My lasiodora parahybana

[liamfrench123]

Hey everyone, on Friday the 11th of June i received my first spider a lasiodora parahyana as a juvenile. I have done a good amount of research and I have also been browsing these forums for quite some time to make sure that I am constantly learning for all situations. She is probably around 6-7cm at the moment and i have her in a fairly big terrarium for her size which upon doing some research seems to be fine as long as i am able to monitor that it is eating etc.

I have a couple questions to ask that ive seen lots of different answers for, first of all the first thing that my spider did was get herself into a hide that i have put into the enclosure and overnight pull substrate in front of it, blocking it off. She has also made a burrow in the enclosure that tunnels down into the hide over the next night. I wasn't sure if this was just a sign of wanting to settle in or pre-molt so i left it a few days to attempt feeding. Yesterday i offered a small cricket which decided to hop itself into the hide and i could just about see the T get it. Other than getting her into the enclosure i havent seen her come out much since? i know its only been a few days and im assuming thats perfectly normal, i havent seen her drinking but by the fact that she has made a burrow outside of the hide it means she must have came out at least once during the night when i was not able to see so im assuming she has found the water bowl. Just wanted to get someone with more knowledges opinion on if that is perfectly fine?

Another question i have to ask is im seeing multiple different people saying how often and how much i should feed? I know this species is known for growing quite fast and should be fed weekly? Im just not sure if i should feed 1 or 2 or even more medium crickets? Again atm it has only had one.

One last thing is that i would like an opinion on the enclosure? I would just like to make sure that everything is correct and suitable for the T, the last thing i want is to find out that ive been doing something very wrong after a big amount of time aha, i will leave some pictures attached of the beauty and the enclosure One thing im not too sure on is if i put enough substrate in? I have plenty more that i can use but it would mean that i would need to take it out and im not too sure if that is something that i should be doing at this moment as its only just getting settled in? The enclosure didnt come with any sort of cross ventilation so i have made some small holes in the enclosure myself, it for sure doesnt look amazing but i know its something that was needed. Another thing i should mention is that the substrate has been compacted since the video of of it pulling the substrate in front of the hide, it did a small stumble and as soon as i got the chance i compacted it down a little more, so that has been sorted! Thanks everyone!
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[Neonblizzard]

With these guys you'll find they wont spend too much time out when they are smaller. Mine is about 3" DLS now and she's only just starting to spend time out on the surface.

Enclosure looks OK to me, it's hard to tell on photos but as long as there's no more than 1.5x the diagonal legspan of the T in height then the fall risk is minimised.

It'll take some time for them to settle in, what you're experiencing is perfectly normal. It's fun seeing them dig to china. If the burrow is blocked off then that's a let them be; they know what they are doing better than we do.

Yes it's true these guys grow quick and love to eat, but the once a week thing is only a rough guide; just keep a notebook and feed them and see how plump it makes them. If i give mine (she's called coco chanel) a large cricket instead of a few small ones and she is looking a bit too chunky, there's no problem waiting a couple weeks until she slims down a bit. As they get bigger people tend to space feedings out even further to twice or even once a month.

After a few weeks you'll soon see what feeding routine works for you and what doesn't. Hope this helps!

 

[liamfrench123]

With these guys you'll find they wont spend too much time out when they are smaller. Mine is about 3" DLS now and she's only just starting to spend time out on the surface.

Enclosure looks OK to me, it's hard to tell on photos but as long as there's no more than 1.5x the diagonal legspan of the T in height then the fall risk is minimised.

It'll take some time for them to settle in, what you're experiencing is perfectly normal. It's fun seeing them dig to china. If the burrow is blocked off then that's a let them be; they know what they are doing better than we do.

Yes it's true these guys grow quick and love to eat, but the once a week thing is only a rough guide; just keep a notebook and feed them and see how plump it makes them. If i give mine (she's called coco chanel) a large cricket instead of a few small ones and she is looking a bit too chunky, there's no problem waiting a couple weeks until she slims down a bit. As they get bigger people tend to space feedings out even further to twice or even once a month.

After a few weeks you'll soon see what feeding routine works for you and what doesn't. Hope this helps!

Awesome! Thanks so much for your reply I think it may be a little bit higher than 1.5x tbh, im not entirely sure though, i can add another picture if that would help, the one i sent has perspective all weird!
Thanks for the input on food too, super useful info <3

 

[viper69]

If that's 2" or less put it in a 16 oz deli cup.

Feed it as often as you like. Judge by size of the abdomen.

 

[liamfrench123]

If that's 2" or less put it in a 16 oz deli cup.

Feed it as often as you like. Judge by size of the abdomen.

Thanks for the reply! I think its probably a little bit bigger than that, around 6-7 cm i think, and awesome thank you i may send them a message or something if needed

 

[cold blood]

A smaller enclosure will lead directly to a more visible tarantula....an over sized enclosure can do the opposite and actually encourage burrowing and hiding.

 

[sasker]

I didn't see mine for some time either when it was as big as yours. They grow quickly if you feed plenty, and it will soon be out of this hide-and-seek stage. I agree with @cold blood that you will see this tarantula, or any tarantula for that matter, a lot more if it is housed in a smaller terrarium. But I wouldn't worry too much about that with this species. An oversized terrarium hardly affects growth rate with LPs. And it saves you the trouble of having to rehouse every moult

 

[Neonblizzard]

Awesome! Thanks so much for your reply I think it may be a little bit higher than 1.5x tbh, im not entirely sure though, i can add another picture if that would help, the one i sent has perspective all weird!
Thanks for the input on food too, super useful info <3

You're welcome! If it is a bit high you can always put a bit more substrate in to reduce the distance

 

[liamfrench123]

I didn't see mine for some time either when it was as big as yours. They grow quickly if you feed plenty, and it will soon be out of this hide-and-seek stage. I agree with @cold blood that you will see this tarantula, or any tarantula for that matter, a lot more if it is housed in a smaller terrarium. But I wouldn't worry too much about that with this species. An oversized terrarium hardly affects growth rate with LPs. And it saves you the trouble of having to rehouse every moult

Thanks for the reply! I didnt even realise rehousing after a moult was a thing? Why is that necessary in some occasions?

 

[Neonblizzard]

Thanks for the reply! I didnt even realise rehousing after a moult was a thing? Why is that necessary in some occasions?

I think he's just joking that they grow so quick that if you put them in an enclosure exactly the right size you'll be doing it every molt haha. Usually you can get a few molts out of an enclosure before they get too big for it.

 

[liamfrench123]

I think he's just joking that they grow so quick that if you put them in an enclosure exactly the right size you'll be doing it every molt haha. Usually you can get a few molts out of an enclosure before they get too big for it.

Ohhhhh! aha silly me xD

 

[sasker]

Thanks for the reply! I didnt even realise rehousing after a moult was a thing? Why is that necessary in some occasions?

Exactly as @Neonblizzard said. This species will surprise you with their rapid growth rate. They moult often and seem to double in size every time they moult when they are slings/young juvies. I tiny enclosure is fine for slow growers, but for fast growers like these I tend to use a bit roomier enclosures.

 

[Smotzer]

So If it was me I would have to do one of the two; One, rehouse into a much smaller enclsoure (16oz deli cup size or so) so that managing its lifecycle and enclosure conditions, feeding is easier and so its out more (whole enclosure its hide), and or Two, add way more substrate. There is definitely more than 1.5x DLS from substrate level to lid and because the picture of the hide in the first we get perspective with thhe size of the T in the hide in the video, as it is its a fall risk. I would do number one, because by the time you do number two, its going to hhave an awfully lot of room to burrow as a sling.

Feeding you can feed give or take weekly, and pay attention to abdomen size to learn to gauge when a tarantula is plump enough, thhe abdomen does not need to be 2-3x the size of the carapace like a fat gorged tick, and not to be normal plump size or more in a short period or else you will not see that sling for an extended period of time, as it will go on hunger strike and seal itself away burrowed in your deep enclsosure, but you are free to do that and its not wrong. Your sling already has a pretty healthy sized abdomen that realistically doesnt need to be all that much bigger, but some more for sure. You can feed anyway you like, and it will eat pretty much as muchh as you give it, sometimes waaaay more than it needs.
You can feed a lot over a short period of time on a strict schedule, and its just as right, but it will go off of food quicker and be in "pre-molt hunger strike" and disappear burrowed sooner and longer. You can also learn to feed based on abdomen size and feed a little more gardually not on a strict schedule paying attention to prey size and frequency, withh abdomen size to spread it out over thhe entire molt cycle, to encourage it not to stay hidden as long. Either is just as right as another, but some are easier for a newcomer to not post another thread "HELP my T is burrowed and I hhavent seen it for a month, is it alive, shhould I dig it up!??" @viper69 ill elobarate a little more so we dont get called out again

 

[liamfrench123]

So If it was me I would have to do one of the two; One, rehouse into a much smaller enclsoure (16oz deli cup size or so) so that managing its lifecycle and enclosure conditions, feeding is easier and so its out more (whole enclosure its hide), and or Two, add way more substrate. There is definitely more than 1.5x DLS from substrate level to lid and because the picture of the hide in the first we get perspective with thhe size of the T in the hide in the video, as it is its a fall risk. I would do number one, because by the time you do number two, its going to hhave an awfully lot of room to burrow as a sling.

Feeding you can feed give or take weekly, and pay attention to abdomen size to learn to gauge when a tarantula is plump enough, thhe abdomen does not need to be 2-3x the size of the carapace like a fat gorged tick, and not to be normal plump size or more in a short period or else you will not see that sling for an extended period of time, as it will go on hunger strike and seal itself away burrowed in your deep enclsosure, but you are free to do that and its not wrong. Your sling already has a pretty healthy sized abdomen that realistically doesnt need to be all that much bigger, but some more for sure. You can feed anyway you like, and it will eat pretty much as muchh as you give it, sometimes waaaay more than it needs.
You can feed a lot over a short period of time on a strict schedule, and its just as right, but it will go off of food quicker and be in "pre-molt hunger strike" and disappear burrowed sooner and longer. You can also learn to feed based on abdomen size and feed a little more gardually not on a strict schedule paying attention to prey size and frequency, withh abdomen size to spread it out over thhe entire molt cycle, to encourage it not to stay hidden as long. Either is just as right as another, but some are easier for a newcomer to not post another thread "HELP my T is burrowed and I hhavent seen it for a month, is it alive, shhould I dig it up!??" @viper69 ill elobarate a little more so we dont get called out again

thanks for the reply, lots of info for me here, do you know where i can buy just 1 cup? everyone online sells 50 and i dont need it

 

[Smotzer]

thanks for the reply, lots of info for me here, do you know where i can buy just 1 cup? everyone online sells 50 and i dont need it

You can always go to a deli counter or somewhere like that that prepares and sells fresh food, or take out restaurants that sell soup is another one, and ask for one or buy some food in it and eat it and then wash it out, my grocery store has them where I grind fresh peanut butter.

 

[sasker]

Or be like anyone else with tarantulas and develop an eye for spotting potential sling enclosures.

It is not necessary to use a deli cup. You will be able to find many enclosures of similar size that are usable as well. For example, in my local supermarket they sell tofu in plastic containers that work very well as enclosures.

 

[liamfrench123]

Or be like anyone else with tarantulas and develop an eye for spotting potential sling enclosures.

It is not necessary to use a deli cup. You will be able to find many enclosures of similar size that are usable as well. For example, in my local supermarket they sell tofu in plastic containers that work very well as enclosures.

thats what im just thinking actually, im gonna have a look around for something I could use!

thats what im just thinking actually, im gonna have a look around for something I could use!

Update! I need an opinion for some help haha, ive found a couple possible containers in the kitchen, which one of these would you say is most suitable?

 

[Smotzer]

I would go with the longer rectangular one or more square one. Whichever you like better is really up to you!

 

[liamfrench123]

I would go with the longer rectangular one or more square one. Whichever you like better is really up to you!

awesome thanks! One more thing, the water bowl in the current enclosure is quite big.. any ideas for things that i could use as a smaller water bowl? ive heard people say to use water bottle lids but i feel like it would tip over?

 

[sasker]

Bottle caps for water bowl. Best to place them in the substrate so it sits flush with it. Just putting it on top of the substrate forces the tarantula to climb up which could tip things over.