Tank size

[Malhavoc's]

This is not an attack on anyone and I am still rather new to this hobby but I was wondering this. Why do most if not all keep there T's in small 10gal tanks or so? I mean If they were in the wild they would have a very large area to roam yet we cramp them in tiny boxes? and I've read off this forum that slings cant find there food all that well then how the hell do they do it in the wild I have a A avic in a huge arse tank and its doing fine and its a jvui about 2-3" leg span it finds food fine same with the water bowl if it feels like having a dip

 

[Code Monkey]

10 gallon? What are you on, I think most experienced keepers go even smaller for most species. For instance, I don't go more than a 2.5 gallon sized keeper for something like an adult Brachypelma or Aphonopelma.

They don't move much in nature, why would they want to in captivity?

 

[Malhavoc's]

this is the babies tank you can see her funnel web in the tob middle of the tank [she decided to move out of her borrow/nest in skull thingy in there on the bottum of the tank]

 

[hillie16]

I'm new to T's, but my A. seemanni seems to love the 10 gal. It comes out and roams around at night, and goes into it's hide during the day.

 

[pelo]

Originally posted by Malhavoc's
this is the babies tank you can see her funnel web in the tob middle of the tank [she decided to move out of her borrow/nest in skull thingy in there on the bottum of the tank]

>>hell you could have your own little jungle in that tank..crank the humidity..add a couple plants,pygmys and monkeys along with your spider...lol...peace...

 

[Malhavoc's]

I know and btw thats my wifes lil thing its spoiled to hell lool she really wants ot give i a real natural look so its far from complete in there but It seems to luv to come out and roam the entire tank I dont see how it could if it was cramped in a 2.5gal....

 

[pelo]

The height is nice for the Avic,but overall it's too big.Get a peice of plexiglass or glass.Divide the tank in two and silicone it in.Get another spider for the empty section ...peace...

 

[MrFeexit]

THe larger the area they have the larger the area they feel they have to defend and this can cause them some stress. That is one popular take on tank size. I have mostly 10s but also a 15 and some 20s....those are for BLondi and the King Baboon

 

[deifiler]

Originally posted by MrFeexit
THe larger the area they have the larger the area they feel they have to defend and this can cause them some stress.

What is that based on?

I also read the rumours of "they won't grow if they've too much room; spiders grow faster if they have less space"

Give them as much room as you like and decorate appropriatly. I myself keep most of mine in what you'd regard as 'small' tanks though, mainly for these reasons:
*Smaller tanks are cheaper - spending £2-£5 is better than £10-£30 on EVERY spider, especially once the collection grows, and you're purchasing several spiders with each order.
*Smaller tanks take less room; more spiders
*Smaller tanks are easier to heat, especially with heat mats

Hope that clears things up a bit

 

[caligulathegod]

AFAIK, Tarantulas aren't like some animals, they grow to their genetically determined size rather than to the size of their habitat.

 

[MrFeexit]

Originally posted by deifiler
What is that based on?

As far as defending the area I read it and I can't remeber where as far as tank size I read about that in The Tarantula Keepers guide. I figured he know more than me so I believed him.

 

[Code Monkey]

Originally posted by deifiler
What is that based on?

The fact that their usual modus operandi is to sit in their burrow/web tube 24/7 only venturing a very short distance at night if that. It's proposed that something like a female B. smithi might live it's entire multi-decade life never venturing more than a few feet from it's first burrow.

 

[deifiler]

Originally posted by MrFeexit

Originally posted by deifiler
What is that based on?

As far as defending the area I read it and I can't remeber where as far as tank size I read about that in The Tarantula Keepers guide. I figured he know more than me so I believed him.

Ahh no worries, apologies if I came accross too harshly..

I can understand how spiders show signs of an agrophobic state if the adequate hiding places arn't providided, but other than that I think they're fine within large tanks.

 

[Malhavoc's]

Still rather strange yes less space=more spiders But right now I cant afford more spiders so why not spoil what we have They really seem to enjoy it. I havent seen any stressed behavior or anything. I guess it more of comes down to owners prefrence then t's?

 

[esmoot]

There are not many reasons for a large enclosure. T's do fine without room to roam around. The TKG that I have is pretty much on but once in a while it has some outdated theorys.

You can not have too large of a tank if you provide the proper care, humidity, temp, soil, hide and so on. Also if you tank is very big the t's will take longer to find prey items so you will have to adjust for that. T's in the wild do not feel like they have to defend all of the sourounding habitat so why would they feek like they have to defend a large enclosure?

I only keep my big guys over 8+ in a 10 gallon or larger. It's a lot easier to maintain the proper care in a smaller enclosure.

 

[SpiderFood]

I have also read that T's rarely venture more that a couple of feet from thier burrow. Most of them even less that this. I have most of my adults in 10 gallon tanks but they are divided into two enclosures and this seems to be just fine for them. You can get split lids with a hinge in the middle so you can open one side at a time. It is really convienient. The smaller enclosure also allows for ease of hunting. If they have to do laps around an enclosure to catch thier food, what good is that, JMO.

Later

Dale

 

[MrFeexit]

Hey I am just happy that I had 2 of my slings molt this week and two more of my medium size T's are on the verge of molting. As far as I am concerned if your spider is healthy who cares what size house ya have them in.

 

[Malhavoc's]

Congrats on the molt my baby A avic [the one in huge tank] should be motling soon.. I hope it grows some nice size or leaves me its exuvia [spelling?] so I can sex it

 

[Immortal_sin]

I have only 3 10 gallon tanks, the rest are 5 gallon, or under.
Mostly due to space, since I have so many. All of them do just fine in what they are in. I think it's really personal preference. I keep slings in small vials, since it's easier to feed 100 spiderlings that way.

 

[Malhavoc's]

hmm well when I am able to breed my G rosea [waiting on mizim to call me or bring over the male] I think I'll let the slings go at each other till I got 5 or 6 left then sell em off or trade em for a different t or something