new T - hows my setup?

anaconda19

Arachnosquire
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May 15, 2008
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hellos to all. i just got my chilean rose, i have a new baby red knee and baby emp as well as two baby mantids. but theyr all tiny so i decided i wanna buy a larger T so i got something to look at... went to pet shop-local reptile specialists, looked at one rose, ti was grey had a leg missing and looked dieing, couldnt even walk right, no thanks, looked at next one, perfect health looked alert active and nice, but grey, looked closer got some male hooks on front legs, umm no thanks, looked at the last one they had, amazing!! bright red, perfect condition, reddest one ive seen. was asking questions about its last feed etc, then i nearly died when someone else in the shop came over and said its nice and asked about it, so i quick as poss said yep ill buy it!

so hows my set up look? its heated from back with a heat mat, has a water bowl and some plastic plants as well as a coconut cave. coir earth on floor.
is this setup large enough? how much bigger will it get, i cant really see from other pics...? any age guesses? anything else i should know, ive read quite a few care guides. thanks :)
 

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von_z

Arachnobaron
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Feb 10, 2008
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Looks good. Just let the substrate dry out and keep the water dish full.
 

Londoner

Arachnoangel
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Mar 21, 2008
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The heatmat looks a little large for that enclosure if you're gonna use one. I live in the UK and I've never bothered with them even in the middle of winter. As long as your house is heated enough for yourself, the T will be ok. If you feel it really is too cold, then you're right to place it on the side of the tank ( I'd suggest using a smaller mat though). Your T should reach about a 6 inch legspan at the most. If you've got a female, be prepared for her to be around for many years to come! {D
 

dGr8-1

Arachnoknight
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I agree with Von Z. The substrate is too moist. I keep my Rosie on bone dry substrate.
 

von_z

Arachnobaron
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Maybe my eyes are playing tricks, but ln the first pic, the thing with the copper strips behind the tank looks like a heatmat.
I thought it was the lid. I could be wrong.
 

Nerri1029

Chief Cook n Bottlewasher
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Looks great.

take the previous advice.

No heat mat needed, not that I saw one either.. though that copper striped item behind the cage has my curiousity piqued

let that substrate DRY OUT. G. rosea do not like moist substrate.
 

Londoner

Arachnoangel
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Mar 21, 2008
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I thought it was the lid. I could be wrong.
I was given a heatmat when a friend gave me a B. smithi last year. I've just dug it out of a drawer and it's identical to whats in that pic. If it's being used as a lid the OP's gonna spend a lot of time going on a "T hunt" around their house lol. :D
 

Skullptor

Arachnobaron
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Feb 25, 2008
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It's being used as a lid! That doesn't sound very escape proof! And if your container has no vent holes and the lid doesn't either...you will have problems with that setup. Beautiful T though.
 

anaconda19

Arachnosquire
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May 15, 2008
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the heat mat is at the back, it is being used to heat a whole tower of enclosures, emp scorps at bottom, this rosie in the middle with a plastic lid with holes in, then mex red knee and two mantids at the top. because all my inverts are new, this week, the substrate is one of those coir blocks ive only just soacked it so thats why its so wet and theres condensation on sides etc, i will let it dry right out... then do the normal of occasional spraying as needed to keep humidity right. :)
 

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von_z

Arachnobaron
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In the future, after soaking those substrate blocks, ring it out with your hands before putting it in the cage. It will be much dryer.
 

Stuart C

Arachnopeon
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Apr 23, 2008
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In the future, after soaking those substrate blocks, ring it out with your hands before putting it in the cage. It will be much dryer.
Yup, give it a squeeze out, be amazed at how much water that stuff actually holds! Also the Rosie likes it alot drier than squeezed, I usually put that stuff in the oven once its mixed to dry it out, watch its not in for too long and if you have a large amount in give it a stir about now and again to getthe heat going round properly. Also if its dried any that you have left wont be sitting going moldy in the shed lol

Also for those who didnt recognise the heat mat, its a HabiStat mat made in the UK (here in bonny Scotland!) so perhaps you dont get them across the pond?

Anyway, nice Rosie, welcome to the hobby :D
 
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Londoner

Arachnoangel
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Mar 21, 2008
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There's really no need for even occasional spraying with B. smithi and G. rosea. As people have already said, rosies like it bone dry and smithis like it much the same. The only time you might want to raise humidity levels is during a molt and even then you only need to overflow the waterdish a bit (keep it a bit more humid for your B. smithi while it's still a sling though). Good luck and welcome to the boards! :)
 
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