What are the odds of a tarantula escaping?

[PhobeToPhile]

I would let to get a 0.5 inch G. pulchripes sling for my birthday. However, my mom (and my sister) are afraid it will escape-my sister said that everyone she knows who has had a tarantula had it escape at some point (my sister is deathly arachnophobic). Now, is there a way for me to house a sling that size which would keep the odds of escape as close to zero as possible?

 

[xhexdx]

Make sure you get a lid that fits securely, air holes are smaller than the spider's carapace, and you put the lid back on after any enclosure maintenance.

If you're STILL uncertain, put that enclosure into a larger, empty enclosure with another lid that seals well with small ventilation holes.

Even if it did escape, G. pulchripes has very mild venom and poses almost no risk of injury to anyone in the home. Not to mention, at .5", odds are it would get stepped on before it would bite anyone.

--Joe

 

[GK.]

There's millions of ways you can house slings without them escaping. I would say get one of those plastic cubes from Michael's and put some small holes in it. But you can keep slings in pretty much anything with a secure lid and holes smaller than its body.

 

[syndicate]

Agree 100% with Joe above.
If your careful you will not have escapes but I think your odds get really bad when you start having 100's of spiders haha!I rarely have any over here but when you have a big collection its much easier to happen.
I think I've had 3 in the whole time I've been keeping.
-Chris

 

[xhexdx]

But you can keep slings in pretty much anything with a secure lid and holes smaller than its body.

The real key is the carapace. I'm not sure if you were referring to that or to its abdomen, but the carapace is what's most important. I very distinctly remember a thread where a spider got halfway through and ended up dying.

Although...I guess it didn't technically escape...

 

[AbraCadaver]

Although...I guess it didn't technically escape...

I'm sorry, but that made me laugh

Poor spider though.

 

[Anubis77]

In 5 years, I've had one (tarantula) escapee. My own fault though. I had an 3 inch A. moderatum in one of those Michael's cubes with a pretty loose lid that it managed to lift. That happened 3 or 4 years ago though, and never since when I learned to secure cages.

If your lid isn't secure, put a rock or something on top of it.

For slings, I keep them in large vials that I puncture holes in with a large needle. If you want to reassure your family, a 0.5 inch tarantula won't survive outside of an enclosure for long. The other spiders that live in your house will probably eat it.

 

[NikiP]

If it does, just don't tell them I had a very tiny Avic. purpurea sling, forget how big, escape while unpacking on dark green carpet. No idea where it had gone. Didn't say anything to my roommate, I found up a wall a couple of days later.

 

[Redneck]

I have been keeping tarantulas for almost a year now.. (10 months in 5 days to be exact..)

I have NEVER had a tarantula escape.. I have kept tarantulas from 1/8"-7"..
I have had kept more than 300 T's at once.. Never have any of them escaped..

All you have to do is everything Joe said.. Pay close attention to them..

 

[PhobeToPhile]

Thanks for the info...I have however been doing more research, and it seems that they are more than capable of ripping/popping the top of their enclosures. Now, I doubt this would be an issue at 0.5 inches, but once it gets to be over an inch should I use anything to secure the container in particular? Like masking tape or something like that?

 

[xhexdx]

Thanks for the info...I have however been doing more research, and it seems that they are more than capable of ripping/popping the top of their enclosures. Now, I doubt this would be an issue at 0.5 inches, but once it gets to be over an inch should I use anything to secure the container in particular? Like masking tape or something like that?

I suppose that would all depend on what type of enclosure you plan on using.

 

[rexi_doll]

Just a suggestion? I got this really cool container from one of the family dollar, and it had a nice lid that screwed on. It was some sort of kitchen container, but it worked perfect for my 4 inch p. irminia. Just had to drill a few air holes. I liked the screw on lid though, because there is NO way a T could pop THAT off lol.

 

[JimM]

Thanks for the info...I have however been doing more research, and it seems that they are more than capable of ripping/popping the top of their enclosures. Now, I doubt this would be an issue at 0.5 inches, but once it gets to be over an inch should I use anything to secure the container in particular? Like masking tape or something like that?

Tarantulas are small animals, not that strong relatively speaking, and easy to keep in their home. Can you easily knock the lid off with minimal effort? If so maybe you need to work something else out. Containers with threaded lids are easy enough to find, or lids that snap on, etc. It should take you a small mount of effort to get any lid off, if so, then no worries.

 

[xhexdx]

Just a suggestion? I got this really cool container from one of the family dollar, and it had a nice lid that screwed on. It was some sort of kitchen container, but it worked perfect for my 4 inch p. irminia. Just had to drill a few air holes. I liked the screw on lid though, because there is NO way a T could pop THAT off lol.

Actually, I have had two occasions where the lid wasn't screwed down tight, and the spider unscrewed it and lifted it off. Now I make sure the lid is on tight.

 

[Twitterus]

My juvenile rosehair got the first day I brought her home..but it was because her airholes were too big. If you get a secure deli cup and make sure the holes are very small, you shouldn't have a problem. Mine hasn't got out since I transfered her into a whole foods deli cup