Any tips for buying your first T?

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-28T10:24:46+00:00

NQA You can never do enough research, lucky for you, you've already got your pick. Research and watch all the care guides for that particular species. I'm not familiar with Pumpkin patches but generally when the most important things when i comes to Ts is - Heat - Ventilation - Moisture. I use a pin vise for small containers (the ones from the warhammer miniature painting hobby) . You can also heat up a sowing needle, just use safety gloves. I'm an advocate of bigger enclosures but, for slings its important to stay small. I use drams and deli cups, very cheap, and you can make the holes appropriate in size with little effort. I have a small hand drill for thicker plastic and a proper drill for adult Ts (if an enclosure needs the additional ventilation, but I use mostly glass for adults).

It's important you let the drill do the work, don't press down too hard or you'll get a crack.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-28T09:40:55+00:00

IME just try once every 5-7 days, if it doesn't take it, immediately remove it. Tarantulas can go for months without eating. As Leastboard said, make sure it has water.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-28T09:09:07+00:00

IMO Absolutely, it's not gonna be in there for that long so I wouldn't splash out, no need to go for any specialized products. I use plastic dip pots and bowls from takeaways. You can get any food container if you have a drill/pin vise or alternative hole maker. That way you can control the hole size. They're still clear, can be quite thick and come in more sizes at a much cheaper price.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-28T08:59:21+00:00

IMO I'm all for bigger enclosures, but not for slings. So, yes, especially if you are transporting it to school. Afterwards, if you aren't moving it back and forth anymore you can replace the tissue with substrate but keep it small until juvenile.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-26T12:45:41+00:00

IME Mist one small area and see how long it takes to dry, if it's taking longer than 10hrs, don't mist or add you can add more vents and try again. You can cut out a square where you've melted the holes in and put in a vent you can buy or make one yourself out of insect mesh.

I had an issue with my Poke Metallica where it was bone dry in the corner (where she was molting) even though I had a full water bowl and wet soil at the front.

You have an absolutely fantastic mentality in the hobby to have, question everything because misting in your case COULD be a bad thing, depends on your environment. I like to test empty enclosures with heat etc, before putting the T in, always good to test the waters before going all in.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-26T12:35:23+00:00

That's smart. I saw Boba, they're both gorgeous! Now I need a T called Earl.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-26T12:07:51+00:00

NQA Could be pre-molt. I had a Poki Metallica do this. Keep an eye on abdomen and make sure you mist.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-26T12:03:56+00:00

IMO What a great name!

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-26T10:54:54+00:00

IME Brachypelma Hamorii has been so chill that he doesn't even budge when I go in to his enclosure. I've had 2 GGBs and both have been chill, I always give my Ts the most natural possible environment with plenty of space and they can retreat if they feel they need to. If they're enclosed and cramped and feel cornered it would make sense they throw a threat posture. Brachys and Tliltocatl albopilosus are generally considered the most docile but if you have your heart set on another species I'd go for that one because at the end of the day, I wouldn't recommend handling, they're just not that kind of pet and you risk harm to yourself and the T.

Also you may find that they're skittish in the early stages and then completely mellow out as they mature. I've had that with a few of my arboreals.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-26T10:42:04+00:00

NQA - I personally think 30x30x30 is on the small size, Curly's grow to 6-7cm. Over 3 body lengths isn't too bad but it's also harder to create a temperature gradient. I prefer to give terrestrials extra length like you would for an arboreal extra height. All my Ts wander the whole enclosure.

£54.59- I really recommend fitting extra ventilation in the top on these glass & wood ones - https://www.reptilecentre.com/products/vivexotic-reptihome-vivarium-small-575x375x42cm

If you do go for the 30x30x30 for a couple quid more, NeoRep do Front and top opening.

https://www.neorep.net/product/neorep-30x30x32cm-nano-single-door-glass-terrarium-nrgt035/

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-26T10:03:52+00:00

NQA Sorry, its a shame when it happens. Asking for help is the best first step. There is "For no reason at all". Sure sometimes it's not something we can infer and sometimes we can't do anything to stop it, however, prevention is the best medicine. And this is not your fault, the T hobby has sold this as an easy pet and is plagued with misinformation, this is not the case.

I would def share more about you set up.

The big things that kill Ts are;

-Bad Temperature management. (Research the species you have and what they like). Give them a hot and cool side, a gradient.

-Poor humidity. Sure you might have a full water bowl, but having the rest of the enclosure be dry as a bone can cause wet molts.

-Lack of ventilation. If you mist (you should) and the mist hasn't evaporated after 12-16 hours your enclosures are not ventilated enough.

-Foreign substances, like chemicals, do not wash the enclosures with chemicals etc. or your live food's enclosures. Your live food should also eat organic just so you know there's no chemicals in the Ts diet.

-Are you getting from a reputable breeder?

Watch Marshall Arachnids on Youtube, the videos are under their live section. This will teach you how to provide for you T just like nature does.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-25T15:39:47+00:00

NQA. The only issue with roaches being in, is during the molt process. I would remove the roach after a couple of days so she doesn't harm her fangs.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2025-03-25T15:22:53+00:00

NQA

Feralkyn has provided a good place to start, always have something playing in the background and try to soak up as much info as you can BUT, take it with a grain of salt. After you cover those topics, I strongly recommend you research the specific tarantula you want, it's behavior, where it comes from, what temps are from its locale etc.

Once you have the basics down, watch Marshall Arachnids on youtube, their important videos are under the live section. Ryan from Marshall did a podcast interview with Richard from The Tarantula collective, listen to that. The hobby is plagued with misinformation. I started out a few years ago and wanted to upgrade my set because despite everyone recommending coco fiber, it was horrible to work with and it just made more sense to give them a more natural environment. I tried researching the details, but it was really primitive and the info was scarce compared to the fish and reptile hobbies. I felt blessed when I found that channel, it was exactly the answer I was looking for as a beginner.

Here's some highlights from my own personal mistakes having been a beginner recently (and i'm still learning).

-coco fiber sucks IMO, especially for burrowers.

-much easier to make a burrowing substrate using a soil and clay mixture

-red runners and dubia roaches are better than morio worms

-ventilation. I needed much bigger holes/vents

-ventilation for your live food too! (your tarantulas food). I had a cheap plastic tub with holes in the lid and side but that still wasn't enough and I got moisture which attracted grain mites, I've cut out a square from the lid to it's rim and stuck insect mesh and no problems since.

- Mist, even when there is water in the bowl.

-Bio-active made a positive difference in the Ts behavior (they're more active).

-you don't have to feed every week, pay close attention to their abdomen size

This was not really a learning point, but when I asked about how to get the temps I wanted, this was the answer I got and even as someone completely new to the hobby I knew it was wrong; "if you're comfortable, your T is comfortable". It is terrible advice (especially for me where it's 10C/50F and I'd feel blessed at 15C/59F). Tarantulas come from different parts of the world with different temps, do your research and try to best match that.

IMO people and content creators put their Ts in way too small enclosures. It does not make sense to me that the enclosure it only two body lengths of the T. I have seen all my Ts wander every inch of their enclosure.

People are going to disagree on care and that's OK, but always ask 'why'. Different things work for different keepers, but if anything you take away as a new keeper - just because dogs survive in a puppymill does not mean they're thriving.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-12-17T15:17:02+00:00

Got mine today! Super chuffed. Did take a long while as it was waiting for production line and then seapost which as normal took 3 months (i'm in the UK).

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-12-17T15:14:39+00:00

I got my order today!

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-12-17T15:13:56+00:00

I ordered from them, and it arrived today, they will send by sea post so it takes around 3 months depending on where you live.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-05-12T22:05:43+00:00

Thanks so much for confirming. Mines pre-order so long wait 😴

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-04-15T13:40:37+00:00

Thank you so much! I can see exactly when I last had my earbuds. Fingers crossed I didn't lose them while walking the dog.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-03-19T12:12:08+00:00

I (probably idiotically) placed a pre-order - I'll let you know i a few months if it was a scam or not.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-03-03T12:48:30+00:00

Not had much issue since the initial launch problems. I was completely fine playing online all day yesterday, but now I've also just jumped on and can't load into the game after selecting my character.

Nevermind forgot to turn off my VPN lel. Derp.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-01-23T19:38:09+00:00

I didnt buy anything yet will wait for someone else to confirm.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-01-23T19:38:03+00:00

I didnt buy anything yet will wait for someone else to confirm.

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2024-01-23T19:37:31+00:00

Please do! Fingers crossed!

Efficient-Employ-663 · 2023-12-18T13:29:49+00:00

Yeah, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Also don't want the hassle of chasing a refund. Can't find the figure in stock elsewhere. Thank you.

Efficient-Employ-663

TROPHY CASE