BIG tarantula enclosure ideas

[Alex T Newbie]

Hi! I have a sub adult L. parahybana (adults are 8"-10") that I'm struggling to find a house for. I have a few questions:
1) could an aquarium with a vented acrylic top have enough ventilation?
2) if you turn an exo terra on its side to increase substrate depth how do you deal with the mesh top being on the side?
3) are there any good 18" or more terrariums suitable for burrowers?

PS: I attached a photo of my girl, Rusty, but she is nowhere full grown. I know her enclosure is less than ideal, that's why is want to upgrade it for her. I still am hoping to put her in her permanent home and have her grow into it.


EDIT: I now know she is a he. Oops, its so obvious idk how I missed it. Haha. Well I bought him as a boy anyways, glad his molt IDs were wrong

 

[viper69]

1 yea

2 put tank on its back haha

3 looks like a mature male

 

[TarantulaMel]

She looks like a HE.

 

[winter]

Agree with @TarantulaMel, your tarantula appears to be male based on it's proportions and what appear to be apophysis (hooks) on the tibia of the first leg. Better image of the pedipalps will help ascertain if your tarantula is male or female.

If he's a male, no need to rehouse, keep him in the current enclosure, his days are numbered.

 

[Alex T Newbie]

Agree with @TarantulaMel, your tarantula appears to be male based on it's proportions and what appear to be apophysis (hooks) on the tibia of the first leg. Better image of the pedipalps will help ascertain if your tarantula is male or female.

If he's a male, no need to rehouse, keep him in the current enclosure, his days are numbered.

oh thank god. I bought him as a boy but his recent molts looked female. I'm kind of glad it wasn't wrong

 

[cold blood]

Hi! I have a sub adult L. parahybana (adults are 8"-10")

Nope, this is a myth perpetuated for the sole reason of selling ts. 7-8" is their range...no different than dozens, perhaps hundreds of large terrestrial species. And as you see, your t is now mature, meaning he is at his max size...so much for 10"...lol

1) could an aquarium with a vented acrylic top have enough ventilation?

Yes. People seem to always think all ts have the same venting needs that Avics do, they do not...terrestrial species kept predominantly dry actually require very little ventilation.

2) if you turn an exo terra on its side to increase substrate depth how do you deal with the mesh top being on the side?

you would dam the mesh top.

3) are there any good 18" or more terrariums suitable for burrowers?

Too many to list, you can be creative and use pretty much any tank or tub of appropriate size....this one is all on you and what your personal preferences are.

 

[Alex T Newbie]

Nope, this is a myth perpetuated for the sole reason of selling ts. 7-8" is their range...no different than dozens, perhaps hundreds of large terrestrial species. And as you see, your t is now mature, meaning he is at his max size...so much for 10"...lol
Yes. People seem to always think all ts have the same venting needs that Avics do, they do not...terrestrial species kept predominantly dry actually require very little ventilation.
you would dam the mesh top.

Too many to list, you can be creative and use pretty much any tank or tub of appropriate size....this one is all on you and what your personal preferences are.

Thanks for all the info! I read that the size was a myth right after I posted this, oops! Even though he doesn't have much time left I'm gonna put him in a 10 gal. aquarium.

 

[Konstantin Konstantinov]

Hi
The Exo terra medium low (45 x45x 30H in cm) make great enclosures for larger terrestrial species of tarantulas once you modify the lid. I keep my 8.5 inch LP in one of them and its a good fit for her when you add good amount of substrate.
Few pics below.

I will personally keep your male i that enclosure. He will be wandering a lot (looking for females)and may not eat regularly so will burn faster in larger setup.I tend to keep my matured males in smaller setups so can enjoy them a little bit longer.
Just provide water available at all times and let him be.
Regards Konstantin

 

[Dorifto]

1) could an aquarium with a vented acrylic top have enough ventilation

Yes, but the T can get atracted to the air coming from the top.

You can solve this easily drilling some holes down low, so it creates a convection current, so the T mainly feels the air coming from the bottom.

Something like this:

IMG_20220630_223820.jpg

• Dorifto
• Jun 30, 2022
• 4

Fish tank mod

2) if you turn an exo terra on its side to increase substrate depth how do you deal with the mesh top being on the side?

Simple, don't do such thing.

Better to find other solutions to increase substrate level, like using stagered setups, or raising the substrate height toward the back making a slope.

3) are there any good 18" or more terrariums suitable for burrowers?

Exos, komodos, long fish tanks.

Build your own? Pretty easy and cheap to build.

Easiest one, the drawing I posted above. Very cheap to build.

More complex one but more easier to maintain, and also perfectly suitable for planted setups:

IMG_20200523_002020.jpg

• Dorifto
• Oct 2, 2021

IMG_20211112_201806.jpg

• Dorifto
• Nov 12, 2021
• 9
• pulchra vivarium

 

[Alex T Newbie]

Yes, but the T can get atracted to the air coming from the top.

You can solve this easily drilling some holes down low, so it creates a convection current, so the T mainly feels the air coming from the bottom.

Something like this:

IMG_20220630_223820.jpg

• Dorifto
• Jun 30, 2022
• 4

Fish tank mod

Simple, don't do such thing.

Better to find other solutions to increase substrate level, like using stagered setups, or raising the substrate height toward the back making a slope.

Exos, komodos, long fish tanks.

Build your own? Pretty easy and cheap to build.

Easiest one, the draw I posted above. Very cheap to build.

More complex one but more easier to maintain, also perfectly suitable for planted setups:

IMG_20200523_002020.jpg

• Dorifto
• Oct 2, 2021

IMG_20211112_201806.jpg

• Dorifto
• Nov 12, 2021
• 9
• pulchra vivarium

Thank you for such detailed feedback!!

 

[Dorifto]

Thank you for such detailed feedback!!

You are welcome!!