Fringed ornamental (Poecilotheria ornata)

Quick stats:
Type: Arboreal, but will burrow some, espescially as spiderlings
Size (approx): 7"? Female?
Feeding: Large crickets, roaches, etc.
Enclosure: 5.5 gallon aquarium
Substrate: 2½" deep potting soil
Furnishings: Cork bark slab
Temp/Humidity: 80-84°F, 70-80% humidity
Temperment: Very fast, defensive if threatened
Recieved From: Arachnocentric on 05/27/2000

The P. ornata's photo album

  P. ornata
The P. ornata shortly after a molt.

Species Information:
Poecilotheria ornata, along with P. rufilata is one of the largest pokeys and, in fact, one of the largest arboreals in the world. Like the other pokes, they are purported to have powerful venom compared to most other tarantulas. They are native to Sri Lanka (or India... not sure). They're lighning quick, and can be agressive. This combined with their painful bite makes them a poor choice for a beginner, but a stunning specimen for a more experienced keeper.

Feeding:
Large crickets and now some pretty fat roaches are on the menu. They'll suddenly vanish right before my eyes. I think she's using her teleportation power to make the crix disappear. 		  The P. ornata eats
CRUNCH!

Housing:
This tarantula is now in a 5.5 gallon aquarium with a few inches of potting soil for substrate. There's a cork bark slab and a water dish as well.

The pokeys seem to have some burrowing behavior as small 'lings, and I've seen that in this one as well in her previous cages. It dug a little burrow under the cork bark stick, then supplemented that with increasign amounts of webbing covered with dirt above ground. The result has been a mass of dirt and web. She hasn't made any retreat in her new cage yet though.

I try to keep the humidity around 70-80%. It's usually about 80-84°F in my spider room, where it is kept. Because it's still really too small for a water dish, humidity is maintained by misting and moist substrate.

 5.5 gallon.
The P. ornata's 5.5 gallon cage is similar to this one for the P. irminia.

Temperment:
She's fast and furious. Amazingly fast. I don't think she runs though. She can just teleport to anywhere she wants as long as she doesn't have to pass through a solid substance or go further than about a foot.

I haven't seen "aggression" per se, but I haven't pestered her enough to find out!

Molting:

 Date  Old LS  New LS 
 06/04/2000  1¼"?  1¾"? 
 06/24/2000  1¾"?  2¼"? 
 07/17/2000?  2¼"?  3"? 
  - Notes: Not sure of exact date
 08/16/2000  3"?  3¾"? 
 09/25/2000  3¾"?  5" 
  - Notes: WOW!
 11/12/2000  5"  6"? 
 01/14/2001  6"?  7"? 
 

Copyright ©1999-2008 Thomas Schumm