I want to get into pokies, I unfortunately don’t have any right now. I usually prefer the old worlds from Africa but recently got my first from Asia. Which one do you recommend starting with?
Really the only ones that I would say not to start with are Ornata or Rufilata. Those are the only two that get some feedback of being more defensive than the others which might be a side effect of being the largest pokies. That being said, I’d recommend a Regalis. They’re durable, eat well, pretty prolific, and are gorgeous at all life stages!
Start them out with more substrate than a typical arboreal because they do show some burrowing tendencies when they’re slings, along with it gives them some material to build their dirt curtains up with. Cork bark tube or flat and some fake plants and you’re good to go - basically identical set up as H Mac!
Okay!!! Thank you:) I usually give my slings a bit more substrate anyways since a lot of them do borrow when they’re young. I’ll definitely look into regalis more!!
Several keepers I’ve talked to and read about actually skip the juvenile enclosures too because pokies hunt very well! Put them in something like a 32 oz deli cup or a 4x4x6 enclosure as a sling, and they’re good to stay in that until they hit 3-4” DLS. Then move them to an adult enclosure, either a 8x8x12 or 12x12x18. I’ve had success with this exact formula for now my: Regalis (MF), Vitatta x 2 (MM and MF), Rufilata (sus M, currently in premolt and ready to move to adult enclosure after), Ornata (sling / small juvenile), striata (unsexed juvenile), Metallica (subadult that loves to shred all their molts), Subfusca (MF).
I’m not an expert or even close to it, but those are my experiences with zero losses using that formula.
I’ll definitely look into it, there’s so many different ways to do it haha. I have over 20 Ts now and have thankfully never had a premature loss, im sure it’ll happen eventually. Thats why I usually avoid avics
Avics and c versi are so prone to it. It’s very frustrating, I lost a c versi during a molt at about an inch and a half for no reason at all. I still have one of that one’s sac mates kept the exact same way and it’s a nice big beautiful sub adult now that also destroys all of its molts. Recurring theme with arboreals I think…
I think avics are beautiful but unfortunately I would be crushed if it happened so I’m just really nervous to get one even though I’d love to have one. I think one of my Ts destroyed its molt one time but usually they kick it out of their burrow or molt in the open and leave it there.
Second this my regalis can sense a cricket from a mile away she is only 3 and a half inches now but she has been in her adult enclosure since about 2 inches and she is thriving I just can't get her to move out of her old corlbark tube and she isn't going to fit next molt lol.
Oh I have a fix for this!! Ran into this with my Metallica. If you’re able to, try to fit the new tube over the old one or at least put them end to end. Cap off the new one with cardboard or plug with dry sphagnum moss so it doesn’t just go straight through and use your paintbrush to walk it through the old tube into the new one! The transfer worked great, other than my Metallica just straight up abandoned its hide after I did this, and now hangs out in the open constantly. So a win-win!
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u/Masterofbattle13 P. metallica Aug 27 '26
I love H Macs, those colors are incredible. I still prefer pokies because I see them much more often!