Enclosure recommendations

Frogdaddy

Arachnoprince
Joined
Nov 13, 2019
Messages
1,069
I'm having a hard time finding an enclosure I like.
I'm looking to rehouse 2 P. murinus and 1 H. pulchripes into their adult enclosures.
Ideally they must be able to hold a good 6 inches of substrate to allow for burrowing.
I would prefer translucent or not crystal clear enclosures. While I do like to view my spiders, other people in my family don't. So as long as they let in ambient light it's fine.
I've been searching Amazon for deeper shoebox type enclosures with not much success. Most sellers package them in bundles of 6 or 10. I don't need that many, only 3.
So AB any ideas or recommendations?
 

worldsparadox

Arachnopeon
Joined
Jan 6, 2010
Messages
30
The bundled packages of 6 to 10 are usually quite small, not good for adult spiders. The container store is were I like to buy shoeboxes because you can get them clear with vent holes already. 'The Container Store Tall Shoe Box Clear' and the 'Men's Shoe Box' are my favorites for medium sized adult terrestrial tarantulas.
 

Frogdaddy

Arachnoprince
Joined
Nov 13, 2019
Messages
1,069
Sterilite containers with clasp tops. Drill holes for ventilation.
This is the style I prefer.

The bundled packages of 6 to 10 are usually quite small, not good for adult spiders. The container store is were I like to buy shoeboxes because you can get them clear with vent holes already. 'The Container Store Tall Shoe Box Clear' and the 'Men's Shoe Box' are my favorites for medium sized adult terrestrial tarantulas.
I forgot about the Container Store. Only because there is none near me and I would have to have them shipped which is no big deal.
 

Gilligan

Arachnosquire
Joined
Oct 30, 2020
Messages
126
Check a dollar store's container section. I've been able to find enclosures for adult T's, with options for more opaque containers as well.
 

Frogdaddy

Arachnoprince
Joined
Nov 13, 2019
Messages
1,069
Check a dollar store's container section. I've been able to find enclosures for adult T's, with options for more opaque containers as well.
I have a Dollar General and a Dollar Tree super close and I've already checked both of those and Wally World. The only place I haven't checked yet near me is Lowe's.
 

jbooth

Arachnobaron
Joined
Nov 24, 2022
Messages
495
I have a Dollar General and a Dollar Tree super close and I've already checked both of those and Wally World. The only place I haven't checked yet near me is Lowe's.
They should have the almost clear 25qt, I got some at Lowe's for my roaches.. Teal handles but whatever
 

Gilligan

Arachnosquire
Joined
Oct 30, 2020
Messages
126
I have a Dollar General and a Dollar Tree super close and I've already checked both of those and Wally World. The only place I haven't checked yet near me is Lowe's.
Ouch! That is definitely a conundrum. Maybe if you find a suitable clear enclosure, put frosted window film on it to create the opaque effect if you can't find a naturally opaque one.
 

curtisgiganteus

ArachnoViking, Conqueror of Poikilos and Therion
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 15, 2010
Messages
529
Costco is good too, they have the sterilite clasp top tubs in packs of 6 for like 12$
 

l4nsky

Aspiring Mad Genius
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
1,146
For tarantulas that are 4" to 7" DLS, my default enclosure is a Sterilite 1932 with 2" ventilation inserts. They're basically 5g enclosures and should meet most, if not all of your requirements. Not crystal clear, but not hard to see through either. Easily drilled or modified without being brittle. Can be setup for fossorial (slope style design or cork bark substrate dam and place some bug screen in the buried vent inserts), terrestrial, or arboreal species. They can be found at Walmart singly or purchased in 12 packs on Amazon. The vent inserts can be found on Amazon.
20221130_215841.jpg
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Housing a 0.1 Poecilotheria ornata
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Housing a 0.1 Phormingochilus sp Akcaya
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Housing a 0.1 Psalmopoeus victori
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Housing a 0.1 Phormingochilus sp Sabah Blue
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Housing a 0.1 Poecilotheria metallica
20210810_102322.jpg
 

curtisgiganteus

ArachnoViking, Conqueror of Poikilos and Therion
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 15, 2010
Messages
529
For tarantulas that are 4" to 7" DLS, my default enclosure is a Sterilite 1932 with 2" ventilation inserts. They're basically 5g enclosures and should meet most, if not all of your requirements. Not crystal clear, but not hard to see through either. Easily drilled or modified without being brittle. Can be setup for fossorial (slope style design or cork bark substrate dam and place some bug screen in the buried vent inserts), terrestrial, or arboreal species. They can be found at Walmart singly or purchased in 12 packs on Amazon. The vent inserts can be found on Amazon.
View attachment 433663
View attachment 433664

Housing a 0.1 Poecilotheria ornata
View attachment 433665

Housing a 0.1 Phormingochilus sp Akcaya
View attachment 433666

Housing a 0.1 Psalmopoeus victori
View attachment 433667

Housing a 0.1 Phormingochilus sp Sabah Blue
View attachment 433668

Housing a 0.1 Poecilotheria metallica
View attachment 433669
send me some of your leaf litter! Lol

For tarantulas that are 4" to 7" DLS, my default enclosure is a Sterilite 1932 with 2" ventilation inserts. They're basically 5g enclosures and should meet most, if not all of your requirements. Not crystal clear, but not hard to see through either. Easily drilled or modified without being brittle. Can be setup for fossorial (slope style design or cork bark substrate dam and place some bug screen in the buried vent inserts), terrestrial, or arboreal species. They can be found at Walmart singly or purchased in 12 packs on Amazon. The vent inserts can be found on Amazon.
View attachment 433663
View attachment 433664

Housing a 0.1 Poecilotheria ornata
View attachment 433665

Housing a 0.1 Phormingochilus sp Akcaya
View attachment 433666

Housing a 0.1 Psalmopoeus victori
View attachment 433667

Housing a 0.1 Phormingochilus sp Sabah Blue
View attachment 433668

Housing a 0.1 Poecilotheria metallica
View attachment 433669
can you post a link for the tubs? I can’t find them in more than a 6 pack bf they aren’t available.
 

l4nsky

Aspiring Mad Genius
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
1,146
send me some of your leaf litter! Lol
Grow some plants ;) lol. That mix is Nepenthes var Miranda (large durable leaf often used structurally by some T's.), Chamaedorea elegans (palm leaf), and various pothos plants all with pretty much the same leaf shapes. None of them are too terribly difficult.

can you post a link for the tubs? I can’t find them in more than a 6 pack bf they aren’t available.
I'll send via DM
 

curtisgiganteus

ArachnoViking, Conqueror of Poikilos and Therion
Old Timer
Joined
Nov 15, 2010
Messages
529
Grow some plants ;) lol. That mix is Nepenthes var Miranda (large durable leaf often used structurally by some T's.), Chamaedorea elegans (palm leaf), and various pothos plants all with pretty much the same leaf shapes. None of them are too terribly difficult.


I'll send via DM

Would these work? They are 2” shy on the length at 14” ish but the other dimensions are within less than half an inch difference. And they are like 3$ at the local Japanese dollar store 8B2B9B33-3C48-4A04-945E-E4BDE38D521E.jpeg 9C3BC78E-8051-4AC4-9883-8376EC1B6EF9.jpeg 00772432-7886-4907-9635-E4EEBF0C0F2A.jpeg
 

l4nsky

Aspiring Mad Genius
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Joined
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Messages
1,146

vancwa

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Messages
410
For tarantulas that are 4" to 7" DLS, my default enclosure is a Sterilite 1932 with 2" ventilation inserts. They're basically 5g enclosures and should meet most, if not all of your requirements. Not crystal clear, but not hard to see through either. Easily drilled or modified without being brittle. Can be setup for fossorial (slope style design or cork bark substrate dam and place some bug screen in the buried vent inserts), terrestrial, or arboreal species. They can be found at Walmart singly or purchased in 12 packs on Amazon. The vent inserts can be found on Amazon.
View attachment 433663
View attachment 433664

Housing a 0.1 Poecilotheria ornata
View attachment 433665

Housing a 0.1 Phormingochilus sp Akcaya
View attachment 433666

Housing a 0.1 Psalmopoeus victori
View attachment 433667

Housing a 0.1 Phormingochilus sp Sabah Blue
View attachment 433668

Housing a 0.1 Poecilotheria metallica
View attachment 433669
Wonderful containers! Excellent job.
What did you use to drill openings for the vents? How did you prevent cracking?
 

l4nsky

Aspiring Mad Genius
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
1,146
Wonderful containers! Excellent job.
What did you use to drill openings for the vents? How did you prevent cracking?
A 2" hole saw bit, and a burr bit. The plastic is pretty soft and is quite resistant to cracking if you go slow and keep the bit level to prevent it snagging at the end.

The vent inserts I buy are actually 2.1", so each drilled hole needs to be widened a bit with the burr bit to fit them in. Kind of a PITA, but the custom sizing allows both a friction fit and a mechanical fit with the tabs on the inserts themselves. That, combined with the gaskets and clasp handles make these really secure.

Also, IMHO it's worth taking a bit of time to create a good template to standardize your drill holes for a clean look.
16407351611878419899137579386650.jpg
20221201_104201.jpg
 
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vancwa

Arachnobaron
Old Timer
Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Messages
410
A 2" hole saw bit, and a burr bit. The plastic is pretty soft and is quite resistant to cracking if you go slow and keep the bit level to prevent it snagging at the end.

The vent inserts I buy are actually 2.1", so each drilled hole needs to be widened a bit with the burr bit to fit them in. Kind of a PITA, but the custom sizing allows both a friction fit and a mechanical fit with the tabs on the inserts themselves. That, combined with the gaskets and clasp handles make these really secure.

Also, IMHO it's worth taking a bit of time to create a good template to standardize your drill holes for a clean look.
View attachment 433687
View attachment 433688
Thank you!
 

l4nsky

Aspiring Mad Genius
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Joined
Jan 3, 2019
Messages
1,146
Sterilites work but I prefer the clarity of glass. I use the 10"deep versions for fossorial species as it gives them room to dig
See I also prefer clarity in most cases. In fact, it's a personal requirement that all sling and juvies under 4" DLS are kept in clear containers to better monitor their health and growth. Sadly, I've yet to find a standard, clear enclosure of this size that checks all the boxes or atleast can be easily modified to do so.
 

Dorifto

He who moists xD
Joined
Aug 10, 2017
Messages
2,734
See I also prefer clarity in most cases. In fact, it's a personal requirement that all sling and juvies under 4" DLS are kept in clear containers to better monitor their health and growth. Sadly, I've yet to find a standard, clear enclosure of this size that checks all the boxes or atleast can be easily modified to do so.
I'd take a look at alibaba or aliexpress. They use to have acrylic vented terrariums for cheap. Shipping to spain it's quite cheap, not sure to the States


EG:

 
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