Had some conflicting advice....

[nazanova]

Ok so I know this forum isn't about Tarantulas but this is one of the forums I trust the most when it comes to advice and to be frank I'm quite lost right now. So I'm planning to get an Avicularia Avicularia next week and up until now from the research I've done they should be kept at around 75-85% humidity. But I have recently joined a Tarantula forum where a member had told me he keeps over 90 Avics at 40-50% humidity and the only thing he has towards that is a water bowl! No misting whatsoever! Now I'm calling bullshit but if he's claiming to have over 90 Avics who are alive and kicking at those humidity levels surely he's right? But he's the first person I've EVER heard keep their Avics like this so I don't know who to believe. Every caresheet I've read and reputable youtube video I've ever watched has said 75-85% humidity so is he just talking ****? If anyone can help me it'll be deeply appreciated!

[Kuamata]

I dunno much about tarantulas, but I do know if you keep their humidity too low, their exoskeleton may become stuck during shed, which can result in death even if you try to fix it. Saw a video of a guy trying to remove a stuck exo once. He got most off, but the tarantula later passed.

[Hopeless]

Dude's full of it. I would definitely mist, in addition to a water bowl. Even if the Avic didn't drink from it, it would add to the humidity but is not sufficient enough to create the humidity needed alone. Most Avics drink from where you mist the cage anyway.

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by Hopeless

Dude's full of it. I would definitely mist, in addition to a water bowl. Even if the Avic didn't drink from it, it would add to the humidity but is not sufficient enough to create the humidity needed alone. Most Avics drink from where you mist the cage anyway.

I thought so, thanks for your input.

[Aaron_S]

Do you know where this person lives? Quite possibly they have a very high average humidity and that's what they aren't tracking. Example, hawaii has stupid humidity levels so avics there (if they ever were) wouldn't need to be sprayed.

[Kuamata]

I thought about that, too, but a hygrometer would include the environment's humidity, too, and reflect that, no?

[David VB]

A. avic do fine with dryer (not bone dry) conditions as adults yes, but as slings and juvi's, misting is needed in my opinion. Just make sure there is enough ventilation, coz that is what kills them if there isn't enough airflow. That said, i still mist my subadult once a week just because there is a live plant in it's enclosure

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by Aaron_S

Do you know where this person lives? Quite possibly they have a very high average humidity and that's what they aren't tracking. Example, hawaii has stupid humidity levels so avics there (if they ever were) wouldn't need to be sprayed.

He's from Florida

[nazanova]

Originally Posted by David VB

A. avic do fine with dryer (not bone dry) conditions as adults yes, but as slings and juvi's, misting is needed in my opinion. Just make sure there is enough ventilation, coz that is what kills them if there isn't enough airflow. That said, i still mist my subadult once a week just because there is a live plant in it's enclosure

That sounds fine just 40-50% is what desert species are kept at and I think that's WAY too low no matter how you put it.

[Moreau]

Many people kill avics with kindness in my opinion.

Avics can be kept the same as any other species, cage with water dish is just fine. You can mist if you like, but it is not totally necessary. Tarantulas will get their moisture to have a successful shed by the water they drink. It is internal hydration that is important when they moult. Too much humidity is just as bad for an avic as not enough. And as mentioned above good ventilation is a must.

I mist my slings, as their cages are too small for water dishes. I mist my adults once a week or so. Dry cages. They moult just fine.

I have never lost an avic keeping them without measuring their humidity in any way.