Aquarium gravel has worked for me

[Overmenneske]

I see a lot of you experienced guys/girls don't like aquarium gravel. My Chilean rose has been living on this for 15 years and is doing great.

I see the argument about possible ruptures, but has anyone actually witnessed this? My Rose is not much of a climber, so she's never elevated enough for the height to pose any danger.

Could it be that gravel is just as good as anything else?

 

[Darth_Mueller]

But its very difficult for the Spider to dig in it

 

[Overmenneske]

I'm sorry to report that the gravel I use is not of the very smooth kind.

As for burrowing, she's never shown any signs of even trying to dig. But she seems content. I had another Chilean rose on substrate she could have burrowed in, but she never attempted. I don't think the Chilean roses are too crazy about digging.

 

[Kaos]

Works fine for my G. Rosea to, combined with a little peat.

 

[conipto]

Alot of Jews survived years in concentration camps too.

The fact remains, that these are hardy creatures, especially most of the NW species. They can take alot more than we give them credit for on the whole, but wouldn't you still rather give it the best home possible? As was stated before, the thing can't burrow on that gravel. Any water in there is going to go straight to the bottom of the tank, and probably mold in a corner. Despite what beth-tex says, I don't think your T is going to not adjust to good old peat/vermiculite or bedabeast or jungle mix or whatever else most tarantula keepers use. The benefits of using suitable substrate are well known to almost everyone on this board. What exactly is the benefit of polished aquarium gravel, to your pet?

Bill

 

[Kaos]

Conipto, why so aggresive against the ide of using gravel? Actually G. Rosea is from desert areas, so i'm not sure how much it like bedabeast, jungle mix or vermiculite either. Moisture shouldnt be a problem as they do fine with a water dish, maybe even without. I decided to try to keep it alittle like i keep my desert scorpions, as i like to try to keep my animals as natural as possible. I use a mix of peat/sand/small gravel. This is copied from the sticky written by Stan Schultz on top of this forum:
"NATIVE HABITAT:
Roses come from the borders of the Atacama Desert in Northern
Chile at least as far south as Santiago. The Atacama can be one of the harshest environments on the planet! There are parts of it that have never had rain in recorded history. The temperatures there may reach 135 F (57C) or higher in Summer. They may experience light frosts in Winter. We think that the areas where roses are found aren't quite so severe. They've been reported from semi-desert to scrub forest areas. Apparently their principle source of water in nature is from the food they eat and fogs that drift in from the Pacific Ocean once in a while."

BTW has anyone seen a grown G. Rosea burrow?

 

[Mendi]

Originally posted by Kaos

BTW has anyone seen a grown G. Rosea burrow?

It is also well documented that when most G.rosea are collected from the wild, they come from burrows that average being 15-18" deep. If they weren't a burrowing species in the wild, do you really think they would survive "one of the harshest environments on the planet." They burrow out of neccessity in the deserts to maintain the proper body temperature and the humidity they need. I've got 3-4 year olds that have very nice burrows that spiral down the sides of their pickle jar. Unfortunately I don't have the room to give the adults that needed tank space to make such burrows. But even S. Schultz says that them not burrowing in captivity is something that happens from them being in captivity. Unfortunately, in our homes we will likely never meet the environmental conditions they have in the wild...

And as for using gravel as the sole substrate and your's have never been injurred; I think you have been very lucky...

 

[Overmenneske]

Originally posted by Mendi
And as for using gravel as the sole substrate and your's have never been injurred; I think you have been very lucky...

I'm slowly getting convinced...
So you have actually seen or heard of a T injured by it?

 

[pategirl]

I also agree that gravel is not a good idea for all of the substrate. I don't think its a bad idea to use it under a water dish or something either, just not all over the cage. Just as Mendi said, G. rosea in the wild make burrows. Just because a tarantula has never burrowed before, doesn't mean it won't like a burrow at some other point in its life, and just because a rosea hasn't climbed before, doesn't mean it won't try someday. They're known to change habits without any warning. I have my rosea on 100% peat, it keeps away any mold and the spider doesn't seem to mind it at all.

 

[Mendi]

Originally posted by overmenneske
I'm slowly getting convinced...
So you have actually seen or heard of a T injured by it?

Yes, and I've even heard of ruptures happening on even peat moss when one was to fall about 12". You want to have the peat high enough in the enclosure where the tarantula can have one leg on the top while having another on the substrate. This is a good safety measure for any terrestrial T. But if there's a problem with having that much substrate, get shorter enclosures like plastic sweater and boxes. so you don't have to add so much Plus these are highly stackable and easy to move around. These days they make some with brand names like "Sterlite" and "ShowOffs" that are almost as clear as Kritter Keepers and they last twice as long

I keep all my adults and juvies on 100% peat with a large flat water dish. Most of my enclosures are of the plastic box type and have 2-3 air holes in either side. If the Ts act like the need more humidity, I start by closing off the ventilation. I also will over flow the water dish on occasion. You will get to see a lot more of your Ts personality with peat moss too. Some think they are little tractors and always excavate and move things around

Now with arboreals, they are built stronger and falls are nowhere near as bad for them... Matter of fact, many are quite good at jumping and running away from us

 

[metzgerzoo]

Originally posted by Kaos
BTW has anyone seen a grown G. Rosea burrow? [/B]

Yeah...MINE!!! And she's WC too.
Let's get real here people....so some Ts come from the deserts...you want to give them a "natural" enviroment...ok, crank your heaters to 120"F take out all sources of moisture and see how long they live....rain forest...stick a sprinkler in there, again, crank your heaters to 110 so you'll have the equivilent of the hot, humid air and see how long they last....and where the heck do people come up with using gravel for tarantulas anyway? What species live in aquarium gravel in the wild....natural lovers???? Is the gravel an eye appealing thing for the keeper, a lazy thing....what someone has left over gravel from their fish tank so what the hey, let's use it instead of spending 2 dollars on some dirt? Must be because it's useless to the Ts and it's most certainally not "natural". I feel sorry for all the poor Ts sitting in gravel....

 

[Kaos]

What is it about the gravel that is getting people to almost attack people here? :?
I asked if they burrow because i was'nt sure.
I once more refer to Stan Schultz.
SUBSTRATE:
Aquarium sand/gravel is generally frowned on by the tarantula
keeping community although we have kept many species for long periods of time on it with few or no problems. The most telling argument is that it's too abrasive. In defense of aquarium gravel it must be pointed out that tarantulas customarily live in soil that may have a large admixture of gravel of all qualities in it, and these tarantulas seem to do quite well in spite of it. We suspect that the bias against aquarium gravel is merely just that: a bias. In fact it probably seldom makes a difference.

And if MY G.Rosea seem's to be doing just as fine on this substrate i will keep it that way;P

And metzgerzoo, I WILL NOT TRAVEL TO CHILE TO GET GRAVEL.

 

[Scylla]

Burrowing Roses. Yes, Mine made a very nice burrow. She dug down, and then horizontally under the substrate. Can't understand how it doesn't all cave in on her, but she's webbed it up so that it stays in place.

 

[Silver.x]

Originally posted by conipto
Alot of Jews survived years in concentration camps too.

Bravo my man, Bravo. That sums the entire thing up.

 

[metzgerzoo]

Originally posted by Kaos
And metzgerzoo, I WILL NOT TRAVEL TO CHILE TO GET GRAVEL. [/B]

Rats, come on, live a little Although I never said anything about going to Chile for gravel....but, whatever.... Kaos, you have taken my comments as a dirrect "attack" against you and you alone it appears. If that is because I happened to have used your question dirrectly, then that's my bad, however, you seem so conserned as to the natual wild enviroment of Ts as I'm sure you are and should be, however, for the sake of new hobbyists gathering the impressions that it's OK to stick a tarantula in a tank filled with nothing but gravel could prove less than optimum for their Ts. You stated in an earlier reply that you use "gravel with some peat"....that's not straight gravel....what we all have such a problem with are those who dump a bunch of gravel into a tank, nothing else, some even dump a bunch of water in it, then stick a T in it. For those Roseas who don't burrow, or haven't shown any intrest in doing so....perhaps that's because they don't have a suitable substrate with which they can do that. My rosie is in peat moss right now and she hasn't burrowed in it...because she can't. Once we get her back in her other tank she will burrow again because she'll back in her usual "enviroment" and not in her temp tank. For those who have their Ts in nothing but gravel and "they've been just fine" good for them, they've probably been very lucky too. I honestly do not see why people can't just take into consideration the fact that Ts are use to walking on some kind of dirt and just give them some. Some gravel...some rocks...some sand...just about every enviroment has them but none of them have just gravel.

 

[metzgerzoo]

Originally posted by conipto
Alot of Jews survived years in concentration camps too.
Bill

That pretty much says it.....and how healthy and happy were they?

 

[DnKslr]

I don't think it's the gravel that bothers me so much as seeing all that water in there too. That would be like living in a house with soaking wet carpets and rocks all over. I know I could live but I sure wouldn't be very happy about it!

 

[Kaos]

Metzgerzoo, the "Travel to Chile" thing was just meant as a funny comment, i guess i forgot to put a smiley behind it. However after your last post i agree with you. Newbies should'nt use gravel at all, as that way we could risk that rainforest species end up on it because of lack of knowledge, as we all know the pet stores are'nt the most reliable when it comes to correct species names. And a combination of gravel and humidity would give really good conditions for bacterial growth and mold after a while with food leftovers and so on. Which substrate do you use that your Rosea burrows in? I might be moving mine to another tank with suitable substrate and see if she burrows.

 

[JBoyer]

I have an adult female and 2 juvie females. None of them burrow, however one fo hte juvies pushes the dirt around a little bit. I keep them on a mis of potting soil and vermiculite. They seem happy enough. All have hides and none use them. They are content to sit out in the open. one oth them actually thinks she is an arboreal spider and webs the upper part ofher house! They sure are funnly little bugs!

Jennifer

 

[Overmenneske]

metzgerzoo: no reason to get all worked up.

You all have convinced me, and my beautiful girl now lives on a combination of vermiculite and bark. The gravel is thrown out.