Ok...You people and your Ts are killing me!

[Cendalla]

That mix sounds just right. I can get crickets here, I just wanted to try out the FFFs (more outta curiosity). It doesn't hurt to have them either since I can't buy them out here. How are you measuring your temp and humidity?

[Boanerges]

I'm not sure what the deal is, but it seems that when one achieves ball python ownership than one must progress to big arse (I think I can say that...admin?!) spiders. I'm not sure if its a natural progression or some terrible malady. In short- I have caught the T fever.

My questions to you all:

(1)Where/who do you suggest getting your Ts from?
I think you found what you wanted but if you need more info PM me
(2)Where do you prefer to get your supplies (substrate, enclosure, etcetera)?
Substrate - pet smart (straight eco earth in a bag NOT the brick. When you add water to the brick it takes forever for it to dry out to be usuabale and is a pain! I tried mixing vermiculite a couple times and it just sticks to the T's some times and never worked out well for me. I always switched back to straight coco fiber.
Enclosure - pet smart, the container store, walmart, michaels.
(3)What Ts do you suggest for a first timer? I want something that is hardy. It can be a mean SOB just as long as it is tough. Think you picked your T out already? I have recently held a grumpy Haplopelma lividum. I am HIGHLY surprised it let you hold her!!!! I loved her! Would they be good? No. they have strong venom, like to hide (pet hole) and are generally VERY mean and defensive. But oh so pretty Help

Thoughts? Comments? Questions?

That mix sounds just right. I can get crickets here, I just wanted to try out the FFFs (more outta curiosity). What is a FFF? It doesn't hurt to have them either since I can't buy them out here. How are you measuring your temp and humidity? I measure all my temps and humidity the same way I measure it for my snakes.

[Boanerges]

he did!!!!
its all his fault!!
i was inspired by that inspirer of tarantulas as well!

Thanks

Thanks. I really appreciate it. Especially since you are the one who started all the madness

Thanks

With the coconut and vermiculite being 1:1 what is the water ratio you use? How much air flow do you have for the deli cups?

I would buy a starter kit from Jamie. It is very nice and will have everything you need already done. If your getting a versicolor they need more height then floor space so a deli cup is not really good to use.

[Alexandra V]

I have no idea what these FFFs you're speaking of are, but aside from that, since you got a versicolor, it's going to need more height than a deli cup can offer, as Jeff said. I've personally never dealt with Jamie (simply because I'm from the great white North lol) but I've heard nothing but good things about her. Her starter kit looks very cool, so you can give that a shot or go to your local petshop, get a tall Kritter Keeper type enclosure (on a side note - the tall 1 gallon jugs you can find at Wal-Mart, with coco fiber at the bottom and a piece of cork bark leaned agains the side works very nicely for arboreals. Just drill or melt holes in the side for ventilation). Whatever you do, the versicolors like a lot of humidity and need a lot of ventilation too.

That being said, since it's arboreal and won't be spending much time on the substrate, you can afford to add vermiculite to hold the humidity better. A lot of tarantulas don't like walking on vermiculite because it sticks to them (like Jeff said), but if it's arboreal, then it's no biggie

[Simple Man]

My snake room is monitored temp wise and so is my heat tape so that's how I get the ambient temps. I have an IR temp gun for substrate temps. Humidity is by just knowing that condensation is forming so that means I'm 70% plus in my area I'm not sticking a AccuRite into a deli cup

Regards,

B

[Cendalla]

I held the Haplopelma lividum very very briefly. It lunged forward at my hubby and made him squeak like a little girl, but from what I understand she is pretty mellow for a cobalt. I didn't know they had strong venom though Glad she was ticked at someone else and not me!

The FFFs are the flightless fruit fly cultures. I don't have anything other than a petsmart and petco close.

I ordered a arboreal kit from Jamie and a 1 inch Avicularia versicolor. I know it wasn't the best choice for a first T but like I told Brain (simpleman) I intend to hover over it like an overprotective mother. Jamie was really patent with me and answered all my million plus questions.

Boanerges - do you put your digital thermometer/hydrometer inside on the side or on the bottom of the enclosure? So I should bypass the deli cup and go right to the enclosure? That would make things easier.

Alexandra V- Good to know about the vermiculite. I did order that book. Hopefully I will be here soon.

Thanks every one! You've all been a great help

[Cendalla]

My snake room is monitored temp wise and so is my heat tape so that's how I get the ambient temps. I have an IR temp gun for substrate temps. Humidity is by just knowing that condensation is forming so that means I'm 70% plus in my area I'm not sticking a AccuRite into a deli cup

Regards,

B

Yeah, He/she will be in my snake room (my bedroom) too. It stays warm with all the heat tape I have going on plus its upstairs. Never goes below 74. I'll set the little one up by the CEH on my boa's enclosure and watch the humidity closely. That should keep it at about 80 degrees.

[Boanerges]

I held the Haplopelma lividum very very briefly. It lunged forward at my hubby and made him squeak like a little girl, but from what I understand she is pretty mellow for a cobalt. I didn't know they had strong venom though Glad she was ticked at someone else and not me!

The FFFs are the flightless fruit fly cultures. I don't have anything other than a petsmart and petco close.

I ordered a arboreal kit from Jamie and a 1 inch Avicularia versicolor. I know it wasn't the best choice for a first T but like I told Brain (simpleman) I intend to hover over it like an overprotective mother. Jamie was really patent with me and answered all my million plus questions.

Boanerges - do you put your digital thermometer/hydrometer inside on the side or on the bottom of the enclosure? It depends on what temps or whatever I am trying to get. I have been doing this for so long that I have a good idea of where everything is based off of the room temp and humidity. The more touchier T's I pay a lot closer attention to though. I have more of an issue with my natural humidity being too high. For instance the room humidty where the T's and snakes are right at this second is around 75%-78% (I have three humidty guages in that room, not counting in the tanks spread out to just give me an idea of the natural humidty in the room) but it's currently raining. I need to be aware of how often I mist or wet the substrate, and air flow because mold becomes an issue. You pretty much just want to keep an eye on the air temps and humidity. You are not checking a hot spot (unless for some reason you are putting a heat mat on the side of the tank or something). With the air temps in the enclosure you can check it by putting a probe inside the tank for awhile or the thermometer it's self for a quick check. You can also leave it in there if you are more worried about it. So I should bypass the deli cup and go right to the enclosure? That would make things easier. YES

Alexandra V- Good to know about the vermiculite. I did order that book. Hopefully I will be here soon.

Thanks every one! You've all been a great help

[Boanerges]

These are the humidity guages in the room currently:

[Cendalla]

Awesome. I'll do a little online shopping and snag a few things, then I should be good to go. If I forget something and panic I'll bombard you with more questions