Enclosure Recommendations

[Tyman710]

Hi everyone I'm new here. If anyone has time to answer i was looking for recommendations for an enclosure for a mature female OBT. I've used tarantula cribs in the past but the way my collection keeps growing it's just getting really expensive. If it's possible I would like to save money for more spiders! I know I could use totes or something like that but I would like to keep the viewing experience. Thrive has 4 gallon critter keeper style enclosures but I'm not sure if it would be big enough. It measures 14.5 in L x 8.6 in W x 9.6 in. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Mustafa67]

Hi everyone I'm new here. If anyone has time to answer i was looking for recommendations for an enclosure for a mature female OBT. I've used tarantula cribs in the past but the way my collection keeps growing it's just getting really expensive. If it's possible I would like to save money for more spiders! I know I could use totes or something like that but I would like to keep the viewing experience. Thrive has 4 gallon critter keeper style enclosures but I'm not sure if it would be big enough. It measures 14.5 in L x 8.6 in W x 9.6 in. Any help would be appreciated!

What’s the size of the T?

 

[Tyman710]

What’s the size of the T?

4.5 inches

 

[viper69]

Have you heard of a fish tank?

 

[Tyman710]

Have you heard of a fish tank?

Was trying to avoid tanks cause of the screen tops. I read that a Ts feet could get stuck in the holes. Tanks were the first thing I wanted to use but when I went to buy one I was talked out of it for that reason.

Have you heard of a fish tank?

Is that a real issue that keepers have?

 

[TheraMygale]

Cheese puff container. The kind they sell at walmart full of orange balls.

its not the most esthetic, i dont mind. I have a DCF Mikumi 2-3inch OBT in an xlarge cashew nut container. With a lid that seals when you turn.

its amazing.

 

[viper69]

Was trying to avoid tanks cause of the screen tops. I read that a Ts feet could get stuck in the holes. Tanks were the first thing I wanted to use but when I went to buy one I was talked out of it for that reason.

This is a non issue when you put the appropriate amount of substrate in.

 

[Brewser]

Welcome to A.B.
Congratulations on keeping an Orange Bitey Thing aka P. murinus.
Plenty of affordable enclosures out there to choose from.
Post a pic of OBT when U can.
Good Luck & Enjoy Your T.

 

[Hardus nameous]

You can use aquariums. If they're the classic style with the black plastic rim around the top there will be a recessed lip inside. This can support a sheet of material with air holes drilled through it. Many people use acrylic; I use sheets of HDPE (plastic). Some people have the sheet fitting tight in the tank; I leave mine loose and put the metal grates with "snake clips" over them.

 

[Tyman710]

You can use aquariums. If they're the classic style with the black plastic rim around the top there will be a recessed lip inside. This can support a sheet of material with air holes drilled through it. Many people use acrylic; I use sheets of HDPE (plastic). Some people have the sheet fitting tight in the tank; I leave mine loose and put the metal grates with "snake clips" over them.

Thanks for the help. That's a great idea that I didn't think about. That's probably the route that I'm gonna take.

This is a non issue when you put the appropriate amount of substrate in.

Okay Thank you for the advice. Its nice to talk to someone that has experience. I appreciate it.

This is a non issue when you put the appropriate amount of substrate in.

Okay Thank you for the advice. Its nice to talk to someone that has experience. I appreciate it.

Cheese puff container. The kind they sell at walmart full of orange balls.

its not the most esthetic, i dont mind. I have a DCF Mikumi 2-3inch OBT in an xlarge cashew nut container. With a lid that seals when you turn.

its amazing.

View attachment 491754

Thanks. This is exactly what I was after. I wanted to see what other people housed their Ts in. I don't mind how it looks either. I just want the t to be healthy and thrive and I really like watching them and showing them off. I appreciate the picture

Welcome to A.B.
Congratulations on keeping an Orange Bitey Thing aka P. murinus.
Plenty of affordable enclosures out there to choose from.
Post a pic of OBT when U can.
Good Luck & Enjoy Yout T.

Thanks! I'm at work right now but will post a pic when I get home tonight.

 

[TheraMygale]

Okay Thank you for the advice. Its nice to talk to someone that has experience. I appreciate it.

Thanks. This is exactly what I was after. I wanted to see what other people housed their Ts in. I don't mind how it looks either. I just want the t to be healthy and thrive and I really like watching them and showing them off. I appreciate the picture

i also have an RCF in a faunarium. But i really don’t find it ideal. This species can be extremely defensive. Its more likely to have an unpredictable behavior, then a g pulchripes.

i have a system in place with the faunarium. I use a clear top, that i put on instead of the faunarium cover, when i do maintenance. I have a clear view. There are holes in too, that way i can insert sticks for maintenance without exposing “flee options”. It reduces the risks of the tarantula coming at me, or escaping/hurting itself.

both my p murinus have hides thats they retreat too. But i never take it for granted.

i know as they grow, they might become bolder. Which is why i prefer enclosures with smaller “openinings”.

they grew really quickly though, even if i limit feedings.

they went from less then an inch, to over 2 inches in less then 9 months.

 

[viper69]

Okay Thank you for the advice. Its nice to talk to someone that has experience. I appreciate it.

NP- for terrestrials we recommend 1.5x DLS of the T from sub surface to lid

 

[cold blood]

Was trying to avoid tanks cause of the screen tops. I read that a Ts feet could get stuck in the holes. Tanks were the first thing I wanted to use but when I went to buy one I was talked out of it for that reason.


Is that a real issue that keepers have?

You just go to the hardware store and have them cut a plexiglass or acrylic top and drill out ventilation holes.

 

[Requiem4aSpleen]

A 1-1.5 gallon plastic jar 🫙

 

[Charliemum]

I like to use the reptile growth enclosures, they are clear cheap and have several sizes and are available on amazon .
They have a removable lid with a punched steel mesh window on top that also opens they also have a feeding hatch at the side so if little one webs the lid you can still feed/water without braking the web, and ventilation on the sides, n on top and because they are plastic you can always add extra vents if you need them. You can pick up a 10 gallon version for around £70 although I doubt you will need that much for your little one.
You could also try second hand vivs can pick them up pretty cheap on the second hand sites about £25/30 for an 12x12x12 exo.
There are also rubs you can put vents in yourself but they are usually cloudy so personally I try to ovoid them, although I do have some for fast growing juvies.
You have lots of options to home your floofer it just depends on what your after if you just want an adequate home n aren't bothered about seeing in go rub, if you want to watch your baby like a hawk like I do go clear , whatever you choose make sure you have space for digging and web n your t should be happy.
Gl to you both n any more questions you know where we are .

 

[Andrew Clayton]

Thrive has 4 gallon critter keeper style enclosures but I'm not sure if it would be big enough. It measures 14.5 in L x 8.6 in W x 9.6 in. Any help would be appreciated!

Yes this is big enough.

 

[KenD]

Hi everyone I'm new here. If anyone has time to answer i was looking for recommendations for an enclosure for a mature female OBT. I've used tarantula cribs in the past but the way my collection keeps growing it's just getting really expensive. If it's possible I would like to save money for more spiders! I know I could use totes or something like that but I would like to keep the viewing experience. Thrive has 4 gallon critter keeper style enclosures but I'm not sure if it would be big enough. It measures 14.5 in L x 8.6 in W x 9.6 in. Any help would be appreciated!

I believe the critter keeper you mention should large enough. My 8" subadult Lasiodora parahybana is in a 12x12x8 enclosure and is doing fine (she'll definitely be getting an upgrade next molt though, don't worry). I keep my 8" monster of a Poecilotheria regalis in a 20x20x40 cm (8x8x16", roughly 4 gallons) lantern enclosure. Those dimensions are less than generic recommendations but tarantulas really don't need/use much space, and they're mostly legs anyway don't commonly lie spread out in all their glory.

Was trying to avoid tanks cause of the screen tops. I read that a Ts feet could get stuck in the holes. Tanks were the first thing I wanted to use but when I went to buy one I was talked out of it for that reason.


Is that a real issue that keepers have?

Aquariums are fine, especially for arid species such as the OBT. Just replace the screen top with a piece of acrylic (with ventilation holes). Also, it's not difficult to mod an old aquarium to have more "terrarium functionality" if you so desire.




That's a 14x10x8" (so pretty much the same size as the critter keeper you mentioned) aquarium I modded to have Exo Terra-like "chimney" ventilation and to be both front and top opening. Not particularly pretty, but functional.

 

[Kwin136]

I have a mix of acrylic containers I made from hobby lobby, plastic containers and Arthro Pods enclosures.

 

[Introvertebrate]

Was trying to avoid tanks cause of the screen tops. I read that a Ts feet could get stuck in the holes. Tanks were the first thing I wanted to use but when I went to buy one I was talked out of it for that reason.

You mean you encountered a pet store employee that actually knows tarantulas? As others have mentioned, I replace screen with plastic sheet. I've also used 1/8" galvanized mesh. Stan Schultz used to suggest that.

 

[TechnoGeek]

I personally use Tupperware containers for most of my Ts. Just aim for something that's like 2.5X by 2X by 2X or more, where X is the spider's diagonal legspan. You don't want it to be too high if it's a terrestrial species cause they can fall and injure themselves so either put more substrate or use a shallower enclosure.

As for using fish tanks, that's not really feasible for most keepers so let's be real. Fish tanks tend to be bigger and far less convenient, not to mention that they cost much more. My cheapest fishtank cost me 25 bucks, my cheapest Tupperware container like 1 dollar lol. I do keep some of my bigger display species in decorated acrylic or glass enclosures but given that most of us here keep multiple Ts (and by multiple I mean 5+, about 15 right now in ny case) it's safe to say that not all of my Ts get fish tanks. It's also pretty well known that the spider doesn't care what material its enclosure is made off so long as size and husbandry are appropriate.

The choice of substrate and hides is also pretty important, though I never kept this sp and I have a strict no old world T policy. I think other posters should be able to provide better help here.