MBArachnids
Arachnoknight
- Joined
- Jun 3, 2019
- Messages
- 249
Hey everyone,
Just some background, I have been in the hobby for 9 years, i have owned and sold close to 150 tarantulas. I am however no expert and my newest member to the collection has me stumped.
General T Information
I bought an adult female H. gigas from a pet store in a city close by. I bought the T because it was being kept in horrible conditions. By eye she seems to have a leg span of about 6 inches (15cm), due to behavior i can't measure properly.
Enclosure Information
I have the T in a 20x20x15 inch homemade enclosure (50x50x38cm), substrate is 5 inches (12.7cm). Humidity is at 78% for now with a temperature of 77-79°F (25-26°c). Water dish as per normal with a decent hide. (She uses the hide seldomly)
Problem
The T is very defensive/hostile, not only when feeding but it will viciously attack the enclosure if you walk by. This is very strange since it was kept in a pet store, people would have walked by it constantly. (When walking by at a distance nothing happens, probably eyesight related)
Steps i have implemented
I have had to move this lady to my spare bedroom since i can't feed my other T's or even check on them with her around without her attacking the enclosure constantly. (Striking the glass)
I have made a point of it to keep the room as dark as possible when feeding, seems to help a bit. I am also only checking up on her from a distance at this point.
I would appreciate any feedback on this, I do not believe that this behavior is normal for the species, although they are OW tarantulas this is a bit over the top.
Just for reference if i compare my H. gigas to my C. lividum it makes my C. lividum look like a well trained lap dog.
Please help Arghh
Just some background, I have been in the hobby for 9 years, i have owned and sold close to 150 tarantulas. I am however no expert and my newest member to the collection has me stumped.
General T Information
I bought an adult female H. gigas from a pet store in a city close by. I bought the T because it was being kept in horrible conditions. By eye she seems to have a leg span of about 6 inches (15cm), due to behavior i can't measure properly.
Enclosure Information
I have the T in a 20x20x15 inch homemade enclosure (50x50x38cm), substrate is 5 inches (12.7cm). Humidity is at 78% for now with a temperature of 77-79°F (25-26°c). Water dish as per normal with a decent hide. (She uses the hide seldomly)
Problem
The T is very defensive/hostile, not only when feeding but it will viciously attack the enclosure if you walk by. This is very strange since it was kept in a pet store, people would have walked by it constantly. (When walking by at a distance nothing happens, probably eyesight related)
Steps i have implemented
I have had to move this lady to my spare bedroom since i can't feed my other T's or even check on them with her around without her attacking the enclosure constantly. (Striking the glass)
I have made a point of it to keep the room as dark as possible when feeding, seems to help a bit. I am also only checking up on her from a distance at this point.
I would appreciate any feedback on this, I do not believe that this behavior is normal for the species, although they are OW tarantulas this is a bit over the top.
Just for reference if i compare my H. gigas to my C. lividum it makes my C. lividum look like a well trained lap dog.
Please help Arghh