Cool. Thanks I will do.

Thanks guys. It's really cool to see the nature of the T community.
The hobby just gets better with this kind of response.

Hi Shawn,

welcome to the very addictive hobby of tarantula keeping.

I have: a mature male, sub-adult and 10 x slings G. Pulchripes.

When I got my first Chaco (now the mature male) it was hiding under some bark the whole time and wouldn't even come out to eat. After a while I decided to lift up the bark and "chase" the T out of the borrow (thinking that maybe it doesn't know how to get out) and if it wanted to burrow again, it could. But once it was out and "realized" no harm will come to it, it stayed above ground. Now, I'm not saying chase your tarantulas out of their burrows - just agreeing with Jake.

The 10 x Chaco sling are all burrowed under ground. They come out in the dark to feed and sometimes when I lift the lid they will dash out of the tub and on to my hand (cutest thing ever...they lift up their abdomens and try to look threatening).

So, yes...what your T is doing seems to be normal and I wouldn't be worried.

Keep us updated...

Hi guys,

Here is a pic of the setup as promised.

Thanks
Shawn

Hi guys,

Just some feedback. The little guy seems to be doing great. I've noticed that he comes out every now and again. I've added the heating pad with the bit of cold that has come in and he seems to be eating good again.

Thanks for all the replies.

In the meantime I've gotten another T. A Salmon Pink Bird eater. L. parahybana. Also an awesome little guy, but he is growing super fast. I like it.

With tarantulas the number one rule to keep all your spiders happy is the KISS rule KEEP IT SIMPLE STUPID. We often try to control the spiders or think what we would like the spider to do or how we think it should be behaving and when it does not do what you have read online or what we think it should be doing we go OH no its dying then we get all complicated and mess around with heat and humidity and other stuff.... and you end up killing your pet. RELAX spiders are incredibly tough and adaptable animals.

Tarantulas are probably the easiest animal to keep in captivity. I have kept over 120 tarantulas at any one time. Guess what i keep them all the same and i have only had one death in 7 years was a bad molt.. Yes your cage set up might be a little different between the arboreal and terrestrials and burrowing species. But the care is all the same.

IF you follow this i guarantee that you be fine. KISS. Leave your spider alone, if it wants to hide 99% of the time let it hide. I have had some spiders that i saw maybe once a month every spider has its own personality.

Relax and enjoy the hobby its very rewarding..