New with Tarantula Terrarium

[aquawho]

Hello. I am extremely new with the whole tarantula deal. Last year after holding Rose Hair (Grammostola rosea), it sparked my interest to own a tarantula. I went to a well reputed reptile store in SoCal and they suggest me to get a Pinktoe (Avicularia avicularia) since I only have 20 gal terrarium at home. At the same time, they suggest me to get a few female pinktoe since they are sociable and docile arachnids. After looking at Pinktoe and I decided on it that I want to have Pinktoe. One person told me to get a Irish Moss or Spanish moss for the terrarium. I decided on Irish Moss since they are greener and able to look great on pictures. I went to Lowes and Home Depot to get some Irish Moss.

Here the thing, after planting in. I misted the terrarium to allow the moss to grow. I want them to grow slightly before I get Pinktoe. I don't have everything set up ready for the Pinktoe to live. That is I want to wait before thing get ugly if I rush. I discovered that Lowes Irish Moss is growing great, but on the Home Depot Irish Moss is showing a some kind of mold or something black after planting in the terrarium. I am not sure why this is happening. I ask one of the worker there and they said that it is normal as long it is not overrun with those kind on the moss. It is overrun on the Home Depot. I have a friend who worked in Reptile store and owned a few arachnids at home. He took a look and said that the Home Depot moss is a Spanish moss. I told him that Home Depot said it a Irish Moss and I showed him a tag. It is a Irish moss before I plant it in my terrarium.

Right now, I am thinking about dumping out the Irish Moss and put something like coconut substrate. But I am not sure if it a best idea for it. I really want to have pinktoe to thrive in my terrarium. help? sorry for the long wall of text.

 

[Tongue Flicker]

First up, Avics are arboreal tarantulas so they could benefit more from having a tall enclosure. Substrate really isn't an issue for arboreals but it is crucial for maintaining humidity inside the tank and for this coco fiber usually does the job. You should wide pieces of barks, tree trunks and fake/live hanging plants ready. They may need supplemental heating if your house gets too cold and by that if it drops below 70F. Depending on the size you're getting but younger ones needs more moisture from misting.

 

[Sabeth]

Pinktoes make good first Ts but I wouldn't use live plants. In addition to the maintenance they require, they can also cause problems such as the mold you mentioned and can harbor pests such as mites. It's much easier and safer to use artificial plants. Use dry coco fiber as substrate (if you want to---the Avicularia don't actually need it) and provide a water dish with a rock in it (no sponges!).

A 20-gal. tank is plenty big...actually in the case of most tarantulas it might even be too big. Some dimensions to go by for cage size: The width of the cage should be twice the T's leg span, and the length (or in the case of the Pinktoe, the height) should be about twice the width. For arboreal tarantulas, the cage needs to be taller than it is wide.

A few words about humidity...misting is not actually necessary unless the T is a baby or is a swamp-dweller (Pinktoes aren't). You can increase humidity for your Pinktoe by using a larger water dish and/or restricting ventilation. The moisture level should never be so high that condensation begins to form. The T will also get moisture from its food.

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

Hello
If I might add, you can use a water dish at any stage. I add pebbles, this way they can't drown. The only avic I find that needs extra tlc, is the avic versi color. I don't have many avics, I have about 5 but I've lost 2 in the past.

 

[aquawho]

Thanks for the all the helpful information. I have a few question to ask. Sorry if you feel like I am asking too much, I want to make sure that I get all the information I need. I am that kind of person who loves questioning.

1. Coconut Substrate. I should get a dry one or a damp one? one of the worker there said that Pinktoe need some damp environment to aid their molting. He warned that it not a good idea to have a wet environment but have some moisture in the tank will help.
2. Live plants. I am hoping to get a live plants since I have so many plants in my house. It is ok to have something like a small cactus since they don't really grow fast. or the artificial plants is better?
3. Tank size. Yes I am aware that the tank is sightly too big for one pinktoe. That why I am planning to get a few something like maybe 3 or 4 females. If it is still too big, perhaps I can add more objects in the tank to make it feel less roomy? something like more hiding place?
4. Hiding place. One of my friend pushing me to have something like a hole in the ground for the Pinktoe. I read somewhere that Pinktoe is not a ground dweller, they are more of a wall dweller. Do pinktoe require some kind of underground hiding place or it best to have many "wall" hiding place?
5. Arboreal. I know Pinktoe do require something of a tall enclosure. I had this tank last year for my fish but it didn't work out well. So I decided to hold on that tank until I get something useful and I happen to believe that tank would be perfect for the Pinktoes. If you are curious about the dimension of my tank, it is 16.5 in H/24 in L/12 in W. Is it tall enough or I should be encouraged to get a smaller and taller tank?
6. Water. I know it sound silly, but I wonder if a small reptile water fountain will do the job? Something like this http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/reptile_fountain.php ? Or this is tad much? I want to showcase my tank to any of my friend who is highly curious of Pinktoes.
7. Tank cover. Since my tank is a fish tank. I required something of a cover to prevent them leaving the enclosure. I have this http://amzn.com/B000QFMRW8 . Is this ok? or I need some kind of plexiglass with tiny hole on top to have some air exchange
   
8. Molting. How do I know it is going to molt? Is there a way that I can aid it or I just let it do its thing?
   
9. Food. I am planning to feed it mainly just crickets. One worker warn that it not good idea to have hissing cockroach since they love to dig underground. Is this true? What is their other diet that I can feed them?

To Martin Oosthuysen, what is tlc? forgive me I am not very knowledgeable on tarantula things.

Again, Sorry for long questions. Thank you for your kind replies that would help me in the future

 

[Christell Erasmus]

Molting is a very delicate stage of the tarantulas life. It will start refusing food and not eat before molting. They will also have a dark patch on their abdomen before molting. It is better just to leave your tarantula to let it do its thing. Also try and not disturb or feed them for a week or so after a molt to give time for the exoskeleton and fangs to harden.
I rather use fake plants than live plants to cut out the change to get mold or parasites which are harmful to tarantulas.
Pink toe tarantulas spend there time up in trees, not really on the ground. Put some bark in for them to climb up on and pretty soon they will start to web up the place .
The relationship between moisture and humidity is important to a Pinktoe. I personally think by adding a water fountain would be to much. A small water dish with a pebble inside to prevent drowning would be fine. its easier to add moisture than to take it out.
The tank cover you have in mind would be perfect.
You could also feed them meal worms if you want to change there diet from time to time. I feed mine cockroaches which i breed myself.
And tlc stands for tender love and care.

 

[Martin Oosthuysen]

TLC - tender loving care