Housing Size for 1.5" GBB?

[Phases]

I think we have different camps in the T hobby world. Some seem to think enclosures should be barely more than what they need for a burrow and water bowl, others think there should be room to explore. I'm trying to be 50 / 50. I mean, 7 x 7 x 9 inches, that's really not all that big.

@JoshDM020 how is yours doing, can we see pics? It was much bigger than mine for same size spider and is doing fine, right?

As for the rocks, true. Trying to compromise between safety, and what the real world might be like. Some, I have read believe it or not, burrow under rocks Surely not this kind of rock on this type of loose dirt but, it probably doesn't matter. She looks to want to be up high.

We did lots and lots of reading on the species before doing the enclosure. But, yep, it might be too much. We may scale down.

I'm back at work so eager to see her when I get home and what she does in the coming days.

 

[nicodimus22]

Here's the problem with simulating what they experience in the real world: the mortality rate of tarantulas in the real world is horrible. Almost none of them survive to breed. We should not be trying to recreate those conditions. We should be creating ideal conditions.

 

[Phases]

I can agree to that. But, less predators, safety nets, daily checkups, I hope we do have a good compromise

I realize everyone is going to have slightly to greatly varying opinions, and I wish I'd posted the plan earlier but I posted the instant I was able to. Had we had this same talk yesterday I would have probably scaled down. At this point, I want to see how she does.

I do value everyone's input, honestly. We did do a lot of reading before we did anything to get an understanding of the species, I am hoping we are okay and I think I know what I could do to help make her more comfortable if she's having issue but, we'll take this one a day at a time.

I go out of town Fri night for a week, so I do want to be comfortable with what I'm doing by then, if possible.

 

[Phases]

Wish I'd got better pictures while I had the chance!



Unboxing and webbing:

 

[JoshDM020]

how is yours doing, can we see pics? It was much bigger than mine for same size spider and is doing fine, right?

C. cyaneopubescens

• JoshDM020
• Jun 10, 2017

Shortly after running laps around the outer edge of his box because a dead meal worm freaked him...

Hes doing pretty good, no extensive webbing or anything, but he walks around. Mine is "bigger" but its much shorter than yours. More horizontal space than vertical. Ive thought about building a picture frame enclosure like the one on The Dark Den channel on youtube. Hes got a MM Gbb in his thats doing great with more vertical space. Anyways, this is an old picture, ive since added a lot of plastic straws cut to size as webbing points.

 

[Anoplogaster]

Well, we tend to lean toward the minimalist approach for lots of reasons. First and foremost, it makes your life MUCH easier and cheaper. It also gives you a lot more control over the spider. GBBs do a ton of climbing while they establish territory, and they also do a ton of falling. I can sit there and watch them go up the sides and fall repeatedly. They are not great climbers, but they'll try. If you wanted to simulate the natural environment, you would not have glass or acrylic walls at all. Most often, that's the surface they fall off of, as there aren't many natural materials that are as smooth as that. High walls will encourage climbing, and increase the odds of a fall.

One thing to really be careful about is anthropomorphism of these animals. It's very common for people to believe that they need space to explore and be curious. But they don't. Tarantulas are not only spiders, but they are very ancestral spiders. Their lives are very simple: Eat and don't get eaten. This is why they have evolved to have a crazy slow metabolism. The adaptation is to sit and wait for dinner. When a GBB webs up its entire enclosure, it is a behavior conditioned through evolution. They are creating a surrounding environment that is vibration and pressure-sensitive. Basically, it allows them to feel their surroundings, as they are nearly blind. So the idea of a spider requiring space to explore is all in our heads. They don't look around and enjoy scenery the way we do. They can't. They are not built for that. They lack the necessary machinery for that to even be possible.

 

[Phases]

@Anoplogaster thank you for that response. Well, thank everyone really. I'm sure you all get tired of trying to explain your POV (or the communities POV) over and over to new members, and you've done it well. As the general admin over at androidforums.com, I can tell you it's very much appreciated and very much why sites like this flourish the way this one is.

As for this new little guy of ours - VERY active. We spent some time up there, half hour or so, and this was out and about exploring the cage and starting some light webbing in the top corner the whole time. Walking all over in nearly a systematic kind of way. Almost like it was finding it's boundaries. But, that could be me seeing what I want to see, but it sure looked like it!

We've literally seen more activity from her in that half hour than all 4 of the others, combined, in the past few weeks. Very intriguing to watch. Slow. Legs were mesmerizing as she navigated around.

We go out of town Fri for a week. I want to decide before then if I think she'll do okay in this, or if I need to downsize a little. I have a 7 x 7 x 7 (after substrate, or less if I want..) I could move her to. But, we'll see. Though, admittedly I'd also like to leave her in it, and just see what happens in the 7 or 8 days I'd be gone.

I'll stop updating this thread until a) I move her to a new cage, b) she looks like she's made herself successfully comfortable, or c) I'm replying to someone.

Thanks all!

 

[Phases]

So, I've emailed back and forth with Tanya from fearnottarantulas.com several times, and sent her the video of this terrarium and asked what she thought. Here is what she has specifically said after seeing my setup with the spider in it:

"That is actually a very good size for this GBB. They grow very quickly from this point forward."

.. other snippets include:

"We have raised up many, many GBBs."
"This is a really good sized GBB and it will be just fine for a week." (when asking about going out of town).

SOOO, with that said, I feel much more comfortable.

 

[Anoplogaster]

So, I've emailed back and forth with Tanya from fearnottarantulas.com several times, and sent her the video of this terrarium and asked what she thought. Here is what she has specifically said after seeing my setup with the spider in it:

"That is actually a very good size for this GBB. They grow very quickly from this point forward."

.. other snippets include:

"We have raised up many, many GBBs."
"This is a really good sized GBB and it will be just fine for a week." (when asking about going out of town).

SOOO, with that said, I feel much more comfortable.

And you are free to decide who's directions to follow. People are likely to agree with words they want to hear. Many people on this forum have kept and bred many generations of GBBs, and are no less credible than someone who happens to have their own website.

When I tell my diabetic father that he shouldn't eat ice cream, and my sister says "Well, he can have a bite." You can bet your bottom dollar he'll have that bite. Good for him? Well......

All we can do is provide advice for you. Up to you how you want to take it. It really is completely your choice.

 

[Phases]

Man, it's not just that she has a website, it's that they raise a very large amount of these regularly and have for years. I found out about them by reviews on this very site, from years ago.

Just seems like she has.. lots of.. creditable authority. It's not a matter of hearing what I want, but yes I was glad to hear it. I was indeed prepared to downsize, which would have been great in a sense, I would have had a nice terrarium available to find something to fill with, but now I'd rather just leave as is.

I posted the update for future people to see, as in my humble opinion her opinion carries a lot of weight. Yes, probably a little more than enthusiasts/hobbiests.. wasn't meant to be offensive, just declare that it may not be a perfect cage, but it's clearly considered okay (or "actually very good") by someone who is in the business, day in and day out.

I've decided for myself, and am just trying to help others decide for theirs.

 

[Nixphat]

It's arrived, I will go home soon to unwrap!

SO TINY!


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Man, it's not just that she has a website, it's that they raise a very large amount of these regularly and have for years. I found out about them by reviews on this very site, from years ago.

Just seems like she has.. lots of.. creditable authority. It's not a matter of hearing what I want, but yes I was glad to hear it. I was indeed prepared to downsize, which would have been great in a sense, I would have had a nice terrarium available to find something to fill with, but now I'd rather just leave as is.

I posted the update for future people to see, as in my humble opinion her opinion carries a lot of weight. Yes, probably a little more than enthusiasts/hobbiests.. wasn't meant to be offensive, just declare that it may not be a perfect cage, but it's clearly considered okay (or "actually very good") by someone who is in the business, day in and day out.

I've decided for myself, and am just trying to help others decide for theirs.

I think I know who you're talking about, and I feel like you'll be fine. The website owner is very knowledgeable and I've had a very good experience with them as well. Your GBB will use what she wants, and as she grows, she'll probably just expand. Also, if you got the sling from the same person as my wife and I did (which we had the exact packaging and sling of similar size, so I have a pretty good feeling ), then we probably have slings from the same egg sac! Mine has been wonderful so far as well. They sure are something special

Edit: Just saw the card in your video, definitely the same website. Congrats!!

 

[Phases]

I think I know who you're talking about, and I feel like you'll be fine. The website owner is very knowledgeable and I've had a very good experience with them as well. Your GBB will use what she wants, and as she grows, she'll probably just expand. Also, if you got the sling from the same person as my wife and I did (which we had the exact packaging and sling of similar size, so I have a pretty good feeling ), then we probably have slings from the same egg sac! Mine has been wonderful so far as well. They sure are something special

Edit: Just saw the card in your video, definitely the same website. Congrats!!

Sweet! She said she they pulled a sac in Jan and one in Feb, and she's pretty sure mine was from Feb sac, so we're going with Feb 12th.. our six year olds birthday So these lil guys are almost 5 months old!

She's webbed a little in the top corner (last night) but today I see she's webbed in between the two leaves that are spanning the width about halfway up, and she's chilling in there. Maybe first was to get comfy quickly.. second was done after further exploration. Who knows!

I can't wait to see how it develops..

 

[Phases]

Hey! They posted my video on their site!!

http://fearnottarantulas.com/whats-going-fear-not-tarantulas/

 

[Nixphat]

Hey! They posted my video on their site!!

http://fearnottarantulas.com/whats-going-fear-not-tarantulas/

Haha, they're so great, we already have our next Ts lined up on the site that we want to get

 

[Phases]

Welp, it happened! I got more Ts and needed the bigger enclosure. GBB seemed to be doing good in it but, is doing good in this new one too

 

[Moakmeister]

I would keep it in a 12 ounce deli cup until it hits 3 inches. Then move it into one of those 8x6x5 helmet display cases from Hobby Lobby.

G.pulchripes new home

• Moakmeister
• May 19, 2017
• 9

Finally got around to rehousing my G. pulchripes. I think he's gonna like it in there