A. Avic my first arboreal

[Haksilence]

Hey guys,
Just picked up my first arboreal species since it was on sale at my local pet store. Ive got him/her in plastic container I got from Walmart about 12 in tall and square about 4x4 on the base. Rehousing was a breeze, very calm, very easy to handle, went right in no problems.
It's about 3 maybe 4 inches, and I have some wood and decorations for climbing material, the main piece of wood coming almost to the top. About an inch and a half of eco earth. Gatorade cap for water dish, although I've read she may not use it and I should consider making an elevated dish.
So since I've rehoused it its stayed pretty much exclusivly on the wall at the top with very little movement and exploring, no webbing, ect.
For feeding will it desend from its perch to get crickets on the ground? Most feeding videos I've seen involving avicularia species the owners either had then housed in much shorter enclosures or dropped prey in webbing or decoration and they went right for them.

So again, will it come down to hunt or will it wait expecting food to come to it? Attached is photo reference

 

[Rogerpoco]

It should eventually settle and explore-the cereal containers from wallyworld are a good choice,cheap,function over form,but still look nice.

I would say that it is large enough to scout out any prey in its enclosure,but...it was likely overfed at the chain petstore. I had an asian forest scorpion from likely a similar store,didn't eat for a year. Won't be that long for your Avic-assuming it isnt post/pre molt,it'll eat whenever it has room for more food.

If thats the wood sold in a bag for hermit crabs tho(name escapes me atm),I can only use it on my most arid T's,molds/fuzzes up quickly with any moisture,no matter the ventilation. Grapewood,mebe?

Good luck! Is like trying to pick a favorite child,but Avics are my fave,hope you love it!

 

[bryverine]

I can always tell when mine is hungry because she leaves her web tunnel and hangs closer to the ground. In fact, she's ready to eat again today from what I can tell.
I have also seen her on many occasions drinking from her water 'dish' that is on the bottom of her enclosure.

 

[mistertim]

I just got a 4 inch A. versi recently; my first arboreal as well. She isn't eating yet but she is starting to web now that she seems to be getting comfortable with her enclosure. I was actually wondering some of the same stuff. I did hot glue a 2 oz deli cup on the side about half way up for water. I would assume that they will go get food wherever but I know in nature Avics pretty much spend all their time in the trees as opposed to some that may be arboreal but will come down sometimes.

 

[dementedlullaby]

Do you only have holes on two sides? I'd probably add a few more and get rid of that condensation. They do better dry with a water dish . Personally don't see a need to hot glue the water dish to the side. They'll come down and drink when they want to. I've witnessed my A. avics and versi do so. I do add a few droplets to their webs for easy drinking though once a week or so.

Otherwise pretty nice! I'd maybe add some more plastic plants/vines for web anchoring points around the fake log. Should grow nicely into that enclosure, congrats on the new addition.

 

[Haksilence]

Okay thanks for the information all! I only was worried because right when I brought it home there was a cricket in the critter keeper that it was sold in and when I removed the lid it spooked the cricket out and he/she jumped on it, actually jumped, like across the container and nabbed it. So I assumed it was pretty damn hungry, but it dropped it during the rehousing. There are two smaller crickets running around in the new enclosure, I guess she will come down and snag them too when she is ready to eat.

Also there are between 5-10 1/4 inch holes on 3 out of the 4 sides. Plus about 8 same sized holes in the lid

 

[Haksilence]

It is a debarked dehydrated grapewood perch sold for bird enclosures. Seemed perfect for the t.

 

[mistertim]

Okay thanks for the information all! I only was worried because right when I brought it home there was a cricket in the critter keeper that it was sold in and when I removed the lid it spooked the cricket out and he/she jumped on it, actually jumped, like across the container and nabbed it. So I assumed it was pretty damn hungry, but it dropped it during the rehousing. There are two smaller crickets running around in the new enclosure, I guess she will come down and snag them too when she is ready to eat.

Also there are between 5-10 1/4 inch holes on 3 out of the 4 sides. Plus about 8 same sized holes in the lid

She might, but it might be a while before she eats as she gets acclimated to the new enclosure. I wouldn't leave the crickets in there for more than 24 hours. Not that they're a danger to her but they could die or they could stress her out more...having crickets running around while she's trying to get settled in.

 

[Poec54]

Basic Avic set up is a solid lid, cross ventilation on the sides, dry substrate, cork and plastic plants, and a full water bowl. You want anchor points to encourage spinning; I use Zoo Med vining type of plastic plants (silk plants have dyes and sometimes fragrances); you can get a big bag for $5. I only mist slings, and then it's once a week and only a tiny spray on their silk. There shouldn't be any condensation in the cage. Avics always spin near the top of their cage and will come down to look for food when their hungry. They'll also find the water bowl if the cage isn't too big or tall.

I'd add plastic plants to your cage.

 

[cold blood]

I agree with others, there's no need to move the water. The ground is the best place for it and the water dish should never be glued in place. Doing so would only serve to make changing/cleaning it nearly impossible....and I can guarantee it won't stay clean forever, whether sub is dropped in, it gets webbed up (causing a wicking effect), it gets poo'd in or a bolus dropped in, it will need to be removed and cleaned or replaced on a fairly regular basis.

Like poec, I would surround the wood with plastic plants, this gives both cover, and anchor points to encourage spinning.

And yes, it will go down to the ground to hunt if that's where the prey is.

 

[mistertim]

I just glued a 2oz deli cup to the side about half way up. Then I filled another one with water and dropped it in the first. I have about a hundred of them so when I need to change the water I just take out the one with the water then replace it with a new one. But yeah, you should be fine with water on the bottom. I'm sure the T can find it either way if it needs to.

 

[Haksilence]

Update:
He seems to be enjoying his enclosure and is acclimating well.
The two crickets that were in the enclosure vanished. He might have ate them but I suspect they are just hiding.

Anyway I saw he was hanging out on the lower 3rd of the enclosure, maybe only half an inch from the substrate and I remembered what you guys had said about their mannerisms, ie descending when hunting or hungry. So just to see I dropped a smaller cricket in front of him and I'm not even 100% sure it hit the substrate he got it so quick.
Very aggressive feeding response, very clearly hungry. As soon as he got it he scrambled to the top of the log and is currently perched there munching away.
I'd say the rehousal was a success and to my surprise I got an aparently healthy t from a lps.

What would you guys put his age at? Close to maturity right?

 

[MrsHaas]

I can always tell when mine is hungry because she leaves her web tunnel and hangs closer to the ground. In fact, she's ready to eat again today from what I can tell.
I have also seen her on many occasions drinking from her water 'dish' that is on the bottom of her enclosure.

Mine does the exact same thing

 

[Chris11]

+1 to everyone, but id ditch that yellow bush... it looks sharp.

 

[Haksilence]

It's a very soft rubbery material. He would be hard pressed to harm himself on it. But I am on the lookout for more appropriate, more natural looking decorations

 

[viper69]

The yellow bush is a waste of space. I would remove that. This will allow your T to utilize the space, once removed, and walk around the slanted wood, esp for hunting.

Also you have far too few ventilation holes in my experience. I have much more than that for my Avics.

While not necessary, you would be better off by inverting the container as Avics hang out at the top of containers.

 

[Haksilence]

The yellow bush is a waste of space. I would remove that. This will allow your T to utilize the space, once removed, and walk around the slanted wood, esp for hunting.

Also you have far too few ventilation holes in my experience. I have much more than that for my Avics.

While not necessary, you would be better off by inverting the container as Avics hang out at the top of containers.

The container is deceptively large so I'm not concerned with wasted space, its already almost too large for him.
What do you mean by inserting the container? It is inverted...

 

[cold blood]

What do you mean by inserting the container? It is inverted...

Your pic says otherwise.

Yes, he was suggesting having the lid on the bottom, and with a rigid top like you have, its probably a pretty good idea. I try to avoid rigid tops for housing avics....if you have to remove the entire lid to get in, its going to be a constant source of irritation for your avic as their handiwork is destroyed every time.

 

[viper69]

The container is deceptively large so I'm not concerned with wasted space, its already almost too large for him.
What do you mean by inserting the container? It is inverted...

I own a few of those containers, they aren't that large. They are somewhat tall, and fairly narrow IMO.

As for wasted space, your T would benefit by having more space, not less to move around hence my suggestion to remove that yellow plastic. Removing a useless yellow piece of plastic was only a suggestion.

I would have put more ventilation than what appears. That is, if all the sides look like that picture, I'd have increased the ventilation significantly.

Your container in that pic is not inverted.

 

[Haksilence]

I thought you were insinuating that the container was oriented in a horizontal fashion. I understand. If I were to place the lid on the bottom how would you access the container for cleaning and feeding?