cobalt blue questions

there is a blue cobalt at a local petshop

im planning on buying it on the 4th when I get my check if its still there , im sure it will be

I have a large plastic pet keeper that's the same size as a 5 gallon tank.....

im going to cut a piece of round cork bark to make a hide and put about 4 inches of cocofiber substrate

my question is....

1) do they have any humidity requirments ?

2) is it okay if the dirt is moist when I put the tarantula in and should I keep the substrate moist ?

3) how often should I mist ?

ok so this is the problem im running into...........

i was told they can chew through the plastic if they want to

so should i use a 5 gallon tank, and risk its legs getting cuaght in the screen lid?

or use the plastic pet keeper and risk it chewing threw the plastic?

Is the plastic tank similar to a "kritter keeper"? If so, it won't be able to "chew" through the tank. Also, you can buy thick steel screen tops where the screening is all one piece so that the T's claws won't get stuck. 

Now, Haplopelma lividum are obligate burrowers. They must have enough substrate to burrow in, or at least a deep hide. I'd personally recommend six inches of substrate or more; in which case you may have to use a larger tank. The substrate should be moderately moist to allow for a stable burrow, but it should not be as moist as for P. imperator. Unfortunately, coco fibre generally isn't stable enough to burrow in unless the substrate is very moist. You may have to purchase some organic topsoil to mix in for stable burrow construction; check the back of the bag to make absolutely certain that no pesticides, fertilizers, or any other chemicals were added to the soil.


If you own a copy of The Tarantula Keeper's Guide, now would be a good time to take the book out and read through the "Obligate Burrowers" section. (It specifically refers to H. lividum.)

thanks for the information.....

it is a kritter keeper.... so that's what ill use

ill put as much dirt in it as I can so the T can burrow

but im totally not confident enough to pick the rite bag of soil, I don't want to take the chance of getting the wrong bag

so ill have to use cocofiber substrate......all my other animals seem to burrow fine in it

I do have the tarantula keepers guide I will take a look at the burrowing section.

maybe I should try getting the rite soil

where can I find it at ?

I could ask an employee for the rite one

Go around to places like Lowes and Home Depot, or really any place that sells plants, and ask an employee to help you find pesticide and fertilizer free soil. (Explain what you need it for.) Look for soil advertised as "natural and organic". (Or something similar.)

You have a copy of The Tarantula Keeper's Guide do you not? Or am I thinking of someone else? 

yes I have a copy, ive read half of it so far.

The section on how to care for this species on page 241 (don't have the book in front of me so that number might be somewhat off) if I remember correctly. 

okay thanks

it should be noted that haplopelma has a very unpleasant venom.

They can be absolutely evil, too.

Very beautiful, however.

it should also be noted that pesticide and fertilizer free soil can contain nematode worms. we have had a lot of problems with these at work over the years and now only use coir mixed with play sand, its the stuff kids make castles out of its really fine and sticks together well.
nematodes will kill your T's in no time, by the time you see the worms in their mouth and the sluggish mood they get, its normaly far to late.

hope that helps someone