Amazing the gap an adult T can squeeze through.

[Enn49]

We have known for a long time now that Enn, my son's adult female Poecilotheria vittata, was getting behind the background of her ExoTerra. She has pulled it forward and likes to hide behind it, I think it began by her chasing crickets along the top edge. Last night I caught her doing it and got a couple of photos. It just shows that if an adult can squeeze through such a small gap, there's no wonder tiny slings can escape through air holes.

 

[timc]

She's added a powder room!

 

[Johnnyp1987]

My adult male stirmi tries to do the same, unfortunatly for him i made it a nice tight fit when i divided the tank to house both my stirmis so he cant move it. Unless he follows in the footsteps of my male b.smithi and starts to chew it lol

 

[Enn49]

@Johnnyp1987 I think in this case it was maybe the crickets that started chewing the top of the background, it's made of natural materials, which has loosened it enough for her to prise forwards.

 

[Johnnyp1987]

Thats the problem with the exo terras, the gap between the backdrop and the lid is a perfect hiding place for crickets

 

[Enn49]

I have the backdrop on mine but I've read a few things about removing it all together and using a sticker background which in turn means you can also use a heat cable taped to the back.... The polystyrene backing renders heat cables etc useless given it's an insulator... A good idea if you want a display Tarantula in your living area...

I take the foam backing out of ExoTerras for that reason, too many gaps for crickets and Ts. This is a natural background that we had made and actually fits better than the foam ones but I guess the crickets like to chew on it and had made it a little loose but at least she comes and goes at will and we'll sort it out next big clean out.

 

[Enn49]

Yeah I thought it looked more natural than normal lol! Do you think you need cross vent in these? I've been assured that Exo-Terra vivariums have great venting but then others say to drill holes in the sides... I'm not trying to drill tempered glass, no way... I'll refrain from saying where I got that info...

They seem to work fine without any extra ventilation, at least the 3 Ts I have in them are all doing well. The new terrariums I've bought from Poland are well designed too, they have a strip of mesh at the front and one on top instead of the full mesh lid that the ExoTerras have and they're much cheaper.

 

[kormath]

I think it depends on the species. I've read of numerous Avic deaths in the exo's, but Pokies seem to do fine.

 

[Enn49]

I think it depends on the species. I've read of numerous Avic deaths in the exo's, but Pokies seem to do fine.

Yes, I have a Pokie, OBT and a P. irminia in the ExoTerras, not tried an Avic in one. My Avics will eventually go in the new containers from Poland.

 

[Enn49]

Can you buy these online?

Yes, and the great thing is they are delivered by courier (paid separately to the driver) so if you order Ts at the same time he packs them inside a container at no extra charge and arrive within about 24 hours.
http://spidershop.pl/product-category/terrariums/?lang=en