This is my Aphonopelma seemanni tank!!

[Arachnophobphile]

someone’s being a bit overdramatic
The distance from the top to the substrate looks fine, and although the substrate depth isn’t as deep for a seemanni, it still looks fine. Just make sure to incorporate a starter burrow with the hide and you’ll be fine. I do like the choice of leaf litter, as they’re known to incorporate them unto their burrows in the wild.
Cue the “plants are unnecessary” preachers…if you think they look nice op, go for it. We can’t fault a person for not keeping their spiders in boring tupperware containers

Wrong.....

Bad advice will get his T killed

Hopefully he changed out his setup

 

[mantisfan101]

Wrong.....

Bad advice will get his T killed

Hopefully he changed out his setup

Wrong…..

The height in this enclosure is nothing to overreact about, there are far worse examples on this thread

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Wrong…..

The height in this enclosure is nothing to overreact about, there are far worse examples on this thread

Wrong again

A fall from that height could rupture a T's abdomen. Especially if it lands on one of the objects in the enclosure. The OP doesn't have a 9 inch + tarantula.

 

[Wompous]

Wrong again

A fall from that height could rupture a T's abdomen. Especially if it lands on one of the objects in the enclosure. The OP doesn't have a 9 inch + tarantula.

Lol a few inches fall onto a soft dirt floor oh no the horror. T's would be long extinct in the wild if your guys rules and beliefs were actually true!

Considering the overwhelming majority of people on here house their T's in pop tart cardboard boxes I'm always shocked and laughing when people actually give them a proper housing and the pill bottle and pop tart box crowd tries correcting.

Dude it's a good setup good for u. Humidity is important and not much else.

 

[viper69]

someone’s being a bit overdramatic

Not me- when Ts fall they can die. Case closed

 

[Arachnophobphile]

Lol a few inches fall onto a soft dirt floor oh no the horror. T's would be long extinct in the wild if your guys rules and beliefs were actually true!

Considering the overwhelming majority of people on here house their T's in pop tart cardboard boxes I'm always shocked and laughing when people actually give them a proper housing and the pill bottle and pop tart box crowd tries correcting.

Dude it's a good setup good for u. Humidity is important and not much else.

That might be true but not for this setup it would be more than a couple of inches fall. It doesn't take much for a T's abdomen to pop like a grape and yes that part of the tarantula is that fragile.

 

[Matt Man]

Fossorial Ts don't typically climb in the wild. They also don't typically have a wooden hide with a sharp edge to fall upon either, or glass walls to lose their footing......using "wild" references is pretty much ad absurdum

 

[Arachnid Hunter]

Tell me what you think of it. Plus she is almost full grown I think

And yes I have a light and heat mat (on the side of the tank) because I believe it’s good to give them temperature fluctuations and good lighting helps exhibit natural behavior also I don’t have the heat mat on during summer month just winter.

 

[viper69]

Seems OK- hide is too tall. Ts make tight fitting burrows generally. But this may work fine

Too many easy places for prey to hide and T may starve

 

[Arachnid Hunter]

Okay I’ll keep that in mind also do you have a suggestion for growing healthy grass in the tank?

Also she really just takes food from her hide but like I said I’ll keep that in mind when feeding her and to see if she is doing well which I know she is.

 

[TheraMygale]

Also she really just takes food from her hide but like I said I’ll keep that in mind when feeding her and to see if she is doing well which I know she is.

if you have control on her feeding then it doesnt matter. If you offer “safe sized” prey, you can find them if you observe feeding routine.

i doubt you went through all that effort on an enclosure not to stick around for the show.

“grass” needs sunlight unless its a shade variety.

if your light system has the requirements for plant growth, you should be fine.

however, any plant requires food at some point.

what is your plan to feed the plants?

is this your first planted enclosure with tarantulas?

the enclosure setup is amazing. Very well done. I cant tell how much sub there is in there though. This tarantula thrives with fossorial sub levels.

If it climbs, the fall impact risks in your enclosure can be hurtful.

 

[Arachnid Hunter]

She never climbed but there is a good amount of substrate to burrow

 

[TheraMygale]

She never climbed but there is a good amount of substrate to burrow

do you have picture that shows enclosure in its full height.

its not because you didnt see it that she didnt do it. That being said, im not dogmatic about sub level. I like to respect it and consider it an issue.

i know people who dont bother and have success.

i felt that if i didnt ask, it would be neglect on my part, since youre asking us to give you our opinion.

which means we will scrutinize everything.

some of my enclosures could use from an inch to two inches more of sub. I havent done it yet. And i am keeping an eye. Its my choice.

Those enclosures, that i should add more sub, are actualy very well balanced and provide a thriving living space. The tarantulas don’t leave their burrows. Except one: now i suspect shes in premolt and its too dry and cold in the house.

I have adapted by offering more sub moisture. And they are sticking to burrow now. The heat is also ajusted.

daves little beasties has tons of terrestrial enclosures with low sub. At first glance one would be like HEY thats not enough. But he enriches his enclosures. So, its to each their own.

 

[Arachnid Hunter]

Here are the pictures as requested

if you have control on her feeding then it doesnt matter. If you offer “safe sized” prey, you can find them if you observe feeding routine.

i doubt you went through all that effort on an enclosure not to stick around for the show.

“grass” needs sunlight unless its a shade variety.

if your light system has the requirements for plant growth, you should be fine.

however, any plant requires food at some point.

what is your plan to feed the plants?

is this your first planted enclosure with tarantulas?

the enclosure setup is amazing. Very well done. I cant tell how much sub there is in there though. This tarantula thrives with fossorial sub levels.

If it climbs, the fall impact risks in your enclosure can be hurtful.

The light Supports plant growth and as for the first planted tank part well sorta cause this is my first T but she has had plants in her old setup before this one and I've had her for two years and she is I would say 3 or maybe 4 inches big.

 

[Kada]

View attachment 490533 View attachment 490534
Here are the pictures as requested

Looks quite bice, well done. Always nice to have live planfa, if it works well for the spider. On growing grass, pick species that thrive in dark areas. The grass family generally is well represented in well lit conditions. And their roots tend to be quite amazing. It's why I stick away from grasses usually. And opt for more dark tolerant plants that either don't have normal stems (like grass blade/rhizome frass species have) or don't tend to etiolate to harshly.

One plus is now lighting has improved. The same lumen/watt ratio is available in LED, with similar wavelengths available and at the same price now a days. Advantage being less beat production and no flickering. I'm using up the last of my flouro tube's and everything g is nearly switched to LED now for these reasons.

My only other concern would be the last Pic with pretty intense condensation building up. Assume that's the heat mats' doing? Personally I try to avoid condensation with a more natural tank dye to reduced airflow, lack of meaningful UV, and organic material which can mold and rot. In my opinion, that issue needs to be remedied but it's a nice looking tank, very natural, not fake natural. Which is a gorgeous thing to bend in one's house! Kudos!

 

[Arachnid Hunter]

okay I will take that in consideration and watch out for mold and thank you

 

[Arachnid Hunter]

I took out the log hide cause it molded like some of you guessed so I replaced it with a couple of rocks stacked (One being a flat rock) for a hide with a starter burrow that she can hide in she doesn't climb much only when she's scared which is rare. Also, she is out more and is doing well some of the grass died so I took it out. and actually, I've done my research and people have kept their A seemanni's on a damp substrate. Plus she is very docile and I usually know when something is up or not right having experience keeping spiders before also every day I've been checking for mold or fungi and none have come and like I said it is bioactive and thriving. Also, do you have any suggestions on any small arboreal spiders or T's cause I have a 20 by 20 by 30 tank that isn't in use? But with that aside my T is doing well and happy.

 

[fcat]

My A seemanni was a deli cup special, adult. She dug to the bottom on the first day.

Personally, I would take the rocks out. There is not a lot of substrate in there and she will make use of all of it...there's a very good chance the rocks will be dug under too....not many species I would say this about as adults but these guys are diggers.

When you factor in the lighting...Ts don't see well so they rely on shadows to detect overhead predators....she will seek darkness...which will further encourage digging. This is why most will say the husbandry of the plants and the husbandry of Ts are not compatible, the other factor being moisture.

Cork bark is a very popular addition because it wont crush them, when, not if, they dig underneath it.

And hopefully you find ways to enjoy the fact that she dug up your plants. Her comfort, safety, behaviors, instincts take precedent...the plants are for you to enjoy since they can't see them lol and if you are partial to them you better save them while you can. My A seemanni has a long time beef with her fake plant...because it can't be moved

 

[Arachnid Hunter]

also, should I add a fern to the tank or not? I was thinking rabbit's foot fern would look nice in one of the corners but I'm not sure If I should.

 

[fcat]

In a separate container sure otherwise you will make it very unpleasant for the T

Quoting myself...the husbandry of the plants and the husbandry of Ts are not compatible...