Housing & welfare assistance for G.rosea...

[Andrea82]

I have a P.cambridgei who's 2+ years mature
They don't get prettier with age though...hairs coming off, spindly legs, small abdomen. Mine looks more like a harvestman than a Theraphosid
Mature males feed less so don't worry if it doesn't want to eat. Water is more important for them so make sure his waterdish is always full.
Though it's generally seen as a negative, keeping a MM does give you the opportunity to see if keeping a Theraphosid is really what you want and like. If you are a little like most on here, that won't take long though and you'll be considering your 25th species within two years

 

[Troyantula]

Haha... I think I'm hooked already, I've just found what I'm told is a immature female G.rosea in the next town, the little man might have a neighbor sooner then expected, lol... I'm driving up there tomorrow to buy some building supplies so I'll be taking a look at her while I'm there...

 

[Anoplogaster]

I don't think enough appreciation is given to mature male tarantulas in this hobby I personally think they make awesome pets, ESPECIALLY for a first-timer. You have far less time commitment when deciding if you like the hobby, and you have a spider that tends to be very active and interesting to watch (as they wander around to seek out mates). Lifespan is all relative, anyways. The MM tarantula doesn't live as long as a female. But when you consider the teeny lifespan of other types of invertebrate pets, they're still pretty impressive

 

[Troyantula]

I'm really starting to appreciate mine, absolutely fantastic creature!

I have a new question about enclosures, is there any reason not to have g.rosea in enclosures side by side where they can see each other thru the glass? One we know is a male and God willing the other will turn out to be female, is there any reason they shouldn't have visual contact with each other...

 

[Anoplogaster]

I'm really starting to appreciate mine, absolutely fantastic creature!

I have a new question about enclosures, is there any reason not to have g.rosea in enclosures side by side where they can see each other thru the glass? One we know is a male and God willing the other will turn out to be female, is there any reason they shouldn't have visual contact with each other...

Doesn't matter if they see each other. They actually have relatively poor eyesight.

 

[Ungoliant]

I have a new question about enclosures, is there any reason not to have g.rosea in enclosures side by side where they can see each other thru the glass? One we know is a male and God willing the other will turn out to be female, is there any reason they shouldn't have visual contact with each other...

They can't really see each other (tarantulas rely primarily on touch and smell to perceive the world around them), but there is no reason the enclosures can't or shouldn't be side-by-side. The male may even drum on his walls to flirt with her.

 

[Troyantula]

Perfect! I figured it would be ok but wanted to be certain before committing to anything... again, thank you all so very much, all the help is greatly appreciated, especially since I know I'm going to have even more question to come

Like... Can I use local tree barks to make hides and accents for my T's enclosures? I have access to unlimited douglas fir, pine, birch and aspen bark, can I just boil and dry it to make it safe for these g.rosea?

 

[Ungoliant]

Like... Can I use local tree barks to make hides and accents for my T's enclosures? I have access to unlimited douglas fir, pine, birch and aspen bark, can I just boil and dry it to make it safe for these g.rosea?

Yes, with the caveat that you want to be sure that what you are using has no harmful critters living in it or pesticide residue. While cork bark is the most common material for hides, you can use other things. I have some dried out woody vines that make great supports or climbing surfaces for arboreal enclosures.

The juvenile hide for my Psalmopoeus cambridgei is made of mystery bark. (The previous owner of my first tarantula inappropriately laid a log on the ground as a hide. I cleaned it, cut it into pieces, and used the pieces in other enclosures.)

Note: many people recommend against using softwoods like cedar or pine. However, some are now questioning the validity of the assumption that if these materials affect the respiratory system of mammals and/or have insect-repellent properties that they will also be harmful to tarantulas.