Red Trap door spiders - Setup????

[Becky Wheeler]

Hiya Guys,

I really want to get a Trap door spider, As i think there fasinating little spiders but i don't really know what to use as a home for them, I know they need very deep subtrate So it has to be something tall and thin? What can i use as housing? And what subtrate would you reccommend? And once i have the Spider will it dig it's own burrow or do I make a hole in the soil for it? Sorry for all the questions, I know loads about Tarantulas but nothing really about Trapdoors and i don't want to jump into it before knowing everything i need to know. I would be really grateful, Many Thanks

 

[roberto]

I have a red trap door spider that I keep in a tall clear plastic container with a very wide screw top, available at pretty much any grocery store. I drilled holes in the top to provide ventilation, and just unscrew for feeding and maintenance. I use the bedding material that is sold in a compressed brick and expands when you add water, forget what it is called, but I think that it is fine coconut hull. Initially, I created a burrow for the spider, which it used the first night. The second night it filled in the burrow and created its own, trap door and all. I keep it at 80 degrees F during the day and 72-75 degrees F at night. I feed it several crickets or meal worms every week and it immediately devours anything that throw in the enclosure, it does not seem to be perturbed by my presence. Very cool arachnid, I am glad that I purchased it.

 

[Becky Wheeler]

Thanks for your reply, Would a coffee jar be o.k? it's 14cm tall by 7 cm wide.

 

[roberto]

Thanks for your reply, Would a coffee jar be o.k? it's 14cm tall by 7 cm wide.

I would find something bigger. My container is approximately 32cm tall with 20cm of substrate, and the spider has burrowed to the bottom of the container, so I probably could have made the substrate even deeper. Width of the container only needs to provide stability, so as not to be tippy. I would also recommend a screw type lid in case of accidental overturning of the container. While these guys can't climb worth a damn, the screw lid gives me peace of mind. They are the most aggressively defensive arachnid that I have ever seen. Wicked cool.

 

[buthidae46290]

I feed it several crickets or meal worms every week and it immediately devours anything that throw in the enclosure, it does not seem to be perturbed by my presence.

Lucky! Mine is extremely reclusive and Ive never seen it out to eat, and its not even that good of an eater. I can barley get the thing to eat once every two or three weeks(not from lack of trying on my part though).

 

[roberto]

Lucky! Mine is extremely reclusive and Ive never seen it out to eat, and its not even that good of an eater. I can barley get the thing to eat once every two or three weeks(not from lack of trying on my part though).

What temp range are you keeping it in? These guys seem to like warmer temps in the 80's. Watching mine eat is one of the highlights of my week. A fraction of a second of pure unadulterated terror.:evil:

 

[buthidae46290]

I keep all my inverts in a heated cupboard that says in the 78-80 degree range during the day. Night time temps probably fall about 10 degrees.

 

[Becky Wheeler]

Thanks Roberto, Now all i need to find is a container that's 30cm plus tall. It's so easy to find housing for a Tarantula but for trapdoors finding the right kind of housing is a nightmare. I might have a look around in my supermarket! to see if i can see a long tall jar and just empty the contents.

 

[Schlyne]

I would start a burrow for it. Trap doors can get stressed out very quickly if they're out in the open.

 

[Becky Wheeler]

Well, i was speaking to a mate of mine and he suggested a cereal container, so i got one lastnight and all i need to do is make some holes on the lid. Thanks for the info, I will make it a burrow, I was wondering about that!, Must take them a lot of hard work to make there burrow. I'm going to order a Trapdoor this week hopefully. Many thanks guys

 

[Becky Wheeler]

Just to let you know that i received my Trapdoor today and it looks amazing, Not very friendly, I had trouble getting it into it's new home. But it's all done now and i made it a burrow on the side of the contatiner so i could get a better look. Hopefully it will start constructing it's burrow tonight. When i get my camera back i will take a picture of it's home and the trapdoor if i'm lucky?? Thank you for all your replies guys!

 

[hurley0816]

i dont have a trapdoor spider, yet. but when i do im going to start the burrow on the side of its enclosure like you so i can see it. my suggestion would be to cover it on the outside of the enclosure with black construction paper so it cant see you. then when you wanna take a peek you can just lift it and take a look. anyone else try this??

 

[finman31]

I have three large trapdoors,a red,a black,and a Black with red legs.I keep them in containers that i built. They are exactly like ant farms.They are awesome.I keep black construction paper on both sides,and i enjoy being able to see them and their whole burrow at anytime. They are easy to build,just if you use wood as the "legs",be sure you glue formica to the insides so the wood dont start to mildew or anything.They work great.Funny thing though...my trapdoors never build trapdoors.They all build funnels on the entrance of their burrows.

 

[Bayushi]

i have mine in a medium kritter keeper filled 3/4 of the way. i put a small amount of Sphagnum moss in with it to made the lid of it's burrow out of.

Mine eats twice a week and comes out at night for about 5 or 10 minutes.