Burrowing Types & Enclosures Questions

[Alx Owls]

Hi all,

TL;DR: How do I know what kind of burrower my tarantula is? Where to buy good enclosures? Preferably ones that stack and have consideration for cross-ventilation?

I have been in the community for about 4 years now and have amassed 9 tarantulas and 1 tailless whip scorpion (damon diadema). I had a few questions on the different types of burrowing behaviors of my tarantulas as well as where to purchase enclosures with good cross-ventilation. My first question is about burrowing behaviors, some tarantula species are opportunistic and others are considered obligate. Information online seems to be lacking about these burrowing behaviors for each species. I do not know for certain which my T's are because they all have been provided hides and some use them to a fair degree while others are nearly constantly out and visible despite substrate levels and presence of a suitable hide. I will be re-housing all of my tarantulas into new enclosures soon due to my own poor management of room space and consideration of cross-ventilation. Over the years, my tarantulas have not seemed in the slightest distressed by their current set-ups but I would like to optimize everything. I will list the species of my tarantulas as well as their names and sexes below:

• Female Aphonoplma Seemani (Lilith)
• Female Brachypelma Hamorii (Candy)
• Female (?) Neoholothele incei (Socks)
• Male Poecilotheria Metallica (Azura)
• Unknown Species (was told it was neoholothele incei) (Bumblebee)
• Male (?) Ephebopus Murinus (Boo)
• 2 Tliltocatl Albopilosus (Kiwi; Male, Artios; Female)
• Nhandu Chromatus Sling (Voodoo)

The only tarantula I have that does not seem content is my adult male tliltocatl albopilosus (curly hair). He has not used the hide I provided, and has plenty of substrate to make his own but does not. He continuously roams his enclosure and has kicked off almost all of his urticating hairs on his abdomen. There is nothing else in the enclosure with him to irritate or bother him, but he seems discontent.

My next question is about where to purchase good enclosures from. I am heavily debating on purchasing this one from this site: https://www.herpcult.com/product-page/acrylic-enclosure-large-clear-top
or importing them (I'm in the USA) from Germany at this site: https://arachnosys.de/en/

I like the option of stacking the enclosures and still having access to them. I have bought 2 enclosures from Arachnosys but they have not arrived yet through customs. They have the option for stackability while still being opened from front or top. Does anyone have any opinion about good enclosures? I would build them myself but I am disabled and the labor that is included in doing that is not an option for me.

 

[Cmoore0475]

I was getting ready to post something similar! So as not to double post and anger the arachnogods, I’m going to piggyback a question or two and maybe it will benefit us both with more info! I’ve got a 1 3/4 ish T albo. It is in the mini sized critter keeper that is 7x4x5.5 inches! It is 2/3 or more full of substrate and has a little plastic greenery it could care less about and a piece of cork bark jammed into into the substrate at an angle with a little started hole under it for a hide I made! It’s been busy for the last few days excavating the hole I started and digging out all the way to the side of the enclosure and has provided a neat little window into its lair! I’m concerned since it burrowed to a place it had to stop if it’s in too small an enclosure! I honestly didbt think that might me an issue until it got bigger but second guessing myself now! My other concern is that it borrowed so much under rhe cork bark that it may collapse underneath! So 2 questions: is enclosure too small and if cork bark collapses the burrow should I dig it out or let it fend for itself?? Here’s a pic and it looks to have a ton of condensation but it’s more camera angle than condensate! I don’t want to flash too much since it’s like peeping in someone’s bathroom window!

 

[Cmoore0475]

Hi all,

TL;DR: How do I know what kind of burrower my tarantula is? Where to buy good enclosures? Preferably ones that stack and have consideration for cross-ventilation?

I have been in the community for about 4 years now and have amassed 9 tarantulas and 1 tailless whip scorpion (damon diadema). I had a few questions on the different types of burrowing behaviors of my tarantulas as well as where to purchase enclosures with good cross-ventilation. My first question is about burrowing behaviors, some tarantula species are opportunistic and others are considered obligate. Information online seems to be lacking about these burrowing behaviors for each species. I do not know for certain which my T's are because they all have been provided hides and some use them to a fair degree while others are nearly constantly out and visible despite substrate levels and presence of a suitable hide. I will be re-housing all of my tarantulas into new enclosures soon due to my own poor management of room space and consideration of cross-ventilation. Over the years, my tarantulas have not seemed in the slightest distressed by their current set-ups but I would like to optimize everything. I will list the species of my tarantulas as well as their names and sexes below:

• Female Aphonoplma Seemani (Lilith)
• Female Brachypelma Hamorii (Candy)
• Female (?) Neoholothele incei (Socks)
• Male Poecilotheria Metallica (Azura)
• Unknown Species (was told it was neoholothele incei) (Bumblebee)
• Male (?) Ephebopus Murinus (Boo)
• 2 Tliltocatl Albopilosus (Kiwi; Male, Artios; Female)
• Nhandu Chromatus Sling (Voodoo)

The only tarantula I have that does not seem content is my adult male tliltocatl albopilosus (curly hair). He has not used the hide I provided, and has plenty of substrate to make his own but does not. He continuously roams his enclosure and has kicked off almost all of his urticating hairs on his abdomen. There is nothing else in the enclosure with him to irritate or bother him, but he seems discontent.

My next question is about where to purchase good enclosures from. I am heavily debating on purchasing this one from this site: https://www.herpcult.com/product-page/acrylic-enclosure-large-clear-top
or importing them (I'm in the USA) from Germany at this site: https://arachnosys.de/en/

I like the option of stacking the enclosures and still having access to them. I have bought 2 enclosures from Arachnosys but they have not arrived yet through customs. They have the option for stackability while still being opened from front or top. Does anyone have any opinion about good enclosures? I would build them myself but I am disabled and the labor that is included in doing that is not an option for me.

I think from everything I’ve read and I’m still horribly new to the hobby but the male is gonna roam around topside hoping to find a female to do what he was put here to do! I honestly don’t know if the hair kicking is part of that or not but seems like I’ve heard they get defensive and skittish during this part of their life! Hate to hear that because the T albo has kinda quickly become my favorite of my three with the GBB sling a close second and the juvie D pentaloris being really skittish and fast and giving off a kind of evil vibe! The first cricket it killed I swear it happened so fast I think it jumped backwards on top of the thing!! Lol

 

[viper69]

I’d love to see actual pics of the German cages when you get them.

There’s no need to import but to each their own.

Your male isn’t going to care about anything except finding a female.


I’ve owned all those species- in captivity not every specimen displays burrowing.

All yours do burrow in the wild. P mets are arboreal. They live in a hole of a tree high above the ground.

 

[Smotzer]

There’s no need to purchase entirely new enclosures because of cross ventilation for the species have, which will do fine with standard ventilation.

In captivity as adults Aphonopelma seemani don’t always burrow as a fossorial, and your Ephebopus murinus is the only other fossorial on there.

Poecilotheria is arboreal as well.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

Hi all,

TL;DR: How do I know what kind of burrower my tarantula is? Where to buy good enclosures? Preferably ones that stack and have consideration for cross-ventilation?

The only tarantula I have that does not seem content is my adult male tliltocatl albopilosus (curly hair). He has not used the hide I provided, and has plenty of substrate to make his own but does not. He continuously roams his enclosure and has kicked off almost all of his urticating hairs on his abdomen. There is nothing else in the enclosure with him to irritate or bother him, but he seems discontent.

Assume all tarantulas, unless they are an arboreal species, is the type of burrower that prefers to dig underneath a large solid object.

The problem with your curly hair is that it probably doesn't agree with your assessment of what it needs to feel safe and to dig. Here is a link to a post I made on how I solved that type of problem.

The Aphonopelma Tank

I finally got around to taking some quick pictures of how I house small to medium size tarantulas that are fossorial in nature, but may not exhibit a fossorial nature in captivity. I mainly use this type of housing for Aphonopelma species, but I found it works for Grammostola, Brachypelma, and...

arachnoboards.com

 

[Alx Owls]

Assume all tarantulas, unless they are an arboreal species, is the type of burrower that prefers to dig underneath a large solid object.

The problem with your curly hair is that it probably doesn't agree with your assessment of what it needs to feel safe and to dig. Here is a link to a post I made on how I solved that type of problem.

The Aphonopelma Tank

I finally got around to taking some quick pictures of how I house small to medium size tarantulas that are fossorial in nature, but may not exhibit a fossorial nature in captivity. I mainly use this type of housing for Aphonopelma species, but I found it works for Grammostola, Brachypelma, and...

arachnoboards.com

Thank you so much for the thoughtful response! I am going to be rehousing him sometime this week and I will do so with the utmost care for his needs.

 

[Alx Owls]

There’s no need to purchase entirely new enclosures because of cross ventilation for the species have, which will do fine with standard ventilation.

In captivity as adults Aphonopelma seemani don’t always burrow as a fossorial, and your Ephebopus murinus is the only other fossorial on there.

Poecilotheria is arboreal as well.

Thank you so much! The explanation of burrowing behaviors really helps me to figure out how I can do better husbandry for my little ones. I will take the ventilation issue into serious consideration as I am going to be getting all new enclosures for everyone regardless. Should I get my Ephebopus Murinus a fossorial enclosure then?

 

[Alx Owls]

I’d love to see actual pics of the German cages when you get them.

There’s no need to import but to each their own.

Your male isn’t going to care about anything except finding a female.


I’ve owned all those species- in captivity not every specimen displays burrowing.

All yours do burrow in the wild. P mets are arboreal. They live in a hole of a tree high above the ground.

Thank you! I forgot to preface and mention that I am aware of the arboreal nature of my P. Metallica. He is in an enclosure that is suitable for his climbing needs!

I don't necessarily mind if my terrestrials don't burrow, I just want to make sure it is due to their behavior and not to poor husbandry on my end!

 

[Alx Owls]

I’d love to see actual pics of the German cages when you get them.

There’s no need to import but to each their own.

I will reply with pics or PM you, or make a new post altogether with them. They have arrived today while I'm at work!!

 

[viper69]

I will reply with pics or PM you, or make a new post altogether with them. They have arrived today while I'm at work!!

Can’t wait to see !