Keeping Moisture Dependent Tarantulas - A Tutorial
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- čas přidán 13. 09. 2024
- ARTICLE: tomsbigspiders...
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this was so informative, and you're totally right. the info on substrate hydration out there tends to be so vague and doesn't really describe what one should be looking for or how wet things need to be. i used to keep my slings on such awfully moist substrate when i was starting out because i thought if i didn't they'd... die from dehydration or something. and i constantly spot pics from other newbies where you can see that the sub is completely soaked. the thumbnail for this vid is funny to me btw, it's like "moisture dependent species tutorial" and a pic of you just pouring all that water into the enclosure from a big bottle lol
Thank you! I struggled when I first started as I didn't really understand what I was supposed to do. I was hoping that this video might spare some folks from the stress I went through. Hahaha. I struggled to find a good shot for the thumbnail, and figured one with me "making it rain" would work. lol
Flooding is the way. Peatsoil mixed with loam. Rehydrate by flooding once every half year 👌
Awesome stuff, Ferdy!
Best Tarantula CZcams Channel EVER!!!!!
Thank you so much!
Awesome. I have a friend just getting into T keeping. Been getting all the "noob" questions. My answers are usually "Tom's Big Spiders AGAIN!" 🤣. This one is a huge help. I use a spray bottle. What I do is get a paintbrush like u showed and make a furrow in the opposite corner of the tarantula burrow. I put my mister on stream and spray a stream into the furrow to get the bottom moist. I'm making my own soil now (ever since ur lugarti video) and I don't really have the issues I use to have with moisture not getting to the bottom. I don't have a science to it. I just eyeball it. I use tons of stuff. Charcoal, coco fiber, sand, top soil, vermiculite, and spaghnam moss are mixed together and I usually add dry leaf litter to the top. Depending on the species I may add extra sand on top as well. It's not perfect but it work for me. Thx as always. Haven't listened to the podcast in a few weeks so I'm heading to Spotify to catch up. Keep those great videos coming 😎😎😎
Bahahaha. Thanks so much, bud! That's what I'm here for. lol I've had this one planned for a while, so I'm glad that we finally got it done. And your mix sounds like the perfect bioactive mix! Mixing your own substrate is one of the fun parts of the hobby (at least in my opinion!). Thank again!
Thank you Tom! I live in super dry Colorado and keeping moisture dependent species is a challenge. I've started keeping the bottom layer of substrate moist and water dishes. I have to monitor it constantly because Colorado is very very dry!
Hi, Aleaha! Hopefully, this helps a bit. If it's super dry, you may consider running a small humidifier in the room. It helps keep the cages from drying out too quickly.
so glad you mentioned that moisture depends on where you’re from. i’m from a SoCal area where the giant Tick Fire was from. our weather is so dry that bush fires are a norm and we have so many fire stations in the city.
it was hard to learn proper humidity at first because everything dries up so fast but with your help, it got easier. you always have such informative videos, tom!
I think that's a very important detail to consider when setting them up. It's really humid here in the summer, but when it's winter and the heat runs, the air gets terribly dry. It can be REALLY difficult keeping the cages from drying out. Thanks for chiming in!
Love you Tom! You are the best! Learn so much with you. Xoxo ❤
Awww...thanks so much, Dana!
What an awsome video tutorial keeping my Trantulas enclosure humid has been a real worry and a challenge. I just started my spider hobby and will put some of your suggestions to use as her environment is just staying way to dry its nerve racking thanks again so much for sharing this vital info sincerely.
Hey, Jimmy! Don't stress over the humidity. I know that there is a lot out there about "ideal" humidity requirements, but that comes from the reptile hobby. For ones that need some moisture, give the spider deep substrate and make sure the bottom layers stay moist. Also, give them a water dish. I'm so glad that this was helpful!
@@TomsBigSpiders Tom, Thanks so much for the advice I need all the helpful advice possible shes a Skeleton leg and very aggressive but today very passive which is why I'm freaking out about temp & humidity I have two water dishes in and a red heat light thats keeping one half of her enclosure at a comfortable 85° a bit cooler near the water dishes I have about 4 1/2 inches of substrate in there I hope its deep enough. Maybe I could send a pic if you could take a peek if your schedule would allow, you would be able too see if there's something I'm missing I would be grateful 🙏
Thanks so much for this video. I recently acquired a Theraphosa Stirmi and this video helped me out alot!
I'm so glad that it was helpful!
I've learnt the most from you and Dave little beasties on youtube Tom. You are providing even more thecnical details than Dave, so I consider yours as the top tarantula channel on CZcams.
I will be greatful forever, thanks your hard work.
Thank you so much, Max. I truly appreciate the very kind words!!! :)
Wow I have never heard any one talk about this before. Thank you!
It seems to cause so much confusion that I figured I should give it a shot. Thanks!
I like hot gluing fake plants to the bottom of the enclosure, they are excellent in channeling the water through the substrate.
Great idea, Rami! :)
Very good video on this Subject. I enjoyed it.
Thanks so much, Ed! It was a long time coming.
Amazing video thank you!
Thank you so much, Bryce!
Thank you so much for this video and information. I finally, finally was able to adopt my dream T, the apophysis (just adopted today from FNT), so I really needed to see this. I want to make sure to have her house setup properly and be able to maintain her care throughout her life. Thanks so much!😀
Congrats on getting a T. apophysis! This species was top on my wishlist for YEARS! :)
A great video that covers all areas of moisture in enclosures
Thank you!
Nice video it does complement the podcast. As always keep up the good work Tom.
Hi, James! Thanks, bud! I figure between the podcast, the article, and the video, people can choose what works for them!
@@TomsBigSpiders I listened to the pod cast first but it was good to see your rain bottle.
I've been using a bottle like that for years to water plants it's interesting to see it used in the hobby too! I just got my very first T's, a 1" G. Pulchra, and an LP freebie, from Tarantulacanada last week. I very specifically aimed for a 1" sling as my first because your guides mentioned they tend to be hardier at that size. Really want to say thank you for all the videos and blog posts. I have been watching and reading your stuff for ages, and you gave me the confidence to get my first T's.
Hello, Lilith! I LOVE that bottle! I'm amazed that it actually lasted so long in this house...my dogs like to chew up everything. haha Congrats on your new Ts! Yeah, 1" is a good size for most, as they are well established and they generally grow more quickly from that point on. I'm so glad that my stuff was helpful...thank you!
Much needed video ,,,, i was back n forth in certain ways of keeping the substrate moist n stuff ,,,,, This vid was great on the ways of keeping the substrate moist the right way ,,,,,, less the top deeper the bottom .... much needed to know ,,,, thanks ,,,, u always be a great help.
Tom, I just recently got into your channel and I'm so glad that CZcams is recommending these older videos for me
This is seriously the BEST care video I've watched across multiple channels to date. I really wish that I would've found your channel at the beginning of my keeping experience. I started with an Avicularia Avicularia. After a year my little Socks died unexpectedly and I was completely heartbroken. I was also confused about how he died and where I could've possibly went wrong. I have shied away from "moisture dependent" species since then. This video helped clarify some things for me and I appreciate all of the tips you provided here. It is making me feel more open to keeping these types of species again. I can't thank you enough.
Hi, Sara! So sorry for the late reply. I'm glad that they are, too! :) And thank you so much! I try to make the hobby a bit less confusing and intimidating. I know that moisture dependent species can be scary for some, so my hope was to make it less of a headache.
As for Avicularia avicularia, they are not really moisture dependent. Many people keep them super humid without a lot of ventilation, and that kills many of them. The trick with Avics is to make sure that they have plenty of cross ventilation and not too much humidity. Many of us raise them with mostly dry substrate and a water dish. Hope that helps!
@@TomsBigSpiders That is helpful information. Thank you so much.
thank you so much, truely helpful
I"m so glad that it was useful. Thank you!
You are such an underrated youtuber keep it up!!! Thank you for all the information.
Wow, thank you so much! I really appreciate it!
Its crazy ive been keeping Ts for years and i never stop learning new things about them.
Thanks, David! I'm still learning myself! :)
I found a new thing for watering my t's Tom, its called a wash bottle basically what they use for washing down your tattoos once they are done, they work like a pipette but obviously hold alot more water so you dont have to keep refilling and can not only just give a 1mm droplet but can be used as a gentle stream so it doesn't disturb the t's , i never use my pipettes anymore since i got one was only £6 on amazon too. Been telling everyone about them so much easier.
Funny that you should mention that; I have like 8 of them around here now! haha I, too, use them for sling and smaller enclosures (and to fill smaller water dishes). Great suggestion! I hope that you have a great weekend!
Tom, as always I dig how informative your videos are my friend! I have a T. Stirmi, and I have found that having a layer of clay balls at the bottom of the enclosure, separated by some screen under the substrate, seems to work very well.
Hey, Chad! Great tip! I've done that a couple times, but I've had good luck with just substrate mixes. That said, folks should use whatever works for them.
Thanks again . Answered a lot of my unasked questions . Been misting so I'll have to change that this afternoon .
Hello, Dan! Thanks so much! I'm so glad that this was helpful!
Got some mold on some cork bark and substrate in my P Striata enclosure . Any advice ? I know you're busy but I am a little concerned .
I’ve learnt so much from Toms videos, I’m a new owner to the hobby and always find great content here, thanks Tom keep up the great work 👍
Thank you so much, Chris!
@@TomsBigSpiders no thank you buddy, being a new owner is an anxious time and having knowledgable owners like you and a select few others on CZcams really helps out us newbies 👍
Thank you Tom I always struggle getting the water to the bottom of the enclosure, this helps alot
Hello, Al! Man, I'm so glad that you found this helpful! Thank you!
Bless you heart, thank you. I am so tired of trying to explain how to soak the lower portion of the substrate while keeping the top dry. I use a squeeze bottle with a spout that enables me to put the water in the corners, and down the sides, with enough pressure that it easily pushes the water down.
People get these moisture dependent species going into the driest part of the year and they just don't have enough experience to understand how different it is to keep things moist during the winters. I always suggest that people put off purchasing those species until spring if you don't have a lot of winter experience. The number of dead moisture dependent species posts I see over the winter infuriates me.
hey aren't you that troll from the arachnoboards that hates OBTs? why not take a break from trying to explain things to others, if it bothers you so much, you have issues.
@@mary-kateolsen3558 I don't hate any tarantulas, or any animal for that matter. And the only behaviour that resembles a troll is yours - hiding behind a fake name and fake photo.
Maybe you should do your homework and not be just another lazy person expecting everyone to spoon feed you information. It's pathetic and tiresome and everyone has better things to do with their time.
Hello, Vanessa! I hear you, bud! This is one of those questions that I'm constantly answering . I'm hoping that I can now just send links to the video, podcast, or article when people ask. And that's a fantastic idea! I keep meaning to order one of those sports water bottles with a nozzle for just that purpose.
And you bring up another huge issue...mainly folks trying to figure out the moisture issue during the dry winter months. That is EXCELLENT advice! As always, thank you so much for chiming in! :)
@@mary-kateolsen3558 First off, Mary-Kate, I love your sister in the Marvel movies! Secondly, please don't come onto my comments and insult folks. I've been chatting with Vanessa for quite some time, and she's an experienced keeper who knows her stuff. I don't know what kind of dust up you got into on Arachnoboards, but please leave it over there. Stalking her to the comment section of a CZcams video would pretty much fall under trolling. If you have some experiences with moisture dependent species or thoughts on the video, I would love to hear them! Please keep things positive. Thanks!
Thanks Tom for another awesome video! If I ever get to keep a spider, your videos will be my go to...for now, the vids are interesting!
Thank you so much, Shelle O Shelle! That really means a lot. Hopefully, you can eventually keep one. :)
Only a true collector will call a old chillers bottle a collector's item! I would hate or love to see what's in your attic. Keep up the great work.
Hahahahahaha! Its mostly filled with comic books, collectible cards, action figures, and whatever other crap I deem to be valuable. ;)
Because of you many T's are happy! Your the spider god.. Thank you !
Thank you so much, James! haha :)
Such a great video. I wanted to touch on this but after this incredible video I will just refer people to your channel. It’s about the health and care to me.
Awwww, man...thank you so much! I'd been planning this one for quite a while, so I'm glad that I was finally able to get it out. Seriously, thanks bud!
Tom Moran got my 1st O. Phillopinus just posted the unboxing it’s a review of Charles Livingston
Awesome..... always looking forward to learning something new and up to date!! Been keeping T's for about 23yrs.... wow!! Hadn't the husbandry info changed a lot since then!!! 👏👏🕸🕷
Hello, Ann! When I got my first in the '90s (before I was really into the hobby) we kept everything on vermiculite, and care sheets told us to mist everything. haha. It's kind of cool to see how things have changed over the years!
I always learn something new from your videos. Thank you 😊
Hello, Princess Sophie Pink! Thank you so very much! :)
thank u so much for making this, the visuals and clear explanations are extremely helpful and i bet u anything this video is going to save spider lives
Thank you very much! I'm hoping that this will help a lot of keepers and spiders out. :)
Great Video as always! Since I keep T's I did the watering by feeling, worked out so far.
Thank you! And it sounds like you have a system that works for you! :)
Very great information.
Thank you so much, Channy!
This is what I need. Thanks for the knowledge, Tom! As always, it is a learning experience each upload.
Today, I will be starting to work far away from home and will only be able to go home during day offs. Summer is coming and it’s starting to heat up. Thanks!
I'm so glad that this was helpful. Thank you so much!
Oh no! That sounds like a bummer!
Thank you for this video. Most informative T channel on youtube. Keep up the awesome work
Thank you so much, Paul! :)
Thoroughly enjoyed this video tom and found the information very useful. Good job bud.
Hey, bud! Thank you so much! I'm glad to FINALLY have this one done! I planned it years ago, but never got around to making it. :)
Great comprehensive video. You covered everything! I can definitely see this as the video keepers sign post new keepers to. Thank you :)
Thank you so much! I tried to cover every question that I've over the years. :)
Great Vid, so much detailed information! I have never owned a T, or have any immediate plans to! I just love to learn about different subjects...and you have always been a plethora of interesting information! Thank you for your dedication and joy of the hobby! ❤️🙏😇👍🕸🕷
Thank you so much, Jan! I truly appreciate that! :)
I've avoided the moisture dependent species simply because I'm so lazy. But for sure a good video for anyone who likes them. A funny story when my one inch c. Darlingi arrived. I nudged it with my paint brush, and that little spider stood on its hind legs and gave me a magnificent threat posture. I waited a couple of minutes for it to calm down, and then got it in without too much trouble. Thankfully, no bolting. My OBT sling molted during shipment and was quite subdued. It seems to be doing fine a couple days later.
I completely understand, Jeffrey! Haha Thanks so much.
Hahahaha! I always find it funny and endearing when the little ones show some attitude!
Really good video Tom that's helped me as I've lost a couple of slings and wondered if there was enough moisture or there was too much.
Hello, James! Thank you! I'm so glad that you found this useful. :)
Awesome video. Gave me some things to think about and possibly change
Thank you very much! I'm glad that it was useful!
Thank you yet again for a wonderful video. somehow i did things instinctual and right according to this video, mixed coco fiber with potting soil and sphagnum moss, i have an octagon enclosure for my Blondi, and i have made track on 2 out of 8 "corners" and filled them with sphagnum moss .
but i was one of them who made the mistake of misting instead of imitating rain drops so, i learned something new today :)
Thank YOU for chiming in! Yeah, misting/spraying can work, but it's just not the most practical way for the ones that really need some moisture! :)
Again☺️ a great video - as always. Fantastic explanation! Now I know what I did wrong as I had my little jumping spider!
Thanks for sharing your knowledge and huge experiences.
Have a nice week.☺️
Hello, Sandy! Thank you so much! I hope that you had a nice week as well! :)
What can I say, Tom ? I think you've hit all the important points here. These tips will come in handy if I choose to venture out of the "Arid" species and move on to something a little more demanding, such as A. seemanni or E. murinus. Who knows ? Maybe in a few years from now, I'll end up with even a T. stirmi ! Thanks for sharing :)
Hey, Luc! Thanks so much, bud! Hahaha. If you DO get a T. stirmi someday, be sure to let me know! :)
Thank you so much, this really helped me.😊👍🏽😊
Thank you very much!
I love watching your videos. So informative and fun to watch keep up the good work Tom👍👍
Thank you so much! :)
Hi Tom, I believe you have mentioned that you use bottled water for your tarantulas. My area has very hard water so I do the same, but I was recently thinking about people with water softeners and wondered if that might fall into the hidden danger category. The amount of sodium added by a softener is usually pretty small for a human, but I wonder what the impact would be to a tarantula - especially a fossorial species where the sodium would build up in the soil over time since it’s not being flushed.
You also mentioned on a podcast an email from a man who added moisture to his soil through holes in the bottle of the enclosure. Coming at this from a houseplant perspective, this sounds a lot like bottom watering, where you put your planter in a shallow tub of water and allow the soil to absorb water through capillary action, giving you a very consistently moist soil. This is also the concept behind self-watering planters. It can actually help a lot with fungus gnats since you can keep the very top surface dry and is an excellent way to rehydrate a peat mix that has dried to the point that it repels water. This part isn’t really a question, just something I’ve been thinking about since I dream of T.Stirmi, but am constantly battling fungus gnats.
God, I HATE fungus gnats. I went through that a few years ago. Ugh. That's a very good point about water softeners. I know nothing about them, so I'd have to look into that. I still want to see the bottom watering thing in action from someone who uses it. It sounds great on paper, but I'd love to see an example. Thanks, Gina!
excellent. thank you
Thanks so much!
As far as tiny water dishes go for the dram vials, I like to use the silicon ear pieces from some skull candies or just some other cheap headphones. Works great for my pumpkin patch sling
Ahhhhh...very cool idea !
Thank you for sharing ur experience in the substrate experiment. I'm currently mixing coco fiber and peat moss
I've used that before as well. It works great! I've also used peat and topsoil. I love that mix as well.
Very nice info! Thanks a lot!
Thank you, Jorge!
12:11 - kind of like isopods. Lot of them dont do well if you dont give a dry side and moist side
Great point, Zarya!
Another great one Tom thank you for making such informative videos.
Thank you so much, Andy! :)
I think misting is great for slings. I have done if for 20 years. I have a mister that mist, and when you turn the front it creates a thin water ray. I kan spray with that directly into the substrate to moist the substrate. And then i turn the nozzle to a fine spray i can mist the substrate and even create waterdrops all around for sling to drink. For me this works better than pipettes. I have never liked them. So maybe i am the only that prefers misters for slings?
Nice hoodie 🤘🏻
Thank you, Lenny! :)
Ahh thank you for this. I’ve been having anxiety about my pamphobeteus sp with the enclosure drying out really fast. It gets super dry in WI in the winter so it has been a struggle. This video was very helpful! 👍👍
Hello, Allie! I'm so glad that this was helpful! :)
Juste a awsome Idea of video Tom 👍
Thank you, Kenny!
Hi Tom,
I wanted to share what is not exactly an experiment, but more of a change of method that occurred overtime in my maintenance.
I totally agree with you on the fact that maintaining a good moisture level is more efficient than constantly checking a humidity measurement, but lately I’ve been watering my T’s substrate differently. Instead of trying to get the lower levels wet, I focus more on pouring water with a syringe on the surface, trying to mimic the aftermath of a rainfall. I noticed that it makes the water more readily available for the spiders, who usually get out of their dens right after the watering. I think it might be similar to what happens in nature. I still use the technique described in your video for slings and more moisture-dependent species, and so far this mix of techniques has worked fine.
Oh, and of course, I provide water dishes! ;)
Thank you again for your amazing videos!
Hey, Lipton! I'm glad that works for you. I actually used to do that back in the day, but the problem with me is that the surface moisture tends to evaporate VERY quickly here, especially in the winter. I DO always moisten down the surface a bit when I add water, but I also make sure to get those lower layers moist.
And thank you so much!!
@@TomsBigSpiders I forgot to mention that my collection is far more modest than yours, so I don't have a problem watering the enclosures more often. I understand how quickly it can become an insurmontable task for your number of spiders!
i don't have any moisture dependent species yet but i've kind of been stressing how to keep the substrate a touch on the damp side other than misting. thank you for breaking it all down, especially the bits about humidity.
Hopefully, this helps you out! They are not nearly as difficult as some will make them out to be.
Thank you for the in depth topic on substrate the rain bottle is a great idea! I mostly mist my tarantulas walls and let a line of water form on the substrate. I mostly keep Brachypelma's, Tlitocatl albo and a g.pulchra. I'm using a blend of coco fiber, peat moss and sand that I mix in a certain ratio and it has been holding great for me and great to burrow in. But I'd like your thoughts of course haha. I will send you an email here soon :)
Thank you for taking the time to comment! It sounds like you have a system down that works for you! And sounds good!
My C lividus thanks you for teaching me how to make it rain in her enclosure :)
Ha! That's awesome, Anna...thanks!
I have a diabetic cat.so I have access to needles. I like using the end of the cap(the bottom of the needle.the plunger cap) to keep a water bowl for my sling.
Well, that's quite convenient! :)
@@TomsBigSpiders thanks. I like to found ways to reuse things
Shared this on my FB group page The Tarantula Life
Man, thank you so much! I really appreciate that! :)
Awesome video, as usual! Are you going to the new england reptile expo next month in manchester? I'm looking forward to going there since it will be my first reptile expo ever. We don't have those in my home country :(
Thank you so much, Braulio! We're still trying to figure out if we're going to make it.
Thank you very much Tom very informative video ! Does this also go for centipedes?
Hope you and your family stay safe during this time
Kind regards
Tim 🙂
Hello there, Tim! Yes, I do the same thing for my pedes! Just be careful you don't flood where they are hiding. I do hope you and yours are safe and well.
@@TomsBigSpiders Thank you
Thank you🙏🏼💓😎
You're most welcome!
@Tom Moran could you do a video on Mold or possibly a podcast
I support this idea. Mold is a common occurrence in my enclosures though not super problematic as far as I can tell
i did just find this video on mold prevention if anyone wants to view it. czcams.com/video/9KyvCoLS-dQ/video.html
Hello, Richard! Yes, absolutely. I have to connect with a buddy of mine who know a lot about fungus! :)
Hi Tom thanks for this it’s so helpful. One thing I wonder about is how well can a T drink off the sides of the enclosure ? All mine have water dishes but I do wonder about this
Hi, Heidi! Very well! I've seen many of mine do it. They basically walk around like little Hoover vacuums and suck it right up off the glass!
Thanks Tom I can stop worrying about the ones that don’t seem to use dishes 😊
Tom where did you get the Komodo enclosure? I've looked online and I cannot find them here in the US. I REALLY want to use those enclosures. So if you can point me to the right place I would greatly appreciate it. Great video btw. Thank you so much for what you have done by keeping old and new keepers up to date with great ideas and things to avoid!
Hello! Can you give me a time stamp for which one you're talking about? I'll be happy to help! And thanks!
@@TomsBigSpiders Its best seen at 1:04 on the left of the light tripod and to the left of the longer enclosure. The water bottle and cup of water are in front of it. Thank you very much Tom!!
Great advice, considering how many people mist their enclosures almost daily and are "amazed" at how fast it dissipates. I also use a dropper to give additional water to my Ts on their webbing. Really cute to see pink Avic mouths slurp up the droplets ^^
On another note, will you be picking up Nioh 2? :-)
Hey, bud! Yeah, I've had this discussion with MANY people over the years. They are shocked at how quickly the moisture dries out. The webbing is also a great source for them! My GBBs will drink that way.
Oh, HECK YES. haha You know it!
My first T was an A. avic and i swear I’m lucky I didn’t kill it the first week!!!! The amount of humidity i had in there, luckily I quickly found out pretty quickly that the info i had was old and indeed wrong
Yeah, that's how I feel about my poor L. parahybana. haha
hey im from philippines all we need to do is mimic the climate when your sitting under a tree during the day and that works best for all sp.
Yeah, the Philippines is one of the places that naturally has a great climate for many of the moisture dependent species. Thanks!
Ty sir as always amazing info
Hey, Andrew! How are you feeling? And thank you!
I am feeling better had phneumonia spent some time in the er but i am doing exceedingly well and i am verry happy to say that all my baby avic metallicas r jet black and about to molt to second instar!!!!
Hey Tom!
I have a question regarding one of your tanks in this video. I see what looks like a 5-10 gallon critter cage and you have plexiglass (acrylic) as part of the lid. I am needing to do this as my one girl (Mexican redknee) has a fascination with climbing on her screen which is fine but she’s not getting her fangs stuck. I am open to all suggestions you might have as to what I can do, how I can make one, where I can buy one (preferably somewhere that ships to Canada).
Thanks a bunch and looking forward to some advice.
Cheers
Hello, Allison! Yeah, I rip out all of the screens because they can get their toe claws stuck in the mesh. I had it happen to one of mine years ago, and it was NOT a fun situation. Unfortunately, no one is making replacement tops for that enclosure at the moment. With those, I cut the screen out with a utility knife first. Then, I cut a piece of plexiglass to fit the frame, drill holes in it, and use aquarium silicone to glue it in. For the plastic, I've been using the thinner stuff meant to replace the glass in picture frames, and it's been working quite well. You can cut that stuff with scissors, and you could probably glue it right over the screen without having to rip it out. I hope that helps!
Thank you this video. I'm just got a female T. Stirmi juvenile. I have many species that enjoy moisture, but Theraphosa have given me anxiety about keeping them properly, so I've avoided them
Hi, Roxy! Congrats on your T. stirmi! I'm so glad that this was helpful! :) They really aren't nearly as fragile as some make them out to be.
The only possible disadvantage of this method (rain) is the risk of fungi. Unfortunately I had watered my terrariums and the water penetrated into the deep layers of the substrate. Sadly, a short time later a huge collection of yellow mushrooms started to sprout. The final result was that I had to rearrange both terrariums completely. Otherwise the mushroom would have taken overhand. This caused me to be very hesitant with the watering (rain) for the time being. I am trying to understand why some keepers have fungi while others seem to have no problems with it. In the meantime, I have installed a drainage system so that excess water can run off. But I have not watered again with a "rain bottle", although I think your method would be very practical.
Hello, Samuel! I've actually had very few issues with fungi. I allow the water to seep down to the bottom, and the top remains dry. This tends to keep the molds down. Those yellow mushrooms your talking about often come in the substrate (coco fiber has them quite a bit). That's what makes it so annoying; you can have it in one bag bu not in another. The good news is, they are harmless, despite what folks have said. I don't panic anymore when I see it, but boy do I hate the smell of it!
Hey Tom,
Do you think that what's happening across the world right now with COVID-19 will have a large impact on the hobby? Scary times right now, especially over here in the virus hotbed of California..
Also: it would be awesome to see a Theraphosa dedicated species podcast. I have been binge listening to your podcasts at work, and can't get enough. I am looking to get a T. Stirmi very soon
Well, in the US, many of our spiders come from Europe, where they have huge shows that exporters can use to get livestock. These shows are now being cancelled meaning that exports will likely be disrupted. So, yes...I do think that it is going to have an impact. I think that sales and shipping are going to slow down quite a bit in the immediate future. Very scary times indeed.
And thank you so much! I could definitely cover Theraphosa in a future one!
GREAT VIDEO!!!!!!!!
Tom M. Get off my brain wave, I was just talking this subject for my Ts
Bahahaha! Sorry, Jimmy! lol And thanks so much!
Thanks for all the work you do and the information you give freely. You keep mentioning an incident with topsoil. What happened?
You're most welcome! Well, long story short, I ran out of my normal brand of top soil one winter, and the place that I normally get it from had theirs all packed up for the season. I found a farm supply store that sold "organic" topsoil, and I bought a few bags from them and was using it for rehousings. Around this time, I started experiencing a LOT of mysterious deaths of all of my inverts, including tarantulas, scorpions, and assassin bugs. I had no idea what was happening, but they were all fattening up and then dying while in premolt or shortly after molting. It wasn't until I was watching one of my older videos one day that I finally figured out that everything that was dying was on this new top soil. I opened up one of the bags to examine it, and the soil was loaded with the green fertilizer balls (obviously, it was NOT organic). After speaking with some folks, I came to the conclusion that the bags were likely contaminated with some type of chemical...possibly herbicide (it is known to interfere with the molting process). I switched out the rest of the substrate and never used it again. That was the end of the strange deaths.
@@TomsBigSpiders thank you so much for the reply. That is something I will definitely be aware of. I’m getting back into after a bit and would like a better option than just using cocoa fiber like I was before. I’m trying to watch a lot more of your videos, read from your website, and listen to your podcast. It’s something my wife and I enjoyed and want to do it again. When you pre kill feeders how do you do it? What do you mean when you can keep mealworms in the fridge? Already killed or just in a meal itself? Also in particular process for the worm sections?
I am a first time owner. I bought a stripe knee 2 months ago. Today I just bought a Goliath bird eater. I was told I need high moisture with it
Hi, Edward. Yes, you'll definitely want to give it deep, moist substrate. They can have issues if they get too dry. A water dish would also be highly recommended.
@@TomsBigSpiders thank you so much. The bedding I have has moss in it and plus I am going to add moss to the back of the enclosure where the water dish sets. My Goliaths big enclosure isn't finishing. Waiting on the lid and the few other things I have to add to it. Am I crazy for making my second tarantula a Goliath?
Hey Tom! Great video. You answered a lot of the questions I had as a relatively new keeper regarding some of the more "intermediate" species. I am just starting to keep some finicky slings that require slightly higher moisture levels and I'm figuring it out as I go along. Thanks for being a great resource! I was wondering, can you please tell me the name of the species at 15:49 ? It's a gorgeous spider! Have a great day and thanks again. Sending love from Florida.
Hello, Morgan! I'm so glad that this was helpful. Once you get the hang of it, keeping the moisture dependent species isn't too bad at all. And that's an H. lividus or Cobalt Blue!
Usually I would say no way to keeping moisture dependent T's in the desert. However, this last 9 months, it has rained more in AZ than the last 15 years. How do T's drink? I know how they suck the goodness from a roach, do they suck the water up that way too?
Love your videos. I would never spray anything I did not want to kill. If you are keeping these as pets you need to be kept carefully. Thanks to you more folks know what to do.
Hiya, Joyce! Oh, man...rain for 9 months? That's kind of scary! Great question! They get moisture from prey, but they can also drink from dishes, off of plants, and can even such it out of the ground.
Thank you!!!
Thanks for this Tom. I for one do not keep moisture dependent species for fear of harming them. I don’t own any of the Therphosa or Pamphobeteus species because I have seen too many horror stories related to them (specifically Therphosa). Maybe I’ll get the courage up when I get my substrate game right. 😂. Great video Tom.
Alex! Man, I had no idea that you didn't keep moisture dependent species. We're going to have to fix that, bud. ;) I TOTALLY get it, though. They cause me SO MUCH stress when I first started keeping them, and I'm lucky that I didn't kill any with my obsessiveness. It took me quite a while to finally get comfortable around them. Thanks so much for chiming in, bud!
Yeah I been stressing about my pinktoe idk how keep the Humidity n I'm afraid I'm not doing it right . I seem to got a handle on my Mexican red knee but my pinktoe I'm worried
two water dishes. am so glad am not alone.
So sorry for the delay! Yes, I use two in quite a few cages. haha You are NOT alone.
This is ALWAYS a great subject to bring up. So important to get gud at this.
Two questions
1) Drainage layers. How do they do? When to use one, why, how to make one, etc. I have made a couple, for some pokies and my stirmi, but I don't actually understand the principle very much. Are you supposed to fill it with any amount of water, or is it ONLY there to catch excess? I think they at least look cool, either way. Would be a good subject for a video. (If you haven't done one already that I missed)
2) Have you ever tried mixing in a few pinches of those water gel crystals? I was watering my roaches and started wondering if that would work. They're designed to mix into plant soil to hold moisture... but I'm almost scared to try it tho for some reason
How's it going, Addam!
Okay, let me give this a shot...
1) Usually drainage layers are used for bioactive enclosures so that the roots of the plants don't stay too moist. Extra water seeps down into the bottom and then slowly evaporate, raising the moisture level in the enclosure. Some folks will use this principal to make a "false bottom" in their moisture dependent enclosures with the thought that the evaporating water will raise the humidity level inside the tank.
2) Yeah...it was gross mess and didn't work for me. haha I'll stick with vermiculite and moss! :)
Thanks!
Tom
Tom Moran Pretty good, cant complain. My parents recently got me 2 H. devamatha and 2 True B. smithi slings, so I've got my hands full as always =P
I got a Huge bag of clay balls from home depot for cheap, and got some garden liner. It reeally feels like it helps keep my stirmi tank as wet as she likes without any mold issues, even tho it's not a biotank, other than springtails and isopods.
👍 Great information thank you
Thank you, Corn Bread!
Great video Tom! So how do we know which T's need the moisture? I have 18 T's and the care sheet on every one of them has some sort of humidity requirement listed.
Hello! That's where the research comes into play. If you find a species that you're interested in, you should look to see where they are from and research how people keep them. If it's a moisture dependent species, it will need some moist dirt. If it's an arid species, it can do dry with a water dish.
In your video you mentioned some moisture for Aphonopelma. Should I be moistening one corner of my hentzi's enclosure? She's a juvenile.
Great video Tom. I see your using an enclosure with the metal grill top I had a tarantula break a fang off by trying to chew through it recently is this something you’ve experienced?
I've been using those for the fossorial species, and I haven't had any trouble...yet. I have heard of tarantulas working at vent holes in critter keepers and wire tops and injuring fangs, so it's not unheard of. What size was the spider that hurt it's fang? What species? Thanks, Dan!
Tom Moran it was my Nhandu chromatus which is around 4 inches. It was just after a rehouse so obviously the tarantula was uncomfortable in the new environment and tried to get out. I also have a c lividum that is in pretty much the same set up as the enclosure you used in this video and I’ve never seen that one on the glass or near the lid, so it seems fine for the fossorial species.
Thanks for the response!
Great informative video as always Tom. There is only one species that always has me wondering though, but it’s the total opposite of moisture dependent, the gbb. Should it be bone dry all the way to the bottom? Or should there be moisture on the lower levels?
Hola, Tink! :) I kept my slings almost bone dry and only moistened down a single corner. The one time I accidentally put in too much water, mine climbed the walls to get away from it. As adults, it's bone dry and a dish. If you sprinkle some water on the webbing, they will sometimes drink from that as well. :)
Very informative. Life saver. Thanks Tom!
Would a turkey baster work and do you use cold or Luke warm water to moisten substrate?
I literally JUST got done using a turkey baster to water a plant in one of my enclosures. Yes, I think that it would work great! :)
Thank you!!!!
You're most welcome!
Hey Tom! Can I ask a question? I just got a g pulchra sling I keep finding conflicting info on if they are humidity loving species or an arid species. I went ahead and made her tank a little more moist since she’s a sling near molting but since I’ve had her she climbs on the side lol always the same corner. Idk if she just likes the wall or if it’s too wet or too dry? I do the tech where u just wet a corner but her enclosure small it’s like 4x3x3. Thx for any advice!!
Soooo...they come from more humid regions, but some don't seem to appreciate the extra moisture, and many raise theirs bone dry. I try to moisten down a corner of the substrate for mine, and neither seems to care. If it's on the wall after you moisten it down, it probably likes it on the dry side. Definitely make sure to give it a water dish if you let things dry out.
Hi Tom! I though you didnt keep any of your tarantulas with a metal mesh lid on top? Do you keep it with your burrowing species?
Love your podcasts :D
It's funny, as Billie and I were scoping out how I could replace the tops after we were done recording this. I use these for some of the fossorial species. The tops aren't the criss-crossed wire mesh, but more a metal grill. So far, I haven't had any problems with them...
Thank you!
I am getting 2 Chilobrachys natanicharum sling, 1 inch each (2,5 cm) and I am little bit worried but I have been keeping Heterometrus spinifer for a year now and as you may know this scorpion is already a humidity dependent species so I am hoping everything will be alright. I will probably be using a deep tub with sterile ventilation, I am doing some tests with them to figure out if I will need to add holes because I am worried about ventilation.