Green Bottle Blue - Naturalistic Enclosure

[voterfraud]

We have a (1” body, 2” leg span) GBB (Green Bottle Blue tarantula) named Sully, and we’re planning to rehouse him into a 12”x8”x6” acrylic enclosure. His current setup was designed for an arboreal species, so we think this change will suit him better. I know 12”x8”x6” might be a bit large, but since he’s already accustomed to a bigger space, I’d feel bad downsizing him too much. That said, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this sizing choice!

I’m struggling to find detailed info on GBB care beyond the usual bare-minimum setups. I’d like to recreate Sully’s natural habitat, which I understand is an arid environment where they typically live under shrubs or succulents. With that in mind, I have a few questions:

1. Substrate: What type of substrate or substrate mix would mimic his natural arid environment? What materials can I use to replicate it effectively?
2. Plants/Shrubs: What kinds of plants or shrubs are typical in a GBB’s natural habitat? Should I use real or fake plants to replicate this? I’m leaning toward fake plants to keep the enclosure drier, but I’m new to this and curious about what others recommend.
3. Additional Tips: Any other suggestions, concerns, or opinions on setting up this enclosure? I’m open to all feedback!

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!

 

[Ratmosphere]

12" x 8" x 6" is huge for a 1" sling...

Keep on dry coco fiber, put fake plants in, and a water dish.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

We have a 1-inch GBB (Green Bottle Blue tarantula) named Sully, and we’re planning to rehouse him into a 12”x8”x6” acrylic enclosure. His current setup was designed for an arboreal species, so we think this change will suit him better. I know 12”x8”x6” might be a bit large, but since he’s already accustomed to a bigger space, I’d feel bad downsizing him too much. That said, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this sizing choice!

I’m struggling to find detailed info on GBB care beyond the usual bare-minimum setups. I’d like to recreate Sully’s natural habitat, which I understand is an arid environment where they typically live under shrubs or succulents. With that in mind, I have a few questions:

1. Substrate: What type of substrate or substrate mix would mimic his natural arid environment? What materials can I use to replicate it effectively?
2. Plants/Shrubs: What kinds of plants or shrubs are typical in a GBB’s natural habitat? Should I use real or fake plants to replicate this? I’m leaning toward fake plants to keep the enclosure drier, but I’m new to this and curious about what others recommend.
3. Additional Tips: Any other suggestions, concerns, or opinions on setting up this enclosure? I’m open to all feedback!

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!

That size of enclosure is slightly too big for a 1 inch sling.

Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens are terrestrial not arboreal.

This is the only species in that genus discovered so far. They are unique as they have been discovered living in two types of climates, arid and humid. In one climate they utilize a tree to web up from the ground going 5 ft. up. and discovered living inside trees. In the other climate they live underground.

Their body structure is terrestrial not arboreally built. What is witnessed is adaptation not in body structure but survival technique.

For your 1 inch sling set the enclosure up for a terrestrial. That enclosure is too big for a 1 inch gbb. A small Kritter Keeper or slightly bigger will suffice. Slightly moisten a corner of the substrate. They do need some moisture at those sizes.

For mine I set it up like my other NW slings that were 1 inch. I did not use dry sub but let it dry out over time. I overflowed the water dish every once in a great while.

I've had mine since 11/11/2020 and is a 6 inch female.

 

[voterfraud]

12" x 8" x 6" is huge for a 1" sling...

Keep on dry coco fiber, put fake plants in, and a water dish.

Just to be clear his leg span is about 2”, What size enclosure would you recommend? I would like something he can at least grow into and still have room to explore.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Just to be clear his leg span is about 2”, What size enclosure would you recommend? I would like something he can at least grow into and still have room to explore.

You listed 1 inch but if it's 2 inches then a medium Kritter Keeper for size reference will work.

 

[voterfraud]

You listed 1 inch but if it's 2 inches then a medium Kritter Keeper for size reference will work.

Yes, I just edited to clarify his size, his body is about 1”- sorry for the confusion

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Yes, I just edited to clarify his size, his body is about 1”- sorry for the confusion

So diagonal leg span is 2 inches? DLS is the standard way of measuring a tarantula especially in determining appropriately sized enclosures. An enclosure should be 1.5 to 2 times the DLS for terrestrials.

 

[viper69]

We have a (1” body, 2” leg span) GBB (Green Bottle Blue tarantula) named Sully, and we’re planning to rehouse him into a 12”x8”x6” acrylic enclosure. His current setup was designed for an arboreal species, so we think this change will suit him better. I know 12”x8”x6” might be a bit large, but since he’s already accustomed to a bigger space, I’d feel bad downsizing him too much. That said, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this sizing choice!

I’m struggling to find detailed info on GBB care beyond the usual bare-minimum setups. I’d like to recreate Sully’s natural habitat, which I understand is an arid environment where they typically live under shrubs or succulents. With that in mind, I have a few questions:

1. Substrate: What type of substrate or substrate mix would mimic his natural arid environment? What materials can I use to replicate it effectively?
2. Plants/Shrubs: What kinds of plants or shrubs are typical in a GBB’s natural habitat? Should I use real or fake plants to replicate this? I’m leaning toward fake plants to keep the enclosure drier, but I’m new to this and curious about what others recommend.
3. Additional Tips: Any other suggestions, concerns, or opinions on setting up this enclosure? I’m open to all feedback!

Thanks in advance for any advice you can share!

Check out Rick West’s video on YouTube

 

[BoyFromLA]

I’d like to recreate Sully’s natural habitat, which I understand is an arid environment where they typically live under shrubs or succulents.

Any other suggestions, concerns, or opinions on setting up this enclosure? I’m open to all feedback!

While it would be a nice attempt to recreate if not close to its natural living environment for it, but it won’t change the fact that it is in captivity.

That being said, the ones in captivity need to be kept distinctively from the ones in the wild.

 

[Introvertebrate]

I'm not sure I'd spend much time decorating for a spider that does it's own decorating. GBBs are prolific webbers aren't they?

 

[Stemmy101]

I'm not sure I'd spend much time decorating for a spider that does it's own decorating. GBBs are prolific webbers aren't they?

I agree with @Introvertebrate , GBBs are very heavy webbers and may kill any live plants you decide to add. While I think live plants can be a nice touch, for this species I don't think it would be worth the effort. The T will likely just use the plants as anchor points for webbing

 

[cold blood]

Your assessment of fake plants being best is a good one, no need to complicate things, especially for a species being kept dry. A kritter keeper is a better choice for the time being, I would go to the large one till it's at least 3".

As for substrate, any will work equally well....they web more than they burrow....but if natural is your goal, topsoil is your choice....after all, this is what is out in nature....no t lives on any of the other substrates we use in the hobby.

 

[Brewser]

Welcome Aboards,
Congratulations on Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens
Classic New World Goodness.
Gotta Like GBB, usually OOD ... 'Out On Display'
Enjoy,