Arizona Blonde

[Redcore67]

Hey everyone, me and my wife just got our first Tarantula, she's a à beautiful mature Arizona Blonde with a great temperment.
We got her yesterday, and she hasn't come down off the ceiling of her enclosure, she climbed up there a few hours after got her home and now a full 24hrs later she's still there. Is this normal? Is she just spooked from purchasing and transportation from the expo? Is there anything we should try?
She's got 4in of substrate, a shallow water dish and a hide in a five gallon tank. Room temp is 75 to 80 depending in the time of day.

 

[Garth Vader]

Hello! Are you talking about Aphonopelma chalcodes? We used the scientific names (generally) around here to prevent confusion.

First off- yeah your T might be settling in and spooked from the move and the transportation.

Second- if you take a picture of your enclosure then you will probably get some helpful tips on what could be going on. A pictures is worth a thousand words, as they say.

 

[Walker253]

You described one of many normal behaviors. It could be a little stress. It could be the soil is a little damp. It could be just because. Leave the lights off a little more than normal. She’ll settle in sooner or later. Nothing really to worry about.

 

[Redcore67]

I apologize for not using the Latin name, relatively new to owning inverts, working on learning how everything works in the community.

I attached two pictures. I moved the tank so I could get better pictures. The tank is super simple at the moment. Wasn't sure if we should put more stuff into the tank or leave it bare like this.

Hello! Are you talking about Aphonopelma chalcodes? We used the scientific names (generally) around here to prevent confusion.

First off- yeah your T might be settling in and spooked from the move and the transportation.

Second- if you take a picture of your enclosure then you will probably get some helpful tips on what could be going on. A pictures is worth a thousand words, as they say.

 

[Walker253]

Watch the screen lid. I’ve had an Aphonopelma get stuck in the screen. Lucky for her, I found Her before she lost the leg. Make sure she isn’t actually stuck.
You might add a bit more soil. The soil in there looks a bit damp.There is a bit of color change that suggests that to me. That could be the reason for the stroll. Use dry toil over the moonstone stuff and it will be good.

 

[Redcore67]

Watch the screen lid. I’ve had an Aphonopelma get stuck in the screen. Lucky for her, I found Her before she lost the leg. Make sure she isn’t actually stuck.
You might add a bit more soil. The soil in there looks a bit damp.There is a bit of color change that suggests that to me. That could be the reason for the stroll. Use dry toil over the moonstone stuff and it will be good.

It's completely dry, I think that might just be shadow. Also check and she is not stuck, just chilling..

 

[Garth Vader]

Hey it is cool. You are new to the hobby and here to learn. Welcome! My first T is from genus Aphonopelma and it is a swell T.

I agree with @Walker253 about the screen. They can cause issues with Ts hanging and losing legs. You can replace it with acrylic.

For the soil- make sure the distance from the top of the soil to the lid is 1.5 times the diagonal leg span of your T. Basically make sure it will not be a big fall for your T, as they would not fare well.

All else looks good!

 

[nicodimus22]

I agree with my esteemed T colleagues. Maybe another 2 inches of substrate and an acrylic lid would make it much safer.

 

[Dovey]

I actually live in New River, AZ, home of the famous New River Rust Rump chalcodes. My big grown up girls like to roam around quite a lot for mature female terrestrials, and I have put stones and low branches in their habitats, along with some artificial succulent plants to provide interest and enrichment. It might not be necessary, but when I see females above-ground, I often see them goofing around outside their hides, doing yard work, digging here, moving a little twig there, etc.

Don't be alarmed, once she discovers her hide, if she goes in and puts up the do not disturb sign for a couple of weeks. My girls will occasionally do that. Also, there are two rainy seasons in the Sonoran Desert, January and July/August (monsoon season). You can keep her soil a little more moist, though not soggy, during these periods, and that will feel right to her.

 

[Redcore67]

I actually live in New River, AZ, home of the famous New River Rust Rump chalcodes. My big grown up girls like to roam around quite a lot for mature female terrestrials, and I have put stones and low branches in their habitats, along with some artificial succulent plants to provide interest and enrichment. It might not be necessary, but when I see females above-ground, I often see them goofing around outside their hides, doing yard work, digging here, moving a little twig there, etc.

Don't be alarmed, once she discovers her hide, if she goes in and puts up the do not disturb sign for a couple of weeks. My girls will occasionally do that. Also, there are two rainy seasons in the Sonoran Desert, January and July/August (monsoon season). You can keep her soil a little more moist, though not soggy, during these periods, and that will feel right to her.

She finally went inside her hide, so all is good I think!!