The Jade Spider Universal Care Sheet!!! (READ ME before asking care questions!)

[GartenSpinnen]

I have been noticing a lot of the same care questions, over and over again on the boards. Most of it is common knowledge easily obtained from a search, however, sometimes people look for species specific care because they think of tarantulas along the same lines as reptiles. There is no need for this, i have been keeping tarantulas for years with the same setups and have had exceptional results.

The idea for a lot of us keeping tarantulas is that they are 'easy' pets, but this is often blurred when people make the care of them way more complicated than it should be. So in this thread i will show you all how i keep my stuff. I have had very little problems through the years keeping stuff in this way. Hopefully this helps new keepers in some way, and prevents a lot of threads on the same questions from popping up so often.


Housing Tarantulas

Slings- I house my larger arboreal slings in tall cereal containers. They can be found at any grocery store for pretty cheap. I prefer the ones with the screw on tops instead of the snap on tops because i feel that they are more 'secure', but mainly it is just a personal preference. I make sure to drill many holes in lid, and many holes around the top of the sides of these containers. Ventilation is a must! I then put around 1"-2" of coco fiber or peat substrate in the bottom, add some cork bark, and then some fake plants. That's it. Done.



For smaller arboreal tarantulas, i use tall vials or deli containers like you see at the store with potato salad in them. Same basic concept only smaller. I decrease ventilation by only putting a few air holes in the top of the deli/vial.




For larger terrestrial slings, i used to use a lot of kritter keeper type enclosures. I am moving away from these now because i think they are ugly and insecure as all hell. I have started using the 'lock and lock' type enclosures and i am very happy with them. I drill lots of holes in the lid, and then some holes in the sides of the containers. I fill the containers with coco fiber or peat substrate usually at a depth of 3" or so, throw in a piece of cork bark, a water dish, and thats it. Done.



For smaller terrestrial slings, same basic concept but i use small deli cups or vials, and i do not use a hide. I just fill half of the container with substrate, and that's it. Usually i put a couple small holes in the top for ventilation. Nothing hard to do here.... Done.



For obligate burrowing slings that are larger, i use a cereal container like i use for arboreal above. When i drill holes for ventilation, i drill many small holes in the lid, then a few around the very bottom of the container. I fill all the way up to under 2" of the top of the container, and put in a water dish. That's it. Done.



For smaller obligate burrowers, i use tall vials but fill them up almost to the rim of the vial with substrate. A few small air holes in the top. Done.




Adults- Adult housing is pretty straight forward. Same basic concept, just larger and you can be more 'fancy' about it if you choose. I use Exo-Terra type enclosures, or 5.5 gal enclosures up on their sides for arboreal tarantulas. For terrestrials i use large KK's, lock and lock enclosures, or 2.5-5.5 gallon terrariums depending on what size they are. For obligate burrowers usually i end up just getting the largest cereal containers i can find, and using the same methods talked about above.


(Here is a quick glance on how some of my stuff is currently housed.)

Humidity and Temperature

Screw the 70%/80%/50% humidity crap. There is 2 types of tarantulas- tropical and desert. For tropical species, mist once or twice a week and keep a full large water dish in with them at all times. For desert species, do not mist, and only keep a full large water dish in with them at all times. That is how i monitor humidity...

For temperature, as long as your house does not drop below 70, or go above 90... your fine. If your house does get below 70... get a ceramic room heater, or get a reptile heat lamp and put it in the general vicinity of the collection just to keep the temp a bit higher. If it goes above 90 for extended periods of time, get a fan or an AC unit or something to cool the room a bit, and take extra caution that they have water at all times.


(A single heat bulb in a closet setup like i am currently using for some of my stuff is enough to adequately keep them warm if the proper equipment is used.)

Feeding

Slings- Use smaller prey items that are about the body length of the tarantula you are feeding. If the tarantula does not eat the prey within a couple hours, take it out, try again next week (unless its showing signs of premolt, then just wait until after it molts). Acceptable prey items are small crickets, roaches, etc. and if you cannot find small enough prey, just cut up larger prey into small chunks and drop it in. They will eat it.

Adults- I feed mine real good once every other week. I usually feed them a very large roach, or several adult crickets. Like the slings, if they do not eat it within a couple hours, take the prey out and try again on the next feeding. And before i get asked, NO it does NOT cause your tarantula to starve or be harmed in any way to feed them every other week.


Rehousing

Slings- If the vial or deli that they are in will fit in the larger enclosure they are going into, then just open the vial, drop it in the larger container, and let them come out on their own accordance. When they come out, reach in with tongs and pull out the vial.

Adults- I usually just lay an open container in front of the specimen i am trying to get, and gently nudge them softly with the tongs. Generally if this is done right they will just walk right into the container. Put the lid on. Place in new enclosure. Pull lid off. Let them come out when they feel like it, and then just snag the rehousing container with tongs afterward.


I think that is it? Hope it helps some n00bs .

Cheers,
Nate

[xhexdx]

Now I'm going to have to go and add this thread to mine!

[Atreyuhero4]

What did you blur out? lol

[GartenSpinnen]

What did you blur out? lol

Well if i told you, it would kinda defeat the purpose wouldn't it?

[GartenSpinnen]

Almost forgot-

Tools of the tarantula keeper



(From left to right)

Spray bottle- For misting cages.
Tongs- For getting prey remains, rehousing, etc.
Tape measure- This type comes in handy for measuring specimens.
Flashlight- I think this one is obvious enough?
High proof liquor- For the 'of age' keepers who keep OW species. If an accident happens, you may be glad you kept this around

[nexen]

Well if i told you, it would kinda defeat the purpose wouldn't it?

Looks like a human head to me. Creepy.

[GartenSpinnen]

Looks like a human head to me. Creepy.

LOL! No it is not a human head, it is specimens that i would not like to disclose that i have

[codykrr]

awsome thread jade! now to make it a sticky!....also i bet i can guess whats in the blurr!haha but if you dont want to disclose it ill keep my mouth zipped

[GartenSpinnen]

awsome thread jade! now to make it a sticky!....also i bet i can guess whats in the blurr!haha but if you dont want to disclose it ill keep my mouth zipped

??? How would you know? Your free to guess? I haven't told anybody about them, so unless your psychic.... ??

[UrbanJungles]

??? How would you know? Your free to guess? I haven't told anybody about them, so unless your psychic.... ??

Looks like a baby chimp in there to me...shame on you.

[GartenSpinnen]

Looks like a baby chimp in there to me...shame on you.

CRAP! I am busted!

[matthias]

LOL! No it is not a human head, it is specimens that i would not like to disclose that i have

ok what the heck is it then?

[D-back]

Nice enclosures .........I hope that alkohol is for external disinfection only...

[MelGibson]

i think that you wnat us to ask about it. other wise you would of just moved it and took another pic.

[rochin]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! a bottle of everlcear always comes handy man!!! thats the way to go man!! 95% alcohol!!! yea!! cool thread!!