Got my first Tarantula yesterday

[BenB619]

Hi all,

I am very new to the hobby and this site in fact, I received my Avicularia Kwitara (SA) yesterday and housed her into a 30x30x45 terrarium, she seems to be doing fine, she does enjoy exploring the terrarium when all the lights go off but she’s either on the back wall or stuck to the glass (seems to be her favourite place), however being a beginner I don’t know if the terrarium is set up properly. I’ll post a photo below and any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I did get told that they won’t normally eat for the first 4 days, would this be correct? I did try feed her but she wasn’t interested. One more thing since it’s a rather large enclosure will it take her a while until she starts webbing?

 

[MES]

I removed my post to ensure no one will get the incorrect information. Once again I apologise for my ignorance and incorrect information.

 

[Teal]

Add more clutter towards the top... the low foliage won't do an Avic any good.

My Avics are hit or miss as far as webbing... some are prolific, and somw just hang out on the sides.

Congrats on getting into the hobby! I'm not super familiar with that species, but that enclosure looks great! I would suggest adding a hide though, and it looks like she has a water dish, but if I saw wrong, it would be good to add one. I would also suggest adding a bit more substrate, and remember to keep it pretty humid.

What in the actual heck?? This is ALL wrong...

This T is arboreal... it doesn't need more sub, nor a hide on the ground.

Also, humidity KILLS TARANTULAS. Keep the substrate DRY, with just a water dish.

 

[MES]

Add more clutter towards the top... the low foliage won't do an Avic any good.

My Avics are hit or miss as far as webbing... some are prolific, and somw just hang out on the sides.



What in the actual heck?? This is ALL wrong...

This T is arboreal... it doesn't need more sub, nor a hide on the ground.

Also, humidity KILLS TARANTULAS. Keep the substrate DRY, with just a water dish.

I apologise for giving the incorrect information. Like I mentioned, I am not very familiar with this particular species, and should not have given advice on this particular thread. I do know they are arboreal, but I thought that they may utilize some items and substrate on the ground, but once again I was incorrect.

I do have a question though, why does humidity kill a tarantula? Of course, it isn't good for desert/arid species, but why is it harmful for a tropical species such as this?

Thank you for correcting me, and I again apologise for my incorrect information and ignorance that could have been dangerous for this tarantula.

 

[BenB619]

Add more clutter towards the top... the low foliage won't do an Avic any good.

My Avics are hit or miss as far as webbing... some are prolific, and somw just hang out on the sides.



What in the actual heck?? This is ALL wrong...

This T is arboreal... it doesn't need more sub, nor a hide on the ground.

Also, humidity KILLS TARANTULAS. Keep the substrate DRY, with just a water dish.

I do have some more cork bark, the plant on the left is a vine type plant, I was thinking about using some cork bark and a hot glue gun to make a higher up place to plant it, as that would maybe provide higher up cover

 

[Teal]

I apologise for giving the incorrect information. Like I mentioned, I am not very familiar with this particular species, and should not have given advice on this particular thread. I do know they are arboreal, but I thought that they may utilize some items and substrate on the ground, but once again I was incorrect.

I do have a question though, why does humidity kill a tarantula? Of course, it isn't good for desert/arid species, but why is it harmful for a tropical species such as this?

Thank you for correcting me, and I again apologise for my incorrect information and ignorance that could have been dangerous for this tarantula.

Humidity is moisture in the air, which offers zero benefits for Ts because of how their book lungs work and actually is very harmful. The way most people try to humidify an enclosure is to have a lot of moisture and not a lot of ventilation... these spiders are very sensitive to air quality, and stagnant moist air will quickly kill them. In the wild, yes, they live in humid tropical environments... but without any walls to prevent air flow.

 

[Teal]

I do have some more cork bark, the plant on the left is a vine type plant, I was thinking about using some cork bark and a hot glue gun to make a higher up place to plant it, as that would maybe provide higher up cover

You could put more cork bark higher up, but I would personally just add more fake plants... you can glue them to the sides/top of the enclosure to fill in all that open space at the top back of the enclosure.

 

[BenB619]

You could put more cork bark higher up, but I would personally just add more fake plants... you can glue them to the sides/top of the enclosure to fill in all that open space at the top back of the enclosure.

I’d have to order in some fake plants, however I might try and make a cork bark pot and plant the vine in it and put it towards the top, I appreciate the tips that you guys have given me so far, as for ventilation I do have one of the mesh grills covered with a piece of plexiglass but the other has none

 

[8LeggedLair]

I apologise for giving the incorrect information. Like I mentioned, I am not very familiar with this particular species, and should not have given advice on this particular thread. I do know they are arboreal, but I thought that they may utilize some items and substrate on the ground, but once again I was incorrect.

I do have a question though, why does humidity kill a tarantula? Of course, it isn't good for desert/arid species, but why is it harmful for a tropical species such as this?

Thank you for correcting me, and I again apologise for my incorrect information and ignorance that could have been dangerous for this tarantula.

Then maybe should’ve just congratulated, only because say he took your advice and never responded... he would be responding with what is wrong my T...

 

[Minty]

Welcome to the hobby. I recently acquired this species too. Lots of ventilation and things to climb on.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

I'd just lean that bit of wood into one of the back corners and then put some fake plants around near the top, you can add more at mid-level if you want just keep the ground clear of clutter, it just serves as a hiding place for feeders.

I feed 24hrs after housing, I often find they won't eat the same day they are housed, they rarely refuse the day after as they're a bit more settled.

Unless my optical globs are failing me it looks like there's a cable going into the top of the enclosure, you're not running a heat mat in the enclosure are you? Unless you live in a fridge then there's no need for one, anything over 18°C is fine.

 

[BenB619]

I'd just lean that bit of wood into one of the back corners and then put some fake plants around near the top, you can add more at mid-level if you want just keep the ground clear of clutter, it just serves as a hiding place for feeders.

I feed 24hrs after housing, I often find they won't eat the same day they are housed, they rarely refuse the day after as they're a bit more settled.

Unless my optical globs are failing me it looks like there's a cable going into the top of the enclosure, you're not running a heat mat in the enclosure are you? Unless you live in a fridge then there's no need for one, anything over 18°C is fine.

I agree with placing the corkbark with the fake plants, the cable that you noticed is actually a thermometer it was only in there for the first to double check the temps were correct

 

[Teal]

I agree with placing the corkbark with the fake plants, the cable that you noticed is actually a thermometer it was only in there for the first to double check the temps were correct

Room temperature is perfectly fine... 65F up to mid-80s. You don't want to use any heat directly on/in an enclosure.

 

[BenB619]

Update: she found the stray cricket that escaped my tweezers and she’s doing the ‘happy’ dance.

I’m so happy I decided to get into the hobby!

 

[Luka98]

Looks very good, sub even has a drainage layer pretty nice. If that's coco down there the sub is a little on the moist side but that's no biggie it will air out. Keep her vented and the dish full and she'll thrive in there. If you're a perfectionist and thrive to simulate nature you can drip some water (not a lot) on her webbing once a month to simulate rain but that's a BIG optional.

 

[The Seraph]

Update: she found the stray cricket that escaped my tweezers and she’s doing the ‘happy’ dance.

I’m so happy I decided to get into the hobby!

Nothing cuter then the happy dance. Also, just wanted to mention, just in case you don't know, never leave feeder insects in the enclosure alone with the tarantula. If it escapes and the tarantula decides to do a spontaneous molt, the feeder could devour the sort little tarantula. If you were already aware of this, then I apologize for sounding condescending. Hope you enjoy the darling for many decades to come.

 

[BenB619]

Nothing cuter then the happy dance. Also, just wanted to mention, just in case you don't know, never leave feeder insects in the enclosure alone with the tarantula. If it escapes and the tarantula decides to do a spontaneous molt, the feeder could devour the sort little tarantula. If you were already aware of this, then I apologize for sounding condescending. Hope you enjoy the darling for many decades to come.

I actually didn’t know that, thank you for informing me, and she does look v cute when happy dancing, another question, my mum gave me this tree of red led lights and it’s near the terrarium will this bother the T?

 

[The Seraph]

Probably not. I know that many insects and spiders actually can't see red light. Not sure about these. Just make sure they are not too hot.

 

[BenB619]

Looks very good, sub even has a drainage layer pretty nice. If that's coco down there the sub is a little on the moist side but that's no biggie it will air out. Keep her vented and the dish full and she'll thrive in there. If you're a perfectionist and thrive to simulate nature you can drip some water (not a lot) on her webbing once a month to simulate rain but that's a BIG optional.

I mean I’m definitely not a perfectionist but it would make sense to do that, it would be coco I did a very light mist of the plants yesterday, but honestly she seems to be loving it in there

 

[BenB619]

Probably not. I know that many insects and spiders actually can't see red light. Not sure about these. Just make sure they are not too hot.

Had a feel of them and they don’t seem hot, however I’ve moved them about 40cm away and is still providing a good night time cycle of light