When Should I Set Up My Tarantula's Enclosure?

[spdrrrrrr]

Hi everyone,
I’m new to the tarantula hobby and have an exciting arrival coming in 9 days! I wanted to ask experienced keepers—how far in advance should I prepare the enclosure for my tarantula?

Are there any tips for making sure everything is just right before they arrive? I want to ensure my tarantula transitions into its new home smoothly.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[m0lsx]

First welcome to the hobby & the forum.

Next, what species are you getting? If it's a desert species, then giving your substrate time to dry is a good idea. But feel free to put your enclosure together when ever you want. I have times when I arrive home from an Expo & have to put enclosures together & times when I know something is arriving & the enclosure is ready when needed. Both work for me. But I always have some dry substrate ready for use. Desert species can handle moist substrate, but they prefer dry.

 

[spdrrrrrr]

Thank you for responding! I will be getting a C. Versicolor, a tropical arboreal species.

 

[Ratmosphere]

For a C. versicolor you can use a 16 oz deli cup. Drill or poke air holes all across the enclosure to provide cross ventilation. Cross ventilation is very important for Avicularia/Caribena.

Keep the substrate dry and have a water dish. Best sized water dishes are seltzer water bottle caps from Walmart. This is in the "drinks" section. Provide a piece of cork bark in the enclosure with fake leaves.

Do not keep this species moist, a stuffy environment will kill your spider.

 

[spdrrrrrr]

Okay, thank you. Then do you think it's safe enough to set up its enclosure now?

 

[Ratmosphere]

Yea of course, this way you're prepared. Post some pics of the enclosure too so we can critique!

 

[m0lsx]

Drill or poke air holes all across the enclosure to provide cross ventilation. Cross ventilation is very important for Avicularia/Caribena.

If making your own enclosure, take great care not to make the air holes too big, as T's can easily escape if the hole is big enough to fit it's body through. Also what size is the Caribena versicolor that you are getting? A 16 oz deli cup could easily be too large, or small for it. Slings, even arboreal slings, tend to often be at the least semi fossorial. So you will need some substrate depth & cover, as well as some height for a versicolor. Then, as they get older the substrate depth is not important, but for a small sling, a small vile, like an old camera film tube, is all that is needed. Just push some airholes into the lid with a hot pin.

 

[Ratmosphere]

Yes, or if you drill you can use a 1/16" drill bit, perfect for 0.5" slings.

 

[spdrrrrrr]

Yea of course, this way you're prepared. Post some pics of the enclosure too so we can critique!

 

[spdrrrrrr]

View attachment 74500View attachment 74501View attachment 74502

Is there anything I should add or remove?

 

[Tarantula Trooper]

Enclosure looks awesome! Probably will disappear a bit under a white blanket! But hey, that's what you want!! Lol! BTW how big is that Versi again?

 

[Ratmosphere]

Insanely nice. The question is... how big is the spider? If it's a small sling this setup may be too big.