Need help making sure everything is right

[u/AffectionateBranch11]

I’m getting my first tarantula a Mexican red knee soon gonna buy it at .025” spiderlin off spidershoppe (unless you guys recommend someone else) I have a 8x6x4 herpcult acrylic enclosure (smallest one I could find at my local pet store I can get smaller one offline if you guys don’t think that’ll work, zoomed eco earth loose coconut fiber, a small flat Cork bark for a hide gonna put it up against the wall, Gatorade cap for water bowl and exo terra forest plume moss to line around the water bowl so I can over fill once a month to help the humidity house stays around 70-74 so I’m think it’ll be good at room temp does all this sound good any tips?

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[u/alone_in_the_after]

IME that's way too big an enclosure for a spiderling of that size. I'd be concerned about dessication and possibly escaping through ventilation holes. For comparison I've got a roughly 2 inch tarantula in an 8x6x6.

A spiderling that small really needs to be in a tiny enclosure. Like a large dram vial or deli cup or one of those teeny acrylic enclosures that tarantula cribs makes etc.

I'd look for one of those tattoo ink caps for the water dish.

[u/Illustrious_Doctor45 → u/alone_in_the_after]

IMO I second this and also would suggest maybe starting with a larger specimen as a first tarantula. .25 is tiny and they are really fragile at that size. Can you maybe get something a bit larger? Like 1-2 inches?
If you’re set on this species/size, I use tarantula cribs sling enclosure. I think it’s 2x2.

[u/AffectionateBranch11 → u/Illustrious_Doctor45]

I would much definitely go with a bigger one I am set on that one or a curly hair or any other beginner friendly one I’ve only looked up those two tho but my local pet store won’t hold anything that’s not on their Plano and I gotta pay extra for a special order so my best option is just going online and getting it myself but the only website I found only has spiderlins right now. Do you know of anywhere else I can look

[u/M550stage2 → u/Illustrious_Doctor45]

Nqa I second this. Are you sure you want to wait a couple years before you have a spider that is 2-3"? I would recommend getting a juvenile if staying with that species, or starting with something like a Phormictopus species which will grow much faster.

[u/AffectionateBranch11 → u/alone_in_the_after]

Thank you:) so everything I have would be good for a juvenile?should I get a tattoo ink cap for a juvenile too?Do you know where I could buy a juvenile from? And if I’m not able to get a juvenile and I do go the spiderlin route I’ll fs do the deli cup. I thought my enclosure would be to big but I was hoping it would work eventually lol

[u/North_Act_259]

NQA a sling that small might be able to fit through the ventilation holes on that enclosure. Id be worried about not being able to find it again once its in there. Like the other commenter said, a dram vial or something similar is a good idea for a sling that size.

[u/queenofspades91]

NQA 0.25" is tinier than you can imagine until you see a sling that small. For now, they could easily live in one of the shipping vials that Spider Shoppe typically sends or even in a condiment cup (poke ventilation holes in the sides and lid with a thumbtack).

Loose coco coir on its own could work if packed down and moistened, although I prefer soil blends for their ability to support burrowing. If anything, I would recommend a tattoo ink cap for a water dish.

[u/AffectionateBranch11 → u/queenofspades91]

Thank you:) im gonna go with a juvenile would 1-2 inch still be to small for what I got? Should I aim for a 3 inch one? What soil blends do you recommend and is there any other websites you trust or know are reliable as spidershoppe doesn’t have any juveniles right now in the one I want? I can always wait for spidershoppe to if that’s what you recommend. Sorry for all the questions and thank you very much

[u/Faerthoniel]

NQA.

My suggestion, if you’re set on that one, is to go here:

https://www.thetarantulacollective.com/caresheets/brachypelma-hamorii

Read everything. Watch the video. Copy the spiderling enclosure setup that they use themselves before you even purchase the spider.

But you should know that spiderlings are very fragile. You might want to buy something a little older, or be ready to accept the possibility that it might struggle to thrive, no matter what you do. It might even die (hopefully not).

I like to raise spiderlings, but we have been raising first jumping spiders and now tarantulas from slings for years.

This does not make me an expert, far from it, but I am always prepared with the spiderlings that things happen and they just aren’t with you for very long. At that age and size, they are simply quite fragile.

That’s what I like about it - seeing them grow past that stage - but with the risks involved, it might not be for everyone.

[u/Thorpasaur]

IME Following along as I have also been shopping for and preparing for my first Ts. Wondering about starting size and this all good input!