Options for larger terrestrial enclosures

[BillsSpider]

Not a big fan of aquariums so I'm wondering what acrylic options are out there for large terrestrial T's . I have a bunch of Xenesthis, Pamphobeteus and Phormictopus and I'm just exploring different options. Most of the big retailers don't make much for bigger spiders.

 

[Nlev]

You could try seeing the options available on Tarantula cribs, you could also try looking on Amazon. You could also build your own enclosure to fit your needs as well. Usually Lowes and Homedepot will cut glass/acrylic to order, after you buy the sheets.

 

[BillsSpider]

You could try seeing the options available on Tarantula cribs, you could also try looking on Amazon. You could also build your own enclosure to fit your needs as well. Usually Lowes and Homedepot will cut glass/acrylic to order, after you buy the sheets.

I have the largest Tarantula Cribs offers and they aren't very big. Building my own is not really an option since I had a stroke and my hand strength and coordination are not great. Amazon has some but they are mostly flimsy throw aways that I don't really trust

 

[kingshockey]

I have the largest Tarantula Cribs offers and they aren't very big. Building my own is not really an option since I had a stroke and my hand strength and coordination are not great. Amazon has some but they are mostly flimsy throw aways that I don't really trust

i am a stroke survivor also you just gotta think outside the norm sometimes to get things done like using your toes instead of fingers to hold things while building stuff. to your question try looking at herpcults website they have some large cages i was looking at before for my a genic not sure how an a genic compares size wise to your ts i didnt buy em cause i wanted more free space to work around with when dealing with my big food aggressive hungry girl. if your local to so cal herpcult is open for walk in purchases

 

[Nlev]

They won't be pretty, but you could buy some of the large clear plastic containers, and drill or burn holes into them. Some of the large Zoo med or Exo Terra enclosures meant for lizards and the like. Though you still need to remove the mesh and replace with plexi glass

 

[Dorifto]

If you are a crafty guy you can build your own for cheap.

You say that you hate aquarium tanks, in fact, they are a very good and cheap option if you mod them a bit.

@hardminder modded one with great results.



This is an easy way to convert a tank in a great enclosure with a very good ventilation system.

If not, you can build your own one.

This is mine blueprint:

 

[winter]

Quick search on Etsy and Ebay revealed there are vendors who make fairly good sized acrylic enclosures; however, they're not inexpensive.

I have a mature female Theraphosa stirmi in a Herpcult 16x12x10 inch enclosure; she seems quite content and does not give me much trouble when I open the lid to feed her or maintain her enclosure; I imagine this size would work for @BillsSpider's terrestrial tarantulas. I also have various juveniles in the Herpcult 8x6x6 inch enclosures; the ability to stack the enclosures is a big plus in my view.

My issue with premade acrylic enclosures, in addition to their cost, is the warping caused by the higher humidity induced by the moist substrate needed by some of the tarantulas.. The warping gets so bad that the lids will sometimes get stuck in their sliding tracks, which might not be a bad thing as the tarantulas scamper into their hides just as the lids are sliding open so as to reduce risk of escaping.

 

[BillsSpider]

I hadn't seen any Herpcults that big. I'll check again

 

[DuneElliot]

Not acrylic but not an aquarium either. ExoTerra does a massive enclosure but they are NOT cheap

 

[viper69]

Not a big fan of aquariums so I'm wondering what acrylic options are out there for large terrestrial T's . I have a bunch of Xenesthis, Pamphobeteus and Phormictopus and I'm just exploring different options. Most of the big retailers don't make much for bigger spiders.

There isn’t one for large species that I’ve seen

Glass is much easier to clean

 

[DuneElliot]

There isn’t one for large species that I’ve seen

Glass is much easier to clean

How big do you want? The ones I'm looking at are 36x18x18.

 

[looseyfur]

I swear im tempted to go to alibaba find a acrylic vendor, have something built to spec and sell them to fellow spider lovers for less than these highway robbers get for their larger tanks. Disrupt the market hobbyist to hobbyist direct sales with a Shopify fulfillment shipping channel.
If I had 50 ppl on a list ready to buy I would put it in motion. I hate seeing acrylic tanks that are 12 x 8 x 8 be nearly 80 USD before shipping. I dont need the money a slim margin for the trouble of setting it up. I looked at overseas vendors a while ago, but I found some with MOQs as low as 200 units I mean cost before shipping on some of the more medium sized enclosures were not aggressive at all. Plus Im already shipping stuff from there for other businesses id just add it to my container. Sorry to go off lol I too feel the pain of wanting larger acrylic enclosures without having to take out a mortgage. Ideal specs for larger species with secure lids and good ventilation for a modest price.

 

[joossa]

Just get 5.5G or 10G "low" tanks. I got a couple from the last expo and they are great since their lower height means you don't have to use tons and tons of sub.

 

[JonnyTorch]

There isn’t one for large species that I’ve seen

Glass is much easier to clean

I think smotzer or someone I saw recently has an adult female therphosa in a very large acrylic enclosure, bigger than the above. I can't remember who though, but I think it was him.

@Smotzer Was this you that I asked about a few weeks ago? Someone had a huge acrylic enclosure on the bottom of their T shelf, thinking it was you. Forgive me if I'm wrong.

 

[Matt Man]

from someone who works in the material, the bigger the pieces the more prone to bow/flex. So the bigger the box, the more unstable it is to lateral forces. Most builders use 3-4mm acrylic because of price but
thinner material means reduced structural integrity. Even a big piece of 6mm will bow / flex, more so when warmed.
So they are tough to build, and to do right need thicker material, both of which equate to higher costs.
So they typically top out @ 12 x 16 x10, and usually $100 USD +/-.
A 24 x 12 x 9 glass terrarium is half that cost, bigger, cheaper and just fab a lid.
I'm with @Dorifto and @viper69 here

 

[Dorifto]

@Matt Man just a question.

Does the acrylic warps because of moisture diference between inside and outside? At least always understood that.

What would happen if both sides are kept at the same humid conditions? Those equal values will counteract both warping forces? Or still will warp in certain degree?

It's just for curiosity and to offer better advices.

Thanks!!!

 

[JonnyTorch]

@Matt Man just a question.

Does the acrylic warps because of moisture diference between inside and outside?

Yes, it is due to the moisture coming through. Typically the tops/lids seem to warp and not the sides in my experience, due to water evaporating and going upwards through and out the lid and the lid has absorbed some of the moisture, causing it to bend and warp. I imagine a heat lamp will do the same but for another reason due to the heat and not moisture (for those using them for reptiles - which I wouldn't recommend for that reason).

Polycarbonate sheets will not warp with moisture at all, however I imagine it is much more expensive than regular acrylic, but both being more expensive than glass altogether. I've not seen anyone making cages with polycarbonate though.

 

[viper69]

How big do you want? The ones I'm looking at are 36x18x18.

i don’t need one

 

[Matt Man]

Yes, it is due to the moisture coming through. Typically the tops/lids seem to warp and not the sides in my experience, due to water evaporating and going upwards through and out the lid and the lid has absorbed some of the moisture, causing it to bend and warp. I imagine a heat lamp will do the same but for another reason due to the heat and not moisture (for those using them for reptiles - which I wouldn't recommend for that reason).

Polycarbonate sheets will not warp with moisture at all, however I imagine it is much more expensive than regular acrylic, but both being more expensive than glass altogether. I've not seen anyone making cages with polycarbonate though.

both humidity and temperature will cause the material to warp. If they both fluctuate, double whammy. The lids warp more due to this and simple gravity, more noticeable as the piece gets bigger. Contact points are only along the edge so the middle tends to want to sag.

@Dorifto I'd guess if they could be kept the same warping would reduce but acrylic ab sorbs micro moisture so I think it would be impossible to keep equal

 

[JonnyTorch]

@viper69 I found it. It was @spideyspinneret78 's cage for T. stirmi:

Spider shelf ideas

My collection is really growing and I was thinking of a spider shelf to display all my arachnids and keep them in one area. Has anyone built or modified one to fit your spider needs? I have 8 jumpers that sit on a narrow window sill and I have to move them every day for an hour or two because...

arachnoboards.com

Primal Cages. Pretty large acrylic cage. I don't know why I thought it was smotzer's. Oh well. I think it's actually the same dimensions as Herpcult's 16x12x10, so I guess it's the same size. It just looks big in that photo.