H Gigas semi-aquatic paludarium

[Manny]

Hello all, Has anyone ever seen an H Gigas semi-aquatic setup? Besides tarantulas, my other passion is planted aquariums. I’m stoked because it gives me the opportunity to combine my 2 hobbies. I’m open to anyones experiences with this. My main question is what would the minimum size of the T be in order to be rehoused into a full size setup? I’m guessing minimum 4” or so, but I honestly have no idea because food will always be readily available and I probably will only have to ensure that the fish breed. Hopefully I’m wording this correctly. Thanks again in advance

 

[viper69]

Yes

 

[Tarantulafeets]

People have done it before, with varying levels of success. I personally wouldn't do it as in the end, H gigas are fossorial. I don't know that much on aquatics and stuff, but if you are going to keep fish in there I'm pretty sure you need some pump of some sort to keep the water from being stagnant, and that might annoy the t. Just my 2 cents.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

The tarantula will likely just dump all of the substrate in the water when it burrows and every time it expands its burrow.

 

[Dorifto]

Do you have any experience with full vivariums?

 

[moricollins]

Unless they are designed and built PERFECTLY paludariums turn into a gross soggy mess.

An H. gigas (and any other tarantula really) isn't a great inhabitant for a paludarium.

 

[Manny]

Ok so I definitely have tons of experience with aquariums, vivariums, and paludariums. This wouldn’t be an issue, however I didn’t think about the vibrations from the filter annoying the T. I also didn’t think about the dumping of the substrate into the water. With that said, I’m glad I asked and I will not be venturing down this road. Thank you to @The Grym Reaper @Tarantulafeets @Dorifto @moricollins
You have steered me clear of a disaster.

 

[Dorifto]

A vivarium is perfectly suitable if done correctly. I keep my Ts in two huge vivs, and never had any single issue.

IMG_20210802_220929.jpg

• Dorifto
• Sep 9, 2021
• 6

A paludarium? Well it should be huge to avoid certain issues, one of them the mentioned substrate dumping, drowning cucs as @moricollins mentioned in a recent thread, substrate soaking by capilarity, active ventilation system to extract air etc etc. They can be solved, but imo they are a pita.

 

[Manny]

@Dorifto Thank you for the input. Those are some sweet setups you got there. The main reason I wanted to do it the way I explained is because the idea of combining my fish hobby with my T hobby seemed ridiculously appealing. Love what you got going on there.

 

[Dorifto]

It could be done, but you should look into every possible bad scenario, and close the door to any possibility. Even if you manage to do that, you should have the hability and the time to fix any possible issue instantly, because they will apear eventually.

Do you have the skills to build your own enclosure? Because the setup will have a very specific requeriments, as the pond needs to be isolated, with a drainage layer between both, with a plug to drain any possible spilling, the ventilation system should flow towards the pond, to decrease any stagnant environment in the tarantula's side, the vibrations issue can be solved with a external pump and filter located in a insulated box, and some more etc etc etc