Enclosure size strangeness

[DanielAcorn]

I've been doing a tonne of research into appropriate enclosure sizes. Most people on this website suggest that an enclosure 3 x DLS for length and 2 x DLS for width, and some people stick average T's in a 5 gallon and anything larger in a 10 gallon.

Ok... Fine... Nothing wrong so far!

However, when trying to purchase enclosures online the enclosures are often awkward sizes and they're often recommended for spiders that seem too large for them.

I know I should follow the advice of people on this website - experienced keepers. There's no issue there. I am just confused by the awkward enclosure sizes available online and the limited number of appropriately sized enclosures even for average sized T's.

Any insight would be really cool!

Thanks,

 

[Mustafa67]

I've been doing a tonne of research into appropriate enclosure sizes. Most people on this website suggest that an enclosure 3 x DLS for length and 2 x DLS for width, and some people stick average T's in a 5 gallon and anything larger in a 10 gallon.

Ok... Fine... Nothing wrong so far!

However, when trying to purchase enclosures online the enclosures are often awkward sizes and they're often recommended for spiders that seem too large for them.

I know I should follow the advice of people on this website - experienced keepers. There's no issue there. I am just confused by the awkward enclosure sizes available online and the limited number of appropriately sized enclosures even for average sized T's.

Any insight would be really cool!

Thanks,

Get plastic tubs and make your own enclosures, it’s a LOT cheaper and can be made to sizes to suit the T

 

[viper69]

I've been doing a tonne of research into appropriate enclosure sizes. Most people on this website suggest that an enclosure 3 x DLS for length and 2 x DLS for width, and some people stick average T's in a 5 gallon and anything larger in a 10 gallon.

Ok... Fine... Nothing wrong so far!

However, when trying to purchase enclosures online the enclosures are often awkward sizes and they're often recommended for spiders that seem too large for them.

I know I should follow the advice of people on this website - experienced keepers. There's no issue there. I am just confused by the awkward enclosure sizes available online and the limited number of appropriately sized enclosures even for average sized T's.

Any insight would be really cool!

Thanks,

1. those are made up numbers not based on science, nor did anyone check box size in the market to correlate

2 large boxes are fine but inherently cause issues for owners, esp NEW owners

3 this is why peeps are always looking at boxes out there going “hmmm that might work”

 

[DanielAcorn]

I know there's no 'science' involved in the numbers or advice in general, but it's advice derived from experience, and experience is all I have to go on when making a decision.

And yeah, I guess I'm just struggling to find an enclosure online when everything is so awkwardly sized. 3.4 gallons... Great!

I know I'm being a bit anal about this... But I'm terrible at DIY (can't change my halogen light bulbs) and I just want to get things right... But yeah, I guess I should just buy a tub and stick a T in it if it looks about right, ha!

 

[viper69]

I know there's no 'science' involved in the numbers or advice in general, but it's advice derived from experience, and experience is all I have to go on when making a decision.

And yeah, I guess I'm just struggling to find an enclosure online when everything is so awkwardly sized. 3.4 gallons... Great!

I know I'm being a bit anal about this... But I'm terrible at DIY (can't change my halogen light bulbs) and I just want to get things right... But yeah, I guess I should just buy a tub and stick a T in it if it looks about right, ha!

Plenty of peeps with no experience who decide on some aspect of husbandry because it works for them seemingly when really it isn’t good at all

point is, be judicious on how you judge something is based on experience vs “works for me”

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Get plastic tubs and make your own enclosures, it’s a LOT cheaper and can be made to sizes to suit the T

Target discontinued my favorite ones. But good plan.

I know there's no 'science' involved in the numbers or advice in general, but it's advice derived from experience, and experience is all I have to go on when making a decision.

And yeah, I guess I'm just struggling to find an enclosure online when everything is so awkwardly sized. 3.4 gallons... Great!

I know I'm being a bit anal about this... But I'm terrible at DIY (can't change my halogen light bulbs) and I just want to get things right... But yeah, I guess I should just buy a tub and stick a T in it if it looks about right, ha!

I don’t know my 15 gal is too heavy for me to carry with topsoil in it. And a few of-my 10 gallons are rather heavy so plan ahead if you gotta move things around. Get lighter sub maybe.

 

[Gevo]

Going too large is more of a risk with slings. They tend to get lost so the keeper can’t track their health and development, they fail to find food, or they burrow themselves away and disappear for eons and leave you to wonder if they’re dead or not.

Going too large with adults gives you more space to track to see if they ate whatever you last gave them, and it takes up space that could be used to get more spiders, but it’s not a catastrophically bad husbandry move or anything.

The legspan estimate is a good rule of thumb to figure out what will be comfortable for the tarantula but manageable for you and efficient for your collection. There really is no shortage of enclosure sizing options if you look at it that way and go the “close enough” route without being too stringent with it.

 

[kingshockey]

sterilite containers or any other plastic ones you see at stores. you just pop off the lids to get an pretty good idea of space/size once you place your hand inside palm down/flat etc on the bottom provided you know the adult max size of the t you want and size of your hand

 

[viper69]

sterilite containers or any other plastic ones you see at stores. you just pop off the lids to get an pretty good idea of space/size once you place your hand inside palm down/flat etc on the bottom provided you know the adult max size of the t you want and size of your hand

Yep can never go wrong with those!

 

[Brewser]

Clear Plastic Deli Containers are also avaailable, and come in various Sizes and Shapes.

Minimal Expense and Environmentaly Friendly, Recycled Food Containers are another option.
Pretzel / Cheese Puff Ball Containers for example.

 

[Andrew Clayton]

So for me personally, I only use bought enclosures for adults T's. Everything else gets some sort of custom container. You're UK based, places like Poundland are great for cheap containers, this will give you DIY practice as they are usually in packs so you get a few containers to practice ventilation on. Using a soldering iron is good for ventilation but you have to be in a well ventilated place yourself. I use a Dremel like tool, was £12 off Amazon with 30 attachments, it was the cheapest available nearly 8 years ago and still works great. Places like B&M and HomeBargins have good containers too there super clear but don't go to the real big sizes. The Range is a great place though, not only do they actually sell cheap kritter keepers, they have a massive range of tupperware. I have a 90x50x90cm tub I keep my crickets in and that wasn't the largest.

Long story short, I recommend getting a Dremel and get some practice drilling holes lol.

 

[Moakmeister]

I've made a number of enclosures out of Hobby Lobby display cases. The only problem is the ethics of giving money to Hobby Lobby...

 

[Andrew Clayton]

I've made a number of enclosures out of Hobby Lobby display cases. The only problem is the ethics of giving money to Hobby Lobby...

We don't have anything like Hobby Lobby here, or a Container store. It's all shops that sell a general selection of things we get it from, like the stores I mentioned above. If I could get into the US (medical UK prescription means I can't) that would be the 1st stores I'd go to. Every time I do a shop in store I spend most of the time looking at what could be used as an enclosure.

 

[Nitroxide]

It's usually easy for me, I ignore the exact sizes and just go with whatever fits my T's needs as far as substrate depth, height of the setup, ventilation.

For smaller T's I'll use either pill containers or I get small plastic "tarantula" things online and they work great. Usually containers are the best way to go as they grow, easy to find some cool ones and just drill enough holes.

My adults are all in either exo terra, atasuki or 10/15 gallons and it works well for me and them.