- Joined
- Aug 31, 2007
- Messages
- 80
I've got a collection of 11 tarantulas - 2 L. Parahybanas, 2 P. Murinus, B. Smithi, B. Vagans, GBB, Tiger Rump, T. Blondi, A. Avic, Chaco Golden Knee.
This past month, a bunch of my juvi spiders molted and got just a wee big big for their tank. Plus, I had a horrible infestation of mites in my T. Blondi juvi tank. On the recommendation of a forum member, I decided to try a new substrate mix of 100% inorganic material to keep the mites off of my T. Well, as long as I was rehousing one, I figured, I'd make a day of it.
We keep the collection in a 5x5 cube Ikea Expedit bookshelf, along with books and knick-knacks.
Here was the game plan:
1) Set up tanks for 2 OBT's. Move the juvi OBT into new larger tank. Move other OBT out of 5 gallon, move into 2.5 gallon. (The OBT never left her little webbed area in this huge area, so I figured I'd make better use of the larger tank).
2) Set up the 5-gallon for the T. Blondi, move T. Blondi from ICU tank to 5-gallon.
3) Set up Kritter Keepers for L. Parahybana juvis, move them to larger tanks.
4) Set up final 2.5 glass tank, move B. Smithi to new home.
First, I set up the two tanks for the OBT. I put in a simple hide, and put a substrate of 100% vermiculite, as well as a water dish in each 2.5 gallon tank. I found that my OBT who was in a tank with pure vermiculite webbed like crazy, but the one in dirt buried into a hole and I never saw it. So I thought I'd set up ideal situations for lots of webbing.
When trying to move the adult OBT into its new cage, we had a bit of a scare. We lifted up Hide 1, nothing. Hide 2, nothing. Dug around for a bit. Finally we found it - it was in a big lump of dirt attached to Hide 1, in a very tightly wound web hide. Apparently she did not want to go to her new home.
We finally got her out by cupping her in an old Glad container, and slipping a lid underneath. That got the blood pumping, let me tell you! The second OBT was in a small container, so we just put the small container into the new container and now we're waiting for her to venture out into her new home. She molted a few days ago, so she may be a bit hesitant to come out for a few days, and that's okay. She can take all the time she wants.
Next was the T. Blondi. I saw mites in her tank two weeks ago, and put her in an ICU tank. After a week, I took her water dish out and it was absolutely full of little white mites. This last week, no more mites, so I'm guessing she's got a clean bill of health. She didn't eat a couple of days ago, though, so I'm wondering if she's pre-molt. Her back end is surely big enough for it.
I cleaned out the 5-gallon, previously occupied by the OBT, and scrubbed the wood that was in her tank well. I knew I wanted to use it in a tank later. I put it in the oven for 30 minutes at 250, and then started the rest of the T. Blondi project.
I was told that a soil mix of 50% Vermiculite, 25% Perlite, and 25% charcoal would work, so that's what I eyeballed.
Ugh, I'm not liking the color at ALL. I might try the 75% Vermulite/25% charcoal mix next time. I went ahead and put two hides and a generous water dish in this tank. I also tried to put some rocks in for decoration, but it just made it look kind of messy. Oh well, live and learn I suppose. BTW, those rocks are about $2 for a HUGE bag in the Ikea gardening session. I love the way they look in my tanks, so I use them all the time. 1 bag has lasted me through many, many tanks.
My T. Blondi should be able to live in this until I move her to her permanent 10-gallon home in a year or so.
Back home in the Expedit:
The next project was the two L. Parahybanas. I know they're going to need larger tanks, but right now even more 2.5 gallon tanks were a bit out of my budget, so I went ahead and reused a couple of Kritter Keepers I had. I decided to try 100% Vermiculite with these guys. I ran out of hides, so I used a couple of simple margarine tubs for their hides and they'll do for now. I'll keep them in here for another molt or two before moving again, hopefully not for 6+ months.
Transfer 1 went without a hitch.
However Transfer 2 did not go as smooth as planned. We've got a rogue!!!
But we finally corral him into his cage, and he's safe.
I decided to do the final tank, for the B. Smithi, in a more traditional look. I used extremely dry expanded cocobark I had left over from another housing change, and added some moss, a hide, and a waterdish. And of course, some more of my Ikea rocks. They look much better in this setup than the previous one. I used that piece of wood that I cooked to disinfect early in the evening.
I finally remembered to take a "before" picture, so here's the before pic of my B. Smithi:
And "After"!
This 2.5 gallon will be this little guy's permanent home. I think it looks really nice, and I think my little B. Smithi will grow into it nicely.
This past month, a bunch of my juvi spiders molted and got just a wee big big for their tank. Plus, I had a horrible infestation of mites in my T. Blondi juvi tank. On the recommendation of a forum member, I decided to try a new substrate mix of 100% inorganic material to keep the mites off of my T. Well, as long as I was rehousing one, I figured, I'd make a day of it.
We keep the collection in a 5x5 cube Ikea Expedit bookshelf, along with books and knick-knacks.
Here was the game plan:
1) Set up tanks for 2 OBT's. Move the juvi OBT into new larger tank. Move other OBT out of 5 gallon, move into 2.5 gallon. (The OBT never left her little webbed area in this huge area, so I figured I'd make better use of the larger tank).
2) Set up the 5-gallon for the T. Blondi, move T. Blondi from ICU tank to 5-gallon.
3) Set up Kritter Keepers for L. Parahybana juvis, move them to larger tanks.
4) Set up final 2.5 glass tank, move B. Smithi to new home.
First, I set up the two tanks for the OBT. I put in a simple hide, and put a substrate of 100% vermiculite, as well as a water dish in each 2.5 gallon tank. I found that my OBT who was in a tank with pure vermiculite webbed like crazy, but the one in dirt buried into a hole and I never saw it. So I thought I'd set up ideal situations for lots of webbing.
When trying to move the adult OBT into its new cage, we had a bit of a scare. We lifted up Hide 1, nothing. Hide 2, nothing. Dug around for a bit. Finally we found it - it was in a big lump of dirt attached to Hide 1, in a very tightly wound web hide. Apparently she did not want to go to her new home.
We finally got her out by cupping her in an old Glad container, and slipping a lid underneath. That got the blood pumping, let me tell you! The second OBT was in a small container, so we just put the small container into the new container and now we're waiting for her to venture out into her new home. She molted a few days ago, so she may be a bit hesitant to come out for a few days, and that's okay. She can take all the time she wants.
Next was the T. Blondi. I saw mites in her tank two weeks ago, and put her in an ICU tank. After a week, I took her water dish out and it was absolutely full of little white mites. This last week, no more mites, so I'm guessing she's got a clean bill of health. She didn't eat a couple of days ago, though, so I'm wondering if she's pre-molt. Her back end is surely big enough for it.
I cleaned out the 5-gallon, previously occupied by the OBT, and scrubbed the wood that was in her tank well. I knew I wanted to use it in a tank later. I put it in the oven for 30 minutes at 250, and then started the rest of the T. Blondi project.
I was told that a soil mix of 50% Vermiculite, 25% Perlite, and 25% charcoal would work, so that's what I eyeballed.
Ugh, I'm not liking the color at ALL. I might try the 75% Vermulite/25% charcoal mix next time. I went ahead and put two hides and a generous water dish in this tank. I also tried to put some rocks in for decoration, but it just made it look kind of messy. Oh well, live and learn I suppose. BTW, those rocks are about $2 for a HUGE bag in the Ikea gardening session. I love the way they look in my tanks, so I use them all the time. 1 bag has lasted me through many, many tanks.
My T. Blondi should be able to live in this until I move her to her permanent 10-gallon home in a year or so.
Back home in the Expedit:
The next project was the two L. Parahybanas. I know they're going to need larger tanks, but right now even more 2.5 gallon tanks were a bit out of my budget, so I went ahead and reused a couple of Kritter Keepers I had. I decided to try 100% Vermiculite with these guys. I ran out of hides, so I used a couple of simple margarine tubs for their hides and they'll do for now. I'll keep them in here for another molt or two before moving again, hopefully not for 6+ months.
Transfer 1 went without a hitch.
However Transfer 2 did not go as smooth as planned. We've got a rogue!!!
But we finally corral him into his cage, and he's safe.
I decided to do the final tank, for the B. Smithi, in a more traditional look. I used extremely dry expanded cocobark I had left over from another housing change, and added some moss, a hide, and a waterdish. And of course, some more of my Ikea rocks. They look much better in this setup than the previous one. I used that piece of wood that I cooked to disinfect early in the evening.
I finally remembered to take a "before" picture, so here's the before pic of my B. Smithi:
And "After"!
This 2.5 gallon will be this little guy's permanent home. I think it looks really nice, and I think my little B. Smithi will grow into it nicely.
