Is this Enclosure OK?

[Bundle0Atoms]

Hello Everyone!
I am a recent owner of a Caribena Versicolor, and it is my first tarantula. Can you tell me if this enclosure is okay, I feel like it might be too cramped and yes I will be cleaning and refilling the water dish today.
It's been in there for almost a week, it has explored, but not much, and I find it in almost the same spot almost every day.
I don't want to jump the gun and reconstruct the container with a piece of bark instead of cork wood if I don't have to, maybe it just needs time to settle in. I've seen it preen itself, so I figured it was getting comfortable, but I don't know?
Also it's missing a front. Pedipalp, poor thing came from the pet store like that.

I'm new, any advice you can give me, I will appreciate!

It also hasn't eaten since I got it, should I try crickets as Dubia roaches tend to burrow?

 

[regalpaws]

Hey hey!
Looks decent, youre on the right track.
Unfortunately your enclosure is definitely too small. I'd look for something at least twice that size.
Also more plants on top as these guys like a lot of cover and security.
You got a gorgeous T, I have a soft spot for arboreals

As far as eating, I would try crickets. But don't pressure it to eat if it doesn't want to, they will eat pretty readily when they want to.

 

[Bundle0Atoms]

Hey hey!
Looks decent, youre on the right track.
Unfortunately your enclosure is definitely too small. I'd look for something at least twice that size.
Also more plants on top as these guys like a lot of cover and security.
You got a gorgeous T, I have a soft spot for arboreals

As far as eating, I would try crickets. But don't pressure it to eat if it doesn't want to, they will eat pretty readily when they want to.

Thanks for the reply!
I'm currently using the small treehouse switch, that is 4x4x6 plus I have the canopy top which adds an extra two inches in height. The medium is 6x6x8 and the large would be 8x8x10, should I go large? I'd like to give the thing some room to grow but I don't want it to be too big and stress it out?

 

[sp00dmama]

My first was a Versi too, beautiful babies. I’ve been raising mine since it was an itty bitty sling (my pfp), and it’s almost been a year since I’ve had it. I agree with regal, you always want 2/3 times the length of the T (with its legs stretched out) to be the minimum size of the enclosure. I promise the bigger size will not stress it out. The size only really matters if it’s having trouble eating or finding its food. I have a Rosea sling in something that’s almost 5 times its size, but I can see it and it loves to explore. Versi babies are also pretty shy and love to have lots of anchor points and foliage to hide. I found that as long as mine has a dark area to hide in, it feels safe. I’ll see it come out more often when it’s hungry.

Also don’t worry about eating, they will eat as regal said. Mine all seem to enjoy crickets more than anything. All Ts are different, some are more picky than others. Try a couple different feeders, but I find that crickets are easiest and cheapest.

Welcome to your new addiction.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Too small, try 8" x 8" x 12" options.

 

[viper69]

Too small

 

[cold blood]

I think it's fine for a molt or two

 

[TheraMygale]

I think it's fine for a molt or two

this is very informative. I didnt think it was too big thats for sure. But i like learning about the margins. im sure it has beneficial aspects on feeding and overall growth.

 

[cold blood]

this is very informative. I didnt think it was too big thats for sure. But i like learning about the margins. im sure it has beneficial aspects on feeding and overall growth.

Yeah, tarantulas do well in smaller places...it also really encourages webbing for species like a versicolor.....I bet it would have that enclosure webbed up in a couple weeks.

 

[TheraMygale]

Yeah, tarantulas do well in smaller places...it also really encourages webbing for species like a versicolor.....I bet it would have that enclosure webbed up in a couple weeks.

i have been trying it and really prefer smaller enclosures. It always feels weird, because i project human values. but i experimented and see a difference:

a 2 inch g pulchripes in large enclosure: it kept roaming, climbing…

in a tight enclosure, it stayed put.

i have 2 davus pentaloris. One is in a tight enclosure, the other in a a bit large enclosure. Small enclosure d penta webbed up quick and used hide asap.

large enclosure d penta, very squittish, fasting more, hates light more, took forever to web.