RecoveryInvertebrates
Pumpkin Patch care guide
Hapalopus formosus
Floor space first. Adults want roughly three leg spans of length and no more than about 1.5 leg spans of fall height — a heavy-bodied terrestrial that falls can rupture its abdomen.
Terrestrial — floor space first
Pumpkin Patch enclosure size
Terrestrial — floor space first. An adult pumpkin patch should live in at least 6" L × 5" W × 4" H; we build toward 9" L × 6" W × 5" H (0.8 × 0.5 × 0.4 ft, roughly 0.4 sq ft of floor and about a 1-gallon glass equivalent).
Fill the extra height with substrate rather than air — height is fall risk, not enrichment.
- Spiderling / sling
- 3" L × 3" W × 4" H recommended · min 2" L × 2" W × 3" H
- Juvenile
- 8" L × 6" W × 6" H recommended · min 6" L × 4" W × 5" H
- Adult
- 9" L × 6" W × 5" H recommended · min 6" L × 5" W × 4" H
Temperature and heating
Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
- Basking / warm surface
- None — no basking site, no heat lamp
- Warm side (ambient)
- 72–80 °F ambient room temperature
- Cool side (ambient)
- 70–75 °F ambient room temperature
- Night
- Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine
Lighting and UVB
UVB: None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Run lights on a Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun photoperiod, on a timer, and replace UVB bulbs on the manufacturer's schedule even while they still emit visible light.
Humidity
Target 60–70% ambient. Dampen one corner of the substrate every week or two and keep a water dish full — never soak the whole enclosure.
Substrate and depth
Coco fibre, topsoil and sphagnum blend. Depth: 2–4 in — deep enough to dig a starter burrow.
- Ventilation: Cross-ventilation through side vents. Stagnant air plus damp substrate is what actually kills tarantulas — mold and mycosis, not low humidity.
Enclosure tips and furnishing
- Cork bark hide laid on its side at the substrate line
- Shallow water dish (adults) or an overflowed corner (slings)
- Sphagnum moss on the damp corner
- Fake plants to break up sight lines
Build list
- Front-opening acrylic terrestrial enclosure — Front access means you never reach down over the animal, which is what triggers a threat pose.
- Coco fibre / topsoil substrate, 20 qt — Holds a burrow, holds moisture where you want it and doesn't mold like bark chips.
- Digital thermometer / hygrometer — Inverts are kept at room temperature — you need to know what the room actually does, not guess.
- Long feeding tongs and a catch cup — Every interaction — feeding, water top-ups, rehousing — should happen without your hand near the animal.
Pumpkin Patch FAQ
How big should an adult Pumpkin Patch enclosure be?
At least 6" L × 5" W × 4" H, and we recommend building to 9" L × 6" W × 5" H — about 0.8 × 0.5 × 0.4 ft, or a 1-gallon glass equivalent. Terrestrial — floor space first.
What temperatures does a Pumpkin Patch need?
Basking or warm surface None — no basking site, no heat lamp, warm side 72–80 °F ambient room temperature, cool side 70–75 °F ambient room temperature, night Room temperature; a 5–8 °F night drop is fine. Heat the room, not the enclosure. If the room drops below 68 °F use a thermostatted space heater or a heat mat on the outside of a side wall (never under the substrate) — heat mats under a burrow cook the animal.
Does a Pumpkin Patch need UVB?
None — invertebrates need no UVB and bright light stresses them. Photoperiod: Ambient room light on a normal day/night cycle; keep the enclosure out of direct sun.
What humidity does a Pumpkin Patch need?
60–70% ambient. Dampen one corner of the substrate every week or two and keep a water dish full — never soak the whole enclosure.
What substrate is best for a Pumpkin Patch?
Coco fibre, topsoil and sphagnum blend, at a depth of 2–4 in — deep enough to dig a starter burrow.
How big does a Pumpkin Patch enclosure need to be for a hatchling?
Spiderling / sling: 3" L × 3" W × 4" H recommended, minimum 2" L × 2" W × 3" H. Scale up to the adult footprint as the animal grows.
How much ventilation does a Pumpkin Patch enclosure need?
Cross-ventilation through side vents. Stagnant air plus damp substrate is what actually kills tarantulas — mold and mycosis, not low humidity.
Sources
Put this guide to work
Apply these targets to your own pumpkin patch record, then log feedings, sheds and weights against them.