Theraphosa stirmi humidity check question

[PlatypusTaco]

This may be a dumb question, and there may be a very simple solution. I’ve read that when checking humidity, you should take a handful of the substrate and it should be damp, but shouldn’t drip when you squeeze it. My question is, don’t they drop really irritating urticating hairs on the ground? And they’re known for mistaking people for food. Isn’t that why you’re supposed to use tongs? And if you do reach in, use gloves? How am I supposed to get the substrate safely, and when I do, how am I supposed to feel it without getting hurt by the hairs?

 

[viper69]

Their setae are notoriously irritating to many

 

[Edan bandoot]

This may be a dumb question, and there may be a very simple solution. I’ve read that when checking humidity, you should take a handful of the substrate and it should be damp, but shouldn’t drip when you squeeze it. My question is, don’t they drop really irritating urticating hairs on the ground? And they’re known for mistaking people for food. Isn’t that why you’re supposed to use tongs? And if you do reach in, use gloves? How am I supposed to get the substrate safely, and when I do, how am I supposed to feel it without getting hurt by the hairs?

You should be able to just tell by looking at the colour of the substrate and the amount of water you added

 

[cold blood]

Humidity isn't relevant...just damp sub....dampen by pouring in water. You can see the dampness, in 20 plus years I have never even considered reaching in and feeling the sub, that's just completely unnecessary.

 

[PlatypusTaco]

Thank you all so much!!!

 

[EnigmaNyx]

I love my Stirmi but there’s no way in hell I’d ever stick my hands in there.

 

[0311usmc]

Yes they drop hairs everywhere but mainly right before a molt they will kick an excessive amount off to protect them from predators. I don't feel the hairs initially after I work inside their enclosures or handle a molt. But the next few days are brutal dude. The itch will wake you up at the craziest times throughout the night and randomly throughout the day, that's at least how it goes for me, everyone is going to have a different reaction to the hairs but it's a fact across the boards they itch like hell.

You can use gloves if you want I also read of people using goggles when doing maintenance. I use a fan in my room where I keep most my t's and I turn the fan off when opening their enclosures and I don't mist them as I don't stir up loose hairs on substrate.

I always always always drop in a prey item and wait till it's grabbed before I do any maintenance in enclosure whatsoever. Haven't had any issues with them mistaking me for food.

Don't worry about humidity just keep the substrate moist.

 

[Swagg]

This was a poorly worded rule of thumb that’s been around a long time. A better way I think would be to say:
Take an empty container and put some substrate in. Pack it down like you would to set up an enclosure. Add water. When you are satisfied, grab some sub and squeeze it. If it is damp, and no water drips when you squeeze, then you now know what damp sub looks like. Aim for that look.
Let that empty container dry out a bit a pay attention to how the sub dries in layers and rehydrate paying attention to the sides of the enclosure and how that looks when water is reintroduced.

-fin- lol

 

[PlatypusTaco]

Also, how damp does it need to be? Am I supposed to let the top layer dry completely before adding more water, or am I supposed to add it when it starts to dry? I would appreciate input. Thank you so much!

 

[Swagg]

From what I understand for that species the top layer should never be dry. This is why people use a ton of substrate to keep that moisture for a longer period.
I don’t keep this species though so take my advice with a grain of salt. Just from the research I’ve done.

 

[PlatypusTaco]

Thank you!