how often do you fully clean

[chilean]

How often do change the substrate? Entirely clean... Some time after a molt... Every couple of months...?

 

[The Shadow]

Every 5 months or so.

 

[TTstinger]

I try to every 3 to 4 months sometimes sooner if something smells funny or I see some nasty

 

[arrowhd]

I do a substrate change around every 2-4 months. Just depends on whether it looks like it needs it or not.

 

[NYCspiderGuy]

different schedules for different spiders.... but generally when it needs it!

some of my T's make more of a mess with wet things, waste material, and dead cricket bits. If the tank starts to smell that is another good sign.
The better you maintain it, the longer it will go before needing change... but that is obvious.

Some will say every 6 months or so... maybe.
I change them when they need changing - short but unhelpful answer... I know.

Others may have more to say about it, but there's nothing particularly dirty about the molt(in my idea). If you remove the old bits there seems no reason to change substrate just because of that.

More about mold or smell or other problems.... then you change it to protect the T.
If not, I say leave them in peace..

 

[tabor]

my l. parahybana has been on the same substrate for 3 years or so

she is the cleanest spider i own though, and leaves food bolas in one corner of her cage for easy cleaning. im actually hesitant to change it at this point as its been so effective up until this point.

for my more moisture loving or messy T's i change the substrate every 3 months or so. i also change slings substrate quite frequently.

 

[Brian S]

Most of my spiders havent been changed in years! You all dont need to be doing that so often

 

[Thoth]

Good spot cleaning will reduce the frequency for the need for complete cleanings. Majority of my ts have been on the same substrate for more than a year a few are pushing 2-3 years.

 

[AubZ]

Good spot cleaning will help you alot and allow you to use the same subs for a long time. I do spot cleaning twice a week. And yes, if the enclosure smells funny, rather change it to protect your T.

 

[Talkenlate04]

Unless I have a mite or mold outbreak I don't change at all. I spot clean as others have mentioned but that's it.

 

[tarsier]

Rarely. Only time i remember changing substrate was if i found an outbreak of mites or something of that magnitude.

 

[jbrd]

Substrate change

We are borderline anal retentive in our cleaning of our T's enclosures. At least once a week they are thoroughly inspected for left over prey items, mites and mold. This has lead to well over a year plus before substrate changes.
So as long as your diligent in your cleaning you should be able to go a very long time between major overhauls of your enclosures.

 

[peterspiderling]

with my P. Regalis i change it every 4 months or so, but all my spiderlings, i dont bother cos by the time it needs changing they need a bigger tank

 

[Nitibus]

I do a substrate change around every 2-4 months. Just depends on whether it looks like it needs it or not.

Changing substrate that often leads to T stress. T's in their natural habitat can live in the same undalterated 5 square feet for 30 years ! Listen to people like Talkenlate04. Unless you have something that threatens your T ( molds or mites ) leave them be. Spot cleaning is all you need to do on a regular basis.

 

[Gesticulator]

Never. Unless of course there is some sort of infestation.

 

[GoTerps]

Never... unless I'm changing the enclosure for some reason.

Eric

 

[phil jones]

thats the same for me to much change and you will have one unhappy ( t ) phil

Never. Unless of course there is some sort of infestation.

 

[spid142]

substrate change

As others mention, I regularly check enclosures for mold etc. And only remove a problem area, and replace wth fresh sub there, only time I do a complete change is when the T has outgrown a enclosure and needs new anyway. Too much change in environment stresses a T, they need a stable environment with familiar sub and furnishings they are used to. My opinion is leave the cage interior alone as much as possible.

 

[beetleman]

never,but with my arboreals i sometimes have to clean the glass sides when they poop there.but that's it.

 

[ShadowBlade]

Never do it unless there's a problem.

-Sean