Oliverhenderson
Arachnopeon
- Joined
- Dec 26, 2016
- Messages
- 34
What kind of plastic tubs or enclosures do you use for a 5 to 6 inch arboreal tarantula
sterilite set ups cost me about $10, and thats the complete set up....i wouldnt use anything else....every arboreal i have is in a tub.I am still trying to figure out a low cost solution on this as well. Eventually I will have a bunch of Psalmopoeus, Tapinauchenius, Avicularia, Caribena, and Ybyrapora slings/juveniles needing big enclosures.
I have some of Jamie's enclosures but at $80 a pop the budget will break. Her large enclosures are 8" x 8" x 14". I think this size would be too small for a 6" tarantula as well. She also has some 12" x 12" x 24" enclosures for $185. Yikes!
The correct size needed depends on whose rules are being implemented. The Tarantula Handbook which is a little dated right now doesn't clarify between terrestrial and arboreal but says 2X tarantula for width and and length should be 2X width of the enclosure. For arboreal, I would assume length equals height and width would be applied for both of the other two dimensions. So a 6" tarantula would ideally be in a 12" x 12" x 24" enclosure. More active and fast tarantulas along with ones that are semi-terrestrial may create a desire for a different size or shape (Tapinauchenius, Psalmopoeus, Poecilotheria , etc.)
A Sterilite tub seems like the best target. It could be converted so that it sits vertical. You need to test the container since some of them are sloped (not quite rectangular). The lid will require some modifications or replacement since you don't want to remove the whole lid every time you feed or do maintenance. The lid could also be replaced with a few small sheets of clear polycarbonate for best results. In that case you would want to make sure the lip of the tub is straight (no curved sections) to allow for gluing of pieces and attachment of latches. I am not sure what type of glue would be best for attaching polycarbonate to the softer plastic.
EDIT* Most of the enclosures presented so far on this thread look too small to me.
I think your over estimating the enclosure size a lot of these Ts need. In my experience arboreal Ts do not roam about like terrestrial Ts do. My Avics, Psalms, and pokies setup up a home and spend the majority of time in there. Given a cork tube, my 6+ P.cam will stay in there the majority of the time. She pokes toes out and gets fed. The same with my Avics. Once they have made their web funnel they rarely leave out except to eat or drink. They have plenty of room in the enclosure to roam but rarely do. Their homes are safe and they stick to them.I am still trying to figure out a low cost solution on this as well. Eventually I will have a bunch of Psalmopoeus, Tapinauchenius, Avicularia, Caribena, and Ybyrapora slings/juveniles needing big enclosures.
I have some of Jamie's enclosures but at $80 a pop the budget will break. Her large enclosures are 8" x 8" x 14". I think this size would be too small for a 6" tarantula as well. She also has some 12" x 12" x 24" enclosures for $185. Yikes!
The correct size needed depends on whose rules are being implemented. The Tarantula Handbook which is a little dated right now doesn't clarify between terrestrial and arboreal but says 2X tarantula for width and and length should be 2X width of the enclosure. For arboreal, I would assume length equals height and width would be applied for both of the other two dimensions. So a 6" tarantula would ideally be in a 12" x 12" x 24" enclosure. More active and fast tarantulas along with ones that are semi-terrestrial may create a desire for a different size or shape (Tapinauchenius, Psalmopoeus, Poecilotheria , etc.)
A Sterilite tub seems like the best target. It could be converted so that it sits vertical. You need to test the container since some of them are sloped (not quite rectangular). The lid will require some modifications or replacement since you don't want to remove the whole lid every time you feed or do maintenance. The lid could also be replaced with a few small sheets of clear polycarbonate for best results. In that case you would want to make sure the lip of the tub is straight (no curved sections) to allow for gluing of pieces and attachment of latches. I am not sure what type of glue would be best for attaching polycarbonate to the softer plastic.
EDIT* Most of the enclosures presented so far on this thread look too small to me.
A 2ft tall enclosure for a 5-6" Tarantula would be a massive waste of space though, anything up to and including 5" would do fine in an 8x8x12 enclosure, pretty much anything over that bar the very largest arboreals (we're talking upwards of 9") would be fine in a 12x12x18 enclosure.So a 6" tarantula would ideally be in a 12" x 12" x 24" enclosure.
EDIT* Most of the enclosures presented so far on this thread look too small to me.
Thanks for quoting me. I think this is one thing that a lot of us newer hobbyist struggle with because no rules are published for this. So it sounds like a Sterilite tub similar in size to the large ones by Jamie will work best (combination of price and size).I think your over estimating the enclosure size a lot of these Ts need. In my experience arboreal Ts do not roam about like terrestrial Ts do. My Avics, Psalms, and pokies setup up a home and spend the majority of time in there. Given a cork tube, my 6+ P.cam will stay in there the majority of the time. She pokes toes out and gets fed. The same with my Avics. Once they have made their web funnel they rarely leave out except to eat or drink. They have plenty of room in the enclosure to roam but rarely do. Their homes are safe and they stick to them.
As far as pokies go.... I've been having a friend translate that German Pokie book for me and here is a quote from The Terrarium – Furnishings and Maintenance section.
In Poecilotheria spp. it is mainly uncomplicated care. Even terrariums in the dimensions 20x30x40 cm (length x width x height) (7.9x11.8x15.748 inches), are sufficient to their keeping and breeding. For smaller species (for example, P. subfusca) even enclosures of 20x20x30 cm (length x width x height) (7.9x7.9x11.8 inches) are sufficient. Such small terrariums do not have any negative effects on the well-being of the animals, which also show a rather limited movement and space requirement in nature.
Some of the larger species might need to go up to a bigger size enclosure but for most of them I think the shoeboxes I linked should work fine. For really big T's I'll use modified 5 gallon aquariums (on it's side) should they need them.
sterilite set ups cost me about $10, and thats the complete set up....i wouldnt use anything else....every arboreal i have is in a tub.
Would you say that a Psalmopoeus cambridgei (adults up to 7") would need 12"x12"x18"? Does it matter that these are partially terrestrial (hang out at substrate)? All of mine are currently large slings. They are creating dirt tunnels/curtains all over the place so it is hard for me to figure how that translates to an adult.A 2ft tall enclosure for a 5-6" Tarantula would be a massive waste of space though, anything up to and including 5" would do fine in an 8x8x12 enclosure, pretty much anything over that bar the very largest arboreals (we're talking upwards of 9") would be fine in a 12x12x18 enclosure.
Length rather than DLS?I try to have the cage at least three times the height of the legspan. I just go to Walmart or Target and hunt around for cages I like.
What species of tarantula will you be putting in the enclosures. I didn't intend to distract from your question if it is for different species than I have mentioned.What kind of plastic tubs or enclosures do you use for a 5 to 6 inch arboreal tarantula
That'd be fine for an adult P. cambridgei, I don't own that species yet (I have a juvenile P. irminia and P. pulcher sling and neither have really burrowed at all) but it would probably set up camp in a cork tube if you provided an adequate sized one and only leave it to hunt/drink/defecate/dump boluses.Would you say that a Psalmopoeus cambridgei (adults up to 7") would need 12"x12"x18"? Does it matter that these are partially terrestrial (hang out at substrate)? All of mine are currently large slings. They are creating dirt tunnels/curtains all over the place so it is hard for me to figure how that translates to an adult.
Yeah, one thing about sterilite is that the ones I use for adults are quite roomy, roomier than they certainly require. But I think that extra room makes routine maintenance just that much easier....as well as making for a nicer looking enclosure for me to look at.I think your over estimating the enclosure size a lot of these Ts need.
Some of the larger species might need to go up to a bigger size enclosure but for most of them I think the shoeboxes I linked should work fine. For really big T's I'll use modified 5 gallon aquariums (on it's side) should they need them.
What?Length rather than DLS?