Indian Ornamental (Poecilotheria ornata) Question

[lk305]

Hi All,

I'm new here.

I would like some advice, i am not a very very experienced tarantula owner, ive only owned one T in my life which was just a basic mexican Red knee B.smithi, i know this is a huge step ahead so don't go shouting bad things at me.. I have bought a Poecilotheria ornata today a juvenile, from a friend, very small, but i understand these for for advanced T owners but didn't think it would be that bad, the behavior says skettish so i didn't think anything of it, i understand they run fast and a fast movers but this isn't a problem for me.

My question is, do you think i will be OK with it? any advice on what to do? ive read about these T's and people said they bite really bad, etc.. i have just bought a £50 terrarium for it which is very very nice, its only small as well as i care about my pets very much. Think i will be OK? :wall: .. if not i guess ill get rid of it and buy another.

Little scared, after finding this today: http://www.bighairyspiders.com/poec.html

 

[becky89]

They're not as bad as people make them out to be. You should be okay with it if you're careful. Once the spider has settled and made itself a home in the enclosure, if you give it a chance to hide before going in, it will more than likely just hide away, and you can do what you need to. I just generally make a little bit of tapping or fiddle with the lid so the spider realises I'm there and hides. The only time you may find it difficult is if you have to rehome it to a larger enclosure, but it's not always that bad.

 

[Motorkar]

Correction: Indian Ornamental is called P. regalis. But well, you have to give your ornata respect that he/she deserves. It is fast, defensive, sometimes defends with biting, so handling is strongly agaist. P. ornata also has the most potent venom in the genus. Pokies normally known with the slogan look but don't touch. But if you give them respect and beeing careful, you have no problem with them no mater how much inexperienced you are. Ipersonally have a P. regalis and is defensive sometimes when I move her enclosure(I have her in a kritter keeper still until I get a glass terrarium), otherwise than showing threats she's fine.I am also going to get one P. ornata myself, I am slowly making a new huge glass enclosure where will be grown with real plants and lot of climbing and hiding area.

 

[lk305]

Thanks for the replies, i have no attention of handling it, i just bought the T as it looks beautiful, but read a few reviews about people having one and they said they seem to be very defensive. I will give it resepect and care for it really well of course, Thanks for the advice.

What are they like for eating? Do they eat a lot, whats the best to feed it on? as my mexican red knee doesn't eat anything, As i have only just got the P.ornata today, when should i attempt to feed it? I think my mexican red knee is in premolt, and hasn't eaten in around 7 months.

Thanks all,

 

[Motorkar]

You should wait a week or two before feeding the spider, he/she must firstly get familiar with its new eviroment and find a home.They normally eat everything, especially if hungry, but you can find them sometimes picky, that varies from specimen to specimen like any spider. For example, my P. regalis eats even superworm bugs, not just superworms, my B. smithi doesen't like dubias, my P. cambridgei got picky and hats crickets, superworms........ You'll slowly see what character the spider has and what's its eating habbits. Enjoy your newcomer and good luck!

 

[Dreadz]

I have several Pokies, including P.ornata, and if givin respect they need, you should be just fine with it. I would recomend giving it a large enclosure as this is one of the largest Pokies and buying a large pair of tongs. The guy in your post who got bit seemed to be using his hands to clean the enclosure which is not a good idea unless the Pokie is not in there. Pokies require high humidity and a vertical oriented enclosure.

 

[Merfolk]

Actually, you did the right move buying it as a baby. The mistake would have been to get a large juvie or young adult, those are a bit trickier.... Your level of confidence/experience will simply grow along your animal and you will be ok in your dealing with it once it's full grown!

 

[lk305]

Thanks for the replies, the T is very small, not sure why it always looks big in photo's but its VERY small its around inch or two, honestly.

Not amazing quality but this is her/him:

 

[Dreadz]

Thats a mice looking Pokie you have there, hope you enjoy it. Watch out they can be fast.

 

[lk305]

Thats a mice looking Pokie you have there, hope you enjoy it. Watch out they can be fast.

Thanks man, yeah it is very fast.

 

[mickey66]

Actually, you did the right move buying it as a baby. The mistake would have been to get a large juvie or young adult, those are a bit trickier.... Your level of confidence/experience will simply grow along your animal and you will be ok in your dealing with it once it's full grown!

+1 this is what i did with my P. Regalis sling....when she got too big for the 2" square cube i moved her into a 10 gal tank(glass)this worked out very well....no stress for the spider or myself she was 1" when i bought her six months or less is when i moved her. She is very docile and i can put my hand in her tank with no problem BUT i always make sure i know where she is at all times! all it takes is one bad day when he/she is in a bad mood and you could get tagged. pokey bite is really bad, all of them! GOOD LUCK!!! Oh, i forgot..... Welcome!

 

[Poxicator]

P. ornata come from Sri Lankan rainforest where at times its completely dry and others its extremely wet depending on the seasons.
You need to supply plenty of substrate and a good hide, they'll burrow and live arboreally. Plenty of other arboreal furnishing should be included in your set-up.
Out of all the species of ornata Ive kept these seem the least likely to run and hide, and seem the hardest to get living communally.
They are the largest of all pokies, reaching 10" which is probably a good inch bigger than its nearest rival P. rufilata.

Most pokies are not aggressive, they'll shy away and retreat from disturbance, however provoke them or spook them and you'll get a different reaction.

They tend to be good eaters, they'll disappear for a week or so during moulting, they benefit from a water bowl and a large enclosure.

I tend to keep all my pokies in small enclosures first and move them up as they get bigger. You can put the smaller tub in the larger tub and either leave them to make their own way out or persuade them out with water or a ruler.

Long tongs are very much recommended

 

[TaraTracy]

Indian ornamental

Hi, I'm a newbie on this site but just had to say how sweet the little fellow is. Mine is a good 8 inches and I never trust her. I have 21 T's and complacency breeds contempt ! Always be aware that they can become nasty, mine is very very quick, eats everything and moults overnight, she is stunning and def my fav T. She seems to prefer locusts, though I'm scared of them lol !!! She is a striking colour and I have some beautiful sheds from her which she always kicks out of her web for me, though I have never seen her threatening stance or tried to mock her into one, she is a view only T as I never handle any of them. Respect them and they will respect you back.
Enjoy your baby, they grow up so fast x

 

[AmbushArachnids]

P. ornata come from Sri Lankan rainforest where at times its completely dry and others its extremely wet depending on the seasons.
You need to supply plenty of substrate and a good hide, they'll burrow and live arboreally. Plenty of other arboreal furnishing should be included in your set-up.
Out of all the species of ornata Ive kept these seem the least likely to run and hide, and seem the hardest to get living communally.
They are the largest of all pokies, reaching 10" which is probably a good inch bigger than its nearest rival P. rufilata.
Most pokies are not aggressive, they'll shy away and retreat from disturbance, however provoke them or spook them and you'll get a different reaction.

They tend to be good eaters, they'll disappear for a week or so during moulting, they benefit from a water bowl and a large enclosure.

I tend to keep all my pokies in small enclosures first and move them up as they get bigger. You can put the smaller tub in the larger tub and either leave them to make their own way out or persuade them out with water or a ruler.

Long tongs are very much recommended

I always hear that P. rufilata is the largest pokie and P. ornata is the second largest.

 

[Poxicator]

I always hear that P. rufilata is the largest pokie and P. ornata is the second largest.

I think we could discuss this all day RobC suggested he had a 10" P. ornata, the biggest P. rufilata I've ever had was 8", but a friend who returned a MM P. subfusca this morning claimed to have a 10" P. fasciata! I've seen a pic but I asked for a ventral shot on the legs for correct ID.

 

[Motorkar]

I saw a P. subfusca wich was 27 cm(10.6inches) at frend of mine. So one is aprox size and you get specimen wich can get larger or smaller.