New Tarantula Owner, Size of Tank>??

Mescaline · Oct 25, 2004

i am really interested and amazed with tarantula's, and would like to soon be an owner of one. i recently acquired a 50 gallon tank. is this tank too large to raise a young spirderling?

Mike H. · Oct 25, 2004

Welcome to the hobby...and yes a 50 gallon tank is to big for almost any adult spider...most slings are kept in a pill vile or other small containers...search around the forums and you will find plenty of pictures of tanks and enclosures...most use 5 or 10 gallon tanks for there adults....

Good luck...

Regards, Mike :clap: :clap:

Mescaline · Oct 25, 2004

i have no options with the tank since it was a present. so would you suggest NOT getting a tarantuala since the only housing i have for it is a 50 gallon tank?

edit

also, i may also be able to buy a tarantula at a larger size if a larger one could live with that much space because i really want a tarantula, even if i have to skip the spiderling stage.

Sheri · Oct 25, 2004

As a general rule, taranutlas require about 3x their body length for the width of the enclosure.

Naturally, taranutlas do not stray far from their burrow, or home base. As a result, in such a large tank, a spiderling would have a difficult time locating prey. It would also be very hard to control the humidity.

Have you given any consideration to what kind of tarantula you will be buying?
Some require different habitats.

Mike H. · Oct 25, 2004

It would stress out a spiderling...and the spiderling would have a hard time finding its food...its way way to big for almost any spider

others may add to this thread but the only spider that I would even consider putting into a tank that size would be a full grown adult female T.blondi...it is really not a good choice for your fist spider either...

Regards, Mike

Washout · Oct 25, 2004

You could get 5 A. Avics and make a communal set up. That would be really neat with a tank that large. Just put in lots of branches and climbing things. Personally I'd put repti mat on the bottom of the tank to make it easier to spot dead crickets and bolus, and that would make it easier to clean. And then 3-5 water dishes spread around the tank. And then make sure there are always live crickets or roaches running around.

Sheri · Oct 25, 2004

Mescaline said:
i have no options with the tank since it was a present. so would you suggest NOT getting a tarantuala since the only housing i have for it is a 50 gallon tank?

Yes, if that is the only housing you have access to, a tarantula is not what you should buy.

Aside from that, when buying a new pet you should buy something you are really interested in, and not just because it will fit what you have.

If you still want a tarantula, consider selling the 50 gallon, and you could start with a couple of spiders.
Most people keep spiders in plastic, mass manufactured enclosures called Critter Keepers which are far more cost effective than the glass tanks with a screen lid.

Mescaline · Oct 25, 2004

Washout said:
You could get 5 A. Avics and make a communal set up. That would be really neat with a tank that large. Just put in lots of branches and climbing things. Personally I'd put repti mat on the bottom of the tank to make it easier to spot dead crickets and bolus, and that would make it easier to clean. And then 3-5 water dishes spread around the tank. And then make sure there are always live crickets or roaches running around.

does anyone have any comments on having this communal set-up, becuase i do not want to abandon getting a tarantula just becuase my tank is too large.

i would sell the tank but i just recieved it as a present, so if i cant get a tarantula then maybe i will consider a veiled chameleon.

Gene · Oct 25, 2004

Mescaline said:
does anyone have any comments on having this communal set-up, becuase i do not want to abandon getting a tarantula just becuase my tank is too large.

i would sell the tank but i just recieved it as a present, so if i cant get a tarantula then maybe i will consider a veiled chameleon.

If you really want a Tarantula then get one. Just take your tank out of the equasion. You can find so many other things to do with a 50 gallon tank.

Do some research and find the Tarantula you are interested in. If it's a spiderling then you can keep it in a salt shaker or a large pill vile. Your options are endless. When said Tarantulas gets larger all you have to come up off of is about $10.00 for a kritter keeper and some peat moss.

Don't hold yourself to this 50 gallon tank as your only option for things.

As far as a communal set up I would not recommend it. Honestly if you are like any of us and get attached to your Tarantula you will be upset when they start eating each other. Leave the communal tanks to people with more experience for now.

metzgerzoo · Oct 25, 2004

Welcome!!!

Mescaline said:
i have no options with the tank since it was a present. so would you suggest NOT getting a tarantuala since the only housing i have for it is a 50 gallon tank?

edit

also, i may also be able to buy a tarantula at a larger size if a larger one could live with that much space because i really want a tarantula, even if i have to skip the spiderling stage.

If you have ever bought food items at a grocery store then you DO have other containers in which you can keep a tarantula. Spegetti sauce jars, jelly jars, deli cups...heck, for that matter, you can stop off at the local grocery market, pick up a half pound of potato salad, munch it, wash the container, take a pin and poke a bunch of holes in the lid and there you go....a perfect spiderling container.

Just because the only "tank" set up you have is a 50 gallon does not in any way mean that you can not get a tarantula. As Mike said, a 50 gallon is too large for pretty much ANY tarantula.....including an adult.
Also, IMO, I would NOT suggest starting into the hobby with trying to have a communal set up....that's just asking for a disaster. If you have family or friends who have ever had a perscription, or a tub of butter, you've got other things you can put a spiderling in. The housing for a tarantula does not have to be "perfect" or beautiful...believe me, some of the housing we come up with is quite....well....interesting and not always the most appealing to the eye, especially in the case of spiderlings.

Good luck and check your cupboards and drawers for a small to medium size "leftover" container, grab some peat moss, a safety pin and you're all set!

Washout · Oct 25, 2004

Mescaline said:
does anyone have any comments on having this communal set-up, becuase i do not want to abandon getting a tarantula just becuase my tank is too large.

i would sell the tank but i just recieved it as a present, so if i cant get a tarantula then maybe i will consider a veiled chameleon.

You can't put a Chameleon in a 50 gallon glass tank. You have to keep them in special mesh cages or they die.

metzgerzoo said:
If you have family or friends who have ever had a perscription, or a tub of butter, you've got other things you can put a spiderling in. The housing for a tarantula does not have to be "perfect" or beautiful...believe me, some of the housing we come up with is quite....well....interesting and not always the most appealing to the eye, especially in the case of spiderlings.
Good luck and check your cupboards and drawers for a small to medium size "leftover" container, grab some peat moss, a safety pin and you're all set!

I keep quite a few of my spiderlings in 24oz cups, and others in Yhogurt containers, rubbermaid or ziplock containers, rubbermaid tubs, etc..

fyic · Oct 25, 2004

Well you could look into splitting the 50gal tank with plexiglass
That way you can still use your tank and get more then 1 T……

Washout said:
You can't put a Chameleon in a 50 gallon glass tank. You have to keep them in special mesh cages or they die.

Sheri · Oct 25, 2004

fyic said:
Well you could look into splitting the 50gal tank with plexiglass
That way you can still use your tank and get more then 1 T……

Which almost always leads inevitably to accidents at some point.

manville · Oct 25, 2004

I would house a female blondi in that tank. I would not do it if i were you though. I would say sell it and buy kritter keepers

Code Monkey · Oct 25, 2004

sheri said:
As a general rule, taranutlas require about 3x their body length for the width of the enclosure.

The general rule I've always used is 2.5X LS for length, 1.5X LS for width (or any rough equivalent of floor space), and heigth is relatively unimportant just so long as it isn't so tall that injury is likely in a fall from the top/sides. If an arboreal flip those figures to 2.5X LS for height and about 1.5X LS square for floor area.

Bloodletting · Oct 25, 2004

containers

Maybe put the sling in a little container and keep the little container inside of the big 50 gallon.

kidding...

seriously, I would use the big one for a feeder tank. It would make an awesome roach tank. tons of room. You could make a little ecosystem, running water, plants, rocks. etc etc....Something neat to look at during the long winter months.

I also included a couple pics of some of my slings and their container.

Scott

New Tarantula Owner, Size of Tank>??

Mescaline

Arachnopeon

Mike H.

Arachnoprince

Mescaline

Arachnopeon

Sheri

Arachnoking

Mike H.

Arachnoprince

Washout

Arachnolord

Sheri

Arachnoking

Mescaline

Arachnopeon

Gene

Arachnoknight

metzgerzoo

Arachnoangel

Washout

Arachnolord

fyic

Arachnoknight

Sheri

Arachnoking

manville

Arachnoking

Code Monkey

Arachnoemperor

Bloodletting

Arachnobaron