Making A Tarantula Room

[Andrew Murdoch]

At this moment in time I now have twelve T's and am looking into buying a few more. I still have to make a Tarantula Room but I have some ideas for the set up and I am going for three largish vivariums for my larger T's and the others in individual plastic tub/tanks. I am also looking into getting a heat-strip-mat to heat multiple tanks.
I was hoping to buy a Goliath Tarantula but another large Tarantula has caught my eye and that is the Pinkfoot Goliath. Can anyone give me feedback on the Goliath Pinkfoot and share their experience on them. I have a few Salmon Pinks and a Giant White Knee and they are doing well but I really fance the larger ones.
I look forward t oreading your replies, Andrew.

[matthew spooner]

if your creating a tarantula room, why not just heat the room instead of mucking about with heat mats. the t.apophysis is a beautiful species, i want one badly, def a better choice over the t.blondi

[mary walters]

I have a spider room which is heated with the house, it's a spare bedroom. I found that heating it with an oil filled rad waaaaay too expensive.
apophysis are lovely, I have an a/f, massive girl, and 2 juveniles, a male and a female, the male is faaar more secretive than the females. Never get more than the odd flick from any of them, but wouldn't put fingers in there.

[matthew spooner]

nice one mary, if and when you breed the apophysis, i will be more than happy to take a load of babies off your hands

[Peter Lacey]

Both these Ts need more attention to moisture than most other species. So substrate needs to hold humidity and therefore plenty of vermiculite and sphagnum moss. I'd therefore suggest a colony of cleaner insects eg. woodlice and springtails. They also require large enclosures but will make for excellent display tanks.
Both species are capable of growing 12" or more and they are reportedly the most irritant of hair flickers. They're also big eaters and I recently read T. blondi (Goliath birdeater) will eat til almost bursting point.
I currently have 3 T. apothysis (Goliath Pink Toe), approx 3" which I've had for about 2 months. 2 have used the burrow I created, 1 is happy under a branch will affords little cover. These are much thinner than the T. blondi but develop great colouration on their carapace as adults.
I've just received my first T. blondi so I'm keen to read any info people supply for this and for the T. apothysis.

[mary walters]

nice one mary, if and when you breed the apophysis, i will be more than happy to take a load of babies off your hands

I did have a sac once from the big one, but lost all the eggs, last year i think it was, will keep you in mind Matt, if I get another mm I will mate her again.

[matthew spooner]

I did have a sac once from the big one, but lost all the eggs, last year i think it was, will keep you in mind Matt, if I get another mm I will mate her again.

you legend

[Ray Gabriel]

Well like I have said to people in the past and been ignored, it is better to have a room with insulated heated cabinets, than try to heat the room itself. Each cabinet can be thermostacically controlled for different enviroments.

But what do i know.

Ray

[matthew spooner]

more than most of us ray thats what, i appologise i dont recall seeing you post that before, thinking about it, it does seem the better option

[Damian Marciniak]

There is some pics what i made today...
For everything i paid apox 40 pounds ( with plastic boxes)
Each plastic box cost me 2.98 pounds
And Silicone heating cable ( 5m ) cost me 14 pounds
Now temperature is side Boxes is 27-28C...
one of my Shelf for Spiders:
1:

2:

3:

4:

5:

6:

[matthew spooner]

looking good damian, where did you get the silicone heat cable from??

[Damian Marciniak]

looking good damian, where did you get the silicone heat cable from??

http://www.dartfrog.co.uk/equipment/climate.html

[mary walters]

Ray darlin I would give my right arm to have a spider room like yours was, it was absolutely brill. Mine are in various different containers on wooden racking, but will have to sort some 'spot' heating for winter I feel, the cable looks a good idea, now if I can just get Trev to block in back and sides of racks I'm there.

Oh and Ray babe, you are a legend in your own lifetime mate xxxxxx

[Phil Rea]

That's pretty much what my heated cabinet looks like Damian (only bigger ). The back and sides of mine is covered with radiator insulation (thin silver stuff), and the heat cables are regulated by a thermostat.

I got a long heat cable and threaded it behind the shelves

[James Box]

Ray G, that is a great suggestion, definitely something to work towards!