Getting the enclosure ready before your spider arrives is one of the most important things you can do. A prepared home means less disruption during the critical settling-in period.
✅ The Pre-Arrival Checklist
- Enclosure is clean and fully assembled
- Substrate is in place (2–3cm of coconut fibre or similar)
- Vertical climbing structure is installed (cork bark, driftwood, or plant)
- Ventilation is functional (mesh top + side vents clear)
- Temperature within correct range at enclosure level
- Initial misting done: one wall lightly misted
- First feeder insects on hand
🌿 Substrate
Use 2–3cm of coconut coir, peat-free compost, or a 50/50 mix of both as a base layer. This retains moisture at the bottom while the upper layers dry out, creating a natural humidity gradient. Avoid calcium-sand, gravel, or wood shavings — these either don’t hold humidity correctly or can cause injury.
🪵 Creating Vertical Structure
Add a piece of cork bark or artificial plant that runs from the substrate to the upper third of the enclosure. Your spider needs a path upward to its future hammock site. Without it, they often build hammocks in the corners of the mesh, which are less stable and harder to maintain.
A common beginner mistake is filling the enclosure with so much decoration that prey has nowhere to be seen and the spider has no clear sightlines to hunt. Keep at least one open area in the middle third of the enclosure for feeding.
🌡️ Temperature Check
Use a digital thermometer to verify actual temperatures at enclosure level before your spider arrives. Ambient room temperature can be significantly different from the temperature experienced inside the enclosure. Most keepers aim for 72–80°F year-round; in winter, a small heat mat on the side (never underneath) corrects shortfalls.