Can a tarantula drown?

[EbonyKatana1664]

I own a documentary about Ts and it showed footage of one swimming, which is actually quite impressive. So I doubt that a tarantula would end up 'drowning' immediately. And they just look like miniature flotation devices so I feel like anyone of em would float possibly. Dont heed my advice exactly though because this same documentary showed 'undescribed' and 'undocumented' species we have in the trade today. I dont even know what Im doing in this thread.

 

[Hobo]

Have a look at this.

 

[BlackRashid24]

Alright, so where does that info come from? Ever seen it happen?

This is one single thing that I found different between german / US T scene - as far as I'm aware - T's can NOT drown unless you actually try to drown them while pushing them underwater to do so.

Tarantula legs have an extremely little effect on the surface of the water, hence why their legs don't sink INTO the water. I've read this stuff here so often by now, I don't know what's right or wrong anymore, so if anyone of you that can give the scientifically correct explanation, please do so!

From what I'm aware, it works like this:
The surface on the water has a certain "hardiness" for lack of a better term, now a T doesn't have enough weigth and hence doesn't put enough pressure on that surface to break through and sink in. You can actually SEE right that effect when your T has a leg in the waterdish - the water "bends" below that foot, it doesn't sink in...especially the smaller the T, the less weight I assume.

PLEASE! I know I've read the explanation somewhere in some thread on here, but I can't find it anymore for the life of it - I hope someone can dispell this myth...

Tarantulas can 100% drown in their water dish. I made the mistake of listening to bs YouTube people advice and came home from work yesterday to find my tarantula floating in its tiny water dish.
Didn't even have him for a full month.
Many years ago all we used were either a damp piece of sponge or a piece of cotton.
No where did I EVER see water dishes in a tarantulas enclosure.
Now after many years of not being involved with tarantulas I come to see many people housing their tarantula as if it's an Iguana , Chinese water dragon Rottweiler withe water dishes.
How thirsty do you guys think a spider gets????

I literally Never give ANY of my bugs water dishes.
only food and I most their space like every 4 days maybe.
They don't need water dishes.
They're not Gerbals

I own a documentary about Ts and it showed footage of one swimming, which is actually quite impressive. So I doubt that a tarantula would end up 'drowning' immediately. And they just look like miniature flotation devices so I feel like anyone of em would float possibly. Dont heed my advice exactly though because this same documentary showed 'undescribed' and 'undocumented' species we have in the trade today. I dont even know what Im doing in this thread.

Many people have "Drowning" confused.
Not just with animals but also with human beings as well.
Yea spiders can float.
Humans can also float.
Going under water or becoming Submerged isn't the cause of drowning.

What causes someone or any living being to "Drown" is when that Living Being inhales the water. Inhaling water fills the lungs and this kills the person.
Death by water is classified as "Drowning"
Have you ever seen someone pulled from water and the life guard , etc., begans compressions?
And the person spits up water?!?
That water isn't coming all it at all from the persons stomach.
Imagine drinking that much water that it kills you?
Usually when you drink too much water your stomach hurts and you stop.
When someone spits up the water it's coming from
Their lungs.

and being that a Tarantulas lungs are on its underside this introduces the risk of them inhaling water as they're basically floating in water on their lungs.
Tarantulas can definitely drown.

think about it. Where in the wild a tarantula can drink from a water bowl?
It's an un natural man made object that humans introduce to their pets.
Each water dish Carrie's the potential of killing your pet

 

[sparticus]

Your logic is flawed. A gerbil or cat can also drown in a water bowl, this doesn't mean they don't need water. An appropriately sized water bowl carries very little risk of drowning, as tarantulas have a hydrophobic exoskeleton and hairs on the abdomen. It seems quite likely to me that many molting issues are caused by inadequate hydration. I observe many of my tarantulas drinking quite regularly, even "dry" species like Brachypelma.

 

[ThatsUnpossible]

This is just one reason why I love Arachnoboards. Continuing an argument from 2012 like it was yesterday.