Jamie's Tarantula Enclosure

[Spiderguy47]

I've heard so many people say that mesh vents are bad but I noticed that all of the enclosures offered by Jamie's Tarantulas have mesh vents. I planned on buying some DIY parts from them and I don't know if I should take the risk with their vents. I'm looking for some advice from people who have used their enclosures and or vents. Has your tarantula tried to tear through it and escape?

 

[miss moxie]

If they are metal mesh, then they can't tear through it. I'm not sure if people still experience tarsal claws getting stuck in metal mesh though.

 

[Spiderguy47]

I'm not sure if people still experience tarsal claws getting stuck in metal mesh though.

From what I've seen this is only a problem for mesh lids and I only plan to use these on the front and then a ventilated plexiglass top.(Inspired by DarkDen enclosures)

 

[Red Eunice]

Why not build your own? Most DIY centers cut the acrylic to your dimensions at little to no cost.
Here's one of mine, needs cleaned before its next tenant. 8"X8"X16" size. I buy full sheets, $65-$85 depending on thickness, and cut it myself. For the price of what most charge for 1 of their large enclosures, I build many.
None have mesh vents, just drill holes on sides and back for cross ventilation, none on top.
I'm not cheap, just frugal, with a good sized collection.

 

[checkmate]

Her Adult and XL enclosures don't have mesh. I agree with making your own if you want to avoid mesh though. I don't have any enclosures with mesh, just plastic containers that I poked holes through.

 

[RemyZee]

I know @Tomoran loves Jamie’s sling enclosures.

Making your own is super fun, but can be more of a hassle if its a fast growing sp that will only be in it for a short time. But for slower growers, and adults, I love to make my own Power tools are fun!

 

[starnaito]

I have used her enclosures for the little guys and haven't had problems with them chewing the mesh. What I don't like about them is the tops, especially on the sling enclosures. No matter how many times you open and close them, the tops won't come off smoothly. I also have one of her adult enclosures for my rose hair, and that, too, is difficult to open without startling my T. I love the way they look, but I've resorted to using Sterilite containers or deli cups for the slings and juveniles.

 

[darkness975]

@Spiderguy47

http://arachnoboards.com/threads/eight-legged-can-openers.160896/

 

[Trenor]

I've used several of her sling/juvie enclosures that use the vents with no issues. They've worked fine for me and the slings I've kept in them. I'm pretty sure all her larger T enclosures have drilled ventilation to avoid any screen issues. I've never seen any of the slings/juvies messing with the vents.

That being said if you're building your own DIY enclosure I'd recommend drilling the vent holes. IMO it looks nicer and can be placed for better viewing than a larger screen. Drilling the holes doesn't take much longer than cutting a larger hole for a screen.

 

[Trenor]

What I don't like about them is the tops, especially on the sling enclosures. No matter how many times you open and close them, the tops won't come off smoothly.

If you have one that doesn't come off easy enough lightly sand both connecting edges with a fine grit sandpaper. Take care not to sand it too much or it'll come off too easy.

 

[MetalMan2004]

Why not build your own? Most DIY centers cut the acrylic to your dimensions at little to no cost.
Here's one of mine, needs cleaned before its next tenant. 8"X8"X16" size. View attachment 253507 I buy full sheets, $65-$85 depending on thickness, and cut it myself. For the price of what most charge for 1 of their large enclosures, I build many.
None have mesh vents, just drill holes on sides and back for cross ventilation, none on top.
I'm not cheap, just frugal, with a good sized collection.

Have you done a youtube video or a write-up on your builds? I’ve looked into making my own several times but can’t seem to make it cost effective with the price of the acrylic sheets.

 

[efmp1987]

I don't like the adult terrestrial cages for the following reasons:

1. I can't afford it.
2. 8 inch depth, add 6-7 inch deep substrate for fossorials, and you have a fat tarantula spelunking in a 1 inch space between the roof and the top layer of the sub. If they were deeper my pocket might change its mind about the price.
3. I can't afford it.

 

[starnaito]

If you have one that doesn't come off easy enough lightly sand both connecting edges with a fine grit sandpaper. Take care not to sand it too much or it'll come off too easy.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[Poec54]

I don't like the adult terrestrial cages for the following reasons:

1. I can't afford it.
2. 8 inch depth, add 6-7 inch deep substrate for fossorials, and you have a fat tarantula spelunking in a 1 inch space between the roof and the top layer of the sub. If they were deeper my pocket might change its mind about the price.
3. I can't afford it.

Adult terrestrials are fine with 5" of substrate, that's enough to make a large/long burrow/tunnel. Keep in mind that in the wild there's rocks and hard clay that they can't dig thru, and they adjust the direction of their home accordingly.

I use clear plastic Sterlite storage boxes for my cages, very affordable. Unlike glass, I can easily make ventilation holes in any part of them, and the lid issue solved, very secure and I don't have to deal with screen.

 

[efmp1987]

Adult terrestrials are fine with 5" of substrate, that's enough to make a large/long burrow/tunnel. Keep in mind that in the wild there's rocks and hard clay that they can't dig thru, and they adjust the direction of their home accordingly.

I use clear plastic Sterlite storage boxes for my cages, very affordable. Unlike glass, I can easily make ventilation holes in any part of them, and the lid issue solved, very secure and I don't have to deal with screen.

I think 5 is being stingy. 5 inch depth for a 5-inch big fossorial, the most they can make is probably just a crater LOL.

 

[Poec54]

I think 5 is being stingy. 5 inch depth for a 5-inch big fossorial, the most they can make is probably just a crater LOL.

A 5" spider only has an opening a 2 or 3 inches across. If it's wider than that in places, it will be sideways, not top to bottom. The bigger the diameter the tunnel is, the more predators can get in, and they'll be larger. Spiders like being cozy at home and having intruders face either nothing but fangs or an abdomen full of urticating hairs. That keeps them from being outmaneuvered. You'll learn these things in time.

 

[Venom1080]

A 5" spider only has an opening a 2 or 3 inches across. If it's wider than that in places, it will be sideways, not top to bottom. The bigger the diameter the tunnel is, the more predators can get in, and they'll be larger. Spiders like being cozy at home and having intruders face either nothing but fangs or an abdomen full of urticating hairs. That keeps them from being outmaneuvered. You'll learn these things in time.

Really? You only give fossorials 5" of sub?

 

[Poec54]

Really? You only give fossorials 5" of sub?

They're content to dig down a little and then go horizontally, they're after distance more than elevation. Not like hard soils and rocks don't force them to do that in the wild. In semi/arid desert habitats they probably prefer a mostly vertical orientation due to the extreme heat and lack of shade (cooler in a deep hole), but the vast majority of tarantulas live in the (shady) wetter tropics with high water tables, and going straight down means hitting water. In a big cage loaded with deep substrate, what percentage of that soil is actually unused?

 

[Trenor]

2. 8 inch depth, add 6-7 inch deep substrate for fossorials, and you have a fat tarantula spelunking in a 1 inch space between the roof and the top layer of the sub. If they were deeper my pocket might change its mind about the price.

The Jamies adult T setups are not really drilled for fossorials IMO. With the holes dead center adding in more than 5 inches of substrate and you'll have it coming out of the side holes. They make great terrestrial tarantula enclosures though where 4 inches of substrate and a half-buried cork round as a hide is all you need.

One thing I do like about them is they are folded from one piece of plexiglass on 4 of the sides which makes them pretty sturdy. I also like that you can convert them to either terrestrial or arboreal. The way they are made works great for both.

I bought one when I first got into Ts and it's held up well over the years. It's been home for two GBBs both were MMs and it now holds my female P.cam.

 

[Venom1080]

They're content to dig down a little and then go horizontally, they're after distance more than elevation. Not like hard soils and rocks don't force them to do that in the wild. In semi/arid desert habitats they probably prefer a mostly vertical orientation due to the extreme heat and lack of shade (cooler in a deep hole), but the vast majority of tarantulas live in the (shady) wetter tropics with high water tables, and going straight down means hitting water. In a big cage loaded with deep substrate, what percentage of that soil is actually unused?

Never had a fossorial that didn't go as deep as I allowed.

Still interesting to think about though.

Recently rehoused my largest Hysterocrates, went almost straight down to the bottom, then tunneled along bottom across cage. (5 gallon tank) used quite a lot of its sub.