Poecilotherias - Your personal experiences?

[Aschamne]

In side their homes pokies can be defensive, but once you get them out they calm down just like any other T. However, they do have a rather potent venom so I do not recommend handling them(although I do). As far as care is concerned they are no harder than any other T. Here is a picture of mine sitting on my arm, again do not do this unless you feel comfortable enough in your handling ability. Even then realize that a bite is still possible and would be very painful.

Art

 

[paul fleming]

In side their homes pokies can be defensive, but once you get them out they calm down just like any other T. However, they do have a rather potent venom so I do not recommend handling them(although I do). As far as care is concerned they are no harder than any other T. Here is a picture of mine sitting on my arm, again do not do this unless you feel comfortable enough in your handling ability. Even then realize that a bite is still possible and would be very painful.

Art

Boring
Try this
You are right though,as long as you are careful getting them out,they will just sit there.
Looks like we both have girlies on our arms too
paul

 

[robc]

I've found my ornatas to be fairly boring. One of our females just molted and went from 4" to 5" in one molt and turned overall black with orange highlights and bright red hairs all over, so I'm hoping she gets large and beautiful, but personality-wise, they're fairly dull. Just kind of sit around and do nothing compared with some of my burrowers and NW arboreals who are usually out every night doing stuff.

Ornata dull???

 

[Big Red TJ]

Ornatas rock by the way rob the ones you sent me are growing fast

 

[BCscorp]

heres one of my current Poecilotheria experiences

 

[campj]

Ornata dull???

Yes, their behavior is fairly dull. Nice looking spider, but boring.

 

[JimM]

Yes, their behavior is fairly dull. Nice looking spider, but boring.

Hello my baby, hello my darling, hello my ragtime......ah nevermind.

 

[paul fleming]

Have to disagree......of all my spiders,I can always count on my pokies being out and about in the evenings hunting and what not,from slings to adults.
They are so colourful as well.......

 

[robc]

Yes, their behavior is fairly dull. Nice looking spider, but boring.

All of mine are always out, always moving/hunting...nail any prey item instantly....how big of and enclosure is your Ornata in??

 

[Noexcuse4you]

Yes, their behavior is fairly dull. Nice looking spider, but boring.

LOL. That could be said about 99% of the tarantulas out there.

 

[burmish101]

Dont worry about rehousing too much. Just prod their back legs very very gently and its easy to get them to go where you want them to. If you spook them they will bolt, just have a cup just in case if it runs, scoop it up and try again its just a spider nothing that can break the sound barrier. You'll get used to it quickly, pokies are awesome spiders and a must for most keepers. My first T. was G. rosea, my 2nd t was Poecilotheria pederseni. Talk about worlds apart lol but they are definately worth it. I would also recommend a slightly larger setup then minimal cage size, they can get spooked during maintenence and bolt/jump away which if the cage is small can be up the side across the top and right at you lol. I have a 6in. P. regalis female in a 10 gallon aquarium set on end and I still have to watch the lid when i'm in there as she spooks easily. Also good luck! Let us know which specie you pick for your first pokie! Cant go wrong.

 

[campj]

All of mine are always out, always moving/hunting...nail any prey item instantly....how big of and enclosure is your Ornata in??

Four of them are in 5x5x10 (LWH), and one is in an upturned 10 gallon. The most interesting one is a male in one of the smaller enclosures. I thought that after being moved to the ten gal one of our females would liven up... she has a little, but just hasn't adapted the way I'd have liked her to. Lately she's just been hanging out in one of the corners all day while the hollow log goes ignored. Our T. plumipes by comparison is very interesting! I'll post some pics eventually.

 

[silieputty]

I love my one Pokie - P. rufilata. I got her as a sling and she's pretty big now (not sure of sex). She runs whenever she sees me, so it's easy to feed and water her (she'll be in her hide). Not aggressive at all, if you ask me. I don't handle my Ts at all, ever. I do see her a lot, as she's out at night and if I sit down and pretend I'm not there she'll come out and be on the walls of her cage (an ExoTerra setup).

 

[JimM]

Four of them are in 5x5x10 (LWH), and one is in an upturned 10 gallon.

No wonder, you're basically keeping them in a burrow.
I wouldn't expect much activity in such cramped surroundings either.
Give them an actual environment and see what happens.

Look at Rob's setup.
Mine will be in 12x12x20's when they're large enough.

 

[Toeboe]

,,,and before you know it you will have a 6 regalis community

 

[campj]

No wonder, you're basically keeping them in a burrow.
I wouldn't expect much activity in such cramped surroundings either.
Give them an actual environment and see what happens.

Look at Rob's setup.
Mine will be in 12x12x20's when they're large enough.

Yeah, like I said we moved one of the females into a ten gallon to see if she'd liven up. I've been on night shift this month and have noticed some activity... between two and six in the morning! Otherwise she just chills in a corner or in the log waiting for the wee hours. We'll rehouse the other female soon, but she just molted. Surprisingly the males are doing just fine in the smaller enclosures. I mean, it's not like they can't move around, they're only four inch spiders.