Once you own a pokie you wil have a reason to do the hokey pokie. That is after all what it is all about.

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what would a good hardy decent tempered semi fast mildly venom ed pokie be Shaun since my current experience level is still low :laugh: if there is one. I think my biggest problem at this stage is my curiosity and lack of fear since none of my T's have shown any hostility towards me. I have not handle any of my T's except for the ones i moved from the container they were sent in and although none of them have bitten or flicked at me while doing this i consider my self lucky as soon as the curiosity about handling any T's leave me ill feel comfortable with these OW T's :igiveup: if your wondering where i partake in these activities :laugh: :laugh: its on the bathroom floor with towels set up around me. fastest T I own at this point and also one of my favorite is the chocolate brown. damn that little guy is fast the first time i opened his container to transfer him to his enclosure he bolted and went straight up my arm trough my T-shirt and down the arm again and straight under my hand where it was resting on the floor beside me that's when i realize some care sheets is not worth the time spend reading them, :laugh: I was ok but my girlfriend were terrified and i had to explain to her this guy was startled and it would not have happened were it not for my inexperience. I would of probably already have bought a OW and even a pokie if it wasn't for my better half :whistle: I wanted a cobalt blue for my first T and then a P Metallica :laugh: :laugh: and i would of probably introduced my self in the bite report section :laugh:

I think pokies have a bad rap. But also they are sneaky little buggers. Potent venom and can sometimes be unpredictable.

The thing is that only you can decide what you are comfortable with. And to remember that all tarantulas are individuals. And most care sheets are wrong.

I have a decent amount of respect for all my T's.

Never feel pressured by any one to get anything. I was only pulling your leg with the "get a pokie" story.


Once your T's reach a decent size you can rehouse them outside on the grass. It just makes live easier. But I have 0 experience with NW in that area.

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Thanks bud i know your only pulling my leg I get carried away sometimes because im a bit hungered out for conversation about T's and living in Kroonstad does not seem to make it easier since theres no one around that's interested in these creepy crawlies but i am definitely gonna get me pokkie in the not so distant future and would definitely like if i could push on your button on advice and opinion on what a good first pokie to own be

You know what, how does one get experience? Not by reading or talking about it, by buying yourself a spider and growing with it.. stir
It does not help just owning a Brachypelma and aspecting you to gain experiences to get a faster more aggressive species, tarantulas in general sense are the same but they all have their special abilities that would be as different as night and day.

Get them small and you will be able to grow and learn the do's and don'ts.
Just stay away from Stromatopelma calceatum (Featherleg Baboon)
and larger pokies till you are confident enough in your skills.

I Like the towel barricade you use, I use this method when I am rehousing slings into delay cups or feeding them.

When rehousing or moving a spider always make sure your body is not directly in the spiders space, this will minimize the spiders from using you as a climbing post.
The smaller the spider the less you have to actaully worry about them climbing on you, I would let them climb onto my hand up to 5cm as they are still small and don't tend to be to aggro or want to bite at this small size it is the larger bigger spiders that I avoid touching or holding..

So take that leap and get yourself a Poecilotheria or Psalmopoeus species
I would say start with Psalmopoeus as they are not that fast and don't have many issues with regards to be agro. They are fast though and like sprinting.

But worth the effort of keeping them.

Good advise from Jake here Francois, I'm a bit concerned about your over eager demeanor with regards to handling them though. Take your time and learn to see by their behavior, what they're about to do. Look for signs that they feel threatened. This is not only when they strike a threat pose, or flicking hairs at you. If you open them and they run for cover, they are scared. If they turn quickly and face you, they're uneasy. If they don't move they're at ease. Best is when they come out of the burrow or hide slowly, they are inspecting/curious. If you are handling one and it separates it's fangs, lifts up their business end, or make sudden movements toward you, and of course threat posing , a strike is imminent !

You have to consciously make a decision not to over react so as not to send the T flying and perishing by your action or reaction. Take your time, they will outlive your dog, cat and reptiles. Have responsible fun and remember they're always going to be wild and untameable. :spider: