Poecilotheria Metallica

Sooo I don’t know if anyone still goes through this side of the forum but I’m wanting to know more about the details in the care and housing requirements for this gorgeous T. Yes I know they’re arboreal. But what else can you tell me? Thanks...and yes I’m terrified but still willing to overcome that fear!


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ummmm WOW
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...a-for-sale.jpg

BEAUTIFUL, mother nature! these guys have piqued my interest and i'm heading down a Google rabbit hole LOL. i actually looked into getting a tarantula before i decided to get my first ball python! if i find any reliable info i'll pass it along. :)

so i found a few things:

they are venomous! :O and they are fast and often defensive! a bite is worse than a Hognose, but there has never been a human death caused by being bit; other animals i would not allow near this T. a bite is considered "medically significant." their care requirements are just like any other poecilotheria species i guess, so you can use other poecilotheria species info and tips and they will pretty much apply to p. metallica. and yes, they're arboreal! so that's important regarding their set-up and security. their temps are cooler than beeps, more like a crestie. humidity is important tho.

links!:

arachnoboards.com has a lot of people keeping these and posting regularly. some people over there own up to 10 p. metallica!

Gooty Sapphire care sheet from KeepingExoticPets.com

this not-so-great-looking website has a good in-depth description of what their enclosure/husbandry should be (i think lol)

GootyLand facebook page? which was updated this month.



these guys are just too cool!

here's a very specific thread from a new p. metallica owner asking for tips

Your awesome !!!!! Thanks I took a nap while you did all that. But I did read that all Ts are venomous but nothing worse then a bee/wasp. I’m not allergic so idc. I WONT be touching this boy( cause it’s gotta be a boy because of the colors, they’re brighter) lol me having a crestie and a Pac-Man means I have the perfect temps and humidity won’t be a problem


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aerries

Your awesome !!!!! Thanks I took a nap while you did all that. But I did read that all Ts are venomous but nothing worse then a bee/wasp. I’m not allergic so idc. I WONT be touching this boy( cause it’s gotta be a boy because of the colors, they’re brighter) lol me having a crestie and a Pac-Man means I have the perfect temps and humidity won’t be a problem


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i really hope you seriously consider pursuing this! LET ME LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOU!!!

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

i really hope you seriously consider pursuing this! LET ME LIVE VICARIOUSLY THROUGH YOU!!!

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I’m on the fence....and my hubby is standoffish about the idea...that and I have zero idea about a breeder. Boas and beeps I can deal with but all that come up that I can find are LLL and Backwater.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aerries

I’m on the fence....and my hubby is standoffish about the idea...that and I have zero idea about a breeder. Boas and beeps I can deal with but all that come up that I can find are LLL and Backwater.


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funny enough, most reputable breeder sites that came up on google were actually German LOL. i'll see what i can come up with; i'll do more google-fu tomorrow. [emoji3]

for your hubby: is it the fact that it's a spider? mildly venomous? just curious. [emoji4] the reason i decided against getting a T is their speed and general lack of handling. however, having so many animals now, the whole "multi-weekly regular handling" thing isn't that big of an issue anymore lol.

EDIT: these are amazing, BEAUTIFUL gifts from mother nature that are critically endangered. any responsible owner willing to keep one is a win for the species in my book. yes, this is an attempt to persuade you.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Aerries

Your awesome !!!!! Thanks I took a nap while you did all that. But I did read that all Ts are venomous but nothing worse then a bee/wasp. I’m not allergic so idc. I WONT be touching this boy( cause it’s gotta be a boy because of the colors, they’re brighter) lol me having a crestie and a Pac-Man means I have the perfect temps and humidity won’t be a problem


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All T's are indeed venomous, however to say that it's nothing worse than a bee sting is an understatement. First off there are New World T's which are found in the Americas and have milder venom but posses urticating hairs. Old world T's from Asia and Africa have more potent venom and from the stories I've heard, some species can be extremely painful with effects lasting months. The P. Metallica is an old world and nothing to take lightly. Old world are also more aggressive and fast. I currently keep three different species of Tarantulas (all New world) and my advice would be to start with a New World T. Do your research before buying. Beware that males are short lived once they reach maturity.

Also if you seriously consider purchasing a T I can recommend some good breeders (Stay away from LLL, backwater etc... also there are good breeders in the state although the T hobby is bigger in Europe). Don't let the beautiful colors of the P. Metallica influence an impulse buy. Look into the chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (also known as the green bottle blue GBB). They are very colorful and make magnificent webs. I currently have a tiny GBB sling.

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Originally Posted by RamMac

All T's are indeed venomous, however to say that it's nothing worse than a bee sting is an understatement. First off there are New World T's which are found in the Americas and have milder venom but posses urticating hairs. Old world T's from Asia and Africa have more potent venom and from the stories I've heard, some species can be extremely painful with effects lasting months. The P. Metallica is an old world and nothing to take lightly. Old world are also more aggressive and fast. I currently keep three different species of Tarantulas (all New world) and my advice would be to start with a New World T. Do your research before buying. Beware that males are short lived once they reach maturity.

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oh, thank you so much for the info!!! i have no practical knowledge, just what i've researched from contemplating getting a T.

i don't like the idea of "starter pets," as you state they should start with something besides what they want. if they have the knowledge to be a good owner, then i say go for it. please let me know if this mindset doesn't apply to Ts. i just want to learn. [emoji4]

would you mind vetting my resources i provided? if not that's cool. i've done a bit of research on Ts but nothing too serious so i don't want to provide false info.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

oh, thank you so much for the info!!! i have no practical knowledge, just what i've researched from contemplating getting a T.

i don't like the idea of "starter pets," as you state they should start with something besides what they want. if they have the knowledge to be a good owner, then i say go for it. please let me know if this mindset doesn't apply to Ts. i just want to learn. [emoji4]

would you mind vetting my resources i provided? if not that's cool. i've done a bit of research on Ts bit nothing too serious so i don't want to provide false info.

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Getting an easier to keep T is only a suggestion, as a beginner you can get whichever T you like. Keep in mind that just like snakes, more than just what you like should be taken into consideration. For a beginner, especially one wanting to overcome a fear of arachnids it is ideal to start with a less defensive T, preferably a slow moving one. The GBB i suggested is a fast one but nothing on the scale of a Poecilotheria, and certainly not that potent of a venom. I can suggest watching The Dark Den youtube channel, it is an awesome source of info and very entertaining.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RamMac

Getting an easier to keep T is only a suggestion, as a beginner you can get whichever T you like. Keep in mind that just like snakes, more than just what you like should be taken into consideration. For a beginner, especially one wanting to overcome a fear of arachnids it is ideal to start with a less defensive T, preferably a slow moving one. The GBB i suggested is a fast one but nothing on the scale of a Poecilotheria, and certainly not that potent of a venom. I can suggest watching The Dark Den youtube channel, it is an awesome source of info and very entertaining.

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thank you so much for the reply. what you say makes total sense, especially when someone states their innate fear and you recommending a more docile species. i've read many posts stating the swiftness and defensiveness of this species, and general careful handling techniques.

however, i still think @aerries should go for it if they want, just do PLENTY of research and know what to expect. he's a good keeper so i know they won't just jump in to this without due diligence.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

thank you so much for the reply. what you say makes total sense, especially when someone states their innate fear and you recommending a more docile species. i've read many posts stating the swiftness and defensiveness of this species, and general careful handling techniques.

however, i still think @aerries should go for it if they want, just do PLENTY of research and know what to expect. he's a good keeper so i know they won't just jump in to this without due diligence.

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Absolutely. I know of many people who jumped straight into Old World species. Research is important.

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Originally Posted by RamMac

Absolutely. I know of many people who jumped straight into Old World species. Research is important.

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do you have any resources you could share for poecilotheria? i love Ts and love absorbing any info i can. [emoji3]

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Originally Posted by tttaylorrr

do you have any resources you could share for poecilotheria? i love Ts and love absorbing any info i can. [emoji3]

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Nothing in depth, sorry. I currently only keep New World species so poecilotheria is not a genus I'm familiar with. My best sources so far have been FB groups.

I kept one of these about 10 years ago, had it for about 3 years as it turned out to be male and lived it's lifespan. They are fast, expensive, hard to aquire, and their bite can send a grown man to the ER.

Care is indeed similar to a crestie, room temp and humid, with frequent misting as they drink water droplets off the glass. A few crickets or roaches a week is enough for feeding. They are arboreal too, so a cresties style setup is what you need.

As far as speed goes... however fast you think you can move... it can move faster, NEVER put your hand in the cage, if you must move the spider, use a stick to herd it into a large jar with a wide mouth. And I'm not joking about their bite... it's a bad trip nobody wants to go on, extreme pain, abnormal heartbeats, sweating, nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, and difficulty breathing for at least 8 hours.

Holy crap this is a lot to take in lol Taylor you buying or me lol sorry was sleeping hahahah. I’m just messin, yea I knew about OW and NW but didn’t really know anything about the lifespan and how short it was for males....I suppose the brighter the flame shorter the wick deal...that sucks. And I always want the prettiest looking ones...lol this sucks that they are so venomous. (Totally keeping this info away from the hubby) lol jk he sees everything I type. BUT the venom tbh isn’t what scares me or the money to spend, it’s the movements....[emoji13] it’s something about molting, general moving, and how/what they are. Idk it’s hard to explain....oh the hairs on the NW ones are what I hate! Lol BUT I will never turn down anything that anyone suggest that has vast more knowledge than myself. I too came here to learn.


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So after further contemplation and research ive decided to actually move forward with my decision in getting this boy. regardless of money and lifespan...i know my husband is going to freak when i tell him but he will always trust my decision when it comes to animals and my dedication to them. now.....i need a breeder...

I am not into those but I must say there are some amazing T's out there, not that I would own one but I would love to photograph some of them.

Can't wait to see some nice pictures of your future critter. :gj: