San Francisco Bay Area Tarantula Society

daveemory

I've been thinking lately about how to keep terrestrial tarantulas happy/comfortable (which we can't really know) without giving them so much substrate that they disappear. I've just not been convinced that I'm doing the right thing by, for instance, only putting two inches of substrate in a mini kritter keeper, plus a small hiding place, for a 2"+ juvenile.

Because when I've moved such spiders to places with more dirt, they really go to town and dig, whereas they are more inclined to either sit in the open or in the corner of the enclosure if there is no thick dirt. Case in point is my Chaco Golden Stripe, which liked its new foam enclosure background (thanks, Fred S.!) so much that it went ballistic and piled up as much dirt as it could in front of it, making a very deep hole in the middle of the substrate and disappearing.

Anyone have any thoughts/observations they can share in terms of different species' habits and how you've kept them viewable?

PC

squirrel · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 5:42 am Post subject:

so far Peter I have 3 T's 2 are major diggers, my Pulchra and New River, the New River is getting very big (3 inches) and digs under its hide, few times Ive freaked out thinking it got loose somehow just to find a deep hole under the hide :( it comes out lately for water and thats it, it lets te food come to it.

Since the 911 Pulchra scare I listened to Lony and removed 1/2 the substrate, now the little bugger is out and about in the enclosure, maybe try doing that :) .

I guess having an angry G. Rosea isnt bad at all, she has never dug, heck she doesnt even use her hide LOL. Oh and Peter your very welcome about the background!
_________________
Have you hugged your Tarantula Today?

T_Stew · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:03 am Post subject:

I give my T's as much dirt as it wants. If they want to dig, I let them dig. If the want to hide, I let them hide. I view myself as merely an observer. If they are out and about, I observe!

If not, not a big deal- I wait for another night.
Many people will get a H.lividum then complain they never see it- even though it is no secret that they are one of the most secretive of burrowers. They give it an inch of dirt so they can see it whenever they want- then they scratch their heads and wonder why it did not live very long.
All T's are wired and built a certain way- and they prefer certain conditions. Some are more viewable than others. Choose a T that suits you.
Just my 2 cents.
_________________
-Stew
God bless America!

darth skippy · Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 8:41 am Post subject:

i now have enough that there is always something going on(although the H lividium that i got from cody is almost always out at the top of her burrow

)

of course that is not to be confused with having enough in general

_________________
get it off me! get it off me!