#tarantula’s terrarium

[illuminaryart]

Planted!

Psygmorchis pusila, Peperomia serpens, P. rotundifolia, P. emarginella, Selaginella diffusa, S. kraussiana, and a NOID Gesneriad from the general region. Next step is to be very patient and wait to see that everything is rooting and surviving. I'll be adding my springtails shortly (Neanura growae, non-native but cute) and later will put my Trinidad dwarf tarantula (Cyriocosmus elegans) in it.

[ughfuckingbiotypical]

Paraguana peninsula Biotope

Target Species: Green Bottle Blue Tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens)

Location: Paraguana peninsula, Northern Venezuela, South America

Habitat Type: Desert

I know this blog's been quiet, since I started it, but I'm finally back with my first biotope summary and its even one I've recently built! It was finally time for me to upgrade my Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens Vlad into her adult enclosure.

This is not a care guide, if you are looking for information on care for this species there are sources at the bottom of this post written by tarantula keepers much more experienced than me. I used many of them when I was originally deciding if this was a species I would like to keep.

The target species of this enclosure is a docile species of new world tarantula. They boast dark blue and rusty orange coloration, and once settled into an enclosure, are typically outgoing enough for you to see and enjoy them. They are a burrowing species that will build a thick web around the entrance, so providing plenty of substrate and structure to anchor to is key. They also don't require conditions that are terribly difficult to maintain. Unfortunately they are classified as critically endangered in the wild, potentially making the captive bred population of this species an important resource.

Original Photos: young specimen with juvenile coloration, 21 Mar. 2023 (Left). Vlad almost fully transitioned to the adult coloration, 14 Feb. 2024 (Right).

The setup I built is very simple. The only animals are the target species and cleanup crew (isopods, not habitat accurate). All foliage is artificial, as I didn't want to potentially stress her with a grow light to maintain plants that she will likely web over anyway (the LED above her cage will only be turned on for viewing). So this outline will have much less specific information on the flora and fauna that occur in this habitat outside of the target species than future outlines will.

I had some trouble finding photos I was sure were habitat from Paraguana that weren't wide shots, let alone photos of C. cyaneopubescens in its natural environment, but based on photos like this one:

Cerro Santa Ana, Paraguaná Peninsula, Venezuela - by Jujovar2010.

And a couple of short descriptions, this habitat seems to be characterized by dense shrubs and barrel cacti. The deserts of this region are also characterized by sand dunes, but C. cyaneopubescens reportedly (and in my experience) likes to anchor their webs around plants. So It is unlikely one would willingly spend much of its time out on open sand dunes.

Desert on the Way to Paraguaná- by R, Frank Morales, 12 Oct. 2009. Flickr

With that information, my observations on Vlad's habits, and the materials available, this is the setup I've put together.

Original Photo, 9 Sept. 2024.

I kept things simple, as this is one of my smaller terrariums inhabited by an animal, and much of it will eventually be covered by webbing as well. I included branches of various sizes to simulate the underbrush and a hollow piece of cholla wood mounted in a vertical position. The cholla wood is not a biotypically accurate variety of cactus, but it provides a convenient naturalistic hide for the tarantula. I also chose faux grass that would mimic the look of dormant desert grass. I may make some adjustments when I get the chance, specifically replacing the current water bowl with one that fits into the scape better.

Bonus cryptid spotting:

Original Photo, 12 Sept. 2024.

Image Descriptions in Alt

Sources under cut

David, Zach. “Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens 101: Care, Enclosure, Temperament & More.” Beyond The Treat, 22 Aug. 2019, https://beyondthetreat.com/chromatopelma-cyaneopubescens/.

“Green Bottle Blue Tarantula Care.” The Tarantula Collective, https://www.thetarantulacollective.com/caresheets/chromatopelma-cyaneopubescens. Accessed 23 July 2024.

Greenbottle Blue Care Sheet | Tarantula Husbandry | TARANTULAS.Com. http://tarantulas.com/caresheets/C_cyaneopubescens.html. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.

“Greenbottle Blue Tarantula.” Wikipedia, 25 Feb. 2024. Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Greenbottle_blue_tarantula&oldid=1210157315.

Greenbottle Blue Tarantula: GBB Care, Facts & Species - More Reptiles. https://www.morereptiles.com/greenbottle-blue-tarantula/. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.

Klich, Szymon. “Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens: Green Bottle Blue Tarantula.” Spiders World, 18 Dec. 2023, https://spiderswrld.com/chromatopelma-cyaneopubescens-description/.

Paraguaná & Médanos de Coro: Where Desert Meets the Caribbean | LAC Geo. https://lacgeo.com/paraguana-peninsula-medanos-coro. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.

Paraguaná Peninsula | Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Venezuela, Araya Peninsula | Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/place/Paraguana-Peninsula. Accessed 12 Sept. 2024.

R, Frank Morales. Desert on the Way to Paraguaná. photo, 12 Oct. 2009. Flickr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/frankmorales/4006822182/.

Will. Green Bottle Blue Tarantula Care Guide and FAQs. 22 June 2022, https://thespiderblog.com/green-bottle-blue-tarantula-care-guide-and-faqs/.

big shout out to the Zotero extension for making compiling the sources for this thing I do in my free time MUCH easier

[0strolistt]

Meet my G. Pulchripes named Zephyr. I rehoused her in a new enclosure recently. There are live plants. I tried the technic of using a pot to protect the plants from her and so far it's working. She didn't pull or dig any of them out yet. It's been around 3 weeks and she dug a burrow behind the bark, covered the entrance on the ground level and uses the entrance at the top. So I guess she's arboreal now XD Good for her. The plants are doing well too. Philodendron is exploded and makes a new leaf each week. The fern in the back is worse than it started but the spider sits on it sometimes. Maybe it will bounce back.

[newtarantulasontheblock]

Hello everyone! My name is Rain, and here are my lovely babies! I've always been in love with tarantulas, but I never had the opportunity to take care of any until now. From left to right we have: Mora the Mexican Red-Knee tarantula (Brachypelma hamorii), Sha the Pink-toed tarantula (Avicularia avicularia), and Spice the Pumpkin Patch tarantula (Hapalopus Sp. Columbia)!

This blog is just gonna be one for my babies as they grow up and become bigger, and going into bigger enclosures. Feel free to join us on our adventure!

[aviculor]

It’s a shame the absolute S tier enclosure I made under the impression I was getting a 3”+ spider is going unused. I might just leave it as is until the sling is ready. In like five years. On the right is the smaller one I’m actually using. You can almost see the sling in the front corner.

The centerpiece of the small one was originally next to the water dish in the big one, that's why that corner looks empty.

[walkingmoth]

I recently moved Twinkleberry into his new enclosure. I think it may be on the small side once he matures but this is plenty of room for now. I made the stained glass Wardian case myself, and everything in there is locally foraged. It's hard to tell, but it has a canted lid which makes it great for viewing. Ventilation could probably be better but it's hardly a moisture trap; the lid is held opened a ~1/4" by silicone bumpers which is far better than holes drilled in acrylic panels. I'm tempted to add Armadillidium klugii 'Montenegro' or 'Dubrovnik', but still researching care for this isopod species. I have no concern for the isopods bothering the tarantula, and Twinkleberry is very willing to take roaches so I don't think he'll bother the pods, either. Just a matter of being able to keep the humidity up which also shouldn't be an issue. I've got three inches of substrate that's easy enough to keep damp in spots without raising the overall humidity.

[bwabbitv3s]

I Built an Indoor Rainforest for a Zoo

For as long as I can remember, I've imagined designing beautiful naturalistic setups, for cool animals, that people may enjoy in person. I wasn't sure if or when it would happen, but it did. After months in the making and I'm so excited to finally share it with you. This is the journey of how I created a 3-in-1 tarantula exhibit for Butterfly Pavilion in Westminster, Colorado. Butterfly Pavilion is the world's first AZA accredited, stand-alone, non-profit invertebrate zoo in the world. They are a leader in local and global invertebrate research, education, and conservation, with a focus on protecting these animals for the future.

[sergeantsadbitch]

Let's put random shit under my microscope.

tw spiders

This is my pet tarantula's (Brachypelma hamorii, Mexican red-knee tarantula) exuvia/ her old exoskeleton.

look at those little teethies <3

Brachypelma hamorii: ventral view of the exuvia

[frillshop]

Cauldron Jumping Spider Enclosure - HomeFamiliars on Etsy

[animalcuckllective]

I was trying to figure out if it's actually bad to give birdeater tarantulas feeder lizards to eat and I found some anecdotal comments of people who have heard of people having molting issues after feeding their tarantulas lizards, but I found a shocking amount of people who said they thought feeding a tarantula a lizard is needlessly cruel and unnecessary. And I'm just like, is it not cruel for the tarantula to eat cockroaches and crickets? I think it's strange to be owning a tarantula and not have compassion towards the insects you're feeding to your tarantula. Your tarantula is also just a bug. Idk I was reading comments and they seem to enjoy watching their tarantulas eat in a way that idk if I do. I don't own tarantulas because I think they're cool and bad ass to watch eat I just like taking care of bugs. Am I too autistic for other tarantula owners?

[foldingfittedsheets]

The location of the sex shop I worked was a haven for spiders. We had tall ceilings and skylights and unused storage rooms. It was a spider paradise. We quickly sussed out which coworkers to call on in case of emergency. The Dorito lady was a solid ally for spiders but absolutely petrified of moths.

But there’s actually a hierarchy of fear. Most people don’t realize. The person least afraid is the one forced to deal with the bug in question. If coworker B was scared, but coworker A was petrified, well coworker B was gonna have to screw their courage to the sticking place because by the law of fear they were the most competent person on scene.

Thus enters Rick. Rick first appeared in the back storage room. This room doubled as a second bathroom so we went in on a semi frequent basis. The girl who’d gone in to pee shot out again gibbering with fear about the biggest spider she’d ever seen had just run across her boot.

We sicced Dorito lady on it. She returned, shaking her head. “He was squatting on a power cord where it plugs in. I couldn’t get a clean shot at Rick.”

“Rick?”

She shrugged. “Spiders that big need a name. Seemed like a Rick.”

Rick, freshly named, became a store menace. I’d normally say this was probably a case of multiple spiders being mistaken for one but everyone who encountered him swore up and down there could be no mistake. This spider was massive, fast, and distinct. A gladiator among arachnids.

I never encountered Rick. His exploits grew in the telling but the theme was consistent: no one could kill him. He’d hunker in places that no one could reach and dart away when a strike missed. He also chased off the more faint hearted, charging them in bold dashes. There could be no benign cup transplant to remove Rick from the premise. He was not leaving.

The saga of Rick continued for two months. Not seeing him was almost worse, a fearful wariness when going to the bathroom or stepping into quieter areas. I waited with dread, hoping my eventual run in would have me on shift with Dorito lady to protect me.

It was not to be. There was a girl the same who hated my one moment of singing that was absolute piss-herself scared of spiders. She’d slam straight into a panic attack and couldn’t think or speak. And so it was that one night on shift, I heard her scream.

It was unmistakable. I was in the front window turning off the open sign. Through an obstacle course of mannequins and lingerie I performed an acrobatic sprint out of the window, darting up to find her quivering at the front counter, fully crying. I radiated calm at her and said, “Just point.”

I knew it was Rick. Our destinies were intertwined and we had always been pulled toward the inexorable battle that was drawing nigh.

Her hand raised to point to our sandwich board sign at the front of the store. So Rick had the metaphorical high ground. There was no quick easy strike on the slanted signs surface.

I armed myself and marched into battle, my knuckles white on my chosen weapon. I would do this, because I must. Because there was no one else. And because I wanted to close and go home.

I saw Rick immediately and I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen a bigger spider since. Outside of a tarantula, he was truly the most massive spider I’ve ever beheld outside a zoo enclosure or terrarium.

We regarded each other. Rick launched off the sign toward me and I stomped my foot reflexively, making him pause in his charge. Then I raised my weapon. Anything else, I believe Rick could have evaded. He’d bested most of the store thus far. But I had chosen chemical warfare.

I doused the shit out of that spider with cleaning spray, stunning him with a barrage of chemicals. While he froze, choking on the unexpected deluge, I dropped a paper towel over him. My foot came down.

I felt his exoskeleton crunch and I can feel it still to this day. The shattering was as of bones and I truly mourned that we had been forced into senseless war. If only he has cleaved tighter to the shadows. If only he’d crawled willing into a cup for relocation. I released a full body shudder of horror, fear, and adrenaline as I stepped back.

I took several quivering breaths. I donned a veneer of calm and tidied the battlefield of it’s corpse then went to reassure my coworker that all was well, while internally I still shook.

You fought well, Rick. I hope you sired many more monstrous children to haunt retail workers in the years to come. Rest in valor, you monster.

[pastelldinosaurier]

🕷✨️

[baekuras]

Currently re-reading up on my still little for it’s species housespider so I know where to best let them out because they did outgrow the bathroom and decided to wander onto the ceiling of my bedroom which...I don’t want them hiding in corners here, it’ll only end badly for both of us

And one of the first lines is about them being solitary spiders The very first time I met them was in my old homes basement and there were at least 3 to 4 at any given time-are you SURE?

[mochinomnoms]

I think it would be funny if one of the guys got in an argument with your pet fish.

Floyd might actually get into a fist fight. Fin fight? Whatever he calls it, he's the only fish allowed to be in your life.

Jade thinks it's cute that you have a fish with a whole little aquarium set up. It reminds him of his terrariums. Perhaps he could do something similar with a tarantula?

Azul also thinks it's cute, but why do you need an aquarium at home when his entire dorm is one? If you want to have a pet fish, then you can just move into his room and adopt one of the cuttlefish that like to hang out around the walls of his room. That pink one is called Ruby, I bet she'd love you!

[fatkish]

Hi! Could you write Tamaki Amajiki Having a 5 year old sister. But who is the COMPLETE opposite of him.

Basically being a menace. Speaking her mind all the time, loving to play with bugs and tormenting showing them to her classmates. (Like one time chasing a bunch of screaming girls with a stick full of spiders) Making trouble constantly, etc.

Yet still love and even look up to her brother. While she may think he can be a bit of a chicken at times. She thinks he’s the coolest person ever! He can be brave, has beaten a lot of bad guys before. AND is a HERO! She will happily brag about her hero brother to her friends.

Tamaki Amajiki x Child Sibling Reader

You are Tamaki’s 5 year old sister. You’re a hyperactive kid who loves bugs and says what you’re thinking

Unlike your brother, you’re not shy and are very loud and somewhat boisterous. Your high energy personality is the complete opposite of Tamaki. But you love him

Whenever he’d come home, you’d run straight to him and beg him to tell you all about his hero exploits. You’d listen intently as you sat on his lap snuggled into him. He’d smile seeing you so happy

You have book of bugs and brings it everywhere with her and tries to identify every bug she sees by their scientific name

Loves collecting bug and has various plastic terrariums filled with bugs she’s caught. She releases the ones she catches after she’s throughly studied them

She has a journal filled with drawings of bugs she made and uses it to study bugs

Isn’t afraid of cockroaches, spiders, centipedes, etc and even has a pet tarantula named Fuzz due to tarantulas being covered in hairs

She loves to throw the molts (shed exoskeleton) of her tarantula at people or will just set the molt by someone and wait for them to freak out

Will talk about bugs and creep/gross people out by describing things in depth like how spiders eat their prey

Has no filter so she’ll say whatever she’s thinking and occasionally unintentionally insults people or is rude. For example, when other kids are talking about their grades and someone says they’re going to ace the test even though that person isn’t smart, she’ll ask them how they’re going to ace the test when they’re not smart. She’s brutally honest

She’s very talkative and often times talks over people or unintentionally dominates conversations

She loves showing pictures of Tamaki to her classmates and brags about his latest ventures as a hero

She’ll study different things that relate to bugs like chemistry for venoms and such as well as environmental sciences.

Reader, at least for the girls in school, is said to be the hero of the school since she happily deals with bugs like roaches

[crevicedwelling]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but if someone wanted to get into bugkeeping, would there be any particular kind of bug you would recommend for someone who's new to it?

I get asked this a lot and I have no answer unless the question gets more specific. ex. some tarantulas are very easy, and some isopods are too, but they have totally different care needs, come with different challenges, and are enjoyed in very different ways. that’s why I’ll have to ask you: what are you looking for in a bug pet? a single predator or a colony of detritivores? something that you’ll see or are you fine with pet dirt? what experience do you have with terrarium animals in general and what are you willing to do to care for the bugs?