Hi!

I'm sort of sure this is the right place to post this (it is enclosure-related) but if I'm not, just let me know.

I have a beautiful little L. Parahybana in a tank I managed to get someone to jippo for me out of a fishtank (glass with a plastic lid with the air vent built into it). It's sort of reinforced so she/he cant push the lid off (or has never tried as far as I know).

It's been about three months and it's been alright so far in the tank, but recent I've noticed her starting to climb the glass as she gets bigger (previously mostly staying in her makeshift burrow or on the peat) and considering I've seen the Tarantula keeper's guide and how they can chew through wire mesh etc, I'm worried she attempts to chew through the plastic lid.

1.) Is this a possibility and do I need to move her to another tank? The size of the tank isn't an issue yet and she's not what I'd call 'handling-material', so i'd rather not move her unless its necessary.

2.) If so, can someone recommend where to buy an appropriate terrestrial tank in the greater joburg area? I've not had much luck with petstores here. Majority of the tanks I see are more arboreal-suited.

Thanks!

Hi,

Depends on where you live and what you are willing to pay. The petshop at Lifestyle Centre in Beyers Naude, Randburg, definitely have the right type of terrestrial glass tank, but they are a bit pricey.

If you're not that concerned with having a fabulous glass tank, just go to Westpack (there is one at Lifestyle Centre, Randburg and one in Alberton) and buy yourself a clear plastic tub (very cheap and durable) - these tubs usually have different types of lid mechanisms and designs to ensure your Copperfield stays in its cage

BUT if you really want to save money and you already have a lid that fits on top of the tank, just use insulation tape to stick the lid to the enclosure. It looks terrible, but it is very effective and will give you time to save up for a bigger tank later.

Well if they can chew through mess I think we all have a problem with our air vents being plastic. Hehe.

Just a side thought here. L. Parahybana don't often climb too high so has anything changed in your setup? My father-in-law has a L. Parahybana in a fish tank with normal fish tank lid without a problem, it even climbs onto the lid and when you open it, she's right there just relaxing (but not often).

Perhaps your heat source is causing her to climb or something. Also check the For Sale section here on the forums, some people make glass enclosures and ship them, it's well worth the money

You can have a piece of glass of the appropriate size cut and edged at a glass place. Fasten it to the enclosure with silicone and hinges. You can use the same method to attach a locking mechanism. If you want to install air vents (Which in my personal opinion is not required for most of what we keep anyway) the glass place can cut holes in the glass if you supply the dimensions and have vents to install. Personally, I have the sides of the enclosure a bit higher on the opposite sides to allow for air flow (Not that it is required ) but small enough so that the spider can't get out. 2-3mm in my case. Cutting holes is time consuming and a glass place will probably charge more per hole than the piece of glass itself.

My first attempt.
www.tarantulas.co.za/forum/show-and-tell...-diy-glass-enclosure
Main critique was lack of air vents.
Lesson learned: the lid can drop and break, which it did, and it broke and cost R12 and 10 minutes to replace

This lid I just fastened to the enclosure with silicone, hinges and locking mechanism. It came with the enclosure when I bought it.
www.tarantulas.co.za/forum/tarantula-gen...pe?limit=12&start=24
Currently housing my H incei communal.
Note the gap between the glass and the lid as well. I make all my enclosures like this at the moment and works perfectly for me. No holes, not round vents, just slits.
PS. That little gap is still large enough for baby H incei to escape from. Close with tape when babies are present.

My next project is to convert an existing 60 litre fish tank (1 fish left that needs to die) into an M balfouri communal.
Planning to make a split lid with glass, hinges and locking mechanism in the middle.
My fish tank currently has a perspex lid I had custom made by lunchbox to fit the fish tank, it is perfect, except that it is 7cm too short so that the filter can fit on the site. Might re-use it instead of the split lid, but will see. Perspex scratches easily and over time becomes very dull. Glass stays perfect forever.

Wow! Quick responses

Spunky: Thanks! When she gets bigger I'm gonna go to lifestyle to get the new tank. I'd rather pay a bit more for a decent-looking glass tank.

Splurge: I guess you're right. I have plastic vents and no spider of mine has tried to chew through that as of yet :laugh: Didn't think of it that way.

Hmm... The enclosure hasn't changed much. The tank is an average normal sized fish tank (30x15cm?), lots of spider peat, big piece of cork bark and half a yogurt tub buried in peat for a burrow. She normally just sits under the yogurt tub and I only see her when she wants food. She's never really been a climber and I've only seen her on the back of the tank once (as opposed to my Curly and my Chaco, who are usually all over the place).

My room is quite warm so they don't actually have an artificial heat source and appear to be coping with winter quite well.

SynergyZA: Wow, you're quite the master :laugh: My dad is good with his hands, so he's the one who adapted the fishtank lid for me. I might get him to try make me a tank if I cant find any of the right ones. I made the mistake a few months ago of getting a tank that was higher than it was wide for my Chaco. Psycho-Spider, climbing and sliding down the side of the tank repatedly for a couple of days. She's doing much better in a smaller (wider) tank that I managed to pick up at the randburg expo.

I've been keeping my parahybana with a fishtank lid for over a year now, and she's huge, over 20cm. Nother has ever happened and I just put some tape over the hole that is in it, seems to be fine, she still climbs the sides occasionally, but never lifted it up or tried to chew through it.