Help with my Pinktoe...Too humid?

[Sunflowerpower]

Hi, I've had my new T for about a week now. She's in a pretty big enclosure. I have ordered a smaller one and it's on the way. My main concern is the humidity in her current enclosure. I am VERY worried that it has been too high. She has been hanging around on the front doors of her enclosure now for about 2 days. Still moving, but not by much.

Should I take her out and rehouse her in a smaller, critter keeper type enclosure until the new one arrives? Will this stress her out more, or is it better to get her out of the high humidity. I have read terrible things about too high of humidity/ ventilation issues with these guys and I have been quite worried.

Thanks

 

[cold blood]

As long as there is enough clutter at elevated positions, arboreals can deal with more room.

That said, humidity is a word I wish would disappear from this hobby...every new keeper would benefit. But yes, too much moisture is bad, add inadequate ventilation and it is a deadly combination. Post some pics...what makes you concerned?

Right now, at least in WI, things are still dry, so if that's the case where you are, it should dry out quickly.....having more space will help the situation (greater air movement)...but yeah, if its really damp in there, its best to move it.

How big is the t in question?

 

[Sunflowerpower]

I've added some pics. First in her hide, on her second day here. The next two I just took of her enclosure and her on the glass.

I also am starting to really not like that word. It has me stressed! I guess my main concerns are just that she just seems uncomfortable. I tried to feed her 3 days ago with no success. She just seems.. off?

I'm very new and just want to make sure I'm doing the right things.

Add: Also, she's pretty small, 2.5 I think. And I am in MD, I live in an older house and my heating always seems to keep the air in the room on the dry side.

 

[MrTwister]

Humidity aside you need to add clutter around the upper portions of the enclosure for the spider to make its web. Fake plants, ect. You can ditch the hide on the ground. Your spider is arboreal and will make its own web home.

 

[cold blood]

Yes, there is an issue...the enclosure needs some work. As said, the hide on the ground isn't useful for anything more than giving feeders a hiding place. Keep in mind, an Avic on the ground is a serious red flag.

Best to keep the floor clear of as much as possible aside from a water dish.

On top of that, aside from a nice piece of wood, its barren, which is why the t isn't comfortable...its way too exposed. You need to surround the top half of that wood with plants...lots of them....the more clutter the better...this provides not only cover, but anchor points for the t to encourage webbing.

See what I did here...I have multiple wood pieces that extend to the top, and the top of that wood is completely surrounded by plants. The t in there dropped a sac just 2 weeks after being re-homed here, and created a nice web tube within 24 hours. Giving them the proper tools to work with is critical for Avics.

avic housing-adult

• cold blood
• Mar 13, 2018
• 1
• avicularia enclosure pinktoe tarantula

 

[Sunflowerpower]

Thanks so much for your help! I've attached another pic. I just added the only plant I have in the house at the moment. I will definitely be getting more. I removed the hide on the ground. She moved from the front door, mostly because I was in there a little. She is now up behind the plant. I hope this will make her a lot happier for the moment. I've read that an Avic on the ground is a very bad sign. She has stayed on the sides and back since she has been in there. So, hopefully that is a better sign.

I have a new enclosure on the way. It's 4x4x2 inches all around smaller. It has vent holes on the sides, instead of the normal exo terra mesh top. I hope this will suit her. And I will be keeping the ground nice and clear and the top filled with plants and hides.

I hope she's okay. Thank you again for your help.

 

[cold blood]

That looks much better...I would remove the moss from the floor though, its just a place for feeders to hide.

You probably won't need to move her, I would bet she will start webbing within 48 hours.

 

[Sunflowerpower]

I was just thinking the same about all that moss. I wouldn't want her to lose a feed because of it.

Speaking of, when do you think I should try to feed her again. She last ate a week ago exactly. Should I wait for her to get comfy in her plant, to start webbing? Should I try sooner than that.
She doesn't seem to come down to the water dish, as I never see any substrate in the water or anything disturbed around the dish when I change it out. After making her more comfortable in her house, I want to make sure about her food/water situations. So many questions!

 

[cold blood]

Once she creates a web tube, you should notice hunting behavior following....That could be hanging out at the web mouth, or venturing to the floor (front feet on the floor). But truthfully, there's no harm in a cricket roaming the cage of an avic...the dangers aren't really there with the genus as they tend to molt in sealed tubes which keeps them safe.


So you could feed now, or just be patient and wait for her to get comfy and web...but there's really no hurry in getting her food....I feed my avic females about twice a month, and they still don't always want to eat.

 

[viper69]

Hi, I've had my new T for about a week now. She's in a pretty big enclosure. I have ordered a smaller one and it's on the way. My main concern is the humidity in her current enclosure. I am VERY worried that it has been too high. She has been hanging around on the front doors of her enclosure now for about 2 days. Still moving, but not by much.

Should I take her out and rehouse her in a smaller, critter keeper type enclosure until the new one arrives? Will this stress her out more, or is it better to get her out of the high humidity. I have read terrible things about too high of humidity/ ventilation issues with these guys and I have been quite worried.

Thanks

That setup will be fine with Avic. Shouldn't be worried about humidity, they do live in rainforests. However, it's ventilation is the issue. You can tell if the air is bad by smelling it, smells musky etc, that's bad air, poor vent.

Only thing I'd change is put in acrylic under the screen, drill holes into acrylic. They can get caught in the screen. Not all Avics drink from a dish.

You will likely not see sub disturbed around dish. Most of mine will hang from webbing/plants and drink from there. Avics do their best not to touch the ground, it's in their genes

 

[cold blood]

You can tell if the air is bad by smelling it, smells musky

Smells musky? I love the smell of musky, literally one of my all time favorite smells

I think you meant musty

 

[Greasylake]

Smells musky? I love the smell of musky, literally one of my all time favorite smells
View attachment 273673
I think you meant musty

You know, I always preferred the smell of pike.

 

[cold blood]

You know, I always preferred the smell of pike.
View attachment 273681

same genus....same basic smell

 

[viper69]

Smells musky? I love the smell of musky, literally one of my all time favorite smells
View attachment 273673
I think you meant musty

Indeed I meant musky.


musk·y
ˈməskē/
adjective
adjective: musky; comparative adjective: muskier; superlative adjective: muskiest

1. of or having a smell or taste of musk, or suggestive of musk.

I like the cookie icon! The many wonders of being a mod!

I like the popcorn too! @cold blood