Trapdoor setup?

[Moltar]

I've recently acquired a Stasimopus robertisi "African Red Trapdoor" and i'm wondering about some of the finer points of it's setup. I believe it's a mature female at about 2.5" legspan and chunky. I've got it in a 1 gallon plastic pickle type jar in about 8" of moist sandy peat mix. There's silk leaf pieces and sphagnum moss strewn about on the surface.

Questions are:
1. How to water it? Small dish, spritz leaves and substrate, let water pool on a certain area of the strate, or maybe just let it get all the moisture from the food?

2. How moist will it want the surface? Frequent (daily) misting, weekly or what?

3. How voracious are they? It's made a trapdoor over a small pre-started burrow but is currently ignoring prey, has not yet eaten in my care. It's been in this setup for about 2 weeks.

Answers to these questions or other miscellaneous advice is greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

[Stark]

uh they sound like fun, could you post an image?

 

[Moltar]

It sure was fun transfering this guy. I have never seen any invert hat was even close to this level of aggression (defensiveness, defensive aggro, whatever) OBT, H lividum etc are total pussycats compared to this guy when you piss him off.

pics:
Enclosure:

1 view

another view:

This was right after the transfer. She was soooo mad that she kept that threat posture for over an hour.

 

[Moltar]

Has nobody here kept these? I'm surprised as they're pretty readily available. Can you say "Impulse buy at a rep show"?

 

[beetleman]

i have them,very easy to keep,your setup looks great,keep the substrate semi-moist,because they can dry out,you will most likely never see her when she makes her burrow,but the crickets will dissappear you can put a very small shallow waterdish aswell,when the substrate starts to look alittle dry,just pour alittle water in there,thats what i do,and has always worked for me,enjoy your new little demon

 

[SouthernStyle]

I have a couple different species of the Trap door's....Seems that The Reds are more pissy than the Blacks, and The Malasyian Armoreds are More skittish than the Blacks...IF you come across the Golden Leg Trap Door's They're really a spectactular find!

Housing Ideas are Great~ Just a Jar with even a pre started burrow (I've found that the butt end of a screw driver works Wonders!)
In a 1 gallon Jar With a screw on lid, They work Really good with about 7" Or so of that Coconut Husk stuff...

Pretty easy to keep, If you like the "pet Holes" LOL

 

[SouthernStyle]

Here's the only pic I could find of My Red Trapdoor... She's pushing about 3.5" As it sits...and I Think Size for Size...She Rivals My H.Ssp.Haninium (Chinese black pushin about 7.5")

 

[Moltar]

Here's the only pic I could find of My Red Trapdoor... She's pushing about 3.5" As it sits...and I Think Size for Size...She Rivals My H.Ssp.Haninium (Chinese black pushin about 7.5")


Thanks for the confirmation. Am i understanding you correctly that these guys get up around 7" or are you just talking body mass?

Do you supply a water dish?

Also, any idea on their venom potency? There doesn't seem to be a wholelot out there about these guys.

 

[SouthernStyle]

No no~ My Chinese Black Earth Tiger (H.ssp.Haninium) is the one that's about 7.5", The Trap doors Dont Get much over 3.5" (to my knowledge)

I Have a small lid (Like from a Gatoraid Bottle) that I keep in the Tank with mine for the water...

As far as the Venom goes, I have no idea...Most I've got from my girl is a Big red welt and a lot of itchin' But it Burns like Fire if they get ya for the first couple of minutes

Here's the only pic I could find of My Red Trapdoor... She's pushing about 3.5" As it sits...and I Think Size for Size...She Rivals My H.Ssp.Haninium (Chinese black pushin about 7.5")


Thanks for the confirmation. Am i understanding you correctly that these guys get up around 7" or are you just talking body mass?

Do you supply a water dish?

Also, any idea on their venom potency? There doesn't seem to be a wholelot out there about these guys.

 

[beetleman]

yeah, i'm not sure on the venom either for the red traps,but i'm definitly not gonna find out i have earthtigers aswell BIG females,gold,black,darkforms and yeah i don't even wanna think about getting bit by them such impressive big spiders:clap:

 

[SouthernStyle]

yeah, i'm not sure on the venom either for the red traps,but i'm definitly not gonna find out i have earthtigers aswell BIG females,gold,black,darkforms and yeah i don't even wanna think about getting bit by them such impressive big spiders:clap:

It's Not Very pleasing, I'll tell ya that much! The Black Hurt pretty bad, Layed me up for a day at that....IT seriously felt like my veins were melting when she tagged me instead of the pinky I was feeding her... the Trapdoor wasnt THAT bad, But it still burned pretty good...

 

[beetleman]

ahhh gotta love these spiders:clap:

 

[Moltar]

Thanks folks for the help. These lil guys are pretty sweet. To bad about how reclusive they are, theu only way i know mines alive is the crickets dissapear and occasionally i am graced with a remarkably large blob of poo on the side of the tank.

As for the pet hole comment, i will have to disagree. Since you can't see the hole it's really more like a pet jar of dirt... lol


One more thing while this thread is hot: Anybody know how to tell the difference between a Stasimopus robertisi and a Gorgyrella sp.? You know how it is w/ WC stuff. I'm curious if i have what it was sold as or not. Of course if i can't tell from the photos i probably never will. I'm not digging the little demon up!

 

[8+)]

Stasimopus is in the family Ctenizidae and Gorgyrella is in Idiopidae. The eye pattern tells me for sure you do not have S. robertsi. You have either Gorgyrella sp. or Idiopes sp.

I don't use a water dish with mine I just use a plant sprayer to mist good about once a week, or whenever the top layer starts to look dry.

If you don't feed too often, you should get to see your spider when feeding. I open the container and then wait for several minutes. Then I gently drop in a cricket and wait. I usually get to see at least one of mine make the grab! Makes keeping them much more worthwhile.

 

[Moltar]

Stasimopus is in the family Ctenizidae and Gorgyrella is in Idiopidae. The eye pattern tells me for sure you do not have S. robertsi. You have either Gorgyrella sp. or Idiopes sp.

I don't use a water dish with mine I just use a plant sprayer to mist good about once a week, or whenever the top layer starts to look dry.

If you don't feed too often, you should get to see your spider when feeding. I open the container and then wait for several minutes. Then I gently drop in a cricket and wait. I usually get to see at least one of mine make the grab! Makes keeping them much more worthwhile.

Thanks. Helpful info all.