Good beginner species for an arboreal enclosure that doesn’t require cross ventilation

[courtbaba]

Hello everyone. I am brand new to the boards here and have a great interest in owing and caring for a T. I’m new to the hobby and have been spending some time doing research. I know there’s a lot of misinformation out there so I was told to come here for the most accurate husbandry tips.

I have a 12x12x18 zoo med enclose. It’s glass with a front opening. Ventilation holes at the base and a mesh screen on top. I plan on replacing the mesh screen lid, with a custom acrylic one with ventilation holes.

I was wondering what arboreal species would be best for this enclosure. I can’t drill holes on the sides for cross ventilation. I was originally interested in the c. Versicolor but have discovered that cross ventilation is a requirement, so that option is out. It seems like most arboreal species don’t actually require cross ventilation like the avics do. So I am looking for a beginner friendly species to fit the enclosure described above. Also, because of the size of enclosure I obviously must get an adult. So I wonder how ‘Doable’ this really is….

Please be gentle with me. I’m new and want to do this the right way. So I am open to any suggestions. I want to correct any issues before they become lethal mistakes.

 

[fallonzoey]

Plenty of people keep their adult C. Versicolors in those front opening Zoomed enclosures. The Tarantula Collective on YouTube even keeps his in one & has a good video on husbandry & how to replace the top screen with a DIY acrylic cover. If you have the money, you could always buy the arboreal micro habitats by Zilla. The petshops/ Amazon sells them for between $25-$35 depending on the size you get & those DO have cross ventilation & you wouldn't have to modify anything. If you wanted to get a sling, you could always DIY a deli cup enclosure for it. Those are very cheap. Again, youtube has videos on how to make them. Tom Moran has a great video on diy arboreal sling enclosures. Tarantula cribs also has great enclosures for all sizes! I hope this info helps you. I'm new to the hobby too & have a c. Versicolor, so I wanted to give you alternative enclosure info so you could get a T your interested in. Versicolors are so beautiful at every stage & raising from a sling gives you such a feeling if accomplishment. Feel free to follow me on here & message me if you have any other questions. I've been researching alot too & will gladly share resources & info with you.

 

[courtbaba]

Plenty of people keep their adult C. Versicolors in those front opening Zoomed enclosures. The Tarantula Collective on YouTube even keeps his in one & has a good video on husbandry & how to replace the top screen with a DIY acrylic cover. If you have the money, you could always buy the arboreal micro habitats by Zilla. The petshops/ Amazon sells them for between $25-$35 depending on the size you get & those DO have cross ventilation & you wouldn't have to modify anything. If you wanted to get a sling, you could always DIY a deli cup enclosure for it. Those are very cheap. Again, youtube has videos on how to make them. Tom Moran has a great video on diy arboreal sling enclosures. Tarantula cribs also has great enclosures for all sizes! I hope this info helps you. I'm new to the hobby too & have a c. Versicolor, so I wanted to give you alternative enclosure info so you could get a T your interested in. Versicolors are so beautiful at every stage & raising from a sling gives you such a feeling if accomplishment. Feel free to follow me on here & message me if you have any other questions. I've been researching alot too & will gladly share resources & info with you.

Thank you for replying! I was just really concerned with the lack of cross ventilation with my zoo med enclosure. I know the versicolors really thrive on that. However, I do see that the micro habitats are pretty inexpensive and pretty easy to set up for slings so that’s always an option. I guess I was just trying to work with what I have. I have all my supplies and just need to get the acrylic lid. I love projects like this, so I don’t mind the DIY aspect. Just wanted to see what species would thrive in that size enclosure without the cross ventilation.

Oh side note- I live in Florida so heat and humidity is not a problem here. I have a crested gecko as well so I’m use to monitoring humidity levels without going overboard.

and yes! I am going to subscribe and follow you! Thank you for sharing your tips!

 

[fallonzoey]

I was just really concerned with the lack of cross ventilation with my zoo med enclosure. I know the versicolors really thrive on that. However, I do see that the micro habitats are pretty inexpensive and pretty easy to set up for slings so that’s always an option. I guess I was just trying to work with what I have. I have all my supplies and just need to get the acrylic lid. I love projects like this, so I don’t mind the DIY aspect. Just wanted to see what species would thrive in that size enclosure without the cross ventilation.

Like I said, plenty of people keep the ADULT C. Versicolor in the Zoo Med enclosure w/ modified lid. I would also compare cost of buying an adult T to purchasing a sling & sling sized enclosure. I'm sure others are going to suggest other species like you asked & you can decided which you'd want to own more: one of the suggested species or the C. Versicolor you mentioned.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

No tarantula, even the arboreals, need cross ventilation specifically. In this context cross ventilation is adding holes to the sides of a container. What is important is proper ventilation, but how you go about it is totally up to you. For example, when I had arboreals I housed them in large Kritter Keeper style containers turned on end to where they were taller than long. The plastic mesh lid, facing the front, provided all of the ventilation required without the need to drill additional holes in other sides or the top. For spiderlings, I punched a bunch of holes in the lid of a tall plastic container, like a 32 fl. oz. condiment cup, as well as some in the bottom. I never needed to add holes to the sides.

 

[cold blood]

All arboreals require air movement....like TX said, its less about cross ventilation than it is about that air movement, cross ventilation is just a simple way for people to explain.

The enclosure you mentioned op, has a row of vents below the doors, and venting at the top...this does an excellent job of promoting airflow as when warm air moves out the top, its drawn in at the bottom. So you can literally put any arboreal you like in the enclosure as long as its sized right for the t in question.

Oh side note- I live in Florida so heat and humidity is not a problem here. I have a crested gecko as well so I’m use to monitoring humidity levels without going overboard.

you dont need to worry about eithrer.....ts can thrive in a huge variation of temps and if you live in a house, you will almost certainly be right in that wide range. Humidity is just irrelevant....ignore those crap care sheets that insist on specific numbers...this is absolutely nothing like your geckos. Any avic type, versi included, can be kept predominantly dry, you dont need to be concerning yourself with the moisture in the air.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Any species (Aviculariinae included) will do fine in those style enclosures. I've been keeping Avics in Exo Terra/European glass enclosures that have front/top ventilation for years and I've never had any issues with them, these enclosures have sufficient ventilation to ensure consistent movement of air (as warm air exits through the top ventilation it pulls in fresh air through the vents lower down and circulates it throughout the enclosure), this idea that you need to turn multiple sides of your enclosures into Swiss cheese in order to not kill Aviculariinae is nonsense.

Oh side note- I live in Florida so heat and humidity is not a problem here.

As long as you don't live in a freezer then temps aren't an issue, and disregard humidity for the most part (internet care sheets kill tarantulas), this species can be kept mostly dry (I just moisten a corner and repeat when it dries out).

 

[viper69]

Mass air transfer as I’ve said for many years is the secret.

 

[Thane1616]

Ive had my Avic Avic a bit over a year now and had no issues with that style of enclosure. Just be careful using a mist style watering device and allow the tank to dry out between waterings. I have a mountain dew bottle cap glued close to the top of the enclosure and on the ground under that I have a water dish that looks like a rock. I mist about once a month because in nature they will have some morning dew or light rain, I figured they have evolved to handle it. I have watched my Avic drink off the glass a bunch of times when I do that but I usually only mist one side of the tank not all of them. If you have a ceiling fan in the room its probably more than enough, if I think I have over watered and get freaked out I have turned on a box fan in the room here and there. I dont do anything else for air flow.

I dont even point the box fan directly at the tank just let the air circulate the room with a gentle breeze.