Sericopelma rubronitens - size and strength

[Boomer4es]

I have read some threads about this spider, but I am still not satisfied that I understand its behavior.

For those of you who have a "giant" red rump. Do they often try to explore escape options? Do they climb more than burrow if their enclosure is too small?

I have a 10 gallon set up with a substrate of vermiculite, peat, and a touch of cypress mulch. I have some fake plants, a water dish, and a birch hide.

The spider will be calling this home three days from now. How am I doing?

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I would forget the cypress mulch and use coco fiber or non organic top soil.

What size is the tarantula when you buy it?

 

[Tarantuland]

I have read some threads about this spider, but I am still not satisfied that I understand its behavior.

For those of you who have a "giant" red rump. Do they often try to explore escape options? Do they climb more than burrow if their enclosure is too small?

I have a 10 gallon set up with a substrate of vermiculite, peat, and a touch of cypress mulch. I have some fake plants, a water dish, and a birch hide.

The spider will be calling this home three days from now. How am I doing?

How big is the spider? A 10 gallon is more than enough space for most species. I wouldn't put anything under 4-5" in something that big though. Most spiders explore escape options. Just because you don't see it doesn't mean it doesn't happen

 

[cold blood]

Just a normal t with pretty normal behavior. Mine doesn't hide too much, but it is very skittish when I open the top.

 

[Edan bandoot]

my santa cat isnt very explorative, but during its hunts it can go pretty wild.

 

[Boomer4es]

I would forget the cypress mulch and use coco fiber or non organic top soil.

What size is the tarantula when you buy it?

Will be about 3"

 

[Venom671]

Will be about 3"

3 inch T in a 10 gallon is quite the space. That is 12Hx12Wx20L I believe, IMO I'd opt for a smaller enclosure for it at It's current legspan.

 

[viper69]

Do they often try to explore escape options?

All convicts are looking to escape sooner or later.

 

[arthurliuyz]

Are Sericopelma spp. fossorial or terrestrial? Never kept them before & couldn't find any information on them. (been wanting to get them for ages)

 

[Edan bandoot]

Are Sericopelma spp. fossorial or terrestrial? Never kept them before & couldn't find any information on them. (been wanting to get them for ages)

like all tarantulas, they live in burrows. How you house them dictates their behavior.

 

[arthurliuyz]

like all tarantulas, they live in burrows. How you house them dictates their behavior.

Will they utilize the large amount of substrate I give it of just stay on the surface?

 

[Edan bandoot]

Will they utilize the large amount of substrate I give it of just stay on the surface?

in nature they've been observed making horizontal burrows, and mine have done the same in captivity. If given too small of an enclosure they will "bulldoze" it and become very skittish (due to not having a hide)

 

[DaveM]

If it's just a 3" spider, then a 10 gal tank is more space than needed, still quite sufficient when the spider is full grown.
I've never kept these, but they're supposedly not so gigantic among giants. I understand that size-wise they're larger than other Sericopelma spp., but definitely smaller than Ceratotherium simum, so no need for enormous amounts of space.
Good luck.

 

[cold blood]

My adult has never burrowed or even used its hide.

 

[Tarantuland]

My sling/juvie has never burrowed but I did provide one in cork bark

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Are Sericopelma spp. fossorial or terrestrial? Never kept them before & couldn't find any information on them. (been wanting to get them for ages)

Terrestrial, my subadult male Sericopelma sp. "Santa Catalina" burrowed under his hide and can often be found lurking in or around the entrance, he'll duck inside when disturbed though.

 

[Edan bandoot]

Terrestrial

burrowed under his hide and can often be found lurking in or around the entrance, he'll duck inside when disturbed though.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Not sure what you mean by this but terrestrials still dig, they just don't make extensive tunnel systems like you'd see from the likes of H. gigas/A. seemanni etc. and are generally much less reclusive

 

[Edan bandoot]

Not sure what you mean by this but terrestrials still dig, they just don't make extensive tunnel systems like you'd see from the likes of H. gigas/A. seemanni etc. and are generally much less reclusive

fossorial means that they burrow.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

fossorial means that they burrow.

By that logic there's no such thing as a terrestrial tarantula.

Fossorial animals are animals adapted to digging that live primarily underground.