Spider owners tips, feed videos and BS

Room is a constant +75 since I keep the thermostat/heating up even when I'm gone

 

@Kwikvette it's been 15 years since I kept Ts, but here some things to consider. @boogie3478 knows his shit and is currently keeping a big collection so he should fact check what I say here.

Most the pictures I see on this thread, except boogies, always appear to have low humidity. It may just be the pictures, but I never seen you post photos with 70-80% humidity levels. Ventilation is important and will drive your schedule, but I use to moisten my substrate thoroughly (not soaking wet mud, but thoroughly moist) every 1-2 weeks lowing it co pkete dry out in between. Then thoroughly spray a fine mist throughout the enclosure every other day or so. It would look like it rained in there and humidity/condensation would be visible.


I use to provide a temperature gradient via heat tape all the way to one side, a dimmer, and a thermometer. I would monitor both the hot side and the cold side to assure the correct gradient was there so my ectothermic Ts could choose where they want to be. I am not saying that a lot of people dont successfully keep Ts at room temperature. However, some Ts die because those room te.peratures either get too hot or too cold. You versicolor generally should have a gradient from 60 (cold side below 70s) to 80ish (some say 85 as long as the cold side is available).

 

The substrate is moist, and the fake leaves have tiny droplets I just didn't really want to keep it all moist in there since others make the mistake in doing so.

 

Might be too warm for a constant temp with no available gradient to get cooler if needed @boogie3478 ?

 

Oh I know he knows his stuff; me posting on here is kind of aching for his advice and I take it and run with it.

The reason why I'm not using a heatpad is because I've read this specific species can thrive in the temps you've stated. Rather than create a hot spot, I thought it'd be smarter to keep the entire place warm. Maybe I should use the extra, small heating pad?

 

Okay, in the photo it just looks dry. Also droplets dont equal humidity. But a lot of fine mist helps get you there.

 

In the mornings, the heater shuts off and on so 70 is common throughout.

 

Only if on a dimmer and you have a thermometer to monitor the heated side. Typically for arboreal or basking reptiles you use a heat lamp AND A DIMMER to adjust to the perfect temp and adjust throughout the year. I've seen some people use them successfully for Ts with the correct cage setup. I'm not sure you have a cage that would provide for enough room for heat to also escape and provide a gradient.

 

I definitely am concerned about the lack of cross ventilation though and I've considered getting a different type of enclosure.

 

Temperature is pretty easy for T's and 99% of the time a room where a human is comfortable (70-80 degrees ) is fine for them.

Humidity can be tricky and I do the misting and soaking the substrate like you mentioned and allowing the substrate to dry before doing it again. I like to rotate which corner of the enclosure I'll soak to help avoid mold. Cross-ventilation is key in T enclosures. I also usually have a water dish of some sorts to help provide a tiny bit of humidity and a source of water if the T wants to drink ... but some T's will show you that they don't want/need to water dish and will constantly fill it with substrate or even turn it over. In those cases I don't even keep a water dish in there but am extra mindful of monitoring how dry the substrate is. Decorative moss is another good water to help with humidity as it helps retain water.

 

Humidity is one thing I need to learn a lot on, and a good enclosure seems to be the good start.

As for the substrate, yeah I overfill when I need to di the corner with the water dish as you mentioned before.

 

Stop posting photos of a "dry looking" enclosure then

 

I use to pump up my hand sprayer, put it to fine mist, and spray the hell out of the cage focusing most to one side. Those hand pump sprayers like for your hair aren't the best in my opinion. Plus are alot of work if you have a big collection of reptiles.

 

@Kwikvette FYI at EBV the spider display has a small heat tape on a dimmer in the back of the cages to provide a temperature gradient. Again, I know alot of people keep Ts very successfully at room temps. Personally, and because I'm reptile biased, I prefer proving temp gradients and allowing them to choose where they want to be. In the wild, they are not confined to
one temperature.

 

Got a link to the sprayer you used?

 

Something like this:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Chapin-48-oz-Foam-Hand-Sprayer-1054/301459937

 

With the exception of this thread, I've gathered a lot of my information from the mods and long time posters in arachnid forums.

I never mentioned where I got my A.Versicolor but it was somewhere you guys would've advised against lol PetCo

I was hoping the fact that it wasn't able to climb glass was due to premolt, but other signs point to a wild caught tarantula. My L.Parahybana was captive bred, and she is a healthy and voracious eater.

I know I have responsibilities to my T's and I'm hoping this little one wasn't because I didn't do my best..

 

You can always call EBV and ask for Carlos or James, been there 30 years or so. They know their shit.

Yeah, probably wildcaught. Hey, you are more likely to take damn good care of it compared to other potential DeathCO shoppers. So do so and be proud of that. One thing for sure is that T is now a North America resident.

 

I've been wanting to go back but since the shut down....I can't.

They're only selling food, supplies, etc.

 

Going to attempt to gif film an OBT feeding today.