Club Avicularia/Avics

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Arboreal cage

Terrestrial cage


You can obviously see the difference in these two examples, the two types need different things. Also if the enclosure is too large, a T won't be able to find food easily. I have numerous arboreal T's, and I have found not to go too big or use the wrong type of cage. Even if I drop in the feeder,they can still hunt the prey easily. You can look at any persons setup with the different types, they will employ a cage suiting the specimen. That's why I suggested in converting that cage, from terrestrial to arboreal. It has way too much floor space. I'm sorry its up to you what you decide, but take note of my reply. Test both setups, see which works best and come back to me on this.

 

[ryan johnson]

I want to convert it. I'm not fighting you on that one. But idk how too.

 

[ryan johnson]

Are there videos on YouTube?

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

I want to convert it. I'm not fighting you on that one. But idk how too.

I will see if there is a video on this, and post the link here.

 

[ryan johnson]

Okay

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

I'm trying too see if I can find a tutorial video of it, basically you'd turn the enclosure on its end. Put a piece of glass at the bottom to ensure the substrate stays within the cage, then if its not a snap on lid you'd have to use a safe non toxic silicone to attach hinges to the enclosure and onto the previously known lid to convert that to a door. I've don't this, I'm just at work I will try to send a picture of such a converted cage later.

 

[ryan johnson]

What time is it there? My time is 11:30 pm

 

[Ceratogyrus]

Don't worry about enclosures being too big though. The spider can grow into it as long as there are no ways to escape.
The problem with struggling to find food in a large enclosure is a myth. Their enclosures are much bigger outside in the wild and they find food ok over there. As long as they get food once every few weeks at a minimum, they will be fine.
That being said, I try and tong feed my Avics as adults and juvies and as slings I would often pre-kill a cricket and leave it in their webbing for them to find.
Its 08:30 am here by the way

 

[Jake (Cascade)]

Hello Jake
So you say its not needed to convert that or at least get an enclosure that has more height than floor space ? Seeing it won't utilize the floor space at all.

No, the tank is high enough for what is required, turn that tank on it side and it going to be sky scrapper and lots of wasted space.
I would advise on getting a smaller tank, that is suited for an Arboreal species, but for the mean time the tank will do.

That is the reason why I suggested to close off the tank to make it darker and make the spider feel a bit secure.

 

[ryan johnson]

And I made the hide for her and dimmed the light. I think she feels more secure already should I completely turn off the lamp when I go to bed? Because I feel like I should only have it on when I'm home and awake. Just incase of a fire.

 

[Ceratogyrus]

As you can see, keeping spiders is a bit of trial and error.
Try a few different things and see what works for you.

 

[ryan johnson]

Haha ok. I'll turn it off tonight and see how much the temp drops.
P.S I still have my hear pad on too.

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Like I've said, try both ways and get back to me on it. I'd love to see your reply here on what you have found, its going to be fun. Remember to compare everything you find with this, see it as an experiment. Don't just listen to me or just anyone, test it out see what's behind the suggestions. That's the fun part of the hobby, you can use advice and find what works best.

 

[ryan johnson]

Okay Martin
For you I will try both ways, as long as you follow me and walk me through it.

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Okay Martin
For you I will try both ways, as long as you follow me and walk me through it.

I'd do that any day, I'm learning each and every day just like you. The day I stop learning, that's the day I die haha.

 

[ryan johnson]

Hahaha I'm going to bed now. So I'll be reading your guys post LSD tomorrow night

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Hahaha I'm going to bed now. So I'll be reading your guys post LSD tomorrow night

Haha, you have a good rest. Remember to try everything, but keep the best.

 

[entomology]

No tank is ever too big... look at any tarantula!! they leave their hide in search for food in the "wild" although artificially kept one can never have a cage or enclosure too big!!! I assume people are under the impression food just appears at the "den"site and the tarantula does not scout for its food. All arboreal s need hight more than ground space due to humidity reasons and they are by nature arboreal and prefer height and restricting its instinctive behavior to climb and limiting it will increase stress and then you will have other issues to deal with. day /night cycles are a must irrespective the fact that arachnids are nocturnal they still need the cycle od day and night so be warned not too keep your enclosure covered with a towel all the time and the towel will change you vivarium temperature as well so gauge it and monitor it continuously.

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Hello
Something I'd like to add, when I speak of the size of enclosure this does not apply to communal species. I do apologize for not explaining that, it being said I will explain why the size matters to ME and some others.

With tank size, why I dislike that if its too big. In nature you have insects or food sources that are readily available that inhabit the close proximity of the spider. In our setups its not natural, so in the wild they'd have say 1000 insects inhabiting close proximity where we would add say one feeder in proximity. To make it easy I try to use an enclosure that's not too large,look at my reasoning behind this. Its like say putting one pokie in a 100 liter tank compared to another in a 50 won't the one in the 50 find food easier ? Just an example, if I'm wrong in this reasoning I would understand sensible reasons as to why.

 

[entomology]

remember avics are used to height and for an enclosure at home you are restricted so dnt worry about a sky scrapper lol as they do not occur in homes