Questions regarding plants for Bio Active Jumping Spider (P. Audax) Enclosure

[Audaxious]

Hello There, I've read through this awesome forum and found some really good post, but I have some questions: I've read that a Pothos, Nerve Plant or/and tillandsia (ionantha) are good plants for Phidippus, since they even hitch hike to Europe via the latter. But when looking at the requirements for all three, they need 60-95% moderate to high humidity..while P. only needs 50%, so how would this mix along? Would misting the side of the terra 1x and 2x misting the plants be enough? Im total beginner and know Bioactive Viv. is not beginner-friendly, but I've always wanted to grow plants and mixing it with my love for miniature spiders (Phidippus, Hyllus, velvet spiders) would be an enriching challenge.

I'd love to replicate one of their natural Bioms, so if possible, can someone give me an advice on what plants I could use to create one of these Bioms?

Ive read up on their habitat and for P. Audax, whos Habitats are:

• temperate
• terrestrial
• chaparral
• forest
• scrub forest
• grasslands
• open woodland

The enclosure would be 12x12x18 with a mix of 2 substrates one for plants & for spiders.
My current reading materials for Bio active enclosure:

A Bio-Active set up

I have uploaded some photos of a 20 x 20 x 30 cm enclosure that we set up. As we are still getting asked to explain exactly what is a Bio-Active set up. The pics shown are from the start to finish, just prior to planting and adding the decor . Step 1: The bio balls to a depth of 1 to 2 inches...

www.jumpingspiders.co.uk

https://www.thebiodude.com/blogs/how-do-i-create-a-bioactive-vivarium/how-do-i-setup-a-terra-aranea-bioactive-terrarium

 

[Smotzer]

So the plants you listed, I would not listen to anything thhat says that Epipremnum aureum, the more common Fittonia albivenis/argyroneura/verschaffeltii and Tillandsia ionantha need humidity of 60-95%. They will do fine in lower humidity and can be kept as houseplants as long as they have enough moisture in the soil for the first two. But these three are more tropical not quite the natural biomes if thats truly what you are looking to do. If natural is what you are looking to do its totally different.

So as a friendly suggestion, since you say you have "always wanted to grow plants", it mighht be best to start growing some plants on their own first so you can get used to managing moisture requirements. Planted tanks can work well, but for a first timer to growing plants at all, it can be easy to focus too much on plant care opposed to the requirements of the Phiddipus, especially if you were to go some of the more endemic routes, and when housing arachnids the arachnid care should not be compromised. I have a background in horticulture so if you were looking to really have a project like a natural set up I'm sure I can help.

Regardless of what you do, since you are green, if you start making a planted tank, I would strongly advise the tank be empty of a Phiddipus for many months so that you can get used to caring for them and your comfortably with caring for plants grows with them without stress of plants or stress about spider. It's always best to cycle plants all the way through before adding critters to them.

 

[Audaxious]

So the plants you listed, I would not listen to anything thhat says that Epipremnum aureum, the more common Fittonia albivenis/argyroneura/verschaffeltii and Tillandsia ionantha need humidity of 60-95%. They will do fine in lower humidity and can be kept as houseplants as long as they have enough moisture in the soil for the first two. But these three are more tropical not quite the natural biomes if thats truly what you are looking to do. If natural is what you are looking to do its totally different.

So as a friendly suggestion, since you say you have "always wanted to grow plants", it mighht be best to start growing some plants on their own first so you can get used to managing moisture requirements. Planted tanks can work well, but for a first timer to growing plants at all, it can be easy to focus too much on plant care opposed to the requirements of the Phiddipus, especially if you were to go some of the more endemic routes, and when housing arachnids the arachnid care should not be compromised. I have a background in horticulture so if you were looking to really have a project like a natural set up I'm sure I can help.

Regardless of what you do, since you are green, if you start making a planted tank, I would strongly advise the tank be empty of a Phiddipus for many months so that you can get used to caring for them and your comfortably with caring for plants grows with them without stress of plants or stress about spider. It's always best to cycle plants all the way through before adding critters to them.

Hey, thanks for replying .

Thanks for your friendly advices, I'm surprised and glad to hear the listed plants don't need 60-90% humidity. I will take your advice and do them separately: grow the natural habitat for the spider, while it grows in a different smaller enclosure with fake deco. So the exo terra 12x12x18 would have a natural habitat growing for some months, until I feel like I understand it somewhat ^^, and by then the spider should be big enough to fully enjoy the space & real plants.

I'd gladly take your offer to help building a natural set-up. Which habitat from the one listed, do you think would be a good start, possible or/and even suitable for a Viv.? Which plants mix well in a planted tank? Also, should I start growing in an Exo terra or something smaller?