Enclosure Setup Guide

Quick read

Five lanes, two questions

First ask what the animal does: climbs, walks, digs, or lives against bark. That gives you Arboreal, Terrestrial, Burrow, or Bark. Then ask how big it is right now. Baby is the sling-size tier that overlaps those lanes, not a shape of its own. Confirm the animal listing and care guide before ordering.

Five enclosure lanes

Match the box to how the animal lives

Climbs

Arboreal

Featured: 4 x 4 x 5 in Arboreal Acrylic Enclosure, 3 mm$24.99In stock

Best for

Tree-dwelling tarantulas and other climbers that use height more than floor space.

Difficulty: Height matters more than floor area. The animal still needs the correct size, ventilation, and moisture range.
Setup: Use a tall acrylic footprint with a secure lid, vertical cork or another anchored retreat, and the substrate and water setup in the care guide.
Avoid if: The animal is a ground dweller, a dedicated digger, or a bark scorpion that needs the Bark lane.
Setup note: The featured 4 x 4 x 5 in box is one small Arboreal option. The lane runs through multiple sizes.

Shop Arboreal Ask About Fit

Walks

Terrestrial

Featured: 8 x 5 x 4 in Terrestrial Acrylic Enclosure, 3 mm$39.99In stock

Best for

Ground-dwelling tarantulas and other surface animals that use floor space more than height.

Difficulty: Floor area matters more than height. Most beginner tarantulas start in this lane.
Setup: Use a long, low enclosure with a secure lid, an appropriate hide, water access, and the substrate depth in the care guide.
Avoid if: The animal needs real tunneling depth, a vertical retreat, or a bark-specific setup.
Setup note: The featured 8 x 5 x 4 in box is one Terrestrial size. Smaller and larger footprints are available.

Shop Terrestrial Ask About Fit

Terrestrial Acrylic Enclosure, 3 x 3 x 3 in 5 mm clear acrylic cube enclosure shown beside a 12 oz soda can for size reference

Still tiny

Baby

Featured: 3 x 3 x 3 in Terrestrial Acrylic Enclosure, 5 mm$19.99In stock

Best for

Slings, scorplings, pedelings, tiny juveniles, and micro species that need easy monitoring.

Difficulty: Baby is a size tier, not a single habitat shape. It overlaps Arboreal, Terrestrial, and Burrow.
Setup: Choose the small box that still matches how the animal lives, then make feeding, hydration, and security easy to monitor.
Avoid if: You are treating Baby as a forever-home guarantee. Many animals will move into a larger lane-specific enclosure.
Setup note: The featured 3 x 3 x 3 in box is the compact Terrestrial example; small Arboreal and Burrow boxes also live in Baby.

Shop Baby Ask About Grow-Outs

Digs

Burrow

Featured: 8 x 5 x 6 in Burrow Buddy Acrylic Enclosure, 3 mm$39.99In stock

Best for

Fossorial tarantulas, burrowing scorpions, centipedes, and other animals that need real substrate depth.

Difficulty: Depth matters more than a low profile. The substrate must be deep and stable enough for the species to tunnel.
Setup: Pack the species-appropriate substrate deeply enough to hold a burrow while preserving safe clearance, ventilation, and access.
Avoid if: The animal mainly walks on the surface, lives vertically, or needs a bark-specific retreat.
Setup note: The featured 8 x 5 x 6 in Burrow Buddy is one size in the deeper-substrate lane.

Shop Burrow Ask About Depth

Bark scorpions

Bark Buddy

Featured: Bark Buddy Enclosure$39.99In stock

Best for

Centruroides and other bark-scorpion setups built around height, grip, and narrow cork retreats.

Difficulty: This is a specialized vertical lane. Height and usable bark matter more than open floor area.
Setup: Use secure vertical cork, tight retreats, a gap-free lid, careful ventilation, and the species care guide.
Avoid if: The animal is a standard ground dweller, a dedicated burrower, or belongs in the general Arboreal acrylic line.
Setup note: Bark Buddy is the purpose-built enclosure in this lane rather than a range of rectangular acrylic sizes.

Shop Bark Read Bark Scorpion Guide

Before you buy

Choose the lane, then the size

Baby overlaps the habitat lanes

Baby collects the sling-size Arboreal, Terrestrial, and Burrow boxes in one place. Choose Baby for the animal's current size, but keep its real habitat lane in mind when selecting the shape and planning the next enclosure.

Shop Baby Sizes

Use the exact animal listing

Start with the enclosure lane shown on the animal's product page, then check the care guide for the exact size, substrate, moisture, and furnishing needs. Ask Big Z if those two sources do not give a clear answer.

Shop Live Animals

The lane does not replace the care guide

Arboreal, Terrestrial, Baby, Burrow, and Bark narrow the enclosure shape. The species care guide still sets the substrate, moisture, ventilation, hides, water, and transfer plan.

Set up the enclosure before the animal ships

Have the enclosure finished and secure before shipment day. If the setup is not ready, contact Big Z to delay the shipment.

FAQ

Enclosure lane FAQ

What are Big Z's five enclosure lanes?

Arboreal is the tall rectangular line for climbers. Terrestrial is the low, floor-first line for surface animals. Burrow adds real substrate depth for diggers. Bark Buddy is the specialized vertical cork setup for bark scorpions. Baby gathers the smallest Arboreal, Terrestrial, and Burrow sizes into one overlapping tier.

What is the difference between Arboreal and Bark Buddy?

Arboreal is Big Z's general tall acrylic range for tree-dwelling tarantulas and other climbers, with several sizes. Bark Buddy is a distinct enclosure built around vertical cork and narrow retreats for bark scorpions. Both use height, but they are not the same lane.

What is the difference between Terrestrial and Burrow?

Terrestrial prioritizes floor area for animals that stay near the surface. Burrow prioritizes enough enclosure depth and substrate for an animal to build and use a tunnel. A ground-dwelling animal is not automatically a burrower.

Is Baby a separate enclosure shape?

No. Baby is the compact size tier. It contains small Arboreal, Terrestrial, and Burrow enclosures, so you still choose the shape that matches how the animal lives. Many Baby animals will need a larger enclosure later.

Can I use the same enclosure lane for every animal?

No. Check the species, behavior, and current size every time. Arboreal, Terrestrial, Burrow, and Bark describe different ways of living, while Baby describes a size stage.

How do I know if the enclosure is the right size?

Use the size guidance on the animal listing and care guide after choosing the correct lane. If the guidance is missing, ask before ordering. Do not assume one enclosure fits every life stage.

Do I need a Starter Kit?

No. A Starter Kit is a bundle. You can buy an enclosure and the care-guide supplies separately. Whichever route you choose, match the enclosure lane and current size first.

Should the enclosure be ready before the animal ships?

Yes. Finish and secure the correct enclosure before shipment. Contact Big Z if the setup is not ready and the order needs to be delayed.

Next steps