- Messages
- 44
- Location
- USA
After a few years of experimentation I finally found an enclosure "style" that works for me. For anything other than the final enclosures I am using whatever cheap, acrylic container I can find that will be best for the specific spider. Substrate wise I use coco fiber and maybe sphagnum, water dish, and a piece of cork.
When a spider is ready for it's final enclosure I like glass terrariums and try to mimic the native environment visually. I would say I aim for more naturalistic than bioactive as I don't tend to use cleaning crews and I don't use live plants. I'm sort of inspired by the dioramas at natural history museums or zoo enclosures. Personally I just like the way they look and it adds some interest especially for those species that you don't find out that often.
Tropical jungle and temperate enclosures are fairly easy to design and look pretty good but I am struggling with arid/desert enclosures. The main issue is finding a substrate that looks natural. Just dumping sand in isn't pleasing to the eye and most spiders don't like it either. I like the look of Stone Desert substrate by Exo Terra but in my area it doesn't seem to be sold in any stores. The only place I have found it is on Ebay or a very few other pet supply places but once you factor in shipping the cost is exorbitant.
If there is anyone else out there that likes naturalistic builds I'd love to see your enclosures or hear any tips you have for design but I am especially curious to see what people are using for arid substrates.
When a spider is ready for it's final enclosure I like glass terrariums and try to mimic the native environment visually. I would say I aim for more naturalistic than bioactive as I don't tend to use cleaning crews and I don't use live plants. I'm sort of inspired by the dioramas at natural history museums or zoo enclosures. Personally I just like the way they look and it adds some interest especially for those species that you don't find out that often.
Tropical jungle and temperate enclosures are fairly easy to design and look pretty good but I am struggling with arid/desert enclosures. The main issue is finding a substrate that looks natural. Just dumping sand in isn't pleasing to the eye and most spiders don't like it either. I like the look of Stone Desert substrate by Exo Terra but in my area it doesn't seem to be sold in any stores. The only place I have found it is on Ebay or a very few other pet supply places but once you factor in shipping the cost is exorbitant.
If there is anyone else out there that likes naturalistic builds I'd love to see your enclosures or hear any tips you have for design but I am especially curious to see what people are using for arid substrates.