opportunistic and obligate burrower

[JonArachnid01]

what does an opportunistic burrower and obligate burrower means ? and what is the difference between the two. and also what is the best substrate for each of it and how to maintain proper humidity for each ? thanks For the responds I'm really learning a lot

 

[PidderPeets]

My understanding of the two terms is that opportunistic burrowers may burrow if given the amount of substrate to do so, but don't necessarily need it to feel 100% comfortable. Obligate burrowers on the other hand, require enough substrate to burrow or you risk severely stressing them out.

I'd use eco earth/coco fiber as substrate for both types. I'd use it for any tarantula.

I believe maintaining humidity would be the same as for any other type of tarantula. Keeping dry substrate for species that don't require any specific level of humidity, and using water bowls and the occasional dampening of substrate where humidity is more important. You'd need to look up a specific species to understand it's humidity requirements

 

[EulersK]

Opportunistic burrower: The tarantula will find an existing burrow and expand on it if need be

Obligate burrower: The tarantula will make their own burrow and extensively expand as time goes on

Note that just about all terrestrial species are opportunistic burrowers. If they are provided with a proper burrow, I haven't found a single terrestrial tarantula that will turn down a good hole. But they'll also make due with a simple cork bark thrown on top of the substrate. In other words, they will not make their own burrow if nothing else is available. They'll simply do without. Notable examples would be G. porteri, A. chalcodes, and P. cancerides.

Obligate burrowers are much more tedious. Even when provided with a hide, they will often choose to burrow off in a corner somewhere and create expansive tunnels on their own. They will wholly ignore the hide that you provided them and instead opt for a creation of their own design. They do not need a hide, and will be perfectly happy without one. Burrowing takes time, so obligate burrowers often take weeks (or months) to "settle in" to a new enclosure. Typically, their burrows can stretch for multitudes of their body length. In fact, I haven't kept an obligate burrower that hasn't burrowed to the very bottom of the enclosure. My current record is a 4" C. darlingi that has burrowed down 14" of substrate. In other words, you can't have too much substrate. Notable examples are C. darlingi, P. muticus, and H. gigas.

As for your question about substrate, you'll get a million different answers. I use 50% peat moss mixed with 50% plain topsoil. It retains moisture (thanks to the peat moss) and it holds shape (thanks to the top soil). For humidity, maintaining it is actually easier than with strict terrestrials. The top inch or two is allowed to dry out completely, because the lower layers of substrate will literally take weeks (if not months) to dry out. If the surface gets too dry, the spider will simply retreat underground to a more humid environment.

Special note: Almost all terrestrial slings are obligate burrowers, regardless of species. Everything that I've said applies to adults and juveniles.

 

[cayen]

My understanding of the two terms is that opportunistic burrowers may burrow if given the amount of substrate to do so, but don't necessarily need it to feel 100% comfortable. Obligate burrowers on the other hand, require enough substrate to burrow or you risk severely stressing them out.

I'd use eco earth/coco fiber as substrate for both types. I'd use it for any tarantula.

I believe maintaining humidity would be the same as for any other type of tarantula. Keeping dry substrate for species that don't require any specific level of humidity, and using water bowls and the occasional dampening of substrate where humidity is more important. You'd need to look up a specific species to understand it's humidity requirements

This puts me at ease. I provided 3 inch of coco peat for my curly hair, but she doesn't bother burrowing. Of course I provided a hide, but the best she does with the 3 inch substrate is renovating the surface. I thought for sure there is something wrong with the substrate, so I observed her for a couple of days, but it seems like nothing is out of ordinary. tl;dr I think my curly hair is, like what you said 100% comfortable with her enclosure.