Enclosure size for P. rufilata

[Starchild Immortal]

I was given a juvenile Red Slate Ornamental (P. rufilata) and considering how big this spider could get, what is a good size enclosure? I was thinking the exo tall: 18”x18”x24”. This way I could put a good amount of substrate and also a decent sized pieces of bark for hides. Since these guys are known for being so fast and feisty, I’d like to put it in its permanent space sooner rather than later so I don’t have to worry about moving it again. So I realize the space will be big for it now, but how about later?

 

[sodaspider]

18x18x24 should be sufficient for an adult P. rufilata.

 

[Starchild Immortal]

18x18x24 should be sufficient for an adult P. rufilata.

Thank you

 

[Sterls]

Make sure you replace the screen lid with plexiglass.

 

[Matt Man]

I have a 5-6" P rufilata in a 12 x 12 x 18 and it is very comfortable. I think, in all honesty, given how little she moves, she will be fine in there her whole life. Just make sure you resign yourself
to the notion that if you set it up well, you will have an arboreal pet hole. I take the moments where my Pokies are out and in sight as special treats

 

[Starchild Immortal]

Make sure you replace the screen lid with plexiglass.

Is that to help keep the humidity up?

 

[Matt Man]

Is that to help keep the humidity up?

mostly to protect them from getting their tibial hooks stuck in the mesh. They can get hung up, stressing them and can cause leg loss.
That being said, neither of my Pokies has gone to the lid, but better safe than sorry

 

[Starchild Immortal]

I have a 5-6" P rufilata in a 12 x 12 x 18 and it is very comfortable. I think, in all honesty, given how little she moves, she will be fine in there her whole life. Just make sure you resign yourself
to the notion that if you set it up well, you will have an arboreal pet hole. I take the moments where my Pokies are out and in sight as special treats

I keep my smalller arboreals in the one that size now. And while my avicularia are often in their web at the top corner, I do still get to see them quite a bit. I’m often going in the room late at night so I see a lot of my kids out and about. It’s the only time I ever see my T. violaceus.

 

[Starchild Immortal]

mostly to protect them from getting their tibial hooks stuck in the mesh. They can get hung up, stressing them and can cause leg loss.
That being said, neither of my Pokies has gone to the lid, but better safe than sorry

Ok. So far in all the years I’ve kept tarantulas, I never had that issue. My T. albopilosum gets restless and walks across her screen top once in a while but has never gotten stuck. I’m sure it can and has happened, I’ve just never experienced it. I’ll keep an eye on her when I rehouse her, if she’s up there a lot, I’ll switch it.

 

[Matt Man]

I keep my smalller arboreals in the one that size now. And while my avicularia are often in their web at the top corner, I do still get to see them quite a bit. I’m often going in the room late at night so I see a lot of my kids out and about. It’s the only time I ever see my T. violaceus.

My Avics and Versis are out most the time, or in their funnels / hammocks which are still visible. Pokies will set up on the back side of the bark log, my Regalis even made a web / dirt cone back there,
My barks have a curve so even when viewing from the side, many times they are out of site. I am a night owl as well, otherwise I would never see them. The rufllata comes out more, my regalia comes out but at the slightest disturbance flees to safety. Poecilotheria have quite different habits from Avic / Caribenas.

 

[Matt Man]

Ok. So far in all the years I’ve kept tarantulas, I never had that issue. My T. albopilosum gets restless and walks across her screen top once in a while but has never gotten stuck. I’m sure it can and has happened, I’ve just never experienced it. I’ll keep an eye on her when I rehouse her, if she’s up there a lot, I’ll switch it.

I had an Aphonopelma that was notorious for getting hung on her lid. If you search this forum there are plenty of tales. I fabricate my own replacements.

 

[viper69]

I was given a juvenile Red Slate Ornamental (P. rufilata) and considering how big this spider could get, what is a good size enclosure? I was thinking the exo tall: 18”x18”x24”. This way I could put a good amount of substrate and also a decent sized pieces of bark for hides. Since these guys are known for being so fast and feisty, I’d like to put it in its permanent space sooner rather than later so I don’t have to worry about moving it again. So I realize the space will be big for it now, but how about later?

For an adult that’s fine. Not for a sling, or juvi

 

[Starchild Immortal]

My Avics and Versis are out most the time, or in their funnels / hammocks which are still visible. Pokies will set up on the back side of the bark log, my Regalis even made a web / dirt cone back there,
My barks have a curve so even when viewing from the side, many times they are out of site. I am a night owl as well, otherwise I would never see them. The rufllata comes out more, my regalia comes out but at the slightest disturbance flees to safety. Poecilotheria have quite different habits from Avic / Caribenas.

The hide I intend to give her will be a rounded bark with a hole in to to simulate the type of place they’d live in the wild. I always like to set up my enclosures as close to what that particular spiders natural environment would be like. Even if it means I don’t see them as much, I’d rather they feel safe and comfortable and I’ll be happy with whatever glimpse I get.

 

[viper69]

Ok. So far in all the years I’ve kept tarantulas, I never had that issue. My T. albopilosum gets restless and walks across her screen top once in a while but has never gotten stuck. I’m sure it can and has happened, I’ve just never experienced it. I’ll keep an eye on her when I rehouse her, if she’s up there a lot, I’ll switch it.

Why risk your Ts life??! Just get a piece
of plexi and start correctly from the beginning.

A T albo also falling from screen may lead to death as well.

 

[Matt Man]

that will be perfect, and some sub at the bottom because they like that. You attitude is right where it needs to be. Sometimes I think about installing small mirrors on the back wall so I can keep a better eye on them

 

[Starchild Immortal]

I had an Aphonopelma that was notorious for getting hung on her lid. If you search this forum there are plenty of tales. I fabricate my own replacements.
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that looks nice. What type of acrylic do you use? Is it something that a place like Home Depot or Lowes would have?

 

[Matt Man]

that looks nice. What type of acrylic do you use? Is it something that a place like Home Depot or Lowes would have?

it's 6mm (.236") extruded acrylic, machine cut and heat bent. Mine comes from a plastics distributor, I work with the material daily and typically fabricate my lids
from the scraps of jobs. You can get acrylic @ Home Depot or Lowes but it won't be this thick or this nice. (it will also be cheaper)

 

[Starchild Immortal]

that will be perfect, and some sub at the bottom because they like that. You attitude is right where it needs to be. Sometimes I think about installing small mirrors on the back wall so I can keep a better eye on them

There is always plenty of substrate. I always give everyone the option of creating a burrow even if they’re considered arboreal. Everyone is an individual and may not always behave the way they’re “supposed to”. I know I don’t

 

[Starchild Immortal]

it's 6mm (.236") extruded acrylic, machine cut and heat bent. Mine comes from a plastics distributor, I work with the material daily and typically fabricate my lids
from the scraps of jobs. You can get acrylic @ Home Depot or Lowes but it won't be this thick or this nice. (it will also be cheaper)

Ah lucky. That’s why it looks so nice. Ok. I’ll check around and have something on hand if I need it.

 

[Matt Man]

Ah lucky. That’s why it looks so nice. Ok. I’ll check around and have something on hand if I need it.

there are 2 ways of making acrylic sheets, extrusion and cast. Extrusion is uniform in thickness and more clear. Because of this it is more expensive. In all reality it is not needed
but that's what I have. 4' x 8' sheets are over $200.