're a little feisty at times, but don't have the speed of an arboreal.
I'm not sure where this comes from and I'm assuming the reason are sellers, but over here P. subfusca "lowland" is regarded as the calmest. P. metallica is usually very skittish, quite photo-sensitive and while not overly defensive, I've seen these freak out on the slightest disturbance racing around in their enclosure or frantically teleporting into hiding just to reappear again, run around, then vanish again. Rinse, repeat. A year ago when I got my first Poecie i went with the subfusca and either I got lucky, or most of them are really layed back in comparison to the other species of the genus. Mine was a extremely easy to deal with, rehouse, even pack for shipping out. Those I've seen over here are the same way, so far not found one that was freaking out at all. However, temperaments can vary, but it is my believe that the majority of these makes them a better choice than a highly expensive P. metallica as first Poecie. Also agreeing to what Poec said above - not the best choice as first OW...
+1. Metallica is ore wired than some of the other species. Most regalis and ornata tend to be pretty calm.
Id prob take pokie venom over hairs any day, Just fangs gotta hurt bad ! IM allergic to urticating hairs since I kept Nhandu genus for 7 years. hairs shouldn't be underestimated effects last a long time.
Homie, Psalmopeous does not have urticating hairs....like I said, very pokie like.
Neither do taps so get a psalmo for the temper and a tap for the speed, though my juvie is pretty laid back for a tap and really only freaks out when I water the cage (she likes to kill the water drops). As for the whole debate I have 3 different pokies (regalis,metallica and vitatta) and each one has its own personality. The vitatta male is very laid back and is out on display all the time (also grows like a weed), the regalis I rarely see and she has attempted to teleport out of the cage via the "cyclone method" (top opened lids for these guys is a must) and the metallica is a little hell beast, it races around the container readily and gives threat poses like it's out of style. I've heard that metallica is supposed to be the calmest but of course mine bucks the trend, as all specimens have their own personality. I personally suggest taps and psalmos before thinking of a pokie as you don't understand speed until you've cared for these or in my case many true spiders. I still am very cautious with my pokies as I'd rather not get bit and I'm sure they would oblige me if they got the chance. For the sake of you and the spider, please get some ladder species first or even get some of the "starter OW" like C.darlingi, marshalli etc.Homie, Psalmopeous does not have urticating hairs....like I said, very pokie like.
I will allways say that the 2 subfusca forms are the most calm T´s, with miranda as second. metalicca are as people say skittish and are actually guilty of several bites! But no poec is really calm, some are just more prone to defend themselves very quickly than others, so allways be aware when dealing with any of them!
That's typical Poec behavior. They're more likely to run and dart around when they're young, and as they get to 4"+ tend to stay motionless unless touched. Mine are usually on their cork slab waiting for food. If you don't mess with them, threat poses are rare. They usually prefer to blend in with their surroundings or go in their retreat when you open the cage. I always keep the lid close by when I open the cages, just in case, as sometimes they'll start walking around and may walk right out of the cage. I also have catch cups place around my room.
why do you guys have them banned? because of bites and their venom?
id rather take urticating hairs anyday over a bite! all I really get with the hairs is a mild itch for an hour or two at most and that about it. except one time when I got it in my eye and didn't realize until I layed down to go to bed... worst thing ever!!
There's too many stupid people that think they need to show off keeping "the most potent tarantula" and that has lead to multiple bites, lots of bad media about them, ER visits, health insurance bills aso. Count all of that together and you have the reason. Personally, in the end in all comes down to keepers doing irresponsible things keeping the genus and/or underestimating them. Hence, certain cities or even parts of EU countries banned them from being kept. The only stupid thing about that is the fact that H. macs, S. cals or whatnot can be kept in those regions without problems mostly. Why? Because they didn't receive as much bad media aso as Poecies did. It's a very-much liked genus of tarantulas, let's be honest: Their markings are striking! And while I personally don't regard them as "the most beautiful", tons of people do. So more people get them and voila ...recipe for desaster.
well I guess that's an understandable reason. but its really not the Ts fault, its the owners. like I said before I don't intend on handling this one and know what could happen if I tried or if I pushed the boundaries too much. ive already made it as clear as day to my gf to of what could happen and we both have came to an agreement on this T being for display only (if its not hiding in its enclosure). only time it may possibly have a chance is when im dropping a cricket or roach in its enclosure and even then I wont have my hands in there or even have the lid opened all the way.
Laws don't work like that, they are passed to "protect" the public from themselves. Same kind of thing with Pitbulls, I've met many well behaved ones but they are not allowed in some areas just cause they appeal to a certain type of people who want them to be aggressive or have no idea how to properly train a dog (and honestly most people I've met don't); so they are banned as that's the easy thing to do.