Weird things in my tarantula's enclosure?

[The Grym Reaper]

I don't wanna place her in something too big that's going to result in wasted space

You can get away with putting GBBs in larger enclosures as they generally use all the space provided, if you set them up right then they'll web the bejesus out of everything they find.

 

[Paul1126]

Speaking off topic here, GBBs are stunning there's one in my local reptile shop kept correctly, the webbing alone is amazing to see.

 

[Charlottesweb17]

GBB

• Charlottesweb17
• Jul 27, 2017

You can't see mine very well but since having my GBB in the last few weeks has webbed about a quarter if its enclosure.
Fake plants are great for enclosure anchors she has also anchored her water dish.

 

[KezyGLA]

On second look of the photos I can see a lot of mites. Mites also thrive in moisture and can quickly become a problem.

That spider life substrate is terrible for tarantulas. It is prone to mould and other issues.

If you swap out the sub for something like eco earth and make sure it is dry. The mites should die off.

 

[The Grym Reaper]

3.5" female in a large KK, she's webbed up most of it already and regularly patrols the entire enclosure, she was in a medium before this and had webbed up everything except the water dish (I rehoused her to this as it was going spare after I sold my H. laoticus and wanted to put my G. iheringi in the GBB's old enclosure).

 

[Tenevanica]

Everyone else is right. That's a terrible enclosure for that species. Give it something larger, about 3X its DLS by 2X its DLS in floor space. Put some fake plants or something in there for webbing. I actually stick bamboo kabob skewers out of the substrate for my girl to web to. This species will use a large enclosure. And, of course, this is a species that likes it very dry.

Here's my enclosure as an example. The first picture is when I just moved her into the enclosure. The second is the enclosure after about three weeks of webbing:


(Note, there is usually water in the dishes as there should be. Both pics were taken before filling/refilling the water dish.)

 

[The Grym Reaper]

The second is the enclosure after about three weeks of webbing

Just checked how long ago I rehoused mine to that KK and it was just over 3 weeks ago, not a bad effort considering she's smaller than yours lol

 

[Tenevanica]

Just checked how long ago I rehoused mine to that KK and it was just over 3 weeks ago, not a bad effort considering she's smaller than yours lol

Ha, she'll get there I'm sure! Maybe a bit of encouragement would help? Talk to your GBB, is she interested in motivational speakers? Explain it could really help her webbing efforts and self esteem, lol!

 

[The Grym Reaper]

Ha, she'll get there I'm sure! Maybe a bit of encouragement would help? Talk to your GBB, is she interested in motivational speakers? Explain it could really help her webbing efforts and self esteem, lol!

I'll play her a bit of hip-hop so she can do some constructive twerking lol

 

[campj]

"HELP I need help everyone, because I don't know what I'm doing!

Oh, that's your advice? No, I know better than ten experienced keepers, so I don't need your help."

That's basically what i see here. Those spiders use as much space as you give them. When I had them, I used ten gallon tanks and I feel like they would have used more space than that to create their webs if I'd given it to them. Think about that dude... a ten gallon tank for a four inch spider! And hey, that moist substrate is what made everyone who owned them when they were first imported think that they're hard to care for. They were all dying because it's a dry species and everyone was keeping them too humid.

 

[carterxwr]

I don't feel that any further criticism is necessary, so here's something that might be helpful for you. At this link: http://arachnoboards.com/threads/gbb-enclosure-ideas.296871/
This is a thread for GBB enclosure ideas. Hopefully this and the other photos that users have posted will help educate you on how to properly house this species. Good luck!

 

[campj]

Hahaha nah man, it's just hard to give constructive criticism over the Internet without it reading like everyone is holding torches and pitch forks.

Edit for the UK readers: torches as in sticks with fire on the end, not flashlights

 

[JoshDM020]

Webbing update

• JoshDM020
• Aug 10, 2017
• 5

Not much difference, but the top right corner is a little more dense, now. Probably because...

Current enclosure for my C. cyaneopubescens. Thats a 12" × 4" sterlite tub. My sling is the same size as yours if not smaller. Ease up on the moisture. A lot. Take the advice given here. Keep doing what youre doing, you are going to kill it. Simple as that.

 

[miss moxie]

Your GBB's enclosure is too small, your GBB looks to be suffering for it, and you seem very resistant to change. No one knows everything, and that includes you. Listen to people who know more about your tarantula than you do. If you knew everything you wouldn't be asking questions.

GBB are very heavy webbers and the fact that your GBB hasn't webbed up their enclosure at all means that something is most likely wrong-- and people are telling you what the problems are. The enclosure is too small. There are not nearly enough anchoring points for that GBB to do what GBBs love to do-- web. I can't even see ventilation holes in the sides of that enclosure. Likely that is why the substrate can't dry out and GBBs like bone dry substrate.

 

[mconnachan]

They're definitely NOT springtails in the water. They look worm/maggot like.

Thats poop and springtails.

They're not springtails. They don't have legs and are under the water. Springtails have legs and live on the surface.

I get these in a lot of my specimens water dishes. They flick and spring about like springtails. I always thought they were.

The things in the dish are springltails and are harmless

Due to al the differing opinions it would be wise to rehouse the T into a larger enclosure, keep the sub dry and add a water dish, no matter what these seem to be, the sub needs changing, and the size, we're not here to lecture anyone but to offer good advice, you can take it like it is given - in good will,
or you can disregard everyone and do what you think is right, I know what I would be doing.....but that my friend is entirely up to you.....

 

[Blue25]

Look man listen to the people here they know a lot more then you do about owning a Tarantula... it needs a bigger enclosure for sure... if you are going to own the animal make sure you can afford the enclosure and necessities that the spider needs. Part of ownership.

 

[mconnachan]

Edit for the UK readers: torches as in sticks with fire on the end, not flashlights

Duuuuh - and you thought we don't know this, come on, we were using them a long, long time, before any of your ancestors were, no offence, but give us some credit.

 

[campj]

Blurgh I thought the emoji would help convey the good natured ribbing I was throwing out. I have nothing but respect for the UK... some of the best electronic music artists and some of the best fly fishers/fly tiers are out of England and Scotland. Plus all that other stuff you guys have (whatever it may be lol). Respek!

 

[ShyDragoness]

Hahaha nah man, it's just hard to give constructive criticism over the Internet without it reading like everyone is holding torches and pitch forks.

Edit for the UK readers: torches as in sticks with fire on the end, not flashlights

Ive seen Shrek thank you very much

 

[campj]

Ha, there we go!