new t setups

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
dzb912;2602126; said:
i think he knows what hes doing tho kat lol
i saw a red knee sling about an inch long for 40 bucks today
i was soooo temped to buy it
the store also had lots of rose hairs full grown for like 15 bucks
i dont like the big ones tho lol
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I would suggest Reading "The Tarantula Keepers Guide" or any tarantula books that is out there. For most tarantulas a shoebox size cage is all you need. There are some species that I listed above that would benefit for the large cage that he has. If anyone is interested in getting into T's to do your research. Arachnoborad, Tarantula Forum and the previous books. Here is part of the sticky that is on the T-forum".

"Housing

Tarantulas are easy to house, as long as the natural habit of the spider are taken into account. A large enclosure isn't necessary, but an arboreal species will need a tall cage and a burrowing type will need appropriate substrate or hiding places. Generally, spiders should be housed one to a cage as they are not social.

For burrowing or terrestrial spiders, a rule of thumb is that the cage should be approximately 2.5 times the leg span long, and 1.5 times the leg span wide. The height need not be much more than the length of the spider, and indeed these spiders are heavy and if they climb and fall it can be dangerous if not fatal. 2.5 or 5 gallon aquariums work well. This is one pet where the larger is always better rule doesn't really apply - the tarantula doesn't need a lot of extra space and it may make prey harder to find. They do need to have a very secure lid, however, as they can be escape artists, but the lid must also allow adequate ventilation. On the bottom, a substrate of vermiculite, or vermiculite mixed with varying ratios of potting soil and/or peat should be provided, at least 2-4 inches deep to provide burrowing room and to hold moisture. Wood chips, especially cedar, should be avoided.

A place to hide should also be provided - a piece of cork bark works well, or a half hollow log (as available from pet stores), or half a clay flower pot on it's side.

The arboreal tarantulas need a cage that is taller to provide climbing room, with branches, twigs or some other structure on which the spider can construct it's web. A 10 gallon aquarium set on one end can work well for this purpose.

Tarantulas do not need bright lights, and in fact should be kept in a darker area of a room, where direct sunlight will not fall on the cage. Incandescent lights should no be used for heating as they could potentially dry out the tarantula. Heating strips or pads (available at pet stores for reptiles) can placed under a small part of the cage for heating needs. Most species of tarantula do fine somewhere between 75-85 F.

Appropriate temperatures and humidity must be maintained, but this is where the various species have different requirements.
For tarantulas that do not require high humidity levels, a water dish in the cage and misting once a week should be sufficient. For those that require higher humidity, more frequent misting will be necessary. In any case, temperature and humidity gauges should be used to monitor conditions. At the higher temperatures extra care must be taken to ensure adequate humidity levels.

The cage should not need cleaning frequently - for spiders kept at a relatively low humidity level once year is likely enough (earlier if mold, fungus or mites are noticed). For those kept in a more humid environment, this will need to be done more often. "
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I know that I am new to this forum but I'm been into T's for almost 2 years, I do educational presentations for a local museum and wildlife centers. We researched T's for months before getting to them. We now have 95 tarantulas and after today it will be more(reptile swap). We personally know breeders. Our collection is small compared to one person we know owns close to 300 T's. I'm not trying to get into an argument I just what to help. I wish when we had started keeping fish that we had someone to help us out. Most of the people that we knew never had larger aquariums and at least when we got into tarantulas there is the wonderful web. Once you are in the hobby somehow you end up finding more people with a common interest.

I made a mistake when I called the B. auratum a red knee it's common name is flame knee. The B. smiti is the red knee. That's about right for a B. smithi ($40) sling. We have two 5.5" that we bought for $100 a piece. The one reason they are expensive is that they are all captive bred. Their site is protected because of over collecting in the wild in the 1970's. Be careful about buying from a pet store. If it is a full size G. rosea it probably is wild caught and it might be a mature male. I know at my work in a years time we had 4 rose hairs 1 was sold before we had T's, 1 was a female, 1 a ultimate male and the one we bought was a male that became an ultimate male a year after we got him. Fluffy's life span now around 2 years. :(
 
I agree with you Reptech that it is worth the money for the B. smithi sling. I love our big girls. We had a sling but we donated to a nature center.
 
katschamne;2600844; said:
Okay let me start out saying that the enclosures look awesome.

I second that. Most T's don't need that much space ever. I agree bigger the better for aquariums but when it comes to T enclosures bigger isn't always better. They live most of their lives in the wild in a small holes in the ground or under something waiting for food to come by, for terrestrial species. The tank is too tall for the red knee, a fall from 1 1/2 times the leg span of the tarantula can be fatal. Then it's is too long, when the enclosure is too big it makes it harder for it to catch it's food. You also don't want to have died crickets left in the cage.

Now for the A. avic, yes they need the height and they will jump, but it is still too large of an enclosure. It will make it's home in a little corner of the tank or in the branch. Plus it will be hard to keep the humidity up in a tank that large. The B auratum is a specie that likes it drier and will do better when the substrate dies out a bit. Until then it will spend most of it's time on top of one of the branches.

It is better for the A. avic or any T for that fact to start out in a small container and move it as it grows. It will feel more secure in a smaller enclosure. Our A. avic (about 3-3 1/2") is in a half gallon jar and our A. metallica (5-5 1/2") is in a gallon jar. This is the A. avic and her home. Please don't take it wrong way I'm just trying to help. But again let me say that the tanks look really great. Hubby says that he would get a big P. ornata for the 20H and a H. gigas for the 20L.
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Makes sence:D We learn anything new every day;)
 
Obviously you are not reading the post. Too tall of a tank can be fatal, not being able to find food or water can be fatal. No in the wild they are not confined to a 12x6x3" area but most of them don't wander more then a few inches from their burrow, they are ambush predators... meaning they lie and wait for the food to come to them. The only time you see a tarantula wondering around it is usually a male looking for a female. I know there is a person on a couple of other forums that have huge cages and I won't name names but if you really look at his post he is not the brightest. I'm just letting you what the experts say. I can't belive that three fourms, at least four book and 3 breeders are all wrong on the size. I'm done trying to explain.

Like I said the cages do look nice. In the 20L a H. gigas would be awesome. You would have to fill the tank almost up with substare but the tunnels they make are awesome.
 
I can't believe that three forms, at least four book and 3 breeders are all wrong on the size[/qoute]

I'm being sarcastic. I'm saying what they are saying that the tank is too large. I'm not saying that they are wrong in fact I quoted you what they said on tank size. This is from the forum that you post on. If you don't believe me here is the link: http://www.tarantulas.us/forums/showthread.php?t=17 it is in this part of the forum:
http://www.tarantulas.us/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15
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ok so you just made your self look sill cause there is not much hight difference between a 20 high and a ten gal turned on its side and ya its a little wider but when trying to breed you need more room so your female doesnt eat your male so that being said my tanks are not to big and the biggest i would go is a 20l or 20h so i think your just trying to be a smart a and i think this thread should be closed thanks
 
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