Arboreal tarantula water dish "hack"

KaroKoenig

Arachnobaron
Joined
Dec 7, 2019
Messages
437
So, I am right now waiting for my breeder to find me a juvenile C. versicolor. And I've been thinking about what I like to call the "water dish problem": Place it on the ground - spider might not be willing to get down to drink. Glue it at some elevated place - spider might crap into it. Here's what I came up with:

- get a piece of bamboo
- steal Lego from your son :singing:

20201105_175108.jpg 20201105_175133.jpg 20201105_175254.jpg

As you can see in the pictures, I used one of those antennas (I think it was in some rescue ship kit) and hotglued it right into the hollow bamboo. The other pieces I glued to two bottle caps. Those clip nicely and firmly to the antenna end sticking out of the bamboo, but can be lego-easily detached for cleaning. Here's the end result in the terrarium. For reference: the terrarium is 15 x 15 x 25 cm:

20201105_175431.jpg

I think it looks pretty good. I'll keep you updated on how it works. I don't particularly like hot snot, because it doesn't form a good bond and might actually fall off during rinsing. I wanted to avoid other glue for the moment, though, because of possible nasty fumes. We'll see how it turns out.
One more thing: I have room for a significant amount of substrate in this tank, and I am using compacted forest soil. That stuff is pretty stable, and the bamboo holds very well. I would predict that in junk like coco fibre (especially when dry), this will probably need some extra stability somehow.

Let me know what you think.
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2019
Messages
429
Hi
imo there is no need to elevate the dish.Put it on substrate and when you feed can drop few drops of water on the web as a secondary option. Here is my lil one drinking on substrate level.
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Regards Konstantin
 

KaroKoenig

Arachnobaron
Joined
Dec 7, 2019
Messages
437
Yeah, I read that most of the time, it's no problem. But I have also read reports of spiders that refuse to go down.
 

Smotzer

ArachnoGod-Mod
Staff member
Joined
Jan 17, 2020
Messages
5,546
I like your idea and the creativity!! Especially the ability to detach/attach it for cleaning.
that being said my versi does occasionally go down to drink so I just put in on the ground. But I’d be interested in seeing if yours gets used also!
 

KaroKoenig

Arachnobaron
Joined
Dec 7, 2019
Messages
437
I'll report. May take some time, though. Seems like well-established juvenile versis aren't easy to get in my network at the moment. Maybe it's gonna be an Avicularia after all.
 

Ztesch

Arachnoknight
Joined
Aug 20, 2017
Messages
196
Honestly it's really not that much of a problem. Most spiders treat their water dish like a toilet or garbage can lol. For arboreals I agree, it is definitely easier to change out dishes if it is higher up. Although they will drink from them on the floor level of the enclosure too. When you hot glue the water dishes up high just make sure you glue a larger one to the side of the enclosure. That way you can put in a smaller water dish and change it out or clean as needed.
 

EnigmaNyx

Arachnoknight
Joined
Oct 21, 2020
Messages
273
I just cut out the bottom to 2 deli cups, glued one to the side, then stuck the second one in the first one. I can easily pull it out to replace it if needed.
 

viper69

ArachnoGod
Old Timer
Joined
Dec 8, 2006
Messages
19,104
Yeah, I read that most of the time, it's no problem. But I have also read reports of spiders that refuse to go down.
This is true from my Avic experience, I’ve mentioned this many times.
Not all Ts will drink from bowl consistently.
 
Joined
Oct 10, 2019
Messages
429
Hi all
I keep track on their movement around the enclosure by the poo marks on the sides.If there is poo near the waterdish most likely they have found it.lol
But its true that some specimens are a bit funny with their water.I had my gbb not drinking after moult for 2 weeks (refusing to leave its hide and waterdish was 10 cm away) untill I moistened the substrate near her and she drunk straight away.She found her waterdish a week later while chasing her meal and drunk again.lol
Regards Konstantin
 
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