Poecilotheria smithi ?

[Andrew vV]

My theory about why they provide so few offspring is that, since they are native to the high altitudes in India, what they are lacking in the current breeding attempts is altitude. Not an easy problem to solve if your not prepared to move to loftier climes.

They are probably the least colorful pokie but for me they have kind of a mythical attraction.

P. smithi is native to Sri Lanka, not India

Very good theory on altitudes though!! I have wondered about it before myself, however, it doesnt really stand up when you consider that subfusca and rufilata are both higher altitude species as well and neither prove AS difficult as smithi. Also, other genera (take A. versicolor just for example) can be bred at altitudes that differ vastly from that of their native habitat with no apparent difficulties.
Who is to say that altitude mybe isnt a small piece of a larger puzzle though right?? If you want to try you can send a pair of them over to Edmonton where we are at 2200 feet and I'll give it a whirl

Cheers!
Andrew

 

[FryLock]

The main problem as been thought too be that they may live and breed in family groups in the wild (pers comms a friend who likes his pokes ) how true this is I do not know.
but if its is the case it could be that the captive stock is from different demes and crossbreeding between them has caused damage of some kind to the stock we have if that is the case the problems may breed them selfs out over time.

 

[Andrew vV]

Hey Fry, I have heard this theory as well, and im not sure on the *actual* truth to it either!! I guess one would have to go study their habits quite extensively in the wild to find out!! Very intriguing though if they actually do more or less depend on inbreeding for propagation of the species

Cheers!

 

[tarcan]

I think one of the most interesting "idea" on the subject was by Martin Huber on possible hybrids... here:

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=16178&page=2&pp=15

 

[Andrew vV]

Yep, Martin's thoughts on this species were definetly the most thought provoking

 

[Vys]

I think one of the most interesting "idea" on the subject was by Martin Huber on possible hybrids... here:

http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=16178&page=2&pp=15

Sigh..

I dislike the 10 character limit.