Dear fellow Arachnoboarders!
First off: I'm not a wizard when it comes to using the search engine on here, but I've been searching and reading about 100 threads about P. rufilatas dating back to 2010. I've learned a lot, but am still wondering a few things. If I've missed something, I welcome any thread links since like I said - I'm not a wizard with the search engine and apologize if I'm regurgitating old questions.
Background: I currently have 15 NW's, arboreals and terrestrials, of varying speed and skittishness. I've kept T's for three years now. Some I got as juvies, one as an adult and some as slings (who obviously aren't adults yet). I'm looking into maybe attaining a P. rufilata as I find their appearance really hard to resist. I'm well aware of their speed and their potent venom. I know their theoretical needs regarding their husbandry (temperatures, hides and such) and also know they need to be treated with great caution and respect (as all other living things) and are not for handling (I don't handle any of my T's, except that one time when my Euathlus sp. red calmly stepped out of her enclosure and onto my hand). I know to use tongs (long ones) for maintenance and feeding, as well as keeping catch cups and other necessary tools of the trade at the ready when opening the enclosure and/or rehousing. I've learned about their origin and also know that this species is one of two XXL pokies with MF measuring up to about 9". If I do end up getting one, I plan to get it as a sling for two reasons: a) to gain experience as it grows and b) having the privilege of following it through the vast majority of its lifespan. Sorry for lengthy description, but I imagine it might be easier to reply with more background.
Questions: On to the point. A couple of things I want/need to know and wish to hear your experiences on:
1) I have a general idea of rufilatas enclosure size when adults and I know the recommendations vary somewhat between keepers. Some of these recommendations are covered in other threads, but what kind of enclosure do you recommend and why?
(Reason being I've seen some keep this genus in tall RUB's for instance, to get more space to work around while doing maintenance without disturbing the T too much and still be able to provide it with an arboreal setup)
2) Pokies are flighty and would rather flee than fight, from what I've read on these forums and from other sources (ofc there's always that individual being the exception to the general rule), but how many times have you had a rufilata escape its enclosure and/or what have you done to prevent escapes?
I guess that's it. Wall of text for ya and I'd be willing to bet someone will find an old thread to smack me on the nose with Anyway, thank you all in advance for sharing your experiences on these 2 questions!
First off: I'm not a wizard when it comes to using the search engine on here, but I've been searching and reading about 100 threads about P. rufilatas dating back to 2010. I've learned a lot, but am still wondering a few things. If I've missed something, I welcome any thread links since like I said - I'm not a wizard with the search engine and apologize if I'm regurgitating old questions.
Background: I currently have 15 NW's, arboreals and terrestrials, of varying speed and skittishness. I've kept T's for three years now. Some I got as juvies, one as an adult and some as slings (who obviously aren't adults yet). I'm looking into maybe attaining a P. rufilata as I find their appearance really hard to resist. I'm well aware of their speed and their potent venom. I know their theoretical needs regarding their husbandry (temperatures, hides and such) and also know they need to be treated with great caution and respect (as all other living things) and are not for handling (I don't handle any of my T's, except that one time when my Euathlus sp. red calmly stepped out of her enclosure and onto my hand). I know to use tongs (long ones) for maintenance and feeding, as well as keeping catch cups and other necessary tools of the trade at the ready when opening the enclosure and/or rehousing. I've learned about their origin and also know that this species is one of two XXL pokies with MF measuring up to about 9". If I do end up getting one, I plan to get it as a sling for two reasons: a) to gain experience as it grows and b) having the privilege of following it through the vast majority of its lifespan. Sorry for lengthy description, but I imagine it might be easier to reply with more background.
Questions: On to the point. A couple of things I want/need to know and wish to hear your experiences on:
1) I have a general idea of rufilatas enclosure size when adults and I know the recommendations vary somewhat between keepers. Some of these recommendations are covered in other threads, but what kind of enclosure do you recommend and why?
(Reason being I've seen some keep this genus in tall RUB's for instance, to get more space to work around while doing maintenance without disturbing the T too much and still be able to provide it with an arboreal setup)
2) Pokies are flighty and would rather flee than fight, from what I've read on these forums and from other sources (ofc there's always that individual being the exception to the general rule), but how many times have you had a rufilata escape its enclosure and/or what have you done to prevent escapes?
I guess that's it. Wall of text for ya and I'd be willing to bet someone will find an old thread to smack me on the nose with Anyway, thank you all in advance for sharing your experiences on these 2 questions!
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