Pink Toed terrarium Advice

[PhilMcWonder]

I JUST Bought a Pink Toe TODAY and while I did my research about the appropriate ground material, bought a log for the tank, and got a shallow water dish, I want to ensure this tarantula is as happy as possible. What can I give my little spider buddy to ensure It is as happy as it can be in there?

The Tank is a 10 Gallon tank (all I had, I wanted something taller)
The ground is loose coconut fiber
The Logs are basic pet store driftwood you find on the shelves.
The room is between 72 and 74 degrees throughout the day
I sprayed water in there with a spray bottle (Need to know how much and how often)

He/She is still settling in and exploring the tank (Mostly the walls and roof) and I'm starting to worry my spider doesn't have enough things to climb on. How do pink toes like their nesting grounds? ADDITIONALLY What are some things I can do to prevent mold?

 

[AnObeseHippo]

STOP SPRAYING. DRY SUB AND WATER DISH = HAPPY PINK TOE

edit: caps oops

 

[Demonclaws]

Post a picture of the enclosure first. How big is this A. avic?

Get fake plants on top of the log for hide. Spray a few droplets of water on the wall and webbing for drinking. Keep the enclosure dry.

 

[PhilMcWonder]

STOP SPRAYING. DRY SUB AND WATER DISH = HAPPY PINK TOE

edit: caps oops

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH SHOUTING
And what do you mean JUST water bowl? I thought these lil guys needed humidity.



EDIT: Updated Terrarium pics posted. This is the old pic.

 

[PanzoN88]

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH SHOUTING
And what do you mean JUST water bowl? I thought these lil guys needed humidity.

Humidity is a term that is irrelevant to tarantulas.

 

[PhilMcWonder]

If you cant tell by the pic, My Tarantula pooped on the glass.... NO ONE TOLD ME THESE THINGS SHOOT THEIR POOP LIKE A ROCKET!

I Intend to add more Greenery to the enclosure and other stuff it can climb on. What makes pink toes happy most of all?

 

[AnObeseHippo]

AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH SHOUTING
And what do you mean JUST water bowl? I thought these lil guys needed humidity.

Have you been reading care sheets? They often suggest high humidity but it leads to the Avic’s death 99.9% of the time. They can be kept dry with a water dish. If you’re nervous you can moisten a portion of the sub by pouring water on it. Just try not to over do it

 

[Jurdon]

What makes pink toes happy most of all?

Ventilation. Humidity is irrelevant with tarantulas, for the most part they do not need moisture in the air, and humidity + bad ventilation = dead Avic. It’s glaringly apparent that a lot of your info is from online care sheets, which, while good-intentioned, are usually very outdated. Also, even though the ventilation such a tank provides is excellent, tarantulas can get their claws stuck in the mesh of tanks like that. There are many guides already on here about how to replace the mesh, but perhaps more efficient (read: less manual labor on your part) would be to get a kritter-keeper style enclosure (turned on its side for more vertical space), as they are also well-ventilated without mesh. You could tape some ventilation off on the bottom/side/whatever in order to hold substrate as well.

One last thing: you want to breed T’s, correct? If so, it would definitely benefit you to use scientific names. I’m no master of T identification, but since it very much seems like you got it from a pet shop, I’m assumong it’s Avicularia avicularia.

 

[cold blood]

Yeah, as said, high humidity is precisely the way to kill an Avic.

I cannot stress this enough...do not read care sheets!!! Care sheets are neither helpful or accurate, there's little doubt they kill more tarantulas than they help, especially when it comes to Avics....for Avics care sheets simply regurgitate old care info, the exact info we now know to be detrimental to the genus.

Another thing you want to change is the top. Screens are bad for multiple reasons...first, under some conditions (like winter), they allow for too much airflow, but most important, ts can get their tarsal claws caught in the mesh, causing loss of limbs, or falling injures...or you needing to pry the t off. We see threads about this all the time. Going to the hardware store, they can cut you a piece of plexi or acrylic that you can drill out, it makes a much better top.

Now the Avics do need vertical space, but the 10 gal can be made to work, but the set up needs to change drastically.

You want wood extending to the top...more than what you have, just the one piece leaves too much open space. Get wood you can lean and surround the top of that wood with plants (the floor should remain relatively clear of clutter and plants). The idea is to give them cover where they like to live, these plants will provide the anchor points for webbing....webbing that will become their web home. When you are done, the set up should look something like this.

avic housing-adult

• cold blood
• Mar 13, 2018
• 1
• avicularia enclosure pinktoe tarantula

The biggest issue with the tank (and why i use sterilite tubs as shown) are that you cannot ventilate the glass, so you only have one area of ventilation, and with the set up like this, its gong to be at the top, which can work, but isn't ideal......ideally you want most of the ventilation on the sides and less on the top.

Best of luck with your new Avic.

 

[PhilMcWonder]

Tomorrow I will look into the lid.

So tarantulas LIKE or HATE high amounts of ventilation?

 

[Crone Returns]

Tomorrow I will look into the lid.

So tarantulas LIKE or HATE high amounts of ventilation?

Avics will die quick if the humidity is high and they don't have enough ventilation. Listen to @cold blood and your T will thrive.

 

[PhilMcWonder]

Okay. Ventilation good, humidity bad.

 

[Crone Returns]

Okay. Ventilation good, humidity bad.

Yay!

 

[PhilMcWonder]

What should I do for Plants? I am thinking of adding plastic plants and bags of moss they have at the pet store.

SO! Here is my plan for the lid!
I am gonna get a piece of Plexiglass that fits over the tank. I will have it cut in half with a hinge put in the middle. That way either side of the lid can be used as a door. I will drill holes in the lid for ventilation and glue weights to the edges on the outside so the Tarantula cant lift it open.

 

[cold blood]

What should I do for Plants? I am thinking of adding plastic plants and bags of moss they have at the pet store.

plastic plants are best...moss isnt necessary as it will just sit in the ground and become a hiding spot for feeders...so if you go that route, try to elevate the moss with the plants.

my plan for the lid!
I am gonna get a piece of Plexiglass that fits over the tank. I will have it cut in half with a hinge put in the middle. That

I do this as well....but dont hinge it.

 

[PhilMcWonder]

I need to drill more holes in mine but that's what I got going on

First Lid I tried to build cracked. This is the 2nd. Still need to drill more holes and cut the plexiglass in half but it will do for the moment.
Added a fake plant to give a little shelter and variety of environment. Added another pet store branch for climbing. Moved main log closer to glass for climbing.

1st pic



I think when I get the money I will buy a taller tank or preferably one of those tall reptile tanks that has the side door.

You cant see it so well but the tall part of the middle log is against the glass. Figure the tarantula would enjoy that as a way to climb around.

Its getting kinda late for power tools but I will work on the lid more tomorrow to add more holes.

 

[cold blood]

Need more plants...lots more.

 

[Tenebrarius]

If you cant tell by the pic, My Tarantula pooped on the glass.... NO ONE TOLD ME THESE THINGS SHOOT THEIR POOP LIKE A ROCKET!

I Intend to add more Greenery to the enclosure and other stuff it can climb on. What makes pink toes happy most of all?

I know that feeling, it was hard to cope with at first, then I was jealous
Ts will do weird things when they aren't doing nothing

I need to drill more holes in mine but that's what I got going on

First Lid I tried to build cracked. This is the 2nd. Still need to drill more holes and cut the plexiglass in half but it will do for the moment.
Added a fake plant to give a little shelter and variety of environment. Added another pet store branch for climbing. Moved main log closer to glass for climbing.

View attachment 291141 1st pic

View attachment 291142

I think when I get the money I will buy a taller tank or preferably one of those tall reptile tanks that has the side door.

You cant see it so well but the tall part of the middle log is against the glass. Figure the tarantula would enjoy that as a way to climb around.

Its getting kinda late for power tools but I will work on the lid more tomorrow to add more holes.

side vents are good too, help with ventilation. goof thing you removed the screen

 

[PhilMcWonder]

I know that feeling, it was hard to cope with at first, then I was jealous
Ts will do weird things when they aren't doing nothing

It was like a lazerbeam!... But I suppose I poop when I get home so maybe its a sign the the Tarantula is settling in lol.


I give you a whole tree to build your nest and you spend all day in the corner... ACCEPT MY LABOR OF LOVE YOU UNGRATEFUL T!!!

All joking aside, I look forward to my Tarantula Exploring all the new stuff!

 

[Tenebrarius]

All joking aside, I look forward to my Tarantula Exploring all the new stuff!

you cant swear here its a pretty serious sin worse than a christian minecraft server, Ts are ungrateful get use to it lol, good luck with the vents, you T looks big enough to not escape through them.