Tarantula set up gone wrong?

[webjunkie72]

Hello everyone
Nickname webjunky
worries: why my curly hair tarantula won't dwel in it already made hole. I started a hole thinking it will do the rest. If you notice from these pictures I have at least 4" of potting soil and a moist but not soggy moss on the to of these hole. He literally stays on the upper left hand side of the new setup. I just recently got him two days ago. Help! Any suggestions?

 

[Konstantin Konstantinov]

Hi
if its a mature male.It will wander a lot and rarely if at all use his hide(burrow).
Thats normal behaviour as its looking for female.
If not mature yet give it few weeks to settle in.
My Nhandu Cromatus female took 6 + months to find its hide and start using it.
Regards Konstantin

 

[yetkin]

İt looking wery normal to me its just have been two days it can burrow in future even if it dont still no worries it would do as it like my ony suggestion is get rid of the lamp its unnecessary

 

[Neonblizzard]

It will take him a couple of weeks to settle in and make a burrow, but he's quite big so it's possible he might not bother much.

 

[vancwa]

T's need a while to adapt to new surroundings. Could take several weeks. Sometimes they will use the hide that is provided. None of mine do. They make their own or do not hide at all. No worries.

 

[Emi248]

Either a MM, adapting, simply not interested, substrate too damp/dry, etc

 

[arachnophobis]

I would not use that light. I have two curly hairs roughly the same size and neither burrow. Once it settles in and gets comfortable it will likely use that hide (may not). My male completely covered his entrance minus a spot big enough for him to get in and out of on both sides. It will definitely do some remodeling in there once its comfortable! Your setup looks good though, minus the light. I probably would of added more substrate however.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

potting soil

This could be a problem. If there is fertilizer in the mix, your spider could suffer.

As far as settling in. It's just like was said. It takes time. Adults don't tend to burrow and males wonder but very moist sub will put them on the sides.

 

[CommanderBacon]

I'd probably have put them in something shorter with more cross ventilation, but that's probably fine. The substrate looks a bit moist but the top'll dry out with time. They may never use the burrow - at that size, mine is always out.

If you used potting soil, I'd switch it out with a different substrate, like @DomGom TheFather mentioned. Certain chemicals that are often found in potting soils and other treated soils can impact your spider's neurological system and cause them to die.

 

[viper69]

Hello everyone
Nickname webjunky
worries: why my curly hair tarantula won't dwel in it already made hole. I started a hole thinking it will do the rest. If you notice from these pictures I have at least 4" of potting soil and a moist but not soggy moss on the to of these hole. He literally stays on the upper left hand side of the new setup. I just recently got him two days ago. Help! Any suggestions?

Ts pick their homes, not you.

If its a MM - they wonder all over.

Potting soil- often has things that Ts shouldn't come in contact with!

 

[Hardus nameous]

Welcome to the boards. In case you haven't seen these threads yet check this link:

Tarantula Information for Beginners (and More)

Below are some helpful resources. (Rather than having half a dozen or more pinned threads, which clutter the top of the board, we are pinning this index.) While the focus is on beginners, there are other threads on health and more advanced species that may be useful to more experienced keepers...

arachnoboards.com

It's probably the single greatest resource for tarantula keeping in the world right now so get ready for hours and hours of great info.

Also wanted to add: top soil (plain old additive free dirt) and potting soil are different. Top soil is fine as a substrate whereas potting soil isn't.

 

[webjunkie72]

Thanks guys for the input. As far as the light I just use it just to take pictures and just for the skirmish people to see inside. I rarely use the light. Potting soil? Dang! it's miracle-gro potting mix. redoing the enclosure right now. again thank you.........

 

[cold blood]

Thanks guys for the input. As far as the light I just use it just to take pictures and just for the skirmish people to see inside. I rarely use the light. Potting soil? Dang! it's miracle-gro potting mix. redoing the enclosure right now. again thank you.........

Miracle grow?? Yeah you want the cheap stuff, NOT stuff marketed for plants...Look for the stuff marketed for filling holes and leveling ground.

Once you get it changed out, know that many, if not most NW terrestrials use hides less and less as they gain size. Its uncommon for them to burrow as adults.

Also, there is often an acclimation period, so what you experienced was pretty normal.

 

[Finikan]

If I were a T I wouldn't plant myself in miracle grow either. Might start growing roots.

 

[Westicles]

If I were a T I wouldn't plant myself in miracle grow either. Might start growing roots.

Great response!

 

[webjunkie72]

thanks for the links @ hardus

 

[Edan bandoot]

My t albos don't like walking on wet substrate at all

 

[jc55]

Thanks guys for the input. As far as the light I just use it just to take pictures and just for the skirmish people to see inside. I rarely use the light. Potting soil? Dang! it's miracle-gro potting mix. redoing the enclosure right now. again thank you.........

Biggest think to fix first is to get rid of the potting soil.It could and generally has fertilizers and other chemicals that can kill you tarantula.As suggested use a mixture that is free of any fertilizers or other harmful chemicals and then do some research on these site to educate yourself on how to properly care for your tarantula and you are off to a good start.Enjoy.

 

[webjunkie72]

ok guys and girls.. lol my update. so after ridding the potting soil and replacing it with Coco coir my T does the unimaginable and surprising thing to a beginner T hobbyist. He goes under the faux coconut shell and covers the hole with Coco coir with webbing. Now what.. Molting? I hope so. If so I know I have to leave it alone. Won't see him for awhile. I might buy another T to entertain myself. Check out the pictures.

 

[Emi248]

ok guys and girls.. lol my update. so after ridding the potting soil and replacing it with Coco coir my T does the unimaginable and surprising thing to a beginner T hobbyist. He goes under the faux coconut shell and covers the hole with Coco coir with webbing. Now what.. Molting? I hope so. If so I know I have to leave it alone. Won't see him for awhile. I might buy another T to entertain myself. Check out the pictures.

Is that damp substrate?