A. Chalcodes Habits

Eclipsus99

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 26, 2021
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1
Hey there everyone, I'm new to this hobby, and got my first Aphonopelma Chalcodes about 2 days ago. I'm unsure if this information is at all crucial to my question, but when I first got her the pet store's Tarantula Specialist told me he had just fed her.
Now, since putting her in the encloser I noticed her roaming/exploring her new home for probably 3-4 hours. But since then she has been practically motionless on top of the back corner of the enclosure. Not gonna lie, I'm a bit hurt that she didn't even try to go in the little burrow I started for her, especially considering most of the information I could find said that Aphonopelma Chalcodes often live in burrows, and are opportunist's, taking advantage of abandoned holes left by other creatures.
Is this a typical behavior for this species? 20210125_215119.jpg
 

spideyspinneret78

Arachnoprince
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Jul 19, 2019
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1,253
Put more substrate in there now! If she falls she could easily die. The mesh screen also needs to be replaced with acrylic because they can get their legs stuck in it and fall. She's also adjusting to everything and is stressed right now. Fix her habitat and let her settle in for a while.
 

Tarantulafeets

Arachnobaron
Joined
Nov 8, 2020
Messages
336
100% agree with the post above. Also, the enclosure is pretty big for the size of the t, you can just put it in a simple shoe storage box like what I use, or search around AB, lots of great enclosures and information around here. Can we get a pic of the full enclosure to help you out on anything else you missed?
Example enclosure: 20210113_180130.jpg

As for behavior, that is what ts usually do when they are taken out of they're old home and but somewhere brand new. Once it settles into the proper enclosure in about a week or two, you can try to feed it, although A chalcodes aren't known to be great eaters.
 

The Grym Reaper

Arachnoreaper
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Jul 19, 2016
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4,835
As was mentioned above, you need to add a lot more substrate, the gap between the top of the substrate and the top of the enclosure should not exceed 1.5x the tarantula's leg span as even short falls can kill them. You'll also need to modify the lid as woven mesh is unsafe for tarantulas, they can get their tarsal claws stuck where the wires overlap and either lose legs or kill themselves trying to get free, to do so you'll need to get some acrylic cut to size, drill a bunch of holes into it, and then fix it to the underside of the mesh with aquarium silicone.

As for the behaviour, that's normal for a newly housed tarantula, it can take days/weeks for them to fully settle in to a new enclosure.
 

Smotzer

ArachnoGod
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Jan 17, 2020
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5,275
Man that makes me very nervous! Please fix ASAP. You can use any type of substrate/soil to fill up as long as it has no fertilizers or chemical additives: coco coir/fiber, peat moss, top soil. Those are the most common and you can use any combination of the three, plain on peat moss and additive free top soil are the cheapest.
 

Matt Man

Arachnoprince
Joined
Jul 4, 2017
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1,685
in your photo the substrate should be up so the Coleman Box isn't visible. Your set up poses a sever fall risk and it also appears to have a wire mesh lid. They can get their claws hung up in those and lose a leg, and fall. It is just stressed right now from the new digs but at this time and place the life of your T is in danger. Remedy ASAP
 

Rigor Mortis

Arachnobaron
Joined
Nov 7, 2018
Messages
498
I'm a bit hurt that she didn't even try to go in the little burrow I started for her, especially considering most of the information I could find said that Aphonopelma Chalcodes often live in burrows, and are opportunist's, taking advantage of abandoned holes left by other creatures.
Is this a typical behavior for this species?
I've had my chalcodes for 2 years and she's never burrowed. Barely uses her hide. In captivity they'll frequently sit out in the open instead of making a burrow like they would in the wild. It will take your new spider some time to settle and after that you might never get a burrow out of her. If you don't it's not the end of the world. :)
 

spideyspinneret78

Arachnoprince
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Jul 19, 2019
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It can take tarantulas a while to adjust to a change in their surroundings. My A.chalcodes took a few weeks to start using her burrow. And every spider has a different 'personality'/ behavior. Some sit out in the open regularly and some are more timid and hide more often. Mine tends to be more of a burrower. Be patient, and once your spider starts settling in you'll probably start seeing more interesting behaviors.
 

Matt Man

Arachnoprince
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Jul 4, 2017
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1,685
I own 2, one LARGE AF and a sub adult of indeterminate gender. My AF never uses her burrow, the sub adult does often
 

sk063

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 26, 2021
Messages
42
We are still new to keeping T's, I picked up an A. chalcodes at a reptile expo roughly 3" - 3 1/4". Fantastic eater, won't hit the tong's " thank goodness " but pounces when prey is dropped. Curious if anyone has noticed this species drinking a bunch of water prior to molt. We've got a small water dish roughly 1.75 " in diameter in it's enclosure. We topped it off this morning and I just witnessed it face first for nearly 10 minutes again this evening. There is a very small bald patch center rear of abdomen. It's taken roughly 1/4'' of depth from the water dish over the last 2 nights.

thanks, Steve
 

Matt Man

Arachnoprince
Joined
Jul 4, 2017
Messages
1,685
We are still new to keeping T's, I picked up an A. chalcodes at a reptile expo roughly 3" - 3 1/4". Fantastic eater, won't hit the tong's " thank goodness " but pounces when prey is dropped. Curious if anyone has noticed this species drinking a bunch of water prior to molt. We've got a small water dish roughly 1.75 " in diameter in it's enclosure. We topped it off this morning and I just witnessed it face first for nearly 10 minutes again this evening. There is a very small bald patch center rear of abdomen. It's taken roughly 1/4'' of depth from the water dish over the last 2 nights.

thanks, Steve
I see mine drink. Be prepared they do LONG fasts and can take forever in pre molt.
 
Joined
Oct 20, 2021
Messages
1
100% agree with the post above. Also, the enclosure is pretty big for the size of the t, you can just put it in a simple shoe storage box like what I use, or search around AB, lots of great enclosures and information around here. Can we get a pic of the full enclosure to help you out on anything else you missed?
Example enclosure: View attachment 373629

As for behavior, that is what ts usually do when they are taken out of they're old home and but somewhere brand new. Once it settles into the proper enclosure in about a week or two, you can try to feed it, although A chalcodes aren't known to be great eaters.
Where did you get this acrylic enclosure?
 

Tarantulafeets

Arachnobaron
Joined
Nov 8, 2020
Messages
336
Where did you get this acrylic enclosure?
It's from daiso, its sold as a shoe storage box, I poked hokes on the side and it works well. Just be careful as the lid has nothing securing it, as the t can just push it up to open, so I just put other sling enclosures on top to weigh it down.
 

YungRasputin

Arachnobaron
Joined
May 25, 2021
Messages
403
even in ideal conditions the T won’t always do what you predict/want it too - for example, my M. balfouri was given a pre-made burrow, ample amount of substrate, the environmental conditions within the enclosure were optimal, etc and it chose to hide behind a succulent for the first week or so before making its way to the pre-made burrow

i would make some adjustments and then give it time to adjust to the new set up
 
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