Is a "Too big" enclosure bad?

tonyb24

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 26, 2021
Messages
17
Okay, I settling with Exo Therra 8x8x8 unless someone advises me to NOT. My concern is ventilation... I got some meshes to make a false bottom and ALOT of jungle mix + Sphagnum moss. All I need is some hides, I guess imma go take a walk in the woods near a lake, find some suitable driftwood, and boil it for 30+ minutes (can I do that?).
I still need:
-Tongs (idn if rubber tip or not... are rubber tip like harder to use? Why I never see no one with rubber tip on youtube?)
-Hydro&Temp meter (I guess room temp good for this species... But it gets really hot (35 degC So, imma need an AC probly cuz its like 27deg C max where spider is native) and humid(40-50% which aint enough for spider) where I live)
-I need to find a type of false bottom (hydro balls or something) that will ship FAST, or I just go to town a pick some up...
-...... What else?
Oh yeah, I also have masks for covid, gloves and DUH, eye-protection.
I hope you mean cm because in that case it would perfect for your sized slings
inches sry should've specified.
 

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Tarantuland

Arachnoprince
Joined
Mar 19, 2020
Messages
1,404
Okay, I settling with Exo Therra 8x8x8 unless someone advises me to NOT. My concern is ventilation... I got some meshes to make a false bottom and ALOT of jungle mix + Sphagnum moss. All I need is some hides, I guess imma go take a walk in the woods near a lake, find some suitable driftwood, and boil it for 30+ minutes (can I do that?).
I still need:
-Tongs (idn if rubber tip or not... are rubber tip like harder to use? Why I never see no one with rubber tip on youtube?)
-Hydro&Temp meter (I guess room temp good for this species... But it gets really hot (35 degC So, imma need an AC probly cuz its like 27deg C max where spider is native) and humid(40-50% which aint enough for spider) where I live)
-I need to find a type of false bottom (hydro balls or something) that will ship FAST, or I just go to town a pick some up...
-...... What else?
Oh yeah, I also have masks for covid, gloves and DUH, eye-protection.

inches sry should've specified.
That’s gonna be larger of an enclosure than you need at first, but I’m not sure why you think you need a hydrometer or a false bottom
 

Xharyel

Arachnopeon
Joined
Feb 23, 2021
Messages
38
You're over complicating everything imo. It's good to be prepared, but this might be too much. I was the same at first, then once I got my first T, 90% of what I "prepared" didn't mean anything anymore since care was just... simple and basic.

You basically just need substrate (+moss), hide, food, water dish and a proper size enclosure (for 2" T, you could go 5x5x5 or 6x6x6 at most, it would be ideal from my experience).
No need for any false bottom or hydro/temp meter. Even for moisture dependent species, just overflowing the water dish once in a while is usually enough.

Also, if I were you, I'd just get acrylic enclosure over glass like Exo Terra's. You really want those side ventilation, especially for moisture dependent species as to prevent mold as much as possible. Also, Exo Terra's have mesh lid you'd need to replace as it could prove fatal for the T, it isn't hard but it's still a hassle.

Pursuing a humidity number with a meter + no side vents + false bottom = paradise for mold and way to get a stuffy enclosure. I would advice against that.
Just keep it simple. 👍
 

tonyb24

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 26, 2021
Messages
17
You're over complicating everything imo. It's good to be prepared, but this might be too much. I was the same at first, then once I got my first T, 90% of what I "prepared" didn't mean anything anymore since care was just... simple and basic.

You basically just need substrate (+moss), hide, food, water dish and a proper size enclosure (for 2" T, you could go 5x5x5 or 6x6x6 at most, it would be ideal from my experience).
No need for any false bottom or hydro/temp meter. Even for moisture dependent species, just overflowing the water dish once in a while is usually enough.

Also, if I were you, I'd just get acrylic enclosure over glass like Exo Terra's. You really want those side ventilation, especially for moisture dependent species as to prevent mold as much as possible. Also, Exo Terra's have mesh lid you'd need to replace as it could prove fatal for the T, it isn't hard but it's still a hassle.

Pursuing a humidity number with a meter + no side vents + false bottom = paradise for mold and way to get a stuffy enclosure. I would advice against that.
Just keep it simple. 👍
Haha, okay, I got 8x6x6 box, acrylic, I canceled the Exo-Terra.. I couldnt find 6x6x6.. and okay fine, imma still order the stuff for false bottom.. even if I dont use it, ill have some..
If its just a little tiny bit on the big side, is it THAT bad?
 

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jay444

Arachnosquire
Joined
Apr 25, 2020
Messages
133
I'll be honest, I have 4 apophysis...they are not really beginner friendly species. They are lightning fast and have nasty urticating hairs. They do grow extremely fast though, so you can probably have them set up in something bigger in just a few months. Just be careful and do you more research on here by searching the forums. Since they are moisture dependent, you could do bioactive with these more than some other species, but I'd wait until theyre at least 3-4".
Agreed. I would also add that their moisture dependency makes them more fragile than your usual NW beginner sling.. And their pricetag is not to be neglected
 

viper69

ArachnoGod
Arachnosupporter +
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
19,162
I mean, apart from wasting money... Is it bad for the T?
Especially high moisture depend ones?
Would it venture out more with like lots of covers and room and stuff?
I am really new... I dont got my T's yet tho... Im planning 2 builds.
Yes it’s bad
 

starlight_kitsune

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Messages
196
Why do you want a false bottom? Is there something I'm missing or uninformed about here? Because I can't think of why that would be necessary for a T.
 

tonyb24

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 26, 2021
Messages
17
Why do you want a false bottom? Is there something I'm missing or uninformed about here? Because I can't think of why that would be necessary for a T.
I just thought... yo Im a newb man....
I saw tarrantula collective setup enclosure for some theraphosas, and he said they high moisture dependent.. So, I guess it lets water draing out of the soil so it doesnt flood and rot, and collects in the false bottom, such that it evaporates back up... IDN, imma noob im still reasearching, I found this Ther-apophysis-care-sheet (mikebasictarantula.com) he dont use a false bottom, so I probly wont.

I just thought... yo Im a newb man....
I saw tarrantula collective setup enclosure for some theraphosas, and he said they high moisture dependent.. So, I guess it lets water draing out of the soil so it doesnt flood and rot, and collects in the false bottom, such that it evaporates back up... IDN, imma noob im still reasearching, I found this Ther-apophysis-care-sheet (mikebasictarantula.com) he dont use a false bottom, so I probly wont.
But I dont want ROTTING! and fungus.
 
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starlight_kitsune

Arachnoknight
Old Timer
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Messages
196
I just thought... yo Im a newb man....
I saw tarrantula collective setup enclosure for some theraphosas, and he said they high moisture dependent.. So, I guess it lets water draing out of the soil so it doesnt flood and rot, and collects in the false bottom, such that it evaporates back up... IDN, imma noob im still reasearching, I found this Ther-apophysis-care-sheet (mikebasictarantula.com) he dont use a false bottom, so I probly wont.
Hmm... Well I am finding a few posts here about false bottoms so they must have been a thing at least at some point but they all seem to be 2015 or older in age. It just seems like overcomplicating the enclosure unnecessarily to me but hopefully someone more experienced pipes in about it. I'm basically new all over again since I was gone for so long and many things have changed as far as husbandry knowledge and what's best practice.
 

Ian14

Arachnobaron
Joined
Nov 27, 2019
Messages
329
A "false bottom" is a feature of bio active set ups. It's basically a layer of hydro/clay beads with mesh over them, and the substrate goes on top of that.
However most people claiming to have bio active enclosures don't actually have one. They were a big craze in the herp hobby but that seems to be fizzling out.
Personal I cant see much benefit for tarantulas. In fact I would be concerned about one getting stuck on the mesh if it burrowed right down.
 

tonyb24

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 26, 2021
Messages
17
I'll be honest, I have 4 apophysis...they are not really beginner friendly species. They are lightning fast and have nasty urticating hairs. They do grow extremely fast though, so you can probably have them set up in something bigger in just a few months. Just be careful and do you more research on here by searching the forums. Since they are moisture dependent, you could do bioactive with these more than some other species, but I'd wait until theyre at least 3-4".
Okay, thats what I was thinking wait till bigger.. Some guy on an isopod thread said he housing some Porcellio Scabber (isopod) with his T and he never had problems.... could the nasty type III setae on these ward off potential danger during a molt?
Hmm, I know when they fresh molt the exo-skeleton is soft, hence the vulnerability, but how are the hairs when freshly molted?
 

tonyb24

Arachnopeon
Joined
Apr 26, 2021
Messages
17
I'll be honest, I have 4 apophysis...they are not really beginner friendly species. They are lightning fast and have nasty urticating hairs. They do grow extremely fast though, so you can probably have them set up in something bigger in just a few months. Just be careful and do you more research on here by searching the forums. Since they are moisture dependent, you could do bioactive with these more than some other species, but I'd wait until theyre at least 3-4".
Okay, thats what I was thinking wait till bigger.. Some guy on an isopod thread said he housing some Porcellio Scabber (isopod) with his T and he never had problems.... could the nasty type III setae on these ward off potential danger during a molt?
Hmm, I know when they fresh molt the exo-skeleton is soft, hence the vulnerability, but how are the hairs when freshly molted?
Man, it sounds like a potentially expensive experiment.
Edit: I got freeby “party mix” of isopods comming with my 2 Ts
 
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