B. hamorii tips?

[animaliaadvocate216]

My local pet store has a B . hamorii for sale and I was thinking about going to pick her up tomorrow . I've tried my hardest to research and prepare for my first t , I'm pretty sure im ready but I'm still stuck on one thing , humidity . I know several of you have said that your normal house humidity is fine but mines only at 40% or so and I keep my house around 60 to 70 degrees . Should I take measures to accommodate for the conditions or see how it goes ? If there's any other tips and tricks I should know about please don't hesitate to tell me. I'm pretty excited about this and want the best for my new edition.

 

[AnObeseHippo]

If you’re comfortable, the T probably is too. I wouldn’t worry about it at all.

 

[Nightstalker47]

I'm pretty sure im ready but I'm still stuck on one thing , humidity . I know several of you have said that your normal house humidity is fine but mines only at 40% or so and I keep my house around 60 to 70 degrees .

Ambient humidity numbers are inconsequential, and have no place when it comes to keeping tarantulas...lots of misinformation out there, be careful who you trust with advice. Now this is an extremely hardy species, they will do absolutely fine on predominantly dry sub with a water dish. Temps under 65 aren't ideal for prolonged periods, so you may want to look into heating up a small room or closet via space heater...a range of 65-75 would be my recommendation.

Welcome to the forums.

 

[animaliaadvocate216]

If you’re comfortable, the T probably is too. I wouldn’t worry about it at all.

Thanks. That's what I needed to know. Should I use a heat mat as an option if it wants to be warmer ?

 

[The Seraph]

My local pet store has a B . hamorii for sale and I was thinking about going to pick her up tomorrow . I've tried my hardest to research and prepare for my first t , I'm pretty sure im ready but I'm still stuck on one thing , humidity . I know several of you have said that your normal house humidity is fine but mines only at 40% or so and I keep my house around 60 to 70 degrees . Should I take measures to accommodate for the conditions or see how it goes ? If there's any other tips and tricks I should know about please don't hesitate to tell me. I'm pretty excited about this and want the best for my new edition.

This will help. It was written recently and is a superb general care guide for new keepers. I can also speak from experience and say B. hamorii is very easy to care for. They are a desert species, so if it if it is an adult keep it dry. If it is a sling, keep it moist until it gets up to 1 inch in diagonal legspan. They have a very big appetite and just feed it until it's abdomen is plump. That is really just it. Have fun with your spider, and make sure it is not a Mature Male as some pet stores like to do.

Thanks. That's what I needed to know. Should I use a heat mat as an option if it wants to be warmer ?

You can, but do not do it in the usual manner (putting it directly on the enclosure). I do believe @basin79 has experience with this.

 

[Nightstalker47]

Seeing as this is your first tarantula, and your planning on buying from the pet shop...make sure to post some pictures of your enclosure. We will help ensure that everything is setup right.

 

[animaliaadvocate216]

Ambient humidity numbers are inconsequential, and have no place when it comes to keeping tarantulas...lots of misinformation out there, be careful who you trust with advice. Now this is an extremely hardy species, they will do absolutely fine on predominantly dry sub with a water dish. Temps under 65 aren't ideal for prolonged periods, so you may want to look into heating up a small room or closet via space heater...a range of 65-75 would be my recommendation.

Welcome to the forums.

I don't have the option to heat a seperate room .
I've read you can attach a heat mat to the outside of the tank at one end . Is this a good technique ?

 

[Nightstalker47]

I don't have the option to heat a seperate room .
I've read you can attach a heat mat to the outside of the tank at one end . Is this a good technique ?

Yeah it can work, never used them myself though. It is more cost effective if your only heating one tarantula. Hopefully @basin79 will come along and show you how its done safely.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I'm still stuck on one thing , humidity

You don't need to worry about ambient humidity (or humidity at all for that matter, it's irrelevant to tarantula keeping), just keep it on dry sub with a water dish.

I keep my house around 60 to 70 degrees

The lower end of that range is a little on the cold side for my liking, would be OK as an overnight low maybe but I'm not sure if that'd be OK long term.

I've read you can attach a heat mat to the outside of the tank at one end . Is this a good technique ?

Yeah, you can do that but you must place it on the side of the tank, it must be above substrate level and it must away from the hide.

Additionally, you must control the heat mat with a thermostat (attach the temperature probe to the mat so that the mat doesn't exceed the set temperature) and monitor it regularly, unregulated/poorly placed heat mats kill tarantulas.

 

[sasker]

make sure to post some pictures of your enclosure

In addition, know what you need exactly and do not let the pet shop employee talk you into buying all kinds of unnecessary paraphernalia. If you have it their way, you will leave not only with a spider, but also with an unsuitable enclosure, a sponge for your water dish, wood chips for substrate, humidity/temperature/solar radiation gauge, a heat lamp and a heat rock.

 

[Nightstalker47]

Ill just go ahead and share a picture of my current setup, you can base yours off this...simple but effective. Dont let them fool you into buying an exo-terra or humidity gauges...and certainly no heat lamps.

 

[animaliaadvocate216]

Ill just go ahead and share a picture of my current setup, you can base yours off this...simple but effective. Dont let them fool you into buying an exo-terra or humidity gauges...and certainly no heat lamps.
View attachment 296456

What are you using as sub? And I was planning on getting an exo-terra ,strictly because I like the front entrance feature . I know it's not necessary but im assuming it's not a bad thing either .

In addition, know what you need exactly and do not let the pet shop employee talk you into buying all kinds of unnecessary paraphernalia. If you have it their way, you will leave not only with a spider, but also with an unsuitable enclosure, a sponge for your water dish, wood chips for substrate, humidity/temperature/solar radiation gauge, a heat lamp and a heat rock.

Im pretty sure I've done enough research to know that all that other crap is unnecessary . I've had a few lycos for a moth and a half now, two of which have egg sacks, and p. audax for about 3 weeks . I feel like I've done pretty good so far .Everyone seems happy and healthy.

 

[Nightstalker47]

Eco earth(coco fiber), just be sure to let it dry before use with this species.

 

[animaliaadvocate216]

Eco earth(coco fiber), just be sure to let it dry before use with this species.

Okay that's what I thought . I use that in all my current tanks .

 

[Nightstalker47]

Okay that's what I thought . I use that in all my current tanks .

Does the job, plus its lightweight which comes in handy when you have shelving systems.

 

[animaliaadvocate216]

Does the job, plus its lightweight which comes in handy when you have shelving systems.

I agree. Most of my tanks are on shelves and it really helps knowing they're not heavy. I don't use the provided handles but still.

 

[cold blood]

And I was planning on getting an exo-terra ,strictly because I like the front entrance feature . I know

The front doors on an exo terra make it impossible to add enough sub to create a safe environment. As a rule, these enclosures are best for arboreal species and are not appropriate for terrestrials.

 

[Thekla]

And I was planning on getting an exo-terra ,strictly because I like the front entrance feature . I know it's not necessary but im assuming it's not a bad thing either .

Most Exo Terra enclosures are not suitable for a terrestrial species as you can fill substrate only to a certain level and there'll be still too much space between sub and the top. Also, they have mesh lids which you would need to modify, otherwise the T could get stuck with its tarsal claws when climbing.

How big is the T in question anyway?

Edit: Apparently, it took me too long to write my answer... @cold blood was faster.

 

[animaliaadvocate216]

@cold blood and @Thekla , that makes perfect since. I definitely just face palmed myself for not thinking about that . Thanks again guys . I will be modifying my shopping list .

Most Exo Terra enclosures are not suitable for a terrestrial species as you can fill substrate only to a certain level and there'll be still too much space between sub and the top. Also, they have mesh lids which you would need to modify, otherwise the T could get stuck with its tarsal claws when climbing.

How big is the T in question anyway?

Edit: Apparently, it took me too long to write my answer... @cold blood was faster.

I'm not sure of the size yet. I'm going to look at her in a few hours .

 

[animaliaadvocate216]

So I was lied to last night by someone that clearly has no clue what they're talking about (pet store employee.) I went up there to check out the B. hamorii and they said they've never had one and only have a Avicularia diversipes. Which wasn't even in the tank labeled as such, just fire belly frogs. So I talk to the manager and she called every location in town and they all said they were out completely. I know that's not true because I personally talked to a guy at one of the locations while getting dog food and he showed me the list of 7 T's he personally ordered himself. He said he had 9 T's of his own so i believe him. One of the ones I remember on the list was an A. seemanni. I am interested in that one because I really like the boney look. Few questions. First, is this typical of pet stores when it comes to inverts, does this reflect on the quality? Second, an A. seemanni isn't a bad first T is it?