Dear Scarab or any other Tarantula Keepers

Please answer my questions above.

Im planning to join them together in one huge enclosure, My two M.balfouris are about 9 and 11 cm now.

Thanks

Hi Ziegen

Firstly, I do apologize, I missed that post for some retarded reason. :blush:

is it still possible for me to keep them all together now in the same enclosure ?

I think it would be safe. I have never joined M balfouri at that size, but from what I know, it should not be a problem.

- if yes, do i need special methods to put them together ?

Nothing special, just put both in. It would be a good idea to build the interior of the enclosure so that there are a few rocks and other nesting sites. I normally slope the substrate from front to back and bury some rocks at the back. I then make a few holes into the substrate to serve as "starter" holes. They will find these holes and start building from there.

- whats ideal size of enclosure to keep them both ?

For two spiders with some rocky decorations, probably not smaller than 60cm X 40cm and deep enough for a good volume of substrate for burrowing.

Please let us know if you completed this, with pictures... :woohoo:

Hehe, well thanks for the reply, some food for thought defenitly. Will do some shopping and see if i can muster the hart to put them together, your reply towards Ziegen provided all the info i needed thanks for that.
Hope we have many more people getting communal Balfouri's together

Scarab, i freakin love you. The threads you have about pokies and balfouris are some of the best threads i have ever read on any forum. (I have read ALOT).

Been reading them for like 3-4 hours non stop and now i cant wait to finally get my balfouris! (like i could wait before, lol).

Also, i couldnt help but address this

Scarab wrote: Across the globe? If it's read by someone from across the Vaal River I'd be happy. :blush:

Im from Norway, thats pretty much on the other side of the globe, isnt it? :happy:

Looking forward to more updates on this awesome project, I will follow it till the end!

Hi Christoffer

I love you to mate !! Thanks for making an old fart's day. M balfouri afforded me to make friends in very cool places, Philippines, Canada, Croatia and now Norway... Just wish I could visit you all.

This thread has been quiet because the spiders in the communal are quiet. The adopted young are growing like crazy, the original five are expanding their nest and are fabulous sub adults now. Although I see them from time to time, they are all VERY secretive. The adult female seems very healthy, but I will not introduce an adult male now. I want her to wait for the sub adults to mature and mate with one/or more of them. It will take time, but that is what I have lots of.

Because their enclosure is rather large, I will not attempt to maintain a constant temperature in there, they must wait for the South African summer to lay eggs and hatch.

I can't promise a picture, but I will try catch them outside their nest and post. In the mean time, enjoy the short Norwegian summer that's on your doorstep...

Like RobC says, "knowledge is not power, unless you share it with others." Seems like you live this to the fullest! We need more people like you in this hobby. Here in Norway most of the experienced guys just keep their knowledge to themselves so they can make more money because no one else knows how to breed stuff......

As a matter of fact, me and a friend is going to namibia next year for four weeks to work at limpopo predator park^^ Thats not too far from SA is it? Would be awesome to drop by and see you collection and your awesome communal enclosure LIVE