Some questions about my new T's

[EvanWest]

Okay okay so I know im about to get yelled at for part of this post.

So I picked up my first T's the other day after a fair bit of research. I originally planned to get just a Brachypelma hamorii to get started but when i showed up the shop also had a 3.5" Psalmopoeus cambridgei (Trinidad chevron) that is a female and i had done research on it because it was on the list of T's I eventually wanted so I knew about it, I just didnt plan to get one yet.....that changed and I left with both. The Red Knee is around a half inch and is in a vial for now and the Trinidad is in a 5g fish tank turned up right with a custom front opening hatch that I made with some Plexiglas and parts along with a digital temp/humidity gauge. It will be in there until it grows some more. The Trinidad has a cork bark background and tube along with fake plants and coco fiber and i keep it at 75F and 80% humidity. The Red knee is just on coco fiber and i moisten part of it once a week. I know I shouldn't have gotten the Trinidad but so far ive been doing just fine, scold me if you will but I like her a lot and am committed to caring for her now......So now here is the question:

I have had them both a week now and the Trinidad has taken food but is not leaving her hide, I understand this is normal when they get in a new home but how long should I expect before she starts to venture out? The little Red Knee has not taken food all week, he is active and out and about but will not take food so far, is this normal?

Thanks for humoring my noob questions and try not to scold me too much

 

[AnObeseHippo]

At least the hardier one is the sling...

What do you mean you control the humidity?

Post pics for the other two. It’s hard to picture everything off of words alone. It could be anything from nothing at all to their enclosures are not what they require, or that it’s already been fed a bunch and is heading into premolt.

 

[EvanWest]

At least the hardier one is the sling...

What do you mean you control the humidity?

Post pics for the other two. It’s hard to picture everything off of words alone. It could be anything from nothing at all to their enclosures are not what they require, or that it’s already been fed a bunch and is heading into premolt.

Ill post pictures of the enclosures when I get home. For the Trinidad when I say I am controlling the humidity i mean that i have a digital humidity gauge in the tank and when the humidity drops below 70% I moisten part of the substrate so it comes back up to around 80% and then let it be till it drops below 70% again.

Just to be clear:

Trinidad is eating well just not venturing out even at night

Red Knee is rather active but has not been taking food and its been a week since I got it and about a week and a half since it has taken food. (shop said it took food about 3 or 4 days before i got him)

 

[AnObeseHippo]

Ill post pictures of the enclosures when I get home. For the Trinidad when I say I am controlling the humidity i mean that i have a digital humidity gauge in the tank and when the humidity drops below 70% I moisten part of the substrate so it comes back up to around 80% and then let it be till it drops below 70% again.

Just to be clear:

Trinidad is eating well just not venturing out even at night

Red Knee is rather active but has not been taking food and its been a week since I got it and about a week and a half since it has taken food. (shop said it took food about 3 or 4 days before i got him)

Does the red knee have a big butt?

 

[EvanWest]

Does the red knee have a big butt?

Yep he is pretty fat lol, I was sorta wondering if maybe the shop had been over feeding him and hes just not hungry but wanted to ask just cuz im not 100% sure.

 

[AnObeseHippo]

Yep he is pretty fat lol, I was sorta wondering if maybe the shop had been over feeding him and hes just not hungry but wanted to ask just cuz im not 100% sure.

Then it probably is in premolt and won’t eat until after it molts. Make sure its water dish is always full and be patient

 

[EvanWest]

Here are some pictures

 

[SonsofArachne]

The hamorii is definitely in premolt. Don't try to feed it until at least 4 days after it molts.

 

[spookyvibes]

when I say I am controlling the humidity i mean that i have a digital humidity gauge in the tank and when the humidity drops below 70% I moisten part of the substrate so it comes back up to around 80% and then let it be till it drops below 70% again.

Quit trying to chase humidity numbers, those cheap hygrometers are not accurate in the slightest. Just keep the substrate a bit moist.

 

[AngelDeVille]

Take the humidity gauge and use it to measure humidity in your garbage can.

The sling looks like it is on wood chips, that can’t be comfortable.

Spiders won’t starve in the matter of a few weeks or months. If they don’t eat try again in a week.

 

[Teal]

Your enclosures look good!

"Humidity" should be stricken from your T-related vocabulary. Ensure the P. cam has a full water dish at all times (it can be on the ground - she will find it) and that is that. Moistening part of the sub for the Brachy sling is perfect, and I agree that it is in premolt so just wait it out for now.

P. cams are also a pretty reclusive species... she may become more visible as she gets larger, or she may not.

 

[EvanWest]

Your enclosures look good!
P. cams are also a pretty reclusive species... she may become more visible as she gets larger, or she may not.

Huh interesting you say that, Ive seen a lot of threads on here and elsewhere saying they are a rather visible species and sit out most of the time.....eh oh well ill let her do her thing.

Quit trying to chase humidity numbers, those cheap hygrometers are not accurate in the slightest. Just keep the substrate a bit moist.

Not trying to chase a specific number, I already had the meter so I threw it in there and more or less use it as a guide to let me know when things are starting to dry out. But thanks for the advice ill be sure to not chase any specific numbers.

 

[AnimalNewbie]

Take out the wood chips for the b. Hammori and put in some actual substrate after it molts

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

Take out the wood chips for the b. Hammori and put in some actual substrate after it molts

Yeah do this woodchucks are too abrasive!!! And can potentially cut a T maybe, if sharp. Chips not chucks spellcheck haha

 

[AngelDeVille]

Woodchucks might harm your sling as well.

 

[EvanWest]

Take the humidity gauge and use it to measure humidity in your garbage can.

The sling looks like it is on wood chips, that can’t be comfortable.

Spiders won’t starve in the matter of a few weeks or months. If they don’t eat try again in a week.

Turns out my garbage can has a humidity of 72% so the Trinidad would be happy aside from the whole festering trash thing lol

 

[Ellenantula]

My P cambri burrowed -- had much deeper substrate and built an elaborate tunnel (behind his corkbark) leading down to his lair. I often just saw those long legs poking out of tunnel when he was hungry. Mine was also teleporting fast. He did spend a bit more time out in the open as he got older. I never really viewed him as arboreal, though he did have a tall cork bark had he wanted to be up high (he rarely did).

 

[EvanWest]

My P cambri burrowed -- had much deeper substrate and built an elaborate tunnel (behind his corkbark) leading down to his lair. I often just saw those long legs poking out of tunnel when he was hungry. Mine was also teleporting fast. He did spend a bit more time out in the open as he got older. I never really viewed him as arboreal, though he did have a tall cork bark had he wanted to be up high (he rarely did).

Lol what a funky species, just goes to show individuals are each unique.

 

[boina]

My P. cambridgei was very reclusive - I never saw it at all until it was mature.

While the enclosure is not bad I'd definitely add more substrate. They do like t burrow a bit, especially as slings ad juveniles, and incorporate dirt in their webs ('dirt curtains').

And I agree, the substrate for the B. hamori looks very rough. While the spider doesn't need more food right now, shifting wood chips may inhibit hunting behaviour, simply because the tarantula can't move as well on them as on nice, tamped down coco earth of top soil - and if there are any sharp edges to the wood chips they may injure a molting tarantula.

 

[Ungoliant]

Huh interesting you say that, Ive seen a lot of threads on here and elsewhere saying they are a rather visible species and sit out most of the time.....eh oh well ill let her do her thing.

P. cambridgei can be reclusive as slings, but they normally get bolder as they grow. (I got mine as a juvenile, and she used to hide more than she does now at nearly 6".) That being said, some individuals are reclusive even as adults.

She may also just be settling into the enclosure.

Psalmos, despite being labeled arboreal, tend to like ground cover, especially when they are smaller. They build their retreats near the ground, stringing up dirt curtains. My cam: