need pokie advice

[paul fleming]

Hi all,
Have 3 communes....6 ruf slings,6 juvy fasciata and a male and female fasci commune (I want to breed theses).
Forget the fufs,I am concerned about the other 2.
I have the 6 juvies in a 12x12x18 exo and the 2 adults in an 18x18x24 exo....also have a spare 18x18x24 exo all set up and ready to go.
Do I move the 6 to the bigger tank......do I move the 2 to a smaller tank ?
The juvies are getting big.....4" or so.
Was keeping one of the big exo's for the rufs but can always get another one if needed.
thanks,
paul
left (2 adults).........middle (6 juvies)......right (empty and ready to go)

[Colin D Wilson]

There's always a aire pf unpredictability when rehousing communes i've found out (for myself and what other keepers have mentioned), moving a commune can sometimes spark a bit of disruption (and worse case scenario, cannibilism)
If this were my situation i would leave the two adults as they are, nothing drastically wrong with the setup regarding size in my opinion, keep them adequately fed and maybe add some more cork bark (or similar) to provide extra secluded hiding areas.
The 6 juvies would be better in the larger tank (my opinion due to their size now and the fact that no further rehousing would be needed) i would take the decor/webbing from their original tank and situate it as close to how it was .. and introduce more hiding places for them with corkbark etc.

still leaves you with a large tank though ... 6 ruffies when they're older maybe?

[Peter Lacey]

Interesting thoughts there Colin.
I find this the best solution but its not always available


From my own experience, which is far less than Colin's excellent advice, you're dealing with an experiment of pokies. There's no rule book that guides you to success and each decision may reward you with a change of circumstances.

When I rehoused both my 3 x P. rufilata and 5 x P. subfusca communities I simply placed the existing enclosures into the new enclosure and let them make their own way out. Both were about 4" sized pokies and both showed strong communal characteristics prior to and after rehousing. Interestingly enough, and a little contrary to my own advice, I used 2 cork tubes but in both cases only 1 was used and there was no problems other than my own anxieties.

From the various other communities I've only rehoused whilst they are slings and early juveniles. I've not found any issues at this stage. I found it necessary to remove one P. ornata from a community of 4 due to a huge size difference (2" & 4") and yet there didnt seem to be any issues with the remaining 3 or a renewed heirachy.

The only other issue I've had was with 2 P. regalis as it became obvious one was becoming much stronger than the other and seemed to be testing the strength of the other.

My own viewpoint is that the success of communities is built on enforcing the community, by encouraging only 1 large hide, and by making sure there's plenty of food. Its also my opinion that restricting their space does not encourage cannibilism but repeated rehousing within short intervals isn't to be encouraged.

[paul fleming]

So are you advising keeping them as they pete ?
I am just not sure the smaller exo could take 6 adult fasciata after seeing how big the other 2 are getting mate.

paul

[Nicola Dolby]

18 x 18 x 24 Exo-Terra are ideal for adult Pokie enclosures. Just be careful of the humidity levels, use moss on top of the substrate. As long as you have a big enough bark tube (internal diameter about 12-14 cm and about 45 cm high) and a fdw dark places you should be able to house a large Pokie colony (up to 12 adults). Good luck!

[paul fleming]

this is 2 of the juvy pokies....the other 4 are hiding although they all seem to get on fine.
Don't get me wrong,I would rather leave them be if they were ok as adults in a 12x12x18.
Looking forward to rehousing the 6........rather do that than walk past the
s.dichromata tank any day...lol

[Peter Lacey]

Well Paul, to summarise, I wouldn't be too bothered about 6 in that space, I've been told of much higher densities than that but as Colin suggests it would reduce the need to rehouse.

[paul fleming]

Well Paul, to summarise, I wouldn't be too bothered about 6 in that space, I've been told of much higher densities than that but as Colin suggests it would reduce the need to rehouse.

This is a hard one mate.....don't know what to do.
Two things going throught my mind.......rehousing them is no problem for me so that does not come into the equation.

1...They are fine now so will rehousing them change things and lead to squabbling ?

2.....If I don't move them,are they going to be too big as adults for the tank they are now in.I have seen how big these get and it is big.

A difficult one that looks like is going to be down to me...mmmmmm
Let you all know when I decide.....if I do move them.....there will be pictures and hopefully no bite report
paul
edit.....I am not too sure about giving them lots of hiding places

[paul fleming]

Just had this off RobC....chatting last night on arachnoboards.....getting confusing now...lol
paul

I'd leave the juvies in there if they are doing well - but keep an eye out for them each claiming their own territories. That would be your only issue with them having that kind of room - if they each establish their own area, they will defend that area against anything that comes near - whether it's a prey item or another T. __________________
My enclosures make any T look small!

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