Chaco Golden Knee help

[Monstress]

Here is my tiny Chaco Golden Knee "Pateesa" (named after Jabba's rancor from Return of the Jedi). I currently have it rehoused in a 12" × 12" x 12" enclosure with 2-3 inches of substrate. About 3/4 of the substrate is dampened and the other quarter is dry just in case.

I had to remove, dampen, and add more substrate to the enclosure because it kept on digging in the corner of the tank and it couldn't dig deep enough with only 1" of substrate. The substrate was also way too dry to hold any kind of burrow shape.

Now it keeps climbing the tank and hangs out on the top. Although I'm not sure why it keeps doing that, I found it on its substrate this morning. Not sure if it's normal for these guys to be on the lid.

Also I've been trying to feed it dubia roaches last couple of days and I can't tell if it has eaten them or not. The first roach I put in there I think I killed by accident or it was just playing dead. But before that a roach would straight up crawl under the T and the T would ignore the roach completely. I haven't seen the T eat at all since I got it but the two roaches I tried feeding it are gone. I'm worried that the roaches burrowed and never got eaten. It's hard to tell what the T is doing since this T is way too chilled out.

 

[Shinn]

Enclosure certainly seems larger than necessary for a T of that size. Also should add more substrate since the amount you have leaves plenty of room for the T to fall.

What did you use for your substrate? Looks to me like coir and bark? My Chaco Golden knee does well on coir. The way I set it up is by adding 4 inches of coconut coir with the first inch layer being soaking wet and subsequent 3 inches relatively dry and compacted tightly. This will wick all the moisture from bottom up and let the substrate hold it's structure well

As for the roach. Maybe check with a red light when it's dark to see if they're still around. You can also try leaving a small piece of fruit to see if it lures any still living roaches out.

Also your T appears well fed at least from the photo. The abdomen is nice and plum.

 

[viper69]

Sounds like setup is too tall, might fall and die etc, can't tell the size of your T for sure.

I've never used damp sub for this species. They will burrow, though not every specimen will do it.

Ts go vertical upon a new rehouse or a disturbance they sense that warrants such behavior.

Not normal to be on the lid ever generally.

Some Ts don't respond to roaches well. I have quite a few that do, and quite a few that end up with roommates.

 

[jc55]

I have had mine for six years now and keep the substrate dry with no issues at all.I keep a water dish and it has a hide and seems to be doing well but i have noticed mine does not like moist substrate and will sit on the wall of her enclosure a day before we get any kind of substantial rain.

 

[cold blood]

Here is my tiny Chaco Golden Knee

If you think its tiny, you should have seen it when it was actually tiny...its probably a couple years old by this point.

I currently have it rehoused in a 12" × 12" x 12" enclosure with 2-3 inches of substrate.

Its a juvie and a good eating species, so the extra room isn't a problem. But it is too tall with only a couple inches of sub....fill it over halfway with substrate, and tamp it down tightly, this will bake burrowing easier.

, and add more substrate to the enclosure because it kept on digging in the corner of the tank

keep adding...and don't concern yourself with its digging, just leave it dig if it wants.

Now it keeps climbing the tank and hangs out on the top. Although I'm not sure why it keeps doing that

Literally all tarantulas climb and will at some point, explore. Again, don't concern yourself with why....there isn't always a reason and its rarely going to be your "fault".

. Not sure if it's normal for these guys to be on the lid.

If they can climb, they will...this is why mesh tops are discouraged, because all ts climb.

Also I've been trying to feed it dubia roaches last couple of days and I can't tell if it has eaten them or not.

When feeding dubia roaches, always crush the roach's head and leave it on its back. You crush the head to prevent it from burrowing and leave it on its back so it wriggles around its legs and attracts attention as opposed to playing dead as they are prone to doing. Feed dubia right and any t will eat them.

 

[Phobic1]

I have 3 Chaco slings ( well, juvies now) and a few other grammostola. They do not like damp substrate and will stay away from it. I will allways heep a waterdish in there and they will allways fill it w dirt. Thats ok.
Deeper substrate is better. Climbing will hapen. Leave em be. Feed em once a week or so and they will do just fine. Keep the temp at 70f or more with 78 to 80 being a better day temp.

 

[Monstress]

My tarantula has currently settled down in the side of the tank that has dry substrate. I suppose it would be better off with a rock for it to burrow under but it for whatever reason has decided to burrow a hole under the closed side of its housing and kind of dig up over the open hole. I also see some webbing so I think it has finalized a burrow.

 

[DustyD]

I have caught my G. pulchripes dancing on the ceiling once. It was after I had just rehoused it and the timed red light had come on. When I went to check on her, this is what I found: (my apologies for the blinding red light)

 

[ResinBomb]

To echo what others have said could be substrate and large enclosure. I keep.mine bone dry after sling stage for my G. Pulchripes.