A. geniculata enclosure advice

[mickeydubs]

Greetings, I am fairly new to the hobby (about 1 month deep) and am looking for some advice regarding enclosures. The largest T I have is a juvenile (I think 'juvenile' is the right term for a specimen at 6cm) at about 6cm (A. bicoloratum) and I'm confident that the enclosure I have is appropriate. I'm eyeing a larger A. geniculata that I see for sale at about 13-14cm, but I know that they'll grow to about 20cm or so at the maximum size. Would it be okay to put the 13-14 cm specimen in an adult enclosure? Also, what dimensions/types of enclosure would be appropriate for a spider this large?

 

[NMTs]

it would be fine to put a T that large in it's final, adult enclosure. A. geniculata is a terrestrial species, so the enclosure needs to be longer/wider than it is tall, and the longest dimension should be roughly 3X the leg span of the T. They don't need a ton of space to roam around.

 

[Chris73G]

I bought an adult genic at a local expo a few months ago. Initially I did put the genic in an 12x12x12 inch(30cm) enclosure because i didn´t have anything bigger at home at that moment. 12x12x12 may be fine for 5-6-inch tarantulas, but definitely too small and cramped for an 8-inch-specimen since you need to put in a decently sized hide and a water dish as well. I then ordered an 16x16x12 (40x40x30 cm) enclosure and moved the genic there and this feels and looks much more appropiate for the genic and also for me, because you don´t have a food happy t sitting right in front of the door all the time when you open the enclosure .
Shouldn´t be a problem to place a sub-adult specimen in a final enclosure of that size.

For reference, this is my adult genic in the 40x40x30-enclosure:

 

[Vulash]

it would be fine to put a T that large in it's final, adult enclosure. A. geniculata is a terrestrial species, so the enclosure needs to be longer/wider than it is tall, and the longest dimension should be roughly 3X the leg span of the T. They don't need a ton of space to roam around.

I keep seeing this advice (and I'm not doubting it), but the enclosures you can purchase specifically made for tarantulas fall so short. I believe tarantula cribs largest is 12"x12". Herpcult has an XL that is 16"x12". The top sizes for the acrylic enclosures smaller than recommended because acrylic will warp too bad with a longer span? As my Ts grow I'm debating building their final enclosures myself, but I haven't worked with acrylic (I have quite some time to learn). I have worked extensively with wood. If needed I'm sure I could build in some additional support that would work with the needed style.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I keep my adult female in a 20L flat tub (L19" x W13" x H8")

 

[mickeydubs]

I keep seeing this advice (and I'm not doubting it), but the enclosures you can purchase specifically made for tarantulas fall so short. I believe tarantula cribs largest is 12"x12". Herpcult has an XL that is 16"x12". The top sizes for the acrylic enclosures smaller than recommended because acrylic will warp too bad with a longer span? As my Ts grow I'm debating building their final enclosures myself, but I haven't worked with acrylic (I have quite some time to learn). I have worked extensively with wood. If needed I'm sure I could build in some additional support that would work with the needed style.

Yes, I'm looking for some acrylic enclosures myself and also having some difficulty finding one the right size. That being said, I am finding some alternative enclosures as I look around. Like you, I'm also considering building my own eventually.

I keep my adult female in a 20L flat tub (L19" x W13" x H8")

View attachment 426673

That's a nice enclosure. I may end up getting something simple (yet effective) like a flat tub like this. Thanks!

it would be fine to put a T that large in it's final, adult enclosure. A. geniculata is a terrestrial species, so the enclosure needs to be longer/wider than it is tall, and the longest dimension should be roughly 3X the leg span of the T. They don't need a ton of space to roam around.

Yeah, that's the advice I'm hearing, glad it's being reconfirmed. Just gotta look around a bit more I suppose.

T

I bought an adult genic at a local expo a few months ago. Initially I did put the genic in an 12x12x12 inch(30cm) enclosure because i didn´t have anything bigger at home at that moment. 12x12x12 may be fine for 5-6-inch tarantulas, but definitely too small and cramped for an 8-inch-specimen since you need to put in a decently sized hide and a water dish as well. I then ordered an 16x16x12 (40x40x30 cm) enclosure and moved the genic there and this feels and looks much more appropiate for the genic and also for me, because you don´t have a food happy t sitting right in front of the door all the time when you open the enclosure .
Shouldn´t be a problem to place a sub-adult specimen in a final enclosure of that size.

For reference, this is my adult genic in the 40x40x30-enclosure:

That's a great enclosure. The advice and pics are much appreciated. I'll look for something similar to this and see what I can come up with. Something about the A. geniculata has really caught my attention. They're quite the beautiful species.

 

[Westicles]

T

That's a great enclosure. The advice and pics are much appreciated. I'll look for something similar to this and see what I can come up with. Something about the A. geniculata has really caught my attention. They're quite the beautiful species.

Yes indeed. There's a reason they're a popular species!

 

[Westicles]

I keep mine in a model car case from from Hobby Lobby. I don't have the exact dimensions, but it's the largest one they have. Of course I had to drill holes in it, but it's still a cheap alternative that works just fine.

 

[mickeydubs]

I keep mine in a model car case from from Hobby Lobby. I don't have the exact dimensions, but it's the largest one they have. Of course I had to drill holes in it, but it's still a cheap alternative that works just fine.

Yeah, that's not a bad idea. I'm gonna shop around and see if I can find something similar to that. Might not be too fancy, but it should do the trick.

 

[Storm76]

A. geniculata does grow large, yes. They are also notorious bulldozers that tend to redocarate often. And anything that moves has to be food! Includes fingers, waterstream refilling waterdish, straw, paintbrush and tweezers.

Anyways...fully grown the minimum would be what I had mine in a 30x30x15cm, glass, top-opening enclosure. Better 40x40x15cm. (Width, depth, height)

 

[The Grym Reaper]

That's a nice enclosure. I may end up getting something simple (yet effective) like a flat tub like this. Thanks!

Thanks, tbh I like using plastic tubs for the variety of sizes, how easy they are to mod, and the price compared to glass/acrylic. I only really use glass enclosures for my display arboreals and I avoid acrylic altogether.

 

[mickeydubs]

A. geniculata does grow large, yes. They are also notorious bulldozers that tend to redocarate often. And anything that moves has to be food! Includes fingers, waterstream refilling waterdish, straw, paintbrush and tweezers

Definitely heard about that voracious appetite. Just in case, I bought a pair of extra long tweezers in preparation. Definitely don't want fingers mistaken for food.

Thanks, tbh I like using plastic tubs for the variety of sizes, how easy they are to mod, and the price compared to glass/acrylic. I only really use glass enclosures for my display arboreals and I avoid acrylic altogether.

I went to the local grocery store yesterday and found a nice plastic enclosure that is about the right size. The lid seals nicely. Just gotta drill some holes in and I'll be all set. In all likelihood, I'll end up going this route.

 

[Westicles]

Definitely heard about that voracious appetite. Just in case, I bought a pair of extra long tweezers in preparation. Definitely don't want fingers mistaken for food.

Don't underestimate the voracious appetite. It's very much real!!!

 

[Priest5150]

I bought an adult genic at a local expo a few months ago. Initially I did put the genic in an 12x12x12 inch(30cm) enclosure because i didn´t have anything bigger at home at that moment. 12x12x12 may be fine for 5-6-inch tarantulas, but definitely too small and cramped for an 8-inch-specimen since you need to put in a decently sized hide and a water dish as well. I then ordered an 16x16x12 (40x40x30 cm) enclosure and moved the genic there and this feels and looks much more appropiate for the genic and also for me, because you don´t have a food happy t sitting right in front of the door all the time when you open the enclosure .
Shouldn´t be a problem to place a sub-adult specimen in a final enclosure of that size.

For reference, this is my adult genic in the 40x40x30-enclosure:

who makes this enclosure, please?

 

[JonnyTorch]

I keep my adult female in a 20L flat tub (L19" x W13" x H8")

View attachment 426673

I thought you kept yours in your DIY acrylic enclosures, that you used magnets and clamps to create w/ silicone? Did they bow too much?

 

[cold blood]

If you want to buy things for your tarantula, don't buy things that claim to be (or are) made specifically for a tarantula...there is no better way to waste your money...these things are overpriced and no better than any of the things we utilize that are not made for a tarantula.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I thought you kept yours in your DIY acrylic enclosures, that you used magnets and clamps to create w/ silicone? Did they bow too much?

Na, I modded two old fish tanks to have magnetic acrylic lids several years ago but the lids themselves warped (tried different types of acrylic and same result) so I stopped using them and have since avoided acrylic, I've used plastic tubs for the vast majority of my collection for years now.

 

[Vulash]

Thanks, tbh I like using plastic tubs for the variety of sizes, how easy they are to mod, and the price compared to glass/acrylic. I only really use glass enclosures for my display arboreals and I avoid acrylic altogether.

I initially went heavy on acrylic (as evidenced in my post above), but I'm really starting to dislike it as well. I plan to use it as little as possible as my slings grow. Glass and plastic for me as well I believe.

 

[ColourlessBlue]

This is Geralt my A. geniculata. They have two pieces of cork bark and leaf litter but you would not know it as they have buried everything! (even their water dish that I fix on a DAILY basis) I finally put a plastic leaf in so it is not so bare.. are they trying to tell me something? Is their enclosure to small for them now? They don't kick hairs and allow me to handle them (for now) so I don't think they are unhappy

 

[TechnoGeek]

If you want to buy things for your tarantula, don't buy things that claim to be (or are) made specifically for a tarantula...there is no better way to waste your money...these things are overpriced and no better than any of the things we utilize that are not made for a tarantula.

This! 1000%! My genics aren't in their final adult enclosures yet since they're still juveniles, but for my L parahybana (8+ inches) and G pulchra (6 inches) I keep them on display in a 10 and 7.5 gallon fish tanks that I bought from a an online flea market for less than 40 bucks combined. I also bought the heatpads and thermostats used for much cheaper. These savings add up very quick. A single acrylic enclosure of comparable size "made for tarantulas" would be 70 bucks or so online. It's a complete waste of money.