Arboreal tarantula enclosure questions?

[LunarBeats]

Up to what size arboreal spiderling can I use a 32 oz deli cup? How much substrate in such a container? Then, for subadult/adult tarantulas, whats a good rule of thumb for enclosure size as compared to tarantula size? How much substrate should be used then? I know most terrestrials seem to need lots for burrowing reasons, so can you get away with less for an arboreal type like the avics?

 

[Venom1080]

There's a Avicularia arboreal, then there's practically everything else. Huge difference.
I use 32oz delis till about 3"-4", then adult enclosures or 1 gallon jars if they're slow growing or small. Generally, you want 3x legspan for height, and 2x legspan for width as a minimum.
Substrate depends heavily on the genus. Lampropelma will use a lot of sub to burrow in, but are arboreals. Psalmos will as well but to a lesser degree. Avics will very rarely use their substrate, I don't give more than a 1.5" of sub to them ever.

 

[viper69]

I use 32 oz deli's till about 2-3", then up to gallon size or sometimes in between. For example my AF minatrix is fine in a 4x4x8 container.

Avics at most an inch. I try to give them as much vertical space in container as possible.

There's no true science behind cage size for Ts, However if you notice your Avic getting bald knees or other leg surfaces, that's definitely a sign that your container is too small. The setae will come out, they aren't permanent.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I use 32 oz deli's till about 2-3", then up to gallon size or sometimes in between.

Similar to me, I move up to a 2L container at around 2"

 

[Tenevanica]

Avicularia is about the only genus that's truly arboreal as slings. Avics are real tree dwellers, every other "arboreal" just prefers to be a few feet off the ground tops in nature. Most arboreal species (Avicularia being the exception) will actually burrow as slings. To rehash what's said above, if it's an avic use an inch of substrate and two to three times the spider's legspan in vertical space. When it surpasses this, rehouse. If it's not an avic, use two to three inches of substrate, but still include a little bark slab for climbing in case they decide they're done being terrestrial. Again, two to three times the spider's legspan in vertical height.

 

[miss moxie]

I think Poecilotheria like a little more substrate too? I always gave mine more than I gave my Avics. I saw them use it a good bit. But agreed-- Avics don't typically use their substrate. I won't say 'definitely don't' because I'm sure somewhere along the road there has been an Avic to go against the grain and use their substrate.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Rule Zero: Never be a 'Substrate Scrooge' u_u

I offer almost 5 inches of substrate to (juve/adults) arboreals.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I think Poecilotheria like a little more substrate too? I always gave mine more than I gave my Avics. I saw them use it a good bit. But agreed-- Avics don't typically use their substrate. I won't say 'definitely don't' because I'm sure somewhere along the road there has been an Avic to go against the grain and use their substrate.

Yeah, that's what I'd gathered, I've given my subfusca sling more sub than I would for an Avicularia/Caribena/Ybyrapora, it hasn't really burrowed at all but it has webbed up or made dirt/moss curtains at low level.

I don't think I've ever seen an Avic on the substrate unless it was housed wrong or it was sick/dying. They seem to perpetually play their own version of "The floor is lava".

 

[Tenevanica]

I don't think I've ever seen an Avic on the substrate unless it was housed wrong or it was sick/dying. They seem to perpetually play their own version of "The floor is lava".

My A. metallica likes to pretend it's terrestrial every once in a while. No clue why, but I'll find her on the ground on occasion. Other than that the only time I've seen Avics on the ground is to drink from water bowls on the terrarium floor.

 

[miss moxie]

Yeah, that's what I'd gathered, I've given my subfusca sling more sub than I would for an Avicularia/Caribena/Ybyrapora, it hasn't really burrowed at all but it has webbed up or made dirt/moss curtains at low level.

I don't think I've ever seen an Avic on the substrate unless it was housed wrong or it was sick/dying. They seem to perpetually play their own version of "The floor is lava".

Yeah I've only seen my avics on the ground when unpacking/rehousing. But that's typical! Gotta check out the new digs right? See if they installed a wine cellar.