Enclosure ventilation with computer fans

[OculusLondres]

I have my adult Avicularia in ExoTerra Nano, while I replaced the top lid I didn't risk to drill the glass sides and I was suggested that the ventilation would be bad. I also live in New York and not far from the ocean, so the humidity is pretty high so I use mini computer fan to blow air into the enclosure to help with ventilation and the humidity.

While I am not sure if it's good or bad, it definitely helps with the ventilation and both of my Avic's juvenile and adult are seem to be totally fine with it. They don't seem to be affected in terms of being scared or attracted to it.

I found a blower fan of about the same size, and a micro air pump - is that something anyone uses or would use?

 

[octanejunkie]

Bad idea

 

[OculusLondres]

Bad idea

Thanks! Can you share more details on why?

 

[Arachnoclown]

That will help dehydrate your spiders for sure.

 

[OculusLondres]

That will help dehydrate your spiders for sure.

It only works when humidity's high not 24/7 and it does help a lot in cases when soil get's too moist.
Should I not worry about ventilation that much?

 

[octanejunkie]

I prefer screened lids, see here

Exo Terra screen lid mod

Trying this out for my larger arboreals starting with a nano tall It's 4.5mm open weave stainless wire cloth from Amazon. I cut it to size with tin snips and shoved it into the channel on the kid similarly to how the original lid is made. I got glued it in just to be safe. We shall see how it...

www.tarantulaforum.com

No tarantula will tolerate air blowing for very long before becoming stressed/over sensitized. Their setae are sensory perceptors that can sense micro air current changes 3,000x more acutely than we can. Blow a puff of air at any of your tarantulas and watch them react.

Humidity is what it is. If it's ambient and natural, and not a sauna, most will adapt, as long as there is good ventilation and natural air flow, they will be fine. Wind tunnels and sweat boxes, not so much.

Make sense? Loose the fan. Sorry for being terse.

Ps. Where in NY?

 

[OculusLondres]

Blow a puff of air at any of your tarantulas and watch them react.

thats how I actually check if they’re hungry - not sure how the others, but mine jump on where I blown to look for food

There is no natural air flow on where they are, I’m in New York, it’s pretty humid and now it’s also cold, so they’re in the room that does have open window from time to time, without direct flow on the cage, but that’s it.

If you see, the fan covers 2-4 holes, so it doesn’t blow too much, and I don’t use it daily, but I got your point, will take it off!

 

[octanejunkie]

I grew up in New York, near the LI Sound; I'm well familiar with humidity. Still wouldn't use a fan blowing directly into an enclosure like that. Ambient airflow in an entire room, yes.

 

[OculusLondres]

I had a bit different setup before with the mini fan nearby cage but not blowing directly in the holes/inside cage, when it got broken I decided to update the setup with these. I guess I’ll get back to the old thing.

 

[OculusLondres]

Ps. Where in NY?

Brooklyn

 

[OculusLondres]

Brooklyn

And by the Ocean, so I get a bit extra humidity that was getting me worried

 

[octanejunkie]

And by the Ocean, so I get a bit extra humidity that was getting me worried

Where do avicularia sp typically come from?

The avicularia sp typically come from tropical climates like Costa Rica, the Caribbean and South America - plenty of humidity, storms and hurricanes. Your room in Brooklyn is a piece of cake for them if you do your part.

 

[OculusLondres]

Where do avicularia sp typically come from?

Pretty sure it’s not cages with stale air, so I worry about mine, but I take the word of an expert!

 

[octanejunkie]

Pretty sure it’s not cages with stale air, so I worry about mine, but I take the word of an expert!

I'm no expert, I just have a bunch of them for years now. I manage to keep them alive and breed them from time to time. Truth be known, I lost my first avic unexpectedly, an Avicularia versicolor; it was devastating - but I was determined to try again and get it right.

 

[octanejunkie]

Here's a little something I put together a while back

Keeping Avicularia species - Updated with Pictures

I keep several different arboreal species of tarantula but not all of them require the same care. The general care and keeping of the various avicularia-type arboreal species differs from all other arboreal and terrestrial species; but it's not complicated. A little history I lost my first...

www.tarantulaforum.com

 

[Arachnoclown]

Full screen ventilation is the best for Avicularia. Your humidity should be low already with avics. Dry out your substrate.

 

[Arachnoclown]

You actually only need a water dish for avics...they don't even need substrate. Ive raised dozens this way to prove the point substrate isn't necessary with Avicularia. Stan has also proved this in his book.

 

[Oursapoil]

My two cents, a lot

I grew up in New York, near the LI Sound; I'm well familiar with humidity. Still wouldn't use a fan blowing directly into an enclosure like that. Ambient airflow in an entire room, yes.

The east coast doesn't want you anymore

 

[Oursapoil]

In addition to all the reasons these two gentlemen mentioned above, even the quietest fan will generate vibrations throughout the enclosure. Definitely not a pleasant detail for your T.
We are neighbors, if you wish you could come over to check out different kind of setup at our place.
Cheers.

 

[octanejunkie]

My two cents, a lot

The east coast doesn't want you anymore

Just like Europe didn't want you