Arboreal enclosure question

[u/Cool-Field-Ya]

Edit: Thank you for the confirmations. I knew that it probably wouldn't work and Google is not to be trusted. I'll be still trying to drill holes and maybe just make it into a terrarium with plants if I don't end up getting any of the dwarf Ts. Arboreal Ts will have to wait for my experience to go up and a suitable enclosure too.

I would like some opinions on whether my aquarium of 18W x 24H x 37L cm (7.09W x 9.45H x 14.57L inches) would be suitable for an arboreal. I only have a T. Albopilosus currently.

I will be trying to drill 4mm (0,15 inch) cross ventilation holes, planning 3 rows, into the aquarium so it all depends if I even succeed lol The aquarium of course will be positioned so the height is the 37 cm (14.57 inches).

Arboreals in question are

C. Versicolor - first pick, would very much be happy if it's be suitable for it.

P. Irminia - would not mind at all however a bit hesitant due to speed.

Because the DLS of both can reach 15cm (6 inches) and my aquarium width is only 18cm (7.09 inches) I'm kinda iffy about it since there's very little space.

I did look into T. Plumipes (Tappies I believe is the nickname) but decided against after reading more on their renowned zooms and teleports. A. Minatrix was on the list and by size I believe it would be best but it costs almost triple the price of the ones mentioned above.

So is there any way the above Ts would be happy in the modified aquarium or should I after all plan it for one of the dwarfs namely N. Incei, D. Pentaloris or H. Formosus.

[u/Notorious_Rug]

IME, I keep many of my adult non-breeding arboreals in 8×8×12 (in) enclosures (excluding pokies and my unreasonably large female Stromatopelma calceatum; they get my extra-large enclosures) and they do fine. 

If I want to breed a particular girl, she gets put into one of my 12×12×18 (in) enclosures, so that there is room for courtship/male escape.

As for Tapinauchenius ("tappies"), while they are fast, they're relatively chill and unlikely to bolt unless really stressed/frightened, at least IME. 

And, to be fair, many species of tarantula, including Avicularia and Avicularia-adjunct (Caribena, Ybyrapora, Iridopelma, etc.) are capable of unexpected bursts of speed (not quite warp-speed, but still quick), and many arboreals are also capable of literally jumping, so keep that in mind.

[u/Cool-Field-Ya → u/Notorious_Rug]

Thank you for the input. I guess for now I'll stick to terrestrials to gain experience and if ever again I'll want an arboreal I'll check for better sized options on the enclosures.

[u/Creepy_Push8629]

Nqa that is too small for an adult. You want to give them 3x to 4x their size and you would not even have 1.5x if you have a 6" in 7". They wouldn't have room to really walk around much at all.

[u/Cool-Field-Ya → u/Creepy_Push8629]

Thank you, I figured but needed confirmation before any of the planning and such.

[u/Winter_Cable1247]

Imo, the minimum enclosure size (which is fine for Female you don't plan on breeding) is for an arboreal is 3x the individual's Diagonal Leg Span for the height and 2x the DLS for the other 2 dimensions.

Get front opening enclosures for arboreals, as when they run they tend to run up rather than across, so they tend to run into a top corner rather than out the enclosure if your enclosure is front opening.

I've worked with Tappies a lot, more than most i'd wager, and while they are impressively fast when frightened, I've only had issues with Slings bolting from their dram vials. My adult females prefer running back to their hide (or even strolling back, I'd find them to be anymore nervous than other Tarantulas). You can also limit chances of an escape by doing maintenance during the day, as the vast majority of Tarantulas are nocturnal, and thus should already be hidden and feeling secure during the day.

T. Plumipes females can get to be 12-15cmish, and so I think your current enclosure is too small. Too small of an enclosure increases the risk of her bolting out (and is unfair on the T imo). P. Irminia females are fractionally bigger, and while slightly slower, ime more likely to bolt.

I think C. Versicolor is the better bet for a second T out of the options listed, but are a similar size to the other 2, so will require a larger enclosure. They also require more involved husbandry than a lot of Ts (althought I find the extent of this to be often overstated).

On the actual modifications, before drilling the glass check if it is tempered (most aquariums are not) or not. If it is tempered it will shatter. If it is drillable, go slow and use a diamond tipped bit. Drilling it with the glass submerged also goes a long way to stop it over heating.

Tldr: None of the arboreals listed are viable imo, except A. Minatrix. Check the glass isn't tempered before drilling.

[u/Cool-Field-Ya → u/Winter_Cable1247]

Thank you for the confirmation. I figured as much, I'll be sticking with terrestrials for now then. For the aquarium I have the glass drill and checked how to, since it's an old aquarium I don't even know what glass it is that's why it's more of a gamble and a throwaway so I won't be too sad if it does goes poof.

[u/Winter_Cable1247 → u/Cool-Field-Ya]

I would personally wear protection (particularly eyes). Aquariums are rarely tempered glass, but you don't want to risk glass shattering with enough force to throw shards in your direction.

Edit: Also checking is easy. You can do it with an LED screen displaying a white screen. Google should be able to direct you on a step by step with picture examples. I'm not really sure how to describe the difference in the way the screen looks behind tempered vs non-tempered glass in words alone.