New to the hobby would a poecilotheria rufilata be a good first choice

[LoveClash]

after look at a few types of tarantulas i landed on poecilotheria rufilata i really like the fact that they live in colonies. if i were to get a few to start one where would be the best place to buy them. Also is it possible put two adults in the same enclosure would they co habitat or do they need to be raised together to live together?

 

[Whitelightning777]

No. Pokies aren't communal. I keep all mine separately. The vast majority of tarantulas aren't communal.

Pokies are fast and the venom is medically significant. They are also arboreal not terrestrial which adds to the difficulty.

Look at bite reports from members of a genus & start with a sling or young juvenile, not an adult if you're an amateur and want to begin with a more "difficult" species, especially a larger member of the genus. That way you can grow with the spider.

A terrestrial old world dry spider might be easier if you insist on an old world. M balfouri is such a spider and they are trustworthy as communals.

However, old world species aren't usually recommended as good first spiders at all.

Probably the best good first spiders are larger slings or smaller juveniles of lasiodira genus like L klugi or acanscuria genus such as A geniculata. Just don't ever handle them!!

Both are colorful, get huge, grow fast & are very hardy. They are new world species. Watch out for the hairs!!

 

[m0lsx]

I believe some have kept Poecilotheria rufilata as a colony, but it's not a species that most experienced keepers would see as an option for a colony species. Let alone a good option.

Attempting to keep any tarantula species as a colony is not something that is suitable for a beginner. However, some experienced keepers do have some success keeping some species as colonies. Although, success is maybe an optimistic term. As T's will predate on each other. So for every successful colony keeper, there will be other keepers who failed.

Personally speaking, I would suggest that there are cheaper & better methods of keeping tarantulas, than buying 5 & keeping 1. If you really want to keep tarantulas, then crickets, mealworms & roaches would make a far better food source, than each other.

 

[LoveClash]

No. Pokies aren't communal. I keep all mine separately. The vast majority of tarantulas aren't communal.

Pokies are fast and the venom is medically significant. They are also arboreal not terrestrial which adds to the difficulty.

Look at bite reports from members of a genus & start with a sling or young juvenile, not an adult if you're an amateur and want to begin with a more "difficult" species, especially a larger member of the genus. That way you can grow with the spider.

A terrestrial old world dry spider might be easier if you insist on an old world. M balfouri is such a spider and they are trustworthy as communals.

However, old world species aren't usually recommended as good first spiders at all.

Probably the best good first spiders are larger slings or smaller juveniles of lasiodira genus like L klugi or acanscuria genus such as A geniculata. Just don't ever handle them!!

Both are colorful, get huge, grow fast & are very hardy. They are new world species. Watch out for the hairs!!

Thank you for all the comments i saw some very old threads of people saying they had some success keeping them communally. i'm mainly interested in the arboreal tarantulas. I would also assume its not recommended to start out with a colony but thats what i'm really looking for. Are there any good tarantula species that would check all those boxes or should i just start with something smaller and work my way up?

 

[LoveClash]

I believe some have kept Poecilotheria rufilata as a colony, but it's not a species that most experienced keepers would see as an option for a colony species. Let alone a good option.

Attempting to keep any tarantula species as a colony is not something that is suitable for a beginner. However, some experienced keepers do have some success keeping some species as colonies. Although, success is maybe an optimistic term. As T's will predate on each other. So for every successful colony keeper, there will be other keepers who failed.

Personally speaking, I would suggest that there are cheaper & better methods of keeping tarantulas, than buying 5 & keeping 1. If you really want to keep tarantulas, then crickets, mealworms & roaches would make a far better food source, than each other

 

[LoveClash]

I believe some have kept Poecilotheria rufilata as a colony, but it's not a species that most experienced keepers would see as an option for a colony species. Let alone a good option.

Attempting to keep any tarantula species as a colony is not something that is suitable for a beginner. However, some experienced keepers do have some success keeping some species as colonies. Although, success is maybe an optimistic term. As T's will predate on each other. So for every successful colony keeper, there will be other keepers who failed.

Personally speaking, I would suggest that there are cheaper & better methods of keeping tarantulas, than buying 5 & keeping 1. If you really want to keep tarantulas, then crickets, mealworms & roaches would make a far better food source, than each other.

sorry about the other reply i'm new this site and pressed the wrong button. what tarantula would you recommend to someone who has experience keeping other exotic animals? I'm not going to go out and buy one any time soon as i would like to do plenty of research and get feed back on good sellers and care requirements.

 

[Enn49]

Most people would recommend starting with something like a Brachypelma, Tliltocatl or Grammostola but if you really want an arboreal you could get Psalmopoeus irminia.
Personally I say as long as you do plenty research and know what the T is capable of then buy what takes your fancy. I also had a lot of experience with other exotic pets and dived into this hobby by getting an OBT as my first T and they are still one of my favourites.

 

[LoveClash]

Most people would recommend starting with something like a Brachypelma, Tliltocatl or Grammostola but if you really want an arboreal you could get Psalmopoeus irminia.
Personally I say as long as you do plenty research and know what the T is capable of then buy what takes your fancy. I also had a lot of experience with other exotic pets and dived into this hobby by getting an OBT as my first T and they are still one of my favourites.

Alright my final and dumbest question is it possible to breed them for colors/size like people do with snakes and dogs?

 

[Enn49]

Alright my final and dumbest question is it possible to breed them for colors/size like people do with snakes and dogs?

No. In the tarantula world we like keep to species pure so no interbreeding.

 

[LoveClash]

No. In the tarantula world we like keep to species pure so no interbreeding.

Good to know I actually I have one more question that isn’t as stupid what species would you recommend for a communal set up?

 

[Enn49]

Monocentropus balfouri is often kept communally but there is still always the chance of them eating each other.

 

[LoveClash]

Thanks for answering all my questions!

 

[808]

H. Gabonensis #1

 

[m0lsx]

H. Gabonensis #1

Really? I would have expected them to come well outside of the top 5 for most people. Yes, they are said to have some communal tendencies, but they are not normally seen as a good choice for communal environments.