Avics

[Jamie Brady]

Could some one help me-am trying to find out what avics can be kept communualy?

avicularia purpurea --?
avicularia huriana----yes?
avicularia versocolor-?
avicularia amazonica--yes

help much appriciated.

cheers

jamie

[Nicola Dolby]

The only communal species of Avic as far as I'm aware is minatrix, though I might be wrong certainly not versicolour!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jamie Brady]

avic

The only communal species of Avic as far as I'm aware is minatrix, though I might be wrong certainly not versicolour!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thanx nicola, the only one i was sure on was the amazonica lol

[Craig Mackay]

As far as I'm aware most Avics will tolerarate each other if given plenty space and plenty food much like they would have to in the wild sharing the same tree. I don't think they're communal in the way that pokies are. From what I've read versicolors are less tolerant of each other though.

[James Box]

some have done ok with a few in one enclosure...one guy swore up and down he'd kept hundreds together...but with high numbers, you're less likely to notice the cannibalism.

i think "communal" is the wrong word to use for any Theraphosid. even Pokies can end up turning cannibal!

some species are noteably more "tolerant" of others of their kind, but it's hard to predict or prevent whatever condition causes them to become territorial or intolerant of their neighbours.

i would personally say any communal set up should be considered an experiment, that way some scientific knowledge at least can be gleaned from all the death that's likely to happen.

[Elaine Ross]

the only one i was sure on was the amazonica lol

Can you point me in the direction of where you found the information on the communal amazonica's?

[Jamie Brady]

info

Can you point me in the direction of where you found the information on the communal amazonica's?

there wasnt much Elaine, just snips in care sheets,

http://www.petbugs.com/caresheets/A-avicularia.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avicularia_avicularia

and it was a.avic sp-sorry

[Peter Lacey]

I'd suggest that information is wrong. With the internet there are many people who'll claim to have success with community projects. But they often fail to provide the full details. Its not enough to say Avics can live together when they've only kept slings or had the community for a month or two.
Its far better to talk to people who have attempted this over a long period and gain from their experience.
I've come across many threads where people suggest Avics are communal and they go very quiet after a few months.
It seems various Avics will tolerate each other up to a certain point. A. versicolor do not bode well, with cannibalism setting in on the 2nd instar whereas A. sp. avicularia has been seen to live up to 4th moult happily. I've heard on very rare occassions of these surviving in large enclosures up to adult hood however I've never seen evidence of this.
I think if you were to attempt this you'd have to expect losses, you'd have to expect co-habitating rather than communal characteristics, you'd need to provide a large enclosure with plenty of hides and you'd have to expect that no everyone would be in favour of the attempt, but everyone would be eager to read if you succeeded.
A. minatrix seems the only exception, but getting hold of enough doesn't seem easy.

[ty sinclair]

hi i had 2 of the normal avics in the same tanks. they used to sit side by side on a branch. the odd time in the night u mite hear a scuffle of them fighting. apart from that they where fine.

[Jamie Brady]

nice

I'd suggest that information is wrong. With the internet there are many people who'll claim to have success with community projects. But they often fail to provide the full details. Its not enough to say Avics can live together when they've only kept slings or had the community for a month or two.
Its far better to talk to people who have attempted this over a long period and gain from their experience.
I've come across many threads where people suggest Avics are communal and they go very quiet after a few months.
It seems various Avics will tolerate each other up to a certain point. A. versicolor do not bode well, with cannibalism setting in on the 2nd instar whereas A. sp. avicularia has been seen to live up to 4th moult happily. I've heard on very rare occassions of these surviving in large enclosures up to adult hood however I've never seen evidence of this.
I think if you were to attempt this you'd have to expect losses, you'd have to expect co-habitating rather than communal characteristics, you'd need to provide a large enclosure with plenty of hides and you'd have to expect that no everyone would be in favour of the attempt, but everyone would be eager to read if you succeeded.
A. minatrix seems the only exception, but getting hold of enough doesn't seem easy.

Nice reply peter, i was just curious as had chance to buy few slings.
As you said, its easy to take info you read on google as gospel but who to say they know what there talking about.