Avics. damp substrate or dry?

[YagerManJennsen]

I've been curious about this. Is it better to have damp or dry substrate in ann Avicularia enclosure? For this we're talking about Avicularia avicularia, that standard pink toe. I've read that cross ventilation is more important and no damp sub is needed, but I have also read that substrate needs to be kept damp. Personally, I use side ventilation and keep the sub on the damp side and always have with no problems as of yet. My enclosures are not swampy but not dry just mostly damp with some dry spots.

I want to see what others have to say about this, This is not meant to spark a heated debate. Just an open discussion about substrate and care for avics.

 

[Poec54]

Dry, dry, dry.

 

[Flexzone]

Dry substrate and good ventilation and water dish.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

As Poec54 said + cross ventilation, cross ventilation, cross ventilation + water dish, water dish, water dish.
+ "Morning has gold in its mouth" all over the wall/s, repeat, repeat, repeat.

Took that goddamn axe, toooook that!

 

[mistertim]

Dry, absolutely. A water dish (or more than one if you feel it is super dry where you are) will be all you need to provide humidity. Damp subs are super dangerous for Avics...stuffy enclosures are a death sentence for them. Ventilation (especially cross ventilation) is extremely important.

 

[TarantulasWorld]

Always dry and make sure u have plenty of air flow

 

[YagerManJennsen]

Ok. That prettying settles it then. I'll let it dry out.

 

[YagerManJennsen]

I guess this is a good reason not to rely on care sheets. Right?

 

[mistertim]

I guess this is a good reason not to rely on care sheets. Right?

Ding ding ding. We have a winner!

"Care sheets" are usually just regurgitated stuff that was read elsewhere and copied. The sad part is I'll bet those same "care sheets" have been responsible for plenty of Avic deaths.

Forums like this one are a far better source of information because you're talking to lots of people who personally, at this moment, are caring for the same species you are asking about. And many have been doing it for a long time and have a very very high success rate with some of the more "fragile" genus like Avicularia.

 

[YagerManJennsen]

Ding ding ding. We have a winner!

"Care sheets" are usually just regurgitated stuff that was read elsewhere and copied. The sad part is I'll bet those same "care sheets" have been responsible for plenty of Avic deaths.

I read them when I first started out but I stopped when I heard multiple people on here say how bad they are. I know avics can be tricky to take care of so I wanted to ensure that mine were getting the most proper care possible. I just threw in some dry substrate on top of the damp sub, hopefully they will be happier.

 

[YagerManJennsen]

And are we talking like about as dry as a G.rosea, super bone dry?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

And are we talking like about as dry as a G.rosea, super bone dry?

What's a "super bone dry" ? Dry means dry. G.rosea, C.cyaneopubescens, C.marshalli and genus Ceratogyrus, P.murinus etc adults of those, only a different set up and different inches of substrate, but same "dry" substrate with a water dish.
It's so easy

 

[YagerManJennsen]

What's a "super bone dry" ? Dry means dry. G.rosea, C.cyaneopubescens, C.marshalli and genus Ceratogyrus, P.murinus etc adults of those, only a different set up and different inches of substrate, but same "dry" substrate with a water dish.
It's so easy

Dry as in no moisture at all except for a waterdish. I'm just trying to make double triple sure. My confidence in Avic care is not as high as other species...which is still on the low side.

 

[YagerManJennsen]

What's a "super bone dry" ? Dry means dry. G.rosea, C.cyaneopubescens, C.marshalli and genus Ceratogyrus, P.murinus etc adults of those, only a different set up and different inches of substrate, but same "dry" substrate with a water dish.
It's so easy

Can the same be applied to A. seemani?

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Dry as in no moisture at all except for a waterdish. I'm just trying to make double triple sure. My confidence in Avic care is not as high as other species...which is still on the low side.

Yes, but of course if the ventilation is good it's not the end of the world

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Can the same be applied to A. seemani?

Uhm, well, IMO those loves (with a water dish of course) a slightly moist corner still, they aren't Megaphobema robustum, they doesn't have a particular humidity need.

 

[YagerManJennsen]

Uhm, well, IMO those loves (with a water dish of course) a slightly moist corner still, they aren't Megaphobema robustum, they doesn't have a particular humidity need.

Yay!, thats exactly how I've been keeping my A. seemani pair. I just want to be a good father to my tarantulas, even though i'm still in highschool and not old enough to be an actual father yet.

 

[mistertim]

Yay!, thats exactly how I've been keeping my A. seemani pair. I just want to be a good father to my tarantulas, even though i'm still in highschool and not old enough to be an actual father yet.

Yeah the only breeding you should be thinking of doing at this point is of tarantulas.

 

[YagerManJennsen]

Yeah the only breeding you should be thinking of doing at this point is of tarantulas.

Indeed sir!

 

[viper69]

Dry as in no moisture at all except for a waterdish

2 suggestions regarding your confidence with Avics.

Get Avics that are 2" in DLS if you want to skip through the more delicate parts of husbandry. Once they are 2" they are just smaller versions of an adult in terms of care, more so than slings, ie they are more hardy.

Re the moisture you mentioned, that's how I raise my Avics, however it's not a rule/law. Other people are very successful at keeping a bit of dampness to the sub, but the people I know who do this, are experienced breeders typically. SO in your case, go water dish and dry sub.