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.

 

[Stu Macher]

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.