B.Smithi Novice Keeper Help

[Neil Martin]

I got my first spider yesterday, a juvenile around 5cm legspan, gender unknown.

I got it delivered via the Royal Mail and whilst I had concerns about this method, it was the only one I could find and to be honest, the spider was in superb looking condition on arrival.

It's home has been set up for a fortnight now, a glass tank 18" x 11", vermiculite substrata, cork bark retreat, water dish, and heater pad. It has been holding at 75F and between 65 - 80% humidity.

I put the spider in the tank in it's transport box with the lid off and left it alone to minimise any stress.

After 6 hours, it had disappeared, but rather than bury itself, it has climbed the tank up to a small glass ledge under the lid near the air holes.

It turned itself around about 2 hours later, but this morning hadn't moved a mm. I genuinely thought it was dead and dissapointedly undid the first velcro lid strap, to post the body back to the supplier - however, it recoiled into a ball, much to my relief.

However, now (30 hours) after entering the tank, it is still in exactly the same position up on the ledge and not moved a jot.

My concerns are 1) Shouldn't it be taking in fluids, 2) Is it in danger of falling off the ledge or will it be able to get down, 3) If I intervene and get it back down to terra firma, will the stress of that cause it harm, 4)When should I think about feeding it etc etc etc.

I hope you will excuse what may well be idiotic questions, but as I say this is my first Tarantula and I really would hate for it not to survive.

I thought the Smithi was a ground dweller, but someone obviously forgot to tell this one!

Any good advice or even a telling off from you lot would be most appreciated.

[Neil Martin]

Quick update, I've taken the plunge and coaxed it down off the ledge by offering it a lift in it's old transportation box (must determine gender to avoid calling it "IT").

It climbed in nicely with little persuassion, but not before having a good old hair flick at me!

Seems to be in good shape still, so fingers crossed it will stay down off the ledge and get to know the low level habitat I have so generously provided!!

Moving on to feeding, I thought I may try tomorrow or Sunday with a cricket - what "size" should I be looking at for a 5cm youngster or will it have a go at most anything?

[Adam Walters]

Hi Neil,

What you have described is a typical reaction to moist/damp substrate (i.e. he/she doesn't like it). Humidity is a a bit too high....and should be around 50% for this species. Most prefer 'bone dry' substrate with a small water dish.

I read tank dimensions as 18" length x 11" high....correct? If so then it seems a little large. But more importantly, for now, the substrate should be at a depth equal to the maximum span of the tarantula. This is to prevent climbing, thus injury from a fall.

A personal recommendation is to replace the vermiculite with a more stable substrate, such as; coconut fibre, granulated orchid bark, compost (peat & chemical free) etc.

Your questions are not stupid

Welcome to the forum!

[Adam Smith]

not only that, the tank is way to big for a small size as described. a deli cup would be ideal size, well a smaller tank anyway

[Adam Walters]

not only that, the tank is way to big for a small size as described. a deli cup would be ideal size, well a smaller tank anyway

Yup, as I said in my post....."it seems a little large"

Neil, it's up to you whether you want to try feeding although I would probably wait until he/she has settled in a little better. As for prey; go with something that is no greater in size than the opisthosoma.

Cheers,
Adam.

[sarah Smith]

In case your unsure what Adam means by the opisthosoma its means the abdemon I know when I was new to Taratulas getting told bout body parts by their formal scientific name confussed me. I keep my 1.5 to 2 inch brachypelmas in small square tupperware tubs approx 3 inch square with a hide and some peat free chemical free compost for the substrate mine seem to prefer it if this is bone dry. I am not sure what others do but I find that my smaller taratulas ( those under 3 inch leg span ) get all their mositure from their food and I also spray a small part of their tupperware so they can drink that way to advoid them drowning in a water dish. The tupperware lid has holes made in it to provid the needed ventilation and these tubs are then placed next to a heat mat on a bigger tank as their are no mats quite big enough for this size tub. After their next moults I will be potting them up to the smallest size tommy tank ( pet pals ) but will keep all other conditions the same and will also be able to add a heat mat to the back of the tank.

[Adam Walters]

Apologies, my bad Here is a link explaining the various parts of Anatomy

http://giantspiders.com/anatomy.html

[Neil Richardson]

These are the sort of pots that Sarah was describing. I think we bought them from Wilko's.

[sarah Smith]

yep we got them from wilkinsons but most places should have that sort of thing around.

[Phil Rea]

yep we got them from wilkinsons but most places should have that sort of thing around.

I get a similar sort of thing from Poundstretcher. £1 for 6 if I remember correctly

[Neil Martin]

Thank you all for your responses.

Reviewing my first post I realise I have misled you about the size of the spider. Where I stated legspan I should have typed body length of 4 - 5cm. I understand it to be a 2 year old juvenile? Apologies for that.

The T has made itself a nice burrow underneath the cork bark, so hopefully has got over the shock of transportation etc? If it doesn't start eating etc in a couple of days, I will look into downsizing it's habitat somewhat.

I have dropped a cricket into the tank, which is about the same size as it's abdomen section (1.5-2cm), so fingers crossed it will get taken tonight. Oddly enough the cricket ran straight down into the spider's burrow, only to emerge 30 seconds later, so it obviously isn't too interested just yet?

Thanks for indulging me, I'm sure you all remember what an anxious time these first few days are?

[sarah Smith]

Mmm even still I think you need a smaller tank than the one you have, my larger brachy is 1.5 inch body and is still fine in the tub I have it in. The problem with the tank being to big is more its tricky for them to find their food and catch it rather than the stress but stress is also a problem. The tank should as a guide be three times by two times the spiders leg lenght.

[Neil Martin]

Mmm even still I think you need a smaller tank than the one you have, my larger brachy is 1.5 inch body and is still fine in the tub I have it in. The problem with the tank being to big is more its tricky for them to find their food and catch it rather than the stress but stress is also a problem. The tank should as a guide be three times by two times the spiders leg lenght.

OK, it didn't take the cricket last night, so I have rehoused it this morning, please see pictures below. I have included a watch to give it some scale and the retreat is an old cycling drinks bottle, not a camera film case. Please confirm that this seems OK as to my untrained eyes it looks far too confined?

It was very reluctant to move once I had lifted the cork bark off it, almost as if it were asleep? I hope all this messing about isn't stressing it out too much?

Another point, I plan to keep the tupperware box "in" the intended glass tank, at the end where there is no heat pad, due to the fact that it maintains 75F pretty consistently - do you think this is OK or will the heat build up be too much? I think perhaps I should turn the heat pad off and rely on the house central heating?

I haven't sprayed the box/vermiculite, so will the milk bottle top/cotton wool/water be sufficient if replenished every day or two?

Finally, back to feeding, the crickets I have are around 2cm long (just smaller than the width of the watch) but are fairly feisty, throwing bits of vermiculite about with abandon in the hunt for food I assume? In these new confines, will that pose much problem for the spider? I am planning to leave them out for today, to let it find the retreat and settle back down again. The thing is it hasn't eaten to my knowledge since Wednesday (5 days) and I don't know when before that. Am I unduly concerned on this issue?





A lot of questions I know, but hopefully I will get there eventually!!

[Adam Walters]

Hi Neil,

That setup looks absolutely fine, 75F is ok just don't leave the tank anywhere that it will receive direct sunlight.. 5 days without eating is nothing to worry about. Leave it a week, and then try again. If you are concerned at the size of the cricket, you can always injur it prior to feeding (eg remove back legs etc.)

Cheers,
Adam.

[Neil Richardson]

That looks much better. Here is our B.smithi that lives in a pot like i showed above. It moulted only yesterday, so looks stunning!