(newb) is my cage too big?

[Mad Hatter]

What is that you are using for a hide? The tan cylindrical looking object on the left?

 

[jsieg]

What is that you are using for a hide? The tan cylindrical looking object on the left?

cardboard tube from a TP roll.

I will most likely not be using that cage though. I will either be using the small tuppeware container or I will be at my local pet shop tomorrow scanning for a very small cage.

and who knows Mr. Young may send it in its own little container. I am concerned that he hasnt confirmed my order or my shipment yet though. Has anybody ordered from Krazy 8's before? How prompt was shipment?

 

[Bill S]

It's not so much that the spider needs a small container (in nature they live in a very large world), but the tarantula keeper (you) greatly benefits from using a smaller container. It's a lot easier to make sure the little guy can find his food, and overall easier to keep cage conditions good.

I prefer deli cups while the tarantulas are small. Besides being a convenient size, they are cheap and readily availble, and you can see through them well enough to be able to keep track of what's going on inside the cup. Go to your local supermarket and ask at the deli counter. They'll sell you a cup and top for a few cents. Some deli cups have tops that are easier to remove than others, so shop a few different markets if you need to in order to find what you like. I use a drill with a very thin bit to drill a bunch of holes in the top - but others here poke holes with hot pins or use some other method. Just be careful not to make the holes too big.

Deli cups are not the height of interior decorating - but with baby tarantulas you're better off focusing on keeping them healthy and getting them to grow. When they are larger you can look for more decorative enclosures.

 

[jsieg]

Alright thank you. Now Im just concerned about when the critter is going to ship. Anybody ever hear anything about krazy 8's? I saw some pics when i searched here, but not anything about people buying from Mr. Young

 

[Ictinike]

Keep in mind that slings of any species should be kept somewhat moist. you should start keeping them drier when they reach 1.5-2in.

Very true but I've had issues with my slings and some mold within the past few months and I'm sure it was due to me, being new to keeping, over hydrating them based on the "more moisture" rules.

Humidity is fine to a point but if it's condensation at the dew point it could cause more issues than not.

I don't disagree but having gone through mold and some mites myself most recently I feel it's better to keep it simple and not worry about moisture as much

 

[curiousme]

As your sling is going to be 3/4", the substrate should be a little damp. G. rosea doesn't start liking drier substrate until if gets larger.

Also, if you wet half the substrate once a week, you will achieve the humidity the sling needs and it will have a place to drink from. They will drink directly from the substrate. Misting the enclosure or spraying the side does little besides spike the humidity for a short while, before it evaporates, making you have to mist it often. The substrate should never be soggy, but should be moist.

Our G. rosea RCF sling seems to enjoy the sphagnum moss we put in with it, but expect it to burrow.

A film canister or small medicine bottle will work for a hide. Toss the tube as you are just asking for mold.

Make sure your ventilation holes are not big enough for the sling to fit out and that the enclosure has enough of them.

 

[curiousme]

Very true but I've had issues with my slings and some mold within the past few months and I'm sure it was due to me, being new to keeping, over hydrating them based on the "more moisture" rules.

Was the substrate soggy? Did you increase ventilation? Small slings do need it more humid, but wetting half the substrate once a week is a good target.

Humidity is fine to a point but if it's condensation at the dew point it could cause more issues than not.

If you had this problem, then you probably did not have enough ventialtion and it was too wet.

I don't disagree but having gone through mold and some mites myself most recently I feel it's better to keep it simple and not worry about moisture as much

If your slings are too small for a water dish, this is a bad idea and could lead to dehydrated Ts.

 

[TalonAWD]

When you get your baby rosea, it will most likely come in a vial. Keep it in that vial.
The sling will be uber small. Sometimes 1" seems big without actually seeing it against a reference. Below is a 1" G. pulchra molt. They grow a heck of alot faster than the G rosea thats for sure.
Around the 3" mark would be the time to move it in that blue enclosure. Also do not use paper roll tube as a hide. thats terrible and a breeding ground for bacteria. When the time comes get a real hide.
Heres reference for you.

 

[jsieg]

thank you all for your responses. I have taken out the TP tube and put a medicine bottle in its place.

 

[myles756]

hey

put it in a regular jar

 

[Mattyb]

At 3/4", it should be kept in a small deli cup or vial. A 2 gal tank would definitely be too big for it!

I agree. I wouldn't house it in a 2.5gal tank until it was maybe atleast 2".

 

[Spunky]

I think I recall reading on krazy8's website that he was not going to sell online anymore as of October 1st... You might try to give him a call tomorrow.

 

[Ictinike]

Was the substrate soggy? Did you increase ventilation? Small slings do need it more humid, but wetting half the substrate once a week is a good target.

Not Soggy at all.. Moist

If you had this problem, then you probably did not have enough ventialtion and it was too wet.

Enough ventalation.. Not sure why it stayed as moist as it did and I had airflow over the entire setup. I do believe, however, the enclosures were too big. Keeping a 3x3x3 cube dry/moist cycle is much easier than the larger one I had them in.. Maybe roughly 6x6x8..

I would agree with most smaller is better for a number of reasons and surface area to keep tended is one major factor. Increase your surface area also increases your changes of mold/mites IMHO.

If your slings are too small for a water dish, this is a bad idea and could lead to dehydrated Ts.

Nope they are fine for small "cap" dishes.. I catch them drinking and flinging substrate into them from time to time..

I have my issues/errors resolved for now but again it's due to a.) smaller enclosures and b.) drier conditions.

I understand the "more moisture" but I've employed an ultrasonic humidifier to the general area and it keeps it around 50-70% locally and inside the enclosures, that I need it more, I'm sure I get it.

To each his own which is what's great about this and other hobbies..

 

[Mattyb]

Not Soggy at all.. Moist



Enough ventalation.. Not sure why it stayed as moist as it did and I had airflow over the entire setup. I do believe, however, the enclosures were too big. Keeping a 3x3x3 cube dry/moist cycle is much easier than the larger one I had them in.. Maybe roughly 6x6x8..

I would agree with most smaller is better for a number of reasons and surface area to keep tended is one major factor. Increase your surface area also increases your changes of mold/mites IMHO.



Nope they are fine for small "cap" dishes.. I catch them drinking and flinging substrate into them from time to time..

I have my issues/errors resolved for now but again it's due to a.) smaller enclosures and b.) drier conditions.

I understand the "more moisture" but I've employed an ultrasonic humidifier to the general area and it keeps it around 50-70% locally and inside the enclosures, that I need it more, I'm sure I get it.

To each his own which is what's great about this and other hobbies..

Everyone makes mistakes, the main thing is to learn from them and fix them. And i see you did that. good job.

 

[jsieg]

I think I recall reading on krazy8's website that he was not going to sell online anymore as of October 1st... You might try to give him a call tomorrow.

he is ceasing operation on November first, but will not e shipping animals... I wish that would have been more prominently displayed seeing as I already paid him for the spider...

 

[jsieg]

just ordered from Ken the Bug guy. Hopefully he is not shutting down

 

[Big Red TJ]

just ordered from Ken the Bug guy. Hopefully he is not shutting down

Ken is a good guy, top notch you will be pleased.

 

[jsieg]

Ken is a good guy, top notch you will be pleased.

glad to hear it. Looks I will be recieving the littler critter after it ships on wednesday . Any tips for dealing with the anxiety of having to wait for a T to be shipped?

 

[Bill S]

Alright thank you. Now Im just concerned about when the critter is going to ship. Anybody ever hear anything about krazy 8's? I saw some pics when i searched here, but not anything about people buying from Mr. Young

As you've already discovered, Chris is closing shop. There's a message box on the web site, and he posted a "farewell" message on the ATS forum. It's too bad - he'll be missed. But he's moving on to another "too good to be turned down" offer. Although I'd kept a few other tarantulas and scorpions and such before meeting him - he's the first guy I bought a tarantula from. (He talked me into getting an OBT.) And by odd coincidence - he's the guy I bought my last tarantula from. (I started getting interested in Phormictopus, and he sold me a P. cancerides and a P. platus.)

Others have recommended Ken the Bug Guy, and I'll add to that recommendation.

Don't know if I'm complicating things by saying this - but you may want to consider that the shipping cost on one spider is about the same as for half a dozen or more. You might want to get a few at one time. There are some inexpensive spiders that are easy to raise, and you're about to become an addict anyway....

 

[curiousme]

Nope they are fine for small "cap" dishes.. I catch them drinking and flinging substrate into them from time to time..

If they are big enough for a water dish/ cap, then i retract my statement in regards to you. However, as the OP is getting a sling that is not big enough for a water dish, it is bad advice for him.