Hi All

So after researching T's for just over a month, I finally got one over the weekend but it has not been the best experience. First off I've done research on all the basics but somehow everything didn't work out the way I wanted it to. So I discovered a pet store over the weekend that sells T's and the place really looks nice so I thought that this would be a good place to get my first one. After talking to the person that ran the store or possibly the owner, I soon noticed that I knew more about T's than she did. This became evident after I saw how they handle their Tarantulas. Shocking to say the least.

To cut a long story short I eventually bought a Grammostola Pulchripes (chaco) juvenile. Or at least that's in my opinion. The tank\enclosure must be about 15x15x15. I purchased pete from the store and I'm using that at the moment. Approx 5cm of pete in the enclosure. My problem is the following:

1) My spider sits on the back wall of the enclosure the whole time and came down only once. My heatpad is at the back of the tank as I read that this is the best place to put it. I also read that if your T sits on the sides of his tank, that he's basically not a very happy chappy. The pete isn't too moist and is more on the dry side.

Please help. Is the enclosure too small for him ? I'm not sure how you measure your T, but from what I've seen is people measure the lenght from the tip of his front leg to the tip of the hind legs? If that's the case I would say he's between 6-8cm in length.

Thx in advance
Francois
PS: I have attached a pic to give you more or less an idea. Note that the inner walls are very damp. Is this supposed to happen?


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The size of the tank is fine for now, the spider is still "small"

The condensation will be from the damp peat, the heating and the outside temps.
Nothing wrong with it, your spider has a source of water to drink from.

If your spider is sitting on the back by the heating pad then he is just soaking up the warmth from the heating pad.
Also don't stress to much. give your spider some
time to settle in to he's new home.

Yes, you would measure your spider from the front leg ( leg 1) to the back leg ( leg diagonally across.
Here is an example.

(Photo located on the web, credit to the owner.)

Just an update. My G.Pulchripes has settled in nicely in his new home. Thx for the advice. Have attached a pic of him/her.