What enclosure types are tried and trusted?

[cshouston]

I’m getting back into the hobby after selling over 40 species about ten years ago due to a girlfriend who hated my spider closet. I’ve been mainly sticking to the trusty deli cups and dishes for the slings, but I’ve been struggling with what to use for the bigger ones.

Back in the day, I used to use ZooMed and ExoTerra enclosures. I can’t seem to find the ZooMed locally anymore, so I got a couple of Exo. They’re fine for arboreals, but I remembered my issues with them in the past; particularly the height and inability to fill them past the bottom of the door in terrestrial setups.
The height here (even in an 8” cube) is kind of sketchy.

I was trying these containers, but I find the lids annoying to deal with and there’s not a lot of wiggle room with skittish specimens.

I’m not really sold on these. They’re ok for intermediate sizes, but they’re a little tight for my liking with 3”+ tarantulas.

I saw these from Reptizoo, but have no experience with them. They’re nice and short, but the screen top still concerns me. Anybody use these with success?

They do sell acrylic boxes that are quite nice with ventilated lids and magnets, but the lids slide out to the side which complicates things. I would have to line them up narrow side forward, with the lids sliding forward, but that also requires sliding the lid out quite a ways if I need to do anything in the front of the enclosure. It may be my best option though…


I should mention I don’t like sterilite containers. My preference is for enclosure that allow for viewing since I’m not going for utilitarian due to large numbers of Ts or breeding projects.

tl;dr: What's the consensus favorite for display enclosures that allows for viewing as well as safety and ease of access?

 

[Mojo288]

Your best best is probably the acrylic boxes. Lightweight super clear, no screen and very easy to modify if necessary.

I've never had issues with screen tops before but I only had a few over the years, but i would be more concerned about the lack of cross vent but you would probably be fine.

 

[DustyD]

Several companies make good acrylic enclosures, but they are/can be expenive. Some tops slide widthwise others lengthwise.

 

[cshouston]

Several companies make good acrylic enclosures, but they are/can be expenive. Some tops slide widthwise others lengthwise.

Thank you. The only ones I’m familiar with besides ReptiZoo are (a) the ones from Jamie’s Tarantulas, but with the weird partial opening which makes getting at the sides really awkward (b) the Lorex Plastics company, but the one I ordered was super creaky, flimsy, and the vents had wire mesh inserts that looked like an escape risk.

What companies are you referring to?

 

[NMTs]

I use these for most of my larger terrestrial species up to 5" or 6", and I know there are others here that use them, too. Reasonably priced, clear, study, easily modified for ventilating, stackable, hinged lids, several sizes/shapes available.

iDesign BPA-Free Plastic Stackable Shoe Organizer Box with Lid - 12.75" x 7.25" x 5", Clear

Upgrade your closet storage with the iDesign Shoe Organizer Box with Lid. This organizer box provides storage for one pair of shoes including heels, wedges, sandals, flats, booties, sneakers, and more and is ideal for use in bedroom, hallway, and entryway closets. The transparent sides and top...

idesignlivesimply.com

One question I've seen about these is how to lock them. There are other methods that have been suggested, but the one I prefer is the simplest - drill some holes and loop wire through to hold the lid down.

 

[cshouston]

I use these for most of my larger terrestrial species up to 5" or 6", and I know there are others here that use them, too. Reasonably priced, clear, study, easily modified for ventilating, stackable, hinged lids, several sizes/shapes available.

iDesign BPA-Free Plastic Stackable Shoe Organizer Box with Lid - 12.75" x 7.25" x 5", Clear

Upgrade your closet storage with the iDesign Shoe Organizer Box with Lid. This organizer box provides storage for one pair of shoes including heels, wedges, sandals, flats, booties, sneakers, and more and is ideal for use in bedroom, hallway, and entryway closets. The transparent sides and top...

idesignlivesimply.com

One question I've seen about these is how to lock them. There are other methods that have been suggested, but the one I prefer is the simplest - drill some holes and loop wire through to hold the lid down.
View attachment 423221

Thanks! I like the way these lids open more than the sliding type.

 

[viper69]

I’m getting back into the hobby after selling over 40 species about ten years ago due to a girlfriend who hated my spider closet. I’ve been mainly sticking to the trusty deli cups and dishes for the slings, but I’ve been struggling with what to use for the bigger ones.

Back in the day, I used to use ZooMed and ExoTerra enclosures. I can’t seem to find the ZooMed locally anymore, so I got a couple of Exo. They’re fine for arboreals, but I remembered my issues with them in the past; particularly the height and inability to fill them past the bottom of the door in terrestrial setups.
View attachment 423192 The height here (even in an 8” cube) is kind of sketchy.

I was trying these containers, but I find the lids annoying to deal with and there’s not a lot of wiggle room with skittish specimens.
View attachment 423193
I’m not really sold on these. They’re ok for intermediate sizes, but they’re a little tight for my liking with 3”+ tarantulas.

I saw these from Reptizoo, but have no experience with them. They’re nice and short, but the screen top still concerns me. Anybody use these with success?
View attachment 423195
They do sell acrylic boxes that are quite nice with ventilated lids and magnets, but the lids slide out to the side which complicates things. I would have to line them up narrow side forward, with the lids sliding forward, but that also requires sliding the lid out quite a ways if I need to do anything in the front of the enclosure. It may be my best option though…
View attachment 423196

I should mention I don’t like sterilite containers. My preference is for enclosure that allow for viewing since I’m not going for utilitarian due to large numbers of Ts or breeding projects.

tl;dr: What's the consensus favorite for display enclosures that allows for viewing as well as safety and ease of access?

You can take an arboreal Exo and turn it on its back for a terrestrial T

 

[goonius]

I use these acrylic boxes for juvenile terrestrials and really like them. Just add vent holes and two hasps on the front. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WT6YQW2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

We have a couple of Jaime’s enclosures for adults but are mostly using aquariums with metal mesh (not screen) lids because they are cheap, allow for some serious depth for the substrate and really easy access. I struggle to find this in acrylic ones though I’m always on the lookout for a mega-sized affordable acrylic box that would make a good home for larger species.

 

[LD50]

You can't go wrong with the Reptizoo tanks, I have 2 for my fossorial species. The mesh isn't really mesh it's just one solid piece and so far I've had absolutely no trouble with them. I'm slowly rehousing all of my Tarantulas into them. Of course just make sure the tarantula has an appropriate amount of substrate to prevent falls.

 

[DustyD]

HerpCult and Tarantula Cribs make very good acrylic enclosures, but again they can be costly.

 

[Albireo Wulfbooper]

I've added an acrylic panel behind the doors on my Exos to extend the soil height capability - works very well.
The flip-top shoeboxes work pretty well but I've found some have really stiff hinges that creak loudly and make the whole box shudder.

 

[JonnyTorch]

I use Herpcult, Tarantula Cribs and Exo Terra for adult T's and most slings. For Old World slings I use deli cups (Easier to prevent escape and maintenance for OW slings in my opinion). Depending on the size and type of the spider I switch it up. Terrestrials I use Herpcult because they are shorter. Fossorials I like to use Tarantula Cribs. Arboreals I use Herpcult arboreal cages until they're big enough for Exo Terras, except for the smaller juvenile versicolor I use T-crib arboreal juvie cages because the door is on the front and not the top like Herpcult is, but eventually the versi will get an Exo Terra. When I use Exo Terra I buy a specific replacement lid that is made for it that has ventilation and acrylic on it that fits perfectly for it.


T-cribs cages are built well, and the acrylic is pretty thick. They are pricey though. Herpcult; The acrylic is 3/4ths as thick as T-cribs acrylic, but still works great, and is still somewhat pricey. I choose these because I like the look of the display acrylic all next to each other instead of Kritter Keepers.

 

[liquidfluidity]

You can't go wrong with the Reptizoo tanks, I have 2 for my fossorial species. The mesh isn't really mesh it's just one solid piece and so far I've had absolutely no trouble with them. I'm slowly rehousing all of my Tarantulas into them. Of course just make sure the tarantula has an appropriate amount of substrate to prevent falls.

Check out Crapelles on Amazon. They use a vented top. Excellent for fossorial T use. I have 4 for my fossorials and Tom Moran just did a review of them

 

[joossa]

Deli Cups, Critter Keepers, and 5G glass tanks. Classics.

 

[me and my Ts]

I like exo Terra’s but they require some modification and most people frown upon them

 

[JonnyTorch]

I like exo Terra’s but they require some modification and most people frown upon them

Who frowns on them? 90% of the people I know in real life and on the boards use them for arboreals.

 

[me and my Ts]

Who frowns on them? 90% of the people I know in real life and on the boards use them for arboreals.

I don’t keep many arboreals only 2 and they’re both too small too live in them. So I keep terrestrials in them but some people on here say you can get enough substrate in their too make a suitable/safe enclosure

 

[JonnyTorch]

they’re both too small too live in them

Almost every arboreal tarantula is large enough to live in one when they're adults. 8x8x12 and 12x12x18 are perfect.

So I keep terrestrials in them but some people on here say you can get enough substrate in their too make a suitable/safe enclosure

THIS is frowned upon, not just the Exo Terras themselves. It's not wise to keep terrestrial T's in arboreal cages, so yes, there is not much room for deep substrate in an arboreal cage to provide safety if a terrestrial T climbs and falls. Arboreal T's don't have this problem that terrestrials have.

 

[me and my Ts]

Almost every arboreal tarantula is large enough to live in one when they're adults. 8x8x12 and 12x12x18 are perfect.

I mean they’re both still slings

It's not wise to keep terrestrial T's in arboreal cages

I don’t do that, I use the terrestrials