Poecilotheria tigrinawesseli or subfusca?

[antinous]

For a first Poec, which would you suggest? I've always want a subfusca and haven't been able to find one at all. I love the colors on both, and so far, the tigrinawesseli is the only one presenting itself for me. Which one would you recommend and why?

 

[Toxoderidae]

Regalis or Striata. Tigrinawesseli no, because it's a rarer species that in my experience can be more delicate than others, and Subfusca if you can find it, go for it.

 

[SausageinaNet]

My first one was an Ornata. The sling didn't make it through it's second molt so I got a metallica. I am not an expert on Poecilotheria (not that I am on anything else) but I would choose something that is available and fair priced. If it isn't your first OW arboreal I wouldn't worry to much about temperament. Between the two you listed I would go with subfusca because I like the looks more. But if it's hard to get in the US I would just go with whatever is most common.

 

[cold blood]

regalis

 

[Red Eunice]

I can only comment on the species I have: P. regalis, striata, hanumavillasumica and tigrinawesseli. All bought as slings, most are adult size, except the regalis, they're at the 2" size. Only got into pokies about 3 years ago, I do like the cryptic patterns they possess. I would say the tigrinawesseli are my best as far as feeding response, especially when they are fed fat roaches. The striata have vibrant yellow banding, especially after a molt. The hanumavillasumica are my "shy" species, either in their tubes or tucked under the foilage, barely seeing the legs. The regalis, as slings, seem to be the most skittish, this may change as they mature.
All kept in the same manner, arboreal enclosures with cork tubes/slabs, fake foilage for anchor points, 2"-3" of substrate and a water dish. Pretty basic setups actually.
I, someday, will add subfusa but for now am content with what I have.

 

[G. pulchra]

I think a regalis would be a great starter pokie. Very hardy and attractive with great size. Also you can pick one up at a very reasonable price.

 

[Poec54]

They're all beautiful, get whatever's available at a good price; the more common species are a little hardier and a great place to start. All of them behave more or less the same, except formosa, which seems to be the most high strung, even as adults.

 

[Blue Jaye]

I'm going with regalis as well. If you feel your ready for poecilotheria, regalis are easy IMO. As @Poec54 said they are all pretty similar in behavior.

 

[Haksilence]

Out of my pokies.
Striata, Metallica, subfusca (hl and ll), rufilata, hanumavillasumica, and fasciata.

Ranging frim 2"slings to my 7" striata their temperament seem fairly the same, skittish as hell, and when they start going they never stop. Laps around the enclosure will ensue.
My metallicas and rufilata seem to be out in the open the most with my fasciata and hanumavillasumica in second. Both my male and female striatas I almost never see. They are pretty much perpetually confined to their tubes. But man oh man when they decide to show themselves.

 

[Haksilence]

My subfusca are the others that are almost always out in the open

 

[Thistles]

@Haksilence Maybe call a pokie expert, but your "striata" looks like a little bit of regalis might have gotten into the mix somewhere down the line... Assuming that last ventral is of your striata, I wouldn't call it a striata anymore.

 

[Toxoderidae]

I agree with @Thistles if my phone weren't kerplunk, I'd post pictures of striata vs regalis, both ventrally and dorsally.

 

[Thistles]

I agree with @Thistles if my phone weren't kerplunk, I'd post pictures of striata vs regalis, both ventrally and dorsally.

http://www.froschlurche.de/Poecilotheria-ventral.jpg
I guess that'll do. The faint belly band is what initially alerted me, but the leg banding also isn't quite right for either. I don't think that spider should reproduce.

Edit: guess I should contribute to the thread's main question! I love both! Those are 2 of my favorite pokies, but I'd suggest regalis, striata or metallica for a first.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

For a first Poec, which would you suggest?

I say that there's better way to throw money away, like running in a street full of tramps throwing cents to everyone saying:
"Rejoice, Santa's arrived early this year, crackheads!"

Definitely more fun & thrill seek rather than buying a shy 'Pokie'

jok

 

[mistertim]

I know P. regalis can get quite large...how big do subfuscas generally get? Is there a big size difference between highland and lowland?

 

[YagerManJennsen]

For a first Poec, which would you suggest? I've always want a subfusca and haven't been able to find one at all. I love the colors on both, and so far, the tigrinawesseli is the only one presenting itself for me. Which one would you recommend and why?

http://www.net-bug.net/apps/webstore/products/show/5428299

 

[Venom1080]

@Haksilence Maybe call a pokie expert, but your "striata" looks like a little bit of regalis might have gotten into the mix somewhere down the line... Assuming that last ventral is of your striata, I wouldn't call it a striata anymore.

my AF striata has the same. just picked her up 4 days ago. purchased from Tarantula Canada as a sling and raised by a breeder here on the boards. they probably mix occasionally in the wild so its not a huge issue to me. i trust TC to know their stuff. ever have a striata without a faint abdominal band? just wondering..

 

[Thistles]

my AF striata has the same. just picked her up 4 days ago. purchased from Tarantula Canada as a sling and raised by a breeder here on the boards. they probably mix occasionally in the wild so its not a huge issue to me. i trust TC to know their stuff. ever have a striata without a faint abdominal band? just wondering..

I have several striata which all lack the bands. I've got a big AF, a MM, a small AF and a juvenile female. None of them have the band or even a shadow of a band, and the bands on the legs are slightly different. You're right that they overlap with regalis, so there is probably some hybridization, but we should strive to keep our hobby stock as pure as possible. We want distinct species, not some general melange. There's no fun in eventually having only one variety of pokie: mutt.

Even experienced people can end up with hybrids, and it's easy not to notice. This particular one is easier to pick out than many or even most would be. Do we know for sure? No, but I'm betting this isn't pure striata.

 

[Thistles]

I know P. regalis can get quite large...how big do subfuscas generally get? Is there a big size difference between highland and lowland?

Not as huge; they get maybe 6-7" but I don't know if there's a difference between the kinds.

 

[Haksilence]

@Thistles
I just took another peek at her and the band isn't there at all, not like in the photo, I'm guessing maybe a slight post molt color difference or a lighting issue. I'll take another peek at her in the morning.
The person I received it from is very reputable and I know where he got it is reputable as well and would highly doubt they would make such a huge mistake of mistaking regalis for striata, regalis are probably the easiest to identify out of the pokies, with the obvious exception of Metallica and the more unique ones.

Luckily she isn't my only female striata so my penultimate male won't go to waste