Brachypelma Boehmei first time owner

[Rox6or]

Good day all, a quick intro. I'm very new to tarantula keeping as I only got my first one almost 2 weeks ago. The little one is a Brachypelma Boehmei and size wise roughly about 7-8cm leg span across. When I got him/her I also got a new bigger enclosure as the previous one he/she had just about no space to move. The new sizes are 24cm x 24cm x 24cm. I also added a small heatpad to the back outside that heats the back to 25 degrees Celsius. I added peat moss for substrate, with a little spagnum moss to one side for moisture. I also added a small water dish. He/She will be fed for the second time this coming Wednesday. The enclosure has a diamond mesh top, too small to escape, but strong enough to not get through. The enclosure also gets quite a lot of light during day time. I also dampened the substrate for the second time today with a syringe as I was told it needs the moisture. Finally my question, it seems like the little guy constantly is trying to "escape". He/she climbs the sides daily and nightly, sometimes onto the mesh. I am scared I'm not giving the optimal conditions and that is the reason for this behavior? I am new to keeping tarantulas and therefor rather want to ask than go scouring the net where everyone gives a lot of different answers and I don't know what to follow.

Please any help will be appreciated and I thank you for taking the time reading all of this. I'm truly sorry if this has been discussed before, but not too familiar with the forum yet and didn't want to waste time if the little one is unhappy.

Thanks again

 

[Venom1080]

Pictures or cage and spider are always useful.

Heat pads unless properly stated are bad. These spiders are fine at room temperature. No need to hear it.

These spiders are arid. They like it dry with only a water dish. They don't need another or a humid area.

Screen tops aren't ideal. Spiders can get their claws stuck and lose legs.

It may be climbing because of too humid conditions, or it may just be settling in.

The gap between the substrate and top of cage shouldn't be more than 2x the spiders legspan. This can vary with very heavy bodied spiders, but not much with boehmeis. 1.5x-2x is generally fine

 

[bryverine]

Good day all, a quick intro. I'm very new to tarantula keeping as I only got my first one almost 2 weeks ago. The little one is a Brachypelma Boehmei and size wise roughly about 7-8cm leg span across. When I got him/her I also got a new bigger enclosure as the previous one he/she had just about no space to move. The new sizes are 24cm x 24cm x 24cm. I also added a small heatpad to the back outside that heats the back to 25 degrees Celsius.

Be weary of using a heat pad. They can work, but they can also be deadly to T's. They love warm, use fluid to move, lose fluid with heat, and get stuck and dessicate. If you're room doesn't drop far below 20°C I wouldn't worry about the pad.

I added peat moss for substrate, with a little spagnum moss to one side for moisture. I also added a small water dish.

Why moss? Was there no top soil or coco fiber available? How close to the top did you leave the sub? I wouldn't go less than half full. While they're small it's not as big of a deal, but as they get more full bodied, a drop can be mpre fatal.

He/She will be fed for the second time this coming Wednesday.

Sounds good. Once a week is good depending on feeder size.

The enclosure has a diamond mesh top, too small to escape, but strong enough to not get through. The enclosure also gets quite a lot of light during day time.

Careful with direct light and depending on the type of mesh, it could be ok or dangerous for the T. If it's the window bug mesh type, replace it - tarsal claws can get stuck.

I also dampened the substrate for the second time today with a syringe as I was told it needs the moisture.

A nice big water bowl should help alot with this. Do NOT make it a swamp in there. If you're using hygrometer, put it in your humidor. A tarantula enclosure is too dynamic to measure properly and people tend to flood cages. It's actually better on the dryer side as long as you keep a full water bowl.

Finally my question, it seems like the little guy constantly is trying to "escape". He/she climbs the sides daily and nightly, sometimes onto the mesh. I am scared I'm not giving the optimal conditions and that is the reason for this behavior?

Either (s)he's exploring as they tend to do in new enclosures or it hates the substrate. I'm pretty sure it's a little of the first and more of the second. Mind attaching a pic of the setup?

I am new to keeping tarantulas and therefor rather want to ask than go scouring the net where everyone gives a lot of different answers and I don't know what to follow.

Please any help will be appreciated and I thank you for taking the time reading all of this. I'm truly sorry if this has been discussed before, but not too familiar with the forum yet and didn't want to waste time if the little one is unhappy.

Thanks again

Welcome to all things expert in tarantulas. People here are the best to learn from!

 

[Rox6or]

Awesome to get so much help straight away... I'll post the pictures now. As for hight of soil to top it might be slightly to much but around 1.5x the leg span front to back that is, but will increase the substrate when the current is dryer as it is damp and not dry as recommended. I changed its location to receive even less light and will ad a top cover if further necessary. Furthermore the moss was just because the seller told me it should be always moist and from owning corn snakes and ball pythons that was always ideal to increase humidity. I will also change to a glass top with vent as soon as the moisture is a lot less as I fear if i put it on now it is gonna cause a lot of condensation. Gonna resize picture then add them. Sorry for the wait

 

[Rox6or]

View attachment 250318

 

[Rox6or]

I'm not sure I added them correctly, but I posted the three different photo's and somehow the one is posted several times. Please let me know if all aren't visible

 

[Venom1080]

Pics All good.

Yeah, way way too damp. Bone dry with one water dish is what they like.

A large kritter keeper makes a good cage.

I'd raise the sub a little bit as well.

 

[Rox6or]

Pics All good.

Yeah, way way too damp. Bone dry with one water dish is what they like.

A large kritter keeper makes a good cage.

I'd raise the sub a little bit as well.

Thanks will wait for it to dry out to add more substrate and then also change the lid to make sure he/she doesn't get hurt.

 

[Venom1080]

Thanks will wait for it to dry out to add more substrate and then also change the lid to make sure he/she doesn't get hurt.

Sounds great

 

[bryverine]

View attachment 250320 View attachment 250320 View attachment 250320 View attachment 250320 View attachment 250318

Also, i like the scene, but those hard plastic/ceramic decorations can be dangerous to exploring/acrobatic terrestrial tarantulas.

To be a bit preemptive, you always hear the "in nature there are..." excuse - tarantulas die in nature, I believe in protecting my investments.

 

[Ellenantula]

@Rox6or
Beautiful T -- lovely in every way.

Make the needed enclosure changes and you're gold!

 

[ChaelP]

Good day all, a quick intro. I'm very new to tarantula keeping as I only got my first one almost 2 weeks ago. The little one is a Brachypelma Boehmei and size wise roughly about 7-8cm leg span across. When I got him/her I also got a new bigger enclosure as the previous one he/she had just about no space to move. The new sizes are 24cm x 24cm x 24cm. I also added a small heatpad to the back outside that heats the back to 25 degrees Celsius. I added peat moss for substrate, with a little spagnum moss to one side for moisture. I also added a small water dish. He/She will be fed for the second time this coming Wednesday. The enclosure has a diamond mesh top, too small to escape, but strong enough to not get through. The enclosure also gets quite a lot of light during day time. I also dampened the substrate for the second time today with a syringe as I was told it needs the moisture. Finally my question, it seems like the little guy constantly is trying to "escape". He/she climbs the sides daily and nightly, sometimes onto the mesh. I am scared I'm not giving the optimal conditions and that is the reason for this behavior? I am new to keeping tarantulas and therefor rather want to ask than go scouring the net where everyone gives a lot of different answers and I don't know what to follow.

Please any help will be appreciated and I thank you for taking the time reading all of this. I'm truly sorry if this has been discussed before, but not too familiar with the forum yet and didn't want to waste time if the little one is unhappy.

Thanks again

Im also new in the hobby, and the only advice i can give you is be careful with this specie. It kicks hairs at the slightest of disturbances. And the hairs are nasty. Had rashes and been itching for weeks. Not to put you off but just a heads up from a new keeper to another happy keeping!

 

[Rox6or]

Thanks again to all for the help and advice. The next might be silly to ask and for my intentions for keeping not important. But I've been reading of the possibility on sexing on "sight" so to speak. I want to post some pictures purely on curiosity.

 

[mack1855]

As stated,nice looking T.
And going with just the pic,my poor eyesight,and my vast inexperience,male.

 

[Chris60]

Thanks will wait for it to dry out to add more substrate and then also change the lid to make sure he/she doesn't get hurt.

I am a newby with a b. boehmei, I went with acrylic and a fully drilled lid. My tarantula climbed all over the lid when first introduced. Now the substrate has dried out (it was moist in the supplied bag), he/she does not climb as often. So I think your 'T' climbing could well be a bit of exploring, and a bit of substrate aversion. Half the fun is deciphering which. Nice looking 'T'.

 

[Rox6or]

Good day all, just a quick update. New lid on, substrate close to completely dry and a very terrestrial tarantula now. Very happy about him settling like this. Thanks for all the help and advice, made a world of a difference. Pics to follow

 

[Walker253]

HAIRS...HAIRS...HAIRS...

Beautiful T, my favorite Brachypelma. But as a first time owner, while you picked a beautiful tarantula, it is a fierce hair kicker. The hairs of the B boehmei rival, Nhandu species, T okerti, and T stirmi.
Use tongs, and keep, hopefully her, calm. Or prepare for the "itch"

 

[Rox6or]

Thanks for the advice. So far must say been very calm. Only kicked hair on the first day and got me slightly, but at least very little irritation. Also been eating well and seems settled now in the new enclosure. Very happy and super excited with what the future holds with these cool guys and girls.

 

[miss moxie]

Welp sorry to rain on the parade, but I've actually got a couple things to add. There should be more substrate in there (can't tell exactly how big your T is from the photos) and you should take the rocks out of the water dish. First of all they're not needed. Your tarantula will not and cannot drown in that water dish, trust me. I've got a video of my .5" A. versiscolor sling walking on top of the water in it's water dish. Second of all they can harbor bacteria and germs if not thoroughly cleaned often.

The rule of thumb for substrate is 1.5x their leg span. So if you have a 4" Tarantula, then you want only 6" maximum height from the top of the enclosure to the substrate.

I'd also personally get rid of those hard decorations. If your T burrows under them and they fall on top of the T or the T falls on them while climbing it can get hurt really easily.