- Joined
- May 17, 2023
- Messages
- 621
rehousing m P. metallica finally to their final enclosure. This is how i like to keep my Poecilotheria. some pics and thoughts on what and why
i like glass with sliding front doors and a top that opens. i like sliding because i can open it narrowly to stick in some tongs and drape a thick fabric over so escapes are near impossible. same goes for needing top opening. i also just drop water through the top fo rthe dish and plants unless needing to clean the dish out.
First thing i do is paint the punched steel black, just for looks. i opt for punched steel or aluminum as legs don't get stuck and its super strong. i buy these tanks as they are made locally in my country and use this steel, about $90 usd. unfortunately these are the smallest model they make with side ventilation like this, so only useful for large arboreal spiders. 45x45x30cm.
Taiwan gets many earthquakes every week, so i worry about a glass bottom and breakage. i use foam puzzle pieces used for little kids play areas. helps the bouncing up and down during a good sized earthquake, or even if moving in the car. i place a layer of dry substrate under, very thin, just so that if has some breathing room. i prefer fungal growth over anaerobic bacterial growth if i have to choose. a space in the middle and corners cut to allow slightly more airflow.
i use wood i have fully dried out in the sun. i soak for a few days in plain water. wood is then cut to fit the enclosure with the angle i like. i oven bake the wood dry then. i like to soak it and bake it because it will steam the wood and kill anything inside that soaking will not. letting it steam seems to kill fungus better i find.
Wood is screwed into the metal vents on the side. if the wood is weak, i may use aluminum tie wire instead. make it tight so it doesnt move and doesnt rub against the front or back glass. shake test.
tubs, no holes, are put inside the tank before soil. for placement. i put a good layer of lava rock on the bottom of the tubs for some drainage because the tubs wont have any drainage. i do this to be able to control the enclosures substrate moisture better. plants added and soil added.
Rest of the enclosures soil is added to hide the plant tubs.
Added one to the cage on a piece of cork for it to work its way into a better spot.
looks like it found its hide
the plant i added was from the old enclosure. i forgot to pic up taller ones, so these plants will be changed out for must larger ones that fill in the space better.
i like to leave an open area of the enclosure to one side for water dish and easy maintenance. I notice that pokies will still walk around the open space at night sometimes, so its used, so long as enough wood in there for them to construct a tunnel/web.
i like glass with sliding front doors and a top that opens. i like sliding because i can open it narrowly to stick in some tongs and drape a thick fabric over so escapes are near impossible. same goes for needing top opening. i also just drop water through the top fo rthe dish and plants unless needing to clean the dish out.
First thing i do is paint the punched steel black, just for looks. i opt for punched steel or aluminum as legs don't get stuck and its super strong. i buy these tanks as they are made locally in my country and use this steel, about $90 usd. unfortunately these are the smallest model they make with side ventilation like this, so only useful for large arboreal spiders. 45x45x30cm.
Taiwan gets many earthquakes every week, so i worry about a glass bottom and breakage. i use foam puzzle pieces used for little kids play areas. helps the bouncing up and down during a good sized earthquake, or even if moving in the car. i place a layer of dry substrate under, very thin, just so that if has some breathing room. i prefer fungal growth over anaerobic bacterial growth if i have to choose. a space in the middle and corners cut to allow slightly more airflow.
i use wood i have fully dried out in the sun. i soak for a few days in plain water. wood is then cut to fit the enclosure with the angle i like. i oven bake the wood dry then. i like to soak it and bake it because it will steam the wood and kill anything inside that soaking will not. letting it steam seems to kill fungus better i find.
Wood is screwed into the metal vents on the side. if the wood is weak, i may use aluminum tie wire instead. make it tight so it doesnt move and doesnt rub against the front or back glass. shake test.
tubs, no holes, are put inside the tank before soil. for placement. i put a good layer of lava rock on the bottom of the tubs for some drainage because the tubs wont have any drainage. i do this to be able to control the enclosures substrate moisture better. plants added and soil added.
Rest of the enclosures soil is added to hide the plant tubs.
Added one to the cage on a piece of cork for it to work its way into a better spot.
looks like it found its hide
the plant i added was from the old enclosure. i forgot to pic up taller ones, so these plants will be changed out for must larger ones that fill in the space better.
i like to leave an open area of the enclosure to one side for water dish and easy maintenance. I notice that pokies will still walk around the open space at night sometimes, so its used, so long as enough wood in there for them to construct a tunnel/web.
looks amazing
.