Sizing
- Thread starter Taranchii
- Start date
Dianna
Third Instar
For hissers I know mid-high ventilation is fine. If you want to poke holes, don't make them larger than 2 mm, unless you plan on covering them with mesh, which I highly recommend you do because they climb. Could be metal mesh, polyester mesh, nylon mesh, etc.
Here's an example. This is my G. portentosa bin. I have holes on the side and some cut-out rectangles on the top for high ventilation, secured with a metal mesh barrier that I hot-glued on.
Alternatively, if you have a critter keeper enclosure, you could just put a nylon, polyester, cloth, etc. mesh between the top and the lid, like I have for my redhead roaches here:
It's up to you how you want to approach it. There's no one-way to do it so long as you know the nymphs won't escape and the ventilation amount is suitable for the species. Again, if you don't put a mesh screen over the holes, then don't make them any larger than 2mm. Of course, the smaller the holes, the more holes you need to poke.
I hope I helped.
I’ve done the second method with muslin cloth as the barrier. They’ve just doubled in size colony wise,and I’m needing to upgrade into bins. The other bins I glued mesh much like the one in your photo with the red heads,but some of them were able to chew through that material. What type of mesh are you using in for first photos?
If you are going with mesh id recommend sticking to stainless. Then you don't have to worry about anything chewing through. I use #60 stainless mesh.
I can't comment on what size to poke holes cause I've never done it that way. TJ has some good pictures on his blog that show his set ups but you might have to dig to find one that shows hole size.
One option is to cull roaches by freezing to keep numbers down. I've done this several times. It isn't fun to do. But it is reality for me. I'm thinking of buying a toad or two to help keep numbers down. The other thing is some roaches will self manage their numbers and start eating each other. I've seen this with Simandoa conserfariam.
I can't comment on what size to poke holes cause I've never done it that way. TJ has some good pictures on his blog that show his set ups but you might have to dig to find one that shows hole size.
One option is to cull roaches by freezing to keep numbers down. I've done this several times. It isn't fun to do. But it is reality for me. I'm thinking of buying a toad or two to help keep numbers down. The other thing is some roaches will self manage their numbers and start eating each other. I've seen this with Simandoa conserfariam.
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Dianna
Third Instar
I don't know *exactly* what material it is because I got it with an enclosure I bought off of someone on FB marketplace. I assume it's a polyester mix of some sort. I'm not sure what material Kyle uses for his critter keepers and I've been wanting to know.
Like Bhjjr said, freezing some individuals will help keep colony numbers down.
If you poke holes, do some research on the size of the species' nymphs and be sure not to create holes that exceed that size.
Kyle was using muslin but I want to say that he switched out for like a cloth handkerchief or cloth napkin or something like that cut to size that fits
Was the muslin not allowing adequate ventilation.i noticed more mold grow with the ones cover with muslin compared to the ones without
I think it was to save time. Muslin doesn't come cut to fit critter keepers.
If you participate in the upcoming auction it would be a good time to ask what he uses and why- only ask in the YouTube chat though. Discord auction channel is pretty much reserved for bids.
Dianna
Third Instar
That's so frustrating. Keeps in humidity good but exacerbates the process of molding. :/ I've been struggling to figure out how to hold air humidity in my enclosures. Like you, I mainly use stainless metal mesh, but even when poking small holes, the air humidity escapes pretty quickly. The only time humidity stays in for a while is when the substrate is damp. No amount of surface sphagnum moss works to help keep air humidity. :/ I know Exotic Lair on YT mentioned putting thin plastic sheets loosely laid on his enclosures helped keep the humidity in but not only have I not tried it myself but his enclosures are set up specifically for tarantulas so it's a different ball game for ventilation/security.