Tiny Tarantulas

[Thoth]

Anyone know of a not too rare/expensive t species could be housed comfortable in a two gallon tank (12 3/16"L x 6 1/8"W x 8 1/8"H) as an adult.
It seems too narrow for most of the common species out there.

 

[AfterTheAsylum]

In a two gallon? I can give you a spider, not a tarantula. Goryrella (trapdoors) are great to have, if you want that. Although...hm... you could do Avicularias. If you do, go with the versicolor. Or just get a slow growing species for now. Although, a Cyriocosmus elegans would be nice. It is a cooler version of Cyclosternum fasciatum. You can see it at www.sklipkani.cz

You just gotta look around I guess.

 

[Milo]

honestly? i believe you'll probably find something you could theoretically keep in a 2 gallon tank. i simply wouldnt recommend keeping an adult in a 2 gallon tank. its probbaly just the alcohol talking, but i actually oppose it. your spider needs room to hunt, room to house, and room to move; all of this is important to keeping a healthy spider that will live a nice long life.

i picked up a 10 gallon glass tank for $10.99 CDN at Petsmart - a metal wire lid was the same price. No offence whatsoever, but I'll say that if you're going to be keeping a spider, you might as well make it a hobby and pour money into it senselessly. Althoguh I wouldn't even consider a 10 gallon senseless for an adult(keeping it happy is really hyalf the fun).

if you really want to throw something in a 2-gallon.... have you considered a scorpion?

 

[Thoth]

I usually keep all my ts in a five gallon or equvalent sized container (except my a.genic she gets a ten gallon). Its just I got a free two gallon tank and thought to use it to keep a t in my cube at work (its okay with my supervisor and all the people in the area). I was think maybe something that at adult size could stay in there as opposed to keeping slings until they got too big and getting another (which I could do).

I might do a wolf spider or get a brachypelma sling and get another one everytime that one gets too big. Though a scorpion is an interesting idea.

 

[David_F]

your spider needs room to hunt....

Really? I was under the impression that tarantulas were, for the most part, ambush hunters. I know there are exceptions. The idea of ambush hunting is to ambush (as in surprise) the prey. Most tarantulas don't actively hunt. They wait for their prey.

I do agree that if you can get a bigger tank then why not do it but to say an adult tarantula (of appropriate size which I did notice you mentioned ) won't live just fine in a two gallon tank is silly. These tanks are, what, about six inches wide and twelve inches or so long? I've got a few but can't remember the dimensions. An adult tarantula of five inches maximum legspan can live comfortably in a two gallon because..wait..here it is...they don't move that much. If the spider is a burrower well, given enough substrate, it's got even more room to move if it does feel the need.

Once again though, I do agree that a bigger tank is better (at least for the keeper if not the kept). They do look nice.

....if you really want to throw something in a 2-gallon.... have you considered a scorpion?

What kind of scorpion? A lot of scorpions (most? I don't know scorps that well...) are ambush hunters as well but, of the scorpions I've kept, they're more likely to actively hunt their prey than a tarantula is. So, why is it okay to "cramp" a scorpion but not a tarantula? (I use small containers for scorps too...so....ummm...nevermind)

Anyway, this is all just my opinion. In all likelyhood it's all wrong and I'm a complete horses ass.

 

[moricollins]

do a search here for dwarf tarantulas, you should find some good threads on this subject.

threads such as this, should help:
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/showthread.php?t=24163&highlight=dwarf+tarantula


species to consider: Cyriocosmus elegans (has been mentioned), most any Metriopelma species, Heterothele villosella

 

[Becca]

I'd give Heterothele villosella a go, they're a lovely dwarf species, however i had problems with them escaping.... they're dinky enough to get through the smallest of gaps lol

 

[modeus]

I believe there are a few Aphonopelma species that are pretty small, I had a flagstaff orange that topped out at a whopping 3 and a half inches..but as suggested before I would go with a larger tank, maybe keep the 2 gallon for crickets??

 

[GoTerps]

I think there are quite a few species that will do great as adults in a 2 gallon. No need to go as small as Cyriocosmus elegans either. In fact, I keep my adult C. elegans in much smaller enclosures than a 2 gallon.

A Davus fasciatus (Cyclosternum fasciatum) would do great in a 2 gallon IMO. Holothele, Metriopelma, and some Aphonopelma (to name a few) would do great in them as adults. Even some of the smaller africans would do well in a 2 gallon I think. There are some Ceratogyrus and Pterinochilus that would web like crazy and be quite comfortable in a 2 gallon I think.

 

[phormingochilus]

If you're looking for dwarf species then you might want to research a bit on the following genera: Cyclosternum, Davus, Cyriocosmus, Hapalopus, Metriopelma, Holothele, Chaetopelma, Heterothele, Orphnaecus, Phlogiellus, Yamia, Plesiophrictus. I have not included all dwarf genera, or the few dwarf species scattered in genera containing otherwise large members, but the ones mentioned are usually - or have been at some point - available and can be kept with great succes within the dimension mentioned (and for some of the species even much more confined). You might also want to consider some of the many small diplurids available.

Very Best Regards
Søren

Anyone know of a not too rare/expensive t species could be housed comfortable in a two gallon tank (12 3/16"L x 6 1/8"W x 8 1/8"H) as an adult.
It seems too narrow for most of the common species out there.

 

[Beccas_824]

Rule of thumb: you want to keep your T in an enclousure where it will at least have three times its leg span. I.e. a three inch T needs at least 9 inches of ground space, a 4 inch 12 inches etc. etc. but I always like to give my T's extra room.
There are lots of T's that only reach under 4 or 5 inches as adults. Like OBT's only reach around 4 inches as adults and my female is in a 2 and a half gallon and will porbably stay there.
Or you can always buy a sub adult and it will porbably live there comfortably for a while until it needs a bigger home.

 

[stubby8th]

Anyone know of a not too rare/expensive t species could be housed comfortable in a two gallon tank (12 3/16"L x 6 1/8"W x 8 1/8"H) as an adult.
It seems too narrow for most of the common species out there.

One big phallacy that most keepers don't understand is T's don't need or want all that much space - with the exeption of your birdeaters & other giants. It seems that many seemingly apply the old rule that fish size dictates tank size requirements - we aren't talking fish here.

 

[Midnightcowboy]

I say go for a Gorgyrella sp. trapdoor spider! They are MAD! :evil:

It's a very very defensive spider when out in the open, and it completely scared the bejesus out of me when I bought one as my first spider. It was good as gold all through the car journey home, and then as soon as I opened the lid of its transport container BAM! Straight into threat posture and striking repeatedly at thin air. It didn't burrow until about 4 days after being introduced to its new home, but in that time it did the following:

- Attacked the side of the container with fangs and front legs when it didn't like how loud the TV was.

- Grabbed a large fly out of the air while it was flying around...I CAN'T DO THAT! :?

- Started a burrow about 2 inches deep then collapsed it by rampantly attacking a marauding superworm. Had to start it all over again!

- Went mad at some roast beef that I dangled in there on a thread...didn't eat it, just tore it apart with fangs and front legs :?

- BATTERED a locust that I dropped in there for it...The spider bit it, and then lost interest and used his front legs to throw it across the container! Talk about a genuine spider hardman!

Now I never see it, but it's very interesting watching them make their burrow at night when you first get one (I watched using a red lamp and staying absolutely motionless)

Mine has burrowed right to the bottom of its container (about 7 inches), and it has twigs radiating out from the burrow's lid to help it pinpoint more distant prey. The baby locusts just keep disappearing...

Trapdoor's aren't very pricey, don't take up much room and will happily live in a 2 gal, and they're worth every penny that you spend on them just for the first week!

 

[wolfpak]

Phlogiellus baeri (Philippine Dwarf) is just right for that inexpensive and small

 

[8 leg wonder]

E.pachypus are really cool and do great in small enclosures as long as they have 6" to burrow so your tank would be perfect

 

[defour]

One big phallacy that most keepers don't understand...

Yikes! This is a phamily phorum, let's keep it clean.

Paraphysa spp. haven't been mentioned yet. They're beautiful, they're smallish and I'm under contract to promote them.

Steve

 

[stubby8th]

Yikes! This is a phamily phorum, let's keep it clean.

Paraphysa spp. haven't been mentioned yet. They're beautiful, they're smallish and I'm under contract to promote them.

Steve

Alright, smart guy. What are you - an English teacher?
Well, let's just say I've never won a spelling B.

 

[Czalz]

An adult tarantula of five inches maximum legspan can live comfortably in a two gallon because..wait..here it is...they don't move that much. If the spider is a burrower well, given enough substrate, it's got even more room to move if it does feel the need.

I do have many of my t's housed in 2 1/2 gallon, and they're just fine, even as adults. I have also been to another hobbyists house here in town that has way more t's than me, and MOST of his adult t's are in 2 1/2 gallon tanks. Totally in agreeance with you. I'll have to get rid of half my t's if I have to put them all in 10 g. enclosures. They wouldn't all fit in any room in my house. :?