need help with my new chaco golden knee

[Kylewhyteuk]

hello all
im a beginner and have been really confused by all the caresheet ive read,anyways,
just had my chaco golden knee about 2 days ago and here are some of my questions:

(i)my substrate depth is about 13 cm (5 inches),is it deep enough for terrestrial Ts?
ive seen videos/caresheets saying about 5cm (2 inches) is enough as long as I have a hideout for it?

(ii)my golden knee got in the hideout i prepared for it on the first day,but it has never been back to the hideout ever since,instead.it stays on the wall of the terrarium for most of the time,Ive been told it's because the substrate is too wet or just because it's 'setting in'.
i use pro-rep spider life substrate and i personally do think its a bit moist,how do i dry it out or shall i just
wait for it to dry out naturally?

(iii)do golden knees prefer the substrate dry or moist? most of the caresheets i can find online are for chilean red rose and im just not sure if it works the same for golden knees.

thank you all alot for answering my nooby questions,,i just want the best and most comfortable environment for my T and make sure it's the happiest T in the world,thanks!

 

[MUHrie]

i have had similar questions myself. i bought my first chaco sling and just a day or so ago she died. i was so sad. plus i don't know what i did wrong, so i can fix it for the next little guy.

 

[Tomoran]

How large is your G. pulchripes?

When they are smaller, they are like little bulldozers. I have two slings that LOVE to dig and tunnel in their enclosures, so I make sure that they have plenty of room to dig. The slings are just over 1/2 inch, and they have about 2" of substrate for depth. I keep the substrate dry and sprinkle some water in one of the corners once a week for moisture. I don't spray, as it tends to only drive them nuts. They've molted twice each in this set up, and they appear to be thriving. If you have a larger specimen, then a small water dish with clean water will suffice. Just be aware that it will probably get buried.

If it's on the wall, it's likely because it's not happy with the moist substrate. If there is good ventilation, and you think it will dry out soon, perhaps just leave it. Just be careful that there is enough sub in there that the little guy won't get injured if he falls off of the wall. Adults generally will sit out in the open and not tunnel as much, so 5" would be fine.

I just looked up Pro-rep (I've never used it), and it looks like it's formulated to hold moisture. It might be difficult to dry it out naturally. I generally use coco fiber or peat (or a combination of the two). For coco fiber, I will bake it in an oven in a foil turkey pan at about 250 degrees with the door open to dry out overly wet sub. Not sure if that would work for the Pro-rep. If you try this, you obviously want to keep an eye that it doesn't smoke or catch fire.

 

[2G33K4U]

I love using this site Grammostola pulchripes great info and explains the environment the various species come from. this site has a slew of info on various T types. I bookmark each page for each of the T's I own. I use it as teh basis for my spider care then tweak it over time.

http://www.mikebasictarantula.com/Gram-pulchripes-care-sheet.html

 

[StoptheInsanity]

My Chaco is eight years old...Extremely large...Sometimes she digs a lot, sometimes she just webs...Sometimes visible, sometimes not...She likes it dry except around her water bowl...

 

[2G33K4U]

They have moods most tarantulas do. Yours sounds interesting.

 

[SLAYANK]

Hey I have two chacos and both of mine did the same at that size don't worry about it the love to hide at slings. I prefer slightly moist substrate for slings if it dries slightly mist the walls of the enclosure.

 

[Deaddrew]

hello all
im a beginner and have been really confused by all the caresheet ive read,anyways,
just had my chaco golden knee about 2 days ago and here are some of my questions:

(i)my substrate depth is about 13 cm (5 inches),is it deep enough for terrestrial Ts?
ive seen videos/caresheets saying about 5cm (2 inches) is enough as long as I have a hideout for it?

(ii)my golden knee got in the hideout i prepared for it on the first day,but it has never been back to the hideout ever since,instead.it stays on the wall of the terrarium for most of the time,Ive been told it's because the substrate is too wet or just because it's 'setting in'.
i use pro-rep spider life substrate and i personally do think its a bit moist,how do i dry it out or shall i just
wait for it to dry out naturally?

(iii)do golden knees prefer the substrate dry or moist? most of the caresheets i can find online are for chilean red rose and im just not sure if it works the same for golden knees.

thank you all alot for answering my nooby questions,,i just want the best and most comfortable environment for my T and make sure it's the happiest T in the world,thanks!

It's almost the exact issue I have, he's been up on the top of the cage since late last night. I'm just paranoid as a newbie that something is just not right. It also hasn't eaten but I'm not sure how long it had been since the guy I bought it had fed it. I'm bake some Coco fiber just in case ( I only had about an inch in). Wow. I just rambled a bit. Great question man.

 

[Tomoran]

It's almost the exact issue I have, he's been up on the top of the cage since late last night. I'm just paranoid as a newbie that something is just not right. It also hasn't eaten but I'm not sure how long it had been since the guy I bought it had fed it. I'm bake some Coco fiber just in case ( I only had about an inch in). Wow. I just rambled a bit. Great question man.

Hi there! What size is yours? How long have you had it? They will climb if the substrate is too moist or when just being introduced into a new enclosure.

Do you have any pics?

 

[Deaddrew]

Just got him yesterday, he's pretty small. I was going to put more substrate in but it almost seems like it's too "sinky". The guy I got him from had what almost seemed gravely plus it was full of old cricket parts. I knew I had to change it out and got what I thought was the better stuff.

 

[Tomoran]

If it was filled with cricket parts, very good call replacing it! I would pack that down and add a couple more inches. Also, is there some type of hide? He/she might not use it, but it's usually good to offer one. As for the climbing, they can also climb if the substrate is too spongy or soft, so packing it down might help. And, it's common for them to do that right after being rehoused. they'll usually settle down soon.

 

[Redacted]

I love using this site Grammostola pulchripes great info and explains the environment the various species come from. this site has a slew of info on various T types. I bookmark each page for each of the T's I own. I use it as teh basis for my spider care then tweak it over time.

http://www.mikebasictarantula.com/Gram-pulchripes-care-sheet.html

A helpful site.

 

[Deaddrew]

Good call on packing it down, for whatever reason it didn't occur to me. Don't have a hide yet, the one it came with was a bit jagged and big so I didn't want to use it. Thanks for the tips man

 

[Tomoran]

Good call on packing it down, for whatever reason it didn't occur to me. Don't have a hide yet, the one it came with was a bit jagged and big so I didn't want to use it. Thanks for the tips man

Another great call with the hide, especially with it climbing! You're very welcome...keep us updated. And congrats by the way! Gorgeous tarantula.

 

[kormath]

Nice T and setup! i agree with @Tomoran double the depth of the substrate, you'll want that Kritter Keeper at least half full to prevent possible injury if he falls. You can use a plastic cup cut in half as a temp hide till you can get one you like. Just so it has a place to escape to if it gets annoyed or nervous.

 

[Deaddrew]

Thanks! I doubled the substrate but he still hangs out in the corner of the lid. I cut a piece of coffee container down for him until I can hit up a different pet store, I got him on top so I'll see if that's a better hang out. I just don't want him to fall. He hasn't eaten since I got him about six days ago, is that possibility due to adjusting to new surroundings?

 

[kormath]

Thanks! I doubled the substrate but he still hangs out in the corner of the lid. I cut a piece of coffee container down for him until I can hit up a different pet store, I got him on top so I'll see if that's a better hang out. I just don't want him to fall. He hasn't eaten since I got him about six days ago, is that possibility due to adjusting to new surroundings?

yep, he may go a week or 2 before eating while he settles in his new home. Each time you add substrate or change his hide, etc. may make him go into this "settling" stage again, so do everything at once to avoid repeated stress if you can.