Glasgow Andrew Has A Question

[Andrew Murdoch]

Here goes:
I have a Mex Red Rump in a small enclosure. It appears to be doing well.
Overnight it started moving the substrate around and now it appears to be very exposed. It was originally in a its burrow which had two entrances. The burrow type system it had has collapsed and now it is or appears to be in a more open situation.
*Should I leave it alone or introduce more substrate and allow it to make another burrow type hide away. I was thinking of moving it from the enclosure and totally replacing the substrate etc. In saying that I dont really want to stress my T out too much.....I look forward to hearing your experiences. Thanks you guys.

[matthew spooner]

hi andrew. it seems to be something that your T has done, not something that has accidently happened. i would say to leave it how it is for now and monitor it. it may be that your T has gone laurence llewelyn bowen on ya and is having a re-design. your T does everything for a reason. if there is no change in a couple of days i would say leave the substrate as it is as long as it is deep enough for your T to make a new burrow

[Colin D Wilson]

That's the relevant question, how muck substrate have you provided.
If there's not enough then it would be a little harder for the spider to create it's *home* to its liking.
I'd agree with Matt and leave alone for a few days to see what further shifting around it does, it'll be apparent if there's not enough sub, you could just let some dry out and pile small amounts in one corner to see if the spider utilises the extra

[Peter Roach]

Andrew, you havent said what type of substrate is in use.
I have found that a mix of different substrates/additions will hold tunnels a lot better than a single type.
I used to keep many different species of geckos (35+), quite a few that burrowed and learned the hard way that a mixture of different' bits' always beat a single type of subtrate.
I now use almost the same mix for my spiders and (fingers crossed) havent noticed any cave-ins.

The mix that I use is .....
3 parts Eco-earth (slightly damp)
2 parts vermiculite (Dry) (small grade for slings and small juvs, large grade for large juvs and adults)
1 part fine orchid bark
1 handful of chopped spagnum moss

All mixed up in a bucket (bucket is is only used for this and nothing else, orange bucket from B&Q 99p) and left over night. I usually bag it up and seal it .... lasts forever at the correct dampness

Works for me