OBT enclosure...

[ccTroi]

It's been suggested on here that these are fossorial and encouraging them to burrow is the best way to keep them.

The best way is subjective. 6" is what I would give the majority of the Ornithoctoninae spp. given the floor space of OP's enclosure. In my eyes, the best way is being able to open the enclosure for observations and maintenance without the OBT displaying its iconic behavior. Height and anchor points should be more focused on rather than a deep substrate. I am 99% sure the specimen will not use half of the OP's given substrate depth. I'm even willing to put money on it lol. Encouraging them to burrow is funny. I have yet to see the majority of P. murinus specimens in the hobby resort to burrowing. There may be a specimen that burrows as a quintessential fossorial, and I would like to see it. It would just be a shame seeing that much substrate not being used especially when it's given to an OBT. 3" of substrate is adequate for an adult, and she should be given more anchor points with an enclosure to accommodate them.

Edit: I didn't realize you were the OP otherwise I would have mentioned you directly sorry lol. I'm not telling you what to do but rather I'm just saying what I would do. Do what you want lol it's your spider after all uwu

 

[ccTroi]

@Tarantuland I would like to hear your thoughts on my post lol

 

[Tarantuland]

Needs more anchor points definitely. How big is the spider you’re getting? I don’t think 3” is enough sub, but 6” may be more than you need. It really depends on the spider, some of these guys like to web up high, others like to burrow. Since I put mine in something this size, it’s stayed under the corkbark. My spider is about 3” and it’s only been a week but it has eaten though

 

[Tarantuland]

@Tarantuland I would like to hear your thoughts on my post lol

I just don’t think 3” of substrate for an adult or subadult OBT is enough. Maybe I’m wrong, as mine are juveniles, but they both like to burrow. I think it’s important that they have room to web and burrow

 

[ccTroi]

I just don’t think 3” of substrate for an adult or subadult OBT is enough. Maybe I’m wrong, as mine are juveniles, but they both like to burrow. I think it’s important that they have room to web and burrow

Burrow as in going down to the bottom? Or burrowing as in using only about an inch of the sub?

I am 99% sure the specimen will not use half of the OP's given substrate depth. I'm even willing to put money on it lol. Encouraging them to burrow is funny. I have yet to see the majority of P. murinus specimens in the hobby resort to burrowing. There may be a specimen that burrows as a quintessential fossorial, and I would like to see it. It would just be a shame seeing that much substrate not being used especially when it's given to an OBT.

it's just interesting to me bc ive raised over two dozens of obt and a handful of the variant localities. none has burrowed but rather used an inch of the several sub provided to them

 

[Liquifin]

OBT's are probably one of the hardiest OW African tarantulas there are out there. They'll adapt to whatever enclosure is provided for them, whether it's a fossorial, terrestrial, or a bare enclosure. I've so many variations of care, enclosure styles, and designs for them which many OBT's just use whatever is given to them in their enclosures.

 

[Benson1990]

I no the OBT is highly adaptable so it can thrive in any of the above type enclosures, but from the research I've been doing (mostly from this forum) the best set up is a fossorial one with plenty of substrate to encourage burrowing, this way tending to be the best way of avoiding the classic threatening behavior and ending up with an angry jack in the box tarantula, so accordingly this is the way I went for a set up...5 gallons RUB, 6 inches of dry substrate, cork bark hide with a fake plant...I was thinking of adding an other plant for an anchor point but all in all this is the set up I was going with, any thoughts? Im starting to get a bit of paralysis by analysis now due to the the differing opinions of how these should be set up.

 

[BoyFromLA]

I no the OBT is highly adaptable so it can thrive in any of the above type enclosures

Yes, and no.

It maybe highly adaptable, but at the same time, it has no choice but to live in whatever set up the keeper provided.

this way tending to be the best way of avoiding the classic threatening behavior and ending up with an angry jack in the box tarantula

It will try to high-five you or hug you whenever it feels like to, it is completely normal, and very natural to be defensive from the threat, in this case, human.

Below is my set up for it. First and second are right after rehouse, third, and fourth are what’s it like currently.

 

[Benson1990]

Yes, and no.

It maybe highly adaptable, but at the same time, it has no choice but to live in whatever set up the keeper provided.



It will try to high five-you or hug you whenever it feels like to, it is completely normal, and very natural to be defensive from the threat, in this case, human.

Below is my set up for it. First and second are right after rehouse, third, and fourth are what’s it like currently.

View attachment 379783

View attachment 379784

View attachment 379785

View attachment 379786

Do you find it webs up the lid a lot?

 

[BoyFromLA]

Do you find it webs up the lid a lot?

It is a heavy webber, and it will web whenever, whatever. It’s only natural.

 

[Craig73]

Mine is still small, but used a piece drift wood and some fake plants. It’s basically got plenty to web from and a bunker.

 

[Edan bandoot]

Set it up terrestrially and give it anchor points if you want a web castle

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Fossorial!

 

[Tarantuland]

Burrow as in going down to the bottom? Or burrowing as in using only about an inch of the sub?

it's just interesting to me bc ive raised over two dozens of obt and a handful of the variant localities. none has burrowed but rather used an inch of the several sub provided to them

That's more than I've raised, so I'll take your word for it, as my first two are still juvies. Did they never burrow more than an inch at any point? Or is that something you noticed at a specific stage in their lives?

 

[ccTroi]

That's more than I've raised, so I'll take your word for it, as my first two are still juvies. Did they never burrow more than an inch at any point? Or is that something you noticed at a specific stage in their lives?

they tend to burrow as slings but not like a Cyriopagopus spp., for example. the tendency for them is to web all over. but i wouldn’t be surprised if there are specimens that burrow. i would compare them to a gbb. i think it depends on the keeper. i like to see web castles so i’m partial to less sub haha

 

[thatdadlife619]

This is a heavy webbing terrestrial, IMO

IME burrowing seems to have been outgrown at the juvie stage

 

[Matt Man]

heavy webbing terrestrial. Set up with a Burrow / Hide and have lots of branches at the doorway. This was right after rehouse, she is headed toward the entrance of her burrow. She webbed it up pretty heavily

Aggie Post 1

• Matt Man
• Aug 14, 2017
• 5

This was my (our) first T. (???) It was a rescue, and even though I was a newb and this was an...

 

[Ian14]

I have an obt that I have raised from a sling. He/she is about a year old. I started off keeping it on a small vial, then into a larger pot. Now it's in a small KritterKeeper and needs to be rehoused again soon. I have a dry substrate which is 50% coco fibre/50% play sand. Substrate depth is half the height of the enclosure. The OBT has webbed up near enough the rest of it!! It has dug itself a long, deep burrow but is out on the silk most of the time. But rather than throwing defense postures as soon as its disturbed, it retreats into its burrow.
My understanding is that this is key to avoid the full on aggression they are known for. That seems to be shown when they are on a shallow substrate with no opportunity to burrow.

 

[Matt Man]

I have an obt that I have raised from a sling. He/she is about a year old. I started off keeping it on a small vial, then into a larger pot. Now it's in a small KritterKeeper and needs to be rehoused again soon. I have a dry substrate which is 50% coco fibre/50% play sand. Substrate depth is half the height of the enclosure. The OBT has webbed up near enough the rest of it!! It has dug itself a long, deep burrow but is out on the silk most of the time. But rather than throwing defense postures as soon as its disturbed, it retreats into its burrow.
My understanding is that this is key to avoid the full on aggression they are known for. That seems to be shown when they are on a shallow substrate with no opportunity to burrow.

yes, if they have a retreat that will be choice 1. Then your only issue is the rehouse

 

[Hoxter]

Best thing you can do is to give your OBT options. Provide lots of substrate with premade burrow and also give anchor points in case it didn't actually want to burrow.