Wanting to do a bioactive enclosure for my Aphonopelma chalcodes

[Nevermore3113]

I have a lot of ideas, but also would like some more ideas and opinions. I wanna do a bioactive enclosure for my aphonopelma chalcodes. I have her in a naturalistic enclosure currently, but I've been wanting to do a bioactive enclosure for her. Not my first bioactive enclosure, but it would be my first arid bioactive enclosure. Not a lot out there on the best setup for a arid bioactive enclosure for a tarantula. I know a lot of people would say there isn't a need for an arid bioactive enclosure, but it's what I wanna try. One concern I have is when it comes to watering the plants in an arid species enclosure. I don't wanna make the humidity too high clearly. I know even succulents would need watering at least once a week. Also not sure if I should do a drainage layer for this bioactive build or not. Or if I did how I should set it up. Give me all your ideas and opinions it will be much appreciated.

 

[fcat]

I'd say don't do it, but let's see what you have so far.

Im worried the T is going to get the short end of the stick when you use words like Aphonopelma and drainage layer in the same post. Those are not compatible and if present together you have an inappropriate setup.

The word "bioactive" tends to make eyes roll around here...it's an old fad that never made much sense to label except to sell more products. By virtue of putting your T in a box it became bioactive. Imagine us all using that word in every sentence when talking about our Ts. It would be ridiculous. It's implied.

 

[Mustafa67]

I have a lot of ideas, but also would like some more ideas and opinions. I wanna do a bioactive enclosure for my aphonopelma chalcodes. I have her in a naturalistic enclosure currently, but I've been wanting to do a bioactive enclosure for her. Not my first bioactive enclosure, but it would be my first arid bioactive enclosure. Not a lot out there on the best setup for a arid bioactive enclosure for a tarantula. I know a lot of people would say there isn't a need for an arid bioactive enclosure, but it's what I wanna try. One concern I have is when it comes to watering the plants in an arid species enclosure. I don't wanna make the humidity too high clearly. I know even succulents would need watering at least once a week. Also not sure if I should do a drainage layer for this bioactive build or not. Or if I did how I should set it up. Give me all your ideas and opinions it will be much appreciated.

I wouldn’t recommend it. Like @fcat says I agree I think it’s not compatible with a dry requirement T

 

[Introvertebrate]

I have a lot of ideas, but also would like some more ideas and opinions. I wanna do a bioactive enclosure for my aphonopelma chalcodes. I have her in a naturalistic enclosure currently, but I've been wanting to do a bioactive enclosure for her. Not my first bioactive enclosure, but it would be my first arid bioactive enclosure. Not a lot out there on the best setup for a arid bioactive enclosure for a tarantula. I know a lot of people would say there isn't a need for an arid bioactive enclosure, but it's what I wanna try. One concern I have is when it comes to watering the plants in an arid species enclosure. I don't wanna make the humidity too high clearly. I know even succulents would need watering at least once a week. Also not sure if I should do a drainage layer for this bioactive build or not. Or if I did how I should set it up. Give me all your ideas and opinions it will be much appreciated.

I'm more of a "bogus-bio" fan myself. Something that has that bioactive look, but with none of the risks and complexities. I'd keep the succulents in shallow pots and bury the pots in the substrate. The idea being that when you water the succulents, the moisture stays around the plant and doesn't spread to the substrate. Drainage-wise, can you drill holes in the floor of the enclosure? Either that or just don't overwater the plants. There are plenty of options if you're crafty and willing to be creative.

 

[Gevo]

The thing with bioactive setups for arid plants and species is that the terrarium is an enclosed space, not an open desert or room where the air moves and circulates differently. Succulent plants would need to be watered very infrequently in such a setup (once a week would be way too much!), but plants also respirate and let off humidity, even if it's a much smaller amount with succulents.

The second thing I'd be worried about is the drainage layer. That's partly because it can take away some burrowing space if you have a digger, but moreso it's because those drainage layers do a good job of keeping moisture away from the plants' roots but can result in a really "soupy" layer at the bottom that hangs onto all that water around the lecca or whatever you're using and can keep humidity levels high even if the soil on top is dry. I don't have personal experience with bioactive enclosures; this is from my experience keeping plants.

I don't want to say an arid bioactive enclosure can't be done, but I do think it would take a whole lot of experience and monitoring to do it in a way that doesn't risk making compromises to the tarantula's ideal conditions, and I don't think it's a good thing for most keepers to attempt. I think @Introvertebrate's suggestion is a good one, but I'd add that succulents in an environment like this would need watering only every month or even every other month, probably (root rot is one of the most common things that kill them), and if you keep them in pots, you could actually just pull them right out of the enclosure to water them, give them a good drink, and then place them back in once they've drained off. Better yet, you could try it out in advance in a terrarium before trying to put the tarantula and plants together to see how it goes.

 

[AphonopelmaTX]

I have a lot of ideas, but also would like some more ideas and opinions. I wanna do a bioactive enclosure for my aphonopelma chalcodes. I have her in a naturalistic enclosure currently, but I've been wanting to do a bioactive enclosure for her. Not my first bioactive enclosure, but it would be my first arid bioactive enclosure. Not a lot out there on the best setup for a arid bioactive enclosure for a tarantula. I know a lot of people would say there isn't a need for an arid bioactive enclosure, but it's what I wanna try. One concern I have is when it comes to watering the plants in an arid species enclosure. I don't wanna make the humidity too high clearly. I know even succulents would need watering at least once a week. Also not sure if I should do a drainage layer for this bioactive build or not. Or if I did how I should set it up. Give me all your ideas and opinions it will be much appreciated.

The first step is to provide what you are hoping to accomplish with your tarantula caging. The term “bioactive” is very vague. Is adding plants the only thing that will be included in your bioactive setup?

 

[Introvertebrate]

The thing with bioactive setups for arid plants and species is that the terrarium is an enclosed space, not an open desert or room where the air moves and circulates differently. Succulent plants would need to be watered very infrequently in such a setup (once a week would be way too much!), but plants also respirate and let off humidity, even if it's a much smaller amount with succulents.

The second thing I'd be worried about is the drainage layer. That's partly because it can take away some burrowing space if you have a digger, but moreso it's because those drainage layers do a good job of keeping moisture away from the plants' roots but can result in a really "soupy" layer at the bottom that hangs onto all that water around the lecca or whatever you're using and can keep humidity levels high even if the soil on top is dry. I don't have personal experience with bioactive enclosures; this is from my experience keeping plants.

I don't want to say an arid bioactive enclosure can't be done, but I do think it would take a whole lot of experience and monitoring to do it in a way that doesn't risk making compromises to the tarantula's ideal conditions, and I don't think it's a good thing for most keepers to attempt. I think @Introvertebrate's suggestion is a good one, but I'd add that succulents in an environment like this would need watering only every month or even every other month, probably (root rot is one of the most common things that kill them), and if you keep them in pots, you could actually just pull them right out of the enclosure to water them, give them a good drink, and then place them back in once they've drained off. Better yet, you could try it out in advance in a terrarium before trying to put the tarantula and plants together to see how it goes.

I'm not a fan of drainage layers either. People are willing to give up so much valuable tank space just so they don't have to punch drainage holes in the floor of the enclosure. Granted, you'd need some sort of drainage tray underneath the tank. Or siphon off the overflow.

The first step is to provide what you are hoping to accomplish with your tarantula caging. The term “bioactive” is very vague. Is adding plants the only thing that will be included in your bioactive setup?

I think the term suggests that you're creating a self-sustaining balance inside your enclosure, whereby flora and fauna are in a state of equilibrium. A phenomenon that barely exists in nature, let alone inside a tank. Anyway, let the youngsters enjoy their buzzwords. At least they're not on campus, protesting.

 

[Gevo]

I'm not a fan of drainage layers either. People are willing to give up so much valuable tank space just so they don't have to punch drainage holes in the floor of the enclosure. Granted, you'd need some sort of drainage tray underneath the tank. Or siphon off the overflow.

I love these setups with tropical reptiles and amphibians, where those animals actually live on and amongst the plants in their natural habitats. There's a store in my city where I can go and just look at them all for hours. But, they have mechanical controls like filters and pumps, and obviously the needs of those animals are very different. I like to balance aesthetics with my tarantulas' needs, so I like pretty, naturalistic enclosures too and totally get the urge, but I also try to remember that a tarantula's direct habitat is actually just a few square feet of space, and even if they come from areas with lots of plants, it doesn't mean those plants make up the tarantula's natural living environment.

 

[viper69]

Drainage not a fan
Arid- doable
Bioactive- useless term
Plants in pots IMO

Check out plant people who make arid terrariums

 

[Matt Man]

A. chalcodes live in the desert. Any bioactivity that requires drainage is too much water for the species. In most cases "what is healthy for the plants" is "unhealthy for the T"
Pick some desert schrubs, plants, site specific for the species. I am guessing a water level that is healthy for both might possibly be achieved