Tarantula terrarium

[Showoff]

New boy on the forum - firstly 'hello'.

I had an Aphonopelma seemanni that recently died after 13 years and she was housed in a large aquarium but now I have a juvenile Brachypelma smithi.
Although the smithi has an enormous amount of floor space she's already started climbing up to the top of the aquarium, which in human terms would be like someone climbing a 10 story building at least. It's found its way down again and is fine but it looks too risky to me so I'm thinking about getting a much smaller terrarium till it's an adult. Also it might never find food I've put in there.
Size advice? Glass or plastic? Are those Exo Terra Faunariums ok?

 

[Benurmanii]

A lot of people do fine withe the small plastic "critter keepers". I would purchase a small one, and fill it so that the tarantula can touch its botom legs to the substrate if it climbs.

 

[Showoff]

A lot of people do fine withe the small plastic "critter keepers". I would purchase a small one, and fill it so that the tarantula can touch its botom legs to the substrate if it climbs.

See what you mean but from the pic it's only about an inch and a half long so I'd have to fill the box virtually to the top.

 

[TownesVanZandt]

New boy on the forum - firstly 'hello'.

I had an Aphonopelma seemanni that recently died after 13 years and she was housed in a large aquarium but now I have a juvenile Brachypelma smithi.
Although the smithi has an enormous amount of floor space she's already started climbing up to the top of the aquarium, which in human terms would be like someone climbing a 10 story building at least. It's found its way down again and is fine but it looks too risky to me so I'm thinking about getting a much smaller terrarium till it's an adult. Also it might never find food I've put in there.
Size advice? Glass or plastic? Are those Exo Terra Faunariums ok?

Glass or plastic doesn´t matter, the most important thing is that the terrestrial Ts don´t have too much space too climb upwards as they might fall and injure or even kill themselves. I think the general rule of the thumb size-wise is three times the legspan in length and no more than 1,5 times the legspan in height. I use Exo Terra Faunariums in various sizes for all my Ts.

 

[Showoff]

Glass or plastic doesn´t matter, the most important thing is that the terrestrial Ts don´t have too much space too climb upwards as they might fall and injure or even kill themselves. I think the general rule of the thumb size-wise is three times the legspan in length and no more than 1,5 times the legspan in height. I use Exo Terra Faunariums in various sizes for all my Ts.

Ok, cool they sell them near me so I'll pick on up. The vent holes aren't big enough for the spider to get through are they? Don't want the wife running around with the bug spray.

 

[TownesVanZandt]

Ok, cool they sell them near me so I'll pick on up. The vent holes aren't big enough for the spider to get through are they? Don't want the wife running around with the bug spray.

The ventilation holes should not be an issue for a juvenile sized spider. Buy a small terrarium and move it to bigger ones as it grows

 

[Showoff]

The ventilation holes should not be an issue for a juvenile sized spider. Buy a small terrarium and move it to bigger ones as it grows

Appreciate the advice.

 

[truecreature]

I don't think I'd use a KK for a spider under 2 inches, people have had escapes before.

What about one of these? It's what I use for my slings - http://www.joshsfrogs.com/16-oz-shipping-container-lid.html

 

[gypsy cola]

maybe try an AMAC plastic box?

 

[beaker41]

I prefer glass personally, it doesnt get permanently scratched with age and provides better visibility. Definitely reduce the vertical fall height though, fill it up with extra substrate or at least line the edges of the tank with fake plants to cushion any potential fall

 

[Showoff]

I don't think I'd use a KK for a spider under 2 inches, people have had escapes before.

What about one of these? It's what I use for my slings - http://www.joshsfrogs.com/16-oz-shipping-container-lid.html

When you say 2 inches, is that body size or total length from front leg to back leg? I'd say it is 1.75 inches total (leg to leg) have a look at the picture, that's a jam jar lid it's on.

 

[Showoff]

I don't think I'd use a KK for a spider under 2 inches, people have had escapes before.

What about one of these? It's what I use for my slings - http://www.joshsfrogs.com/16-oz-shipping-container-lid.html

KK?

 

[Showoff]

maybe try an AMAC plastic box?

AMAC?

 

[TownesVanZandt]

When you say 2 inches, is that body size or total length from front leg to back leg? I'd say it is 1.75 inches total (leg to leg) have a look at the picture, that's a jam jar lid it's on.

You will not have any problems with placing a spider with a legspan closer to 5 cm into the smallest Exo Terra Faunarium.

KK?

KK stands for Kritter Keeper. The Exo Terra Faunariums is a kritter keeper.

 

[Showoff]

You will not have any problems with placing a spider with a legspan closer to 5 cm into the smallest Exo Terra Faunarium.



KK stands for Kritter Keeper. The Exo Terra Faunariums is a kritter keeper.

Ok cheers. Had a look today at some in the shop and the holes are quite small.

 

[truecreature]

When you say 2 inches, is that body size or total length from front leg to back leg? I'd say it is 1.75 inches total (leg to leg) have a look at the picture, that's a jam jar lid it's on.

It's diagonal leg length - DLS - so measured from the back-most leg to the opposite front-most leg

I just own the actual Kritter Keeper brand of those type of cages, not Faunarium, so not sure how much the design differs. You could give it a shot. Keep in mind though that they can sometimes squeeze through spaces you wouldn't think they'd be able to. If the carapace can fit than likely the rest of them can too, like in this video:

 

[viper69]

It's diagonal leg length - DLS - so measured from the back-most leg to the opposite front-most leg

I just own the actual Kritter Keeper brand of those type of cages, not Faunarium, so not sure how much the design differs. You could give it a shot. Keep in mind though that they can sometimes squeeze through spaces you wouldn't think they'd be able to. If the carapace can fit than likely the rest of them can too, like in this video:

Never underestimate the determination of a T. I've constantly impressed w/their level of determination compared to other animals similar to them in neurological funtion, and at times even other animals "higher" up on the evolutionary ladder.

 

[viper69]

AMAC?

It an acronym for the name of a company I believe, just google it, you'll see.

 

[cold blood]

It's diagonal leg length - DLS - so measured from the back-most leg to the opposite front-most leg

Diagonal Leg Span (DLS)

 

[truecreature]

Diagonal Leg Span (DLS)

Shhh that's what I said (shifty glance)