once gallon viv......

Hello people I have a spare one gallon fish tank its a new world habitat not sure of exact measurements though.
Prefferabely a scorpion but other spiders would be cool as well (I do not want to use it as a growing on tank!)
A quick google image search will show what its like..... Its a bit less than a foot long and maybe more than 6 inches tall almost no idea of the depth.
Any ideas?

thanks
Dan

Have you decided what road you wish to go down yet Dan?

not entirely sure what you mean but if your asking about what pet I'm going to get........I'm almost sure I'll be getting an invert of some sort. Ive decided against another hedgehog because I have been very interested in inverts lately and want to get my first one (plus I've only had Hedwig for a few months so I'm going to get more used to them before I get another one. Sorry for all the confusion

Dan I reckon you would find spider/ tarantula keeping very interesting, and there are a lot of T's out there that are great as an entry level animal.

Look at some of the Brachypelma, great looking terrestrial T's, lots of colour to them. I don't have any of them myself, but they are known as a generally docile T, I'd like to get a couple myself.

B. boehmei
http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://tarantulas.tropica.ru/files/images/brachypelma_boehmei_male_chid.jpg&imgrefurl=http://tarantulas.tropica.ru/en/node/168%3Fsize%3Dthumbnail&usg=__5xqblAlh9N8zNO5DSqHHOOm0jCg=&h=500&w=412&sz=44&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=kgAB7Ja6BWwBOM:&tbnh=155&tbnw=128&ei=FmS5TdeqKYW2hAfjs9H_Dg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DBrachypelma%2Bboehmei%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1C1DVCL_enIE401IE402%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D643%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=316&vpy=292&dur=1242&hovh=247&hovw=204&tx=96&ty=229&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:13,s:0

Brachypelma auratum
http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://webzoom.freewebs.com/chid/newmoultauratum3%2520copychidsweb.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.freewebs.com/chid/mytarantulas.htm&usg=__ygWp_tPhpApHIN_WQ50PM8lCNYA=&h=450&w=600&sz=114&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=l5Z4ovkc167AhM:&tbnh=163&tbnw=226&ei=fmS5TbCNBNC7hAfP0PCJDw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dflame%2Bknee%2Btarantula%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1C1DVCL_enIE401IE402%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D643%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=152&vpy=276&dur=484&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=111&ty=124&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:6,s:0

Or if you like the idea of keeping an arboreal T, look no further than the Avicularia family of T's.

I am only keeping T's a month of two, and this is what I started with, and I would say that these can be kept as starter T's no problem. Practically all Avicularia are a docile T, if maybe a bit skittish at times. Their requirements would be a little different than a lot of terrestrial (ground dwelling) T's, but in saying that, their requirements can be met quite easily too. Avics look great and there is a large range to choose from.

Heres a few

Avicularia versicolor
http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.deviantart.com/download/78742221/5_Avicularia_versicolor_by_Bullter.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bullter.deviantart.com/art/5-Avicularia-versicolor-78742221&h=647&w=800&sz=528&tbnid=Ciwd3Ls54rFPeM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=143&prev=/search%3Fq%3Davicularia%2Bversicolor%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=avicularia+versicolor&hl=en&usg=__b2fYTrG4JVTyHVQAtt4S_gpbaa4=&sa=X&ei=_WW5TfOwJMOBhQfL9dmRDw&ved=0CB4Q9QEwAg

[Adult Avic. versicolour]
http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.deviantart.com/download/105017450/22_Avicularia_versicolor_by_Bullter.jpg&imgrefurl=http://bullter.deviantart.com/art/22-Avicularia-versicolor-105017450&usg=__wJ4zf29XnBYD3pf4p148qu54z5U=&h=640&w=800&sz=247&hl=en&start=37&zoom=1&tbnid=MXwrYmhyuTHKXM:&tbnh=155&tbnw=194&ei=3ma5TbfXDYi7hAeFk-mSDw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Davicularia%2Bversicolor%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1C1DVCL_enIE401IE402%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D643%26tbm%3Disch0%2C1069&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=459&page=3&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:37&tx=66&ty=41&biw=1366&bih=643


Avicularia sp Peru Purple
http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.reptilien-lexikon.de/images/397.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.reptilien-lexikon.de/index.php%3Fid%3D160&usg=__RBuAhlgcn6vJaMMiVDla1h9mcSY=&h=403&w=605&sz=44&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=nCCdFB6XcQBvoM:&tbnh=163&tbnw=243&ei=Nma5Tcb2ItOIhQfR6IiGDw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Davicularia%2Bsp%2Bperu%2Bpurple%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1C1DVCL_enIE401IE402%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D643%26tbm%3Disch%26prmd%3Divns0%2C11&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=1050&vpy=256&dur=2928&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=95&ty=129&page=1&ndsp=16&ved=1t:429,r:9,s:0&biw=1366&bih=643

Avicularia geroldi
http://www.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.thespidershop.co.uk/insect/images/A_geroldi_main.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.thespidershop.co.uk/insect/product_info.php%3Fproducts_id%3D360%26osCsid%3D0e50ee1d215074105e09d99c46af03dd&usg=__eQ4RLksYZBvl2o22aMeCCSxg_90=&h=333&w=500&sz=35&hl=en&start=71&zoom=1&tbnid=Q1PPHfa1p4fcfM:&tbnh=148&tbnw=182&ei=ema5TYqvN46yhAfusomRDw&prev=/search%3Fq%3Davicularia%2Bgeroldi%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DX%26rlz%3D1C1DVCL_enIE401IE402%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D643%26tbm%3Disch0%2C2362&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=547&page=5&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:12,s:71&tx=97&ty=71&biw=1366&bih=643


All of these are just a few limited suggestions, and I'm sure as other more experienced T keepers see this thread, you will get even more suggestions too.

Check out The Spider Shop http://www.thespidershop.co.uk/insect/index.php ... Very good deals on here, and a wide selection of T's of all sizes, they ship do Dublin too.

wow! great answer Matt!
I love the avic veriscolour! I'm assuming that they couldn't live in the tank that I have spare......but my corn snake should be upgrading soon so I'll have a spare ten gallon!
Do you find your T's active? I was hoping for something that I could watch moving around and such :)

Em I suppose with T's, night time is the right time!

From what I've seen of my T's so far, during the day, for the most part, they can be found generally resting up, but at night time they can be quite busy with webbing and that.

My Avic. versicolor webbed every night for the first 3 weeks or so after I got it, but it is at the stage now where it has its lair kitted out the way it wants it for the most part.

The Green Bottle Bule (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) I got is a little less shy during the day, and I've seen it webbing away both day and night. A great little T.

Both of these T's are very keen feeders, which is a great time to see T's do their thing, so you don't be waiting long to see them in KILL MODE anyway
I have two Avicularia geroldi due in the post tomorrow, so I'm hoping these are great feeders also

The main issue you'll face as far as viewing your T is how transparent the enclosure is, and if you choose a burrowing species, you might not see it very often even in an all glass tank.
Another thing to keep in mind is how you set up the enclosure, it can be set up in a way that could possibly allow more viewing opportunities without neglecting the T's needs...

There are people on here with vastly more experience in the range of T's out there than me, so maybe edit the title of this thread and add "good display T's"

I'm useless with gallons as a measurement, so I'm not sure how big this enclosure is that you have there, but I'd imagine there are a few terrestrial T's that might do well in an enclosure like that, at least in the juvenile stage anyway...

Arboreal T's like the Avicularia can be kept in plastic jars during the spiderling/ juvenile phase. I say plastic, because adequate ventilation will need to be provided, and drilling holes in a glass jar could prove tricky! Once you have suitable ventilation, and keep the humidity at an adequate level, Avics will do well for you, and apart from the odd random jet of excrement thrown in your direction, they shouldn't show you any real hostility

you seem like an expert! If its a large enough jar could an avic live in it for life?
I think that the tank is about 10x8x7 inches....... so if I got the avic as a sling or juvie I could maybe turn it on its side?
How big is your avics enclosure?

Some terrestrial T's would be a good start if you want to head down the T keeping road. I'd fully recommend a Chaco Golden Knee (G. Pulchripes) or a Mexican Red Knee (B. Smithi) for ease of care, speed and temperament.

The B.Smithi was always out and about and webbed a fair bit also. Definitely a Tarantula to get if you want to see it all the time, day and night. As for the Chilean Rose (G. Rosea) mine is very calm and pretty active too.....but a lot of Chile's can be and are known to be total psychos as well lol

As for the chaco golden knee, I had a little 3 inch or so one and it was extremely docile. It'd walk right out onto my hand and it was very slow moving, it hid quite a bit though, but that's not really something I'd see as a con.

Scorpions are really cool as well, but I've no experience with them at all, I do know that Emperor Scorpions (P. Imperator) are the best looking (to me) and definitely a good ''beginner'' species. As well as the Forest Scorpion (H. Spinifer) which is another good looking scorpion and a good ''beginner'' species.

I've read up on one other scorpion, it's called the Desert Hairy (Hardrurus Spadix) they're very good looking scorpions but caring for them and getting their environments just right is very hard it seems. Younger ones are apparently harder to keep and they are fast and aggressive also, but definitely not a good scorpion to get until you have a feel for keeping the ''beginner'' ones.

Hope this helps ya
Joe

Yeah I'm allowed to get an emperor scorpion or some other species of arachnid.......
I'm hoping for an arboreal now..... or a very colourful terrestrial.
how often did you feed your avic aswell?

matt wrote:

Both of these T's are very keen feeders, which is a great time to see T's do their thing, so you don't be waiting long to see them in KILL MODE anyway
I have two Avicularia geroldi due in the post tomorrow, so I'm hoping these are great feeders also

where did you order them from?

The main issue you'll face as far as viewing your T is how transparent the enclosure is, and if you choose a burrowing species, you might not see it very often even in an all glass tank.
Another thing to keep in mind is how you set up the enclosure, it can be set up in a way that could possibly allow more viewing opportunities without neglecting the T's needs...

I'm not mad about getting a T that I couldn't see alot so I don't think Ill get a burrower

There are people on here with vastly more experience in the range of T's out there than me, so maybe edit the title of this thread and add "good display T's"

You seem to have alot of info yourself!

I'm useless with gallons as a measurement, so I'm not sure how big this enclosure is that you have there, but I'd imagine there are a few terrestrial T's that might do well in an enclosure like that, at least in the juvenile stage anyway...

Its basically impossible to use gallons as measurement its more like measuring volume

Arboreal T's like the Avicularia can be kept in plastic jars during the spiderling/ juvenile phase. I say plastic, because adequate ventilation will need to be provided, and drilling holes in a glass jar could prove tricky! Once you have suitable ventilation, and keep the humidity at an adequate level, Avics will do well for you, and apart from the odd random jet of excrement thrown in your direction, they shouldn't show you any real hostility

Would it be possible to use a large plastic jar for an adult?

I feed my Avic once every 2 days, sometimes once every 3 days, on an appropriately sized cricket/ moth.

As for the large plastic jar for an adult, I suppose it would be, if you were to find a plastic jar big enough, like 1.5 foot x 1 foot

I have mine in a jar for now, its going into a 6x6x8 perspex enclosure in a molt or two, then I'll use a 12x12x18 tall Exo Terra for it when its full grown.

I'm picking up a chile rose tarantula this friday!