Acanthoscurria geniculata humidity.

zimbu

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I may be acquiring an adult female soon, and I've read they need 70-80% humidity. Should I achieve this by misting, or soaking the substrate in one corner every few weeks, or would a large full water dish be adequate? Thanks!
 

GailC

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I like so soak the substrate once a week or so, I also mist 1-2 times a week if I remember. I've had my genic tank dry out for a few weeks at a time and he never seems to mind much but he will sit in his water dish if its too dry.
 

zimbu

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Ok cool, thanks :D. Thats kinda what I figured, but it's reassuring to hear it from somebody who actually owns one.
 

Mushroom Spore

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Forget the percentages, they're bunk. Dry substrate is fine for the majority of species. If you want to experiment, try soaking the substrate (not turning it to mud, just getting it wet) once in a while, but let it dry out in between or you get mold. If you see the tarantula regularly hanging out on the wet dirt, then keep repeating the previous.

Also, always a water dish, yes.
 

pinkfoot

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A. geniculata is a particularly large species of tarantula, and as such benefits from a moist environment to assist with moulting, much like T. blondi and T. apophysis.

I keep my genics moist, never damp, and the large water dishes are always full.
 

Buckwheat

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Trying to maintain exact RH values is a waste of time. Care sheets in general, especially those found on the Internet are also a waste of time. Who says those values are correct anyway? I agree with the above statement. You can keep these, as well as most tarantula species dry and they do perfectly fine. With the exception of T. blondi and H. gigas the rest can be kept dry and will live a long and happy life.

Schultz even says that T. blondi can be adopted to dryer conditions if done over four to six molts. If you are comfortable in your home then they are too. That goes for summer or winter unless you know you have extremes in temperature in your home. Misting does nothing more than make your spider angry and the benefits are gone before you put the spray bottle away. Misting, other than aborals, which may gain some benefit by misting their webbing lightly is again a waste of time. Dump these two habits and start spending your time observing your spiders habits and whatnot more. :)

as far as misting or moisture helping with molts that too is again incorrect. Fact is, it is the moisture inside the tarantula, not on the outside that assists with molts if you want to look at it that way. Tarantulas need moisture from prey items and, captive tarantulas need a water source as well due to the fact that they now reside with us. Modern homes tend to have dryer air from forced air heating units. Many molt problems that one reads about are associated with wild caught spiders rather than captive born animals generally speaking. The difference may be in the wax that covers the exterior of the exoskeleton. Fact is, captive tarantulas don't need moist, damp or misted environments. What they do need is a good varied diet, a water source and to be observed, notes taken and then share your findings. That is what you bought it for right? to observe what it does somewhat naturally?
Don't make keeping these simple creatures any more difficult than it has to be. Forget the RH thing and simply allow them to dry out over time. You'll be happier..they'll be happier too. Good luck.
 
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ErikH

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All I do is overfill the water dish so that the substrate around the dish stays moist. My genic seems to do fine this way.
 

Buckwheat

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The problem with overflowing the water dish is that when you do that, then add crickets..guess what? those female crickets run right over to the moist soil around the water bowl and stick their little Ovidepositor right in the damp soil and lay a bunch of eggs in there! whats worse is, that they will do that more than once if not caught by the spider right away. Then you can look forward to an outbreak of micro mini crickets all over inside and out. Sounds great..doesn't it? You can get around that if you insist on doing this procedure by simply dropping the crickets right into the spider's palps! they never miss.. and, they don't lay any eggs over in the moist soil by the water bowl. Just a thought.
 

Mushroom Spore

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Then you can look forward to an outbreak of micro mini crickets all over inside and out. Sounds great..doesn't it?
Also silly and paranoid. ;) Letting the tank dry out regularly will kill off the eggs and prevent outbreaks. Especially if you let it dry up in the couple days before you feed. Tarantulas don't need to be spoonfed, that's for sure. {D
 

ErikH

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I don't think I have ever had a cricket last more than a minute in my genic's vivarium; doesn't matter where I drop it. I have never had micro crickets, mites, mold, or anything else of consequence. Not yet, at least.
 

Nitibus

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I have solved the 2 biggest problems that come with crickets : breeding and the stink


I never buy adults. 3/4 inch is all my T's get. I'll just feed them more crix then having an infestation, or that STINK they create once they hit sexual maturity.

Just my 2 cents
 

jeff1962

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I have solved the 2 biggest problems that come with crickets : breeding and the stink


I never buy adults. 3/4 inch is all my T's get. I'll just feed them more crix then having an infestation, or that STINK they create once they hit sexual maturity.

Just my 2 cents
This is exactly what I do ! At the pet store there called mediums.They also don't make any noise, Cricks are silent until mature.I feed my larger T.s 3 of these per week.
 

Martin H.

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Hi,

forget keeping a turtle in a terrarium or an outside enclosure, it's bunk. Just turn it on the back, it will survive for month and can't crawl away. Like the seafaring man did in former times with giant turtles from the Galapagos to have some fresh meat on their sailing boats.


STOP!!! Not everything which can be done, should be done or is the best ! (for the animal, even it's the easiest for a lazy keeper).

Yes, a lot of tarantulas will survive in very simple set ups, even for years. But IMHO they just survive and don't thrive! ...maybe something to think about for the one or the other.

just my two cents!
Martin
 

zimbu

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Man I really opened up a can of worms with that question didn't I...
 

peterUK

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Man I really opened up a can of worms with that question didn't I...
Isnt that the point ?

To find out who does what and how ?

And to make your own mind up after reading various replies. :D

Personaly I keep my T's dry and overfill the water bowl slightly every week or so and get around the crickets breeding by not feeding crickets

Roaches are the way to go :clap:
No noise.
No smell
and free :D
 

MikeW

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I don't have a genic any more (sold him when I moved) but I always kept him on dry substrate, even when he was in a 10 gallon tank. full water bowl of course but he was fine on dry peat.
 

OldHag

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I always kept my genic on dry soil as well.

I also conqured the cricket stink as well.. I use roaches :p
 
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