G. Pulchripes web mat

[Spiderguy47]

Recently I placed a small beta heater on top of its enclosure to increase its growth speed, it only raises the temperature by 4 degrees F and the T seems to like it. I noticed him/her making what I can only describe as a web mat. Is this premolt behavior or just a side affect of the heat?

Sorry for not having pictures but it wouldn't show up on my phone's camera.
Its a 2 inch T.

 

[Spiderguy47]

Before you get mad at me for using a heater it is also a safety precaution, recently my house has been dropping to 65 at night.

 

[Venom1080]

65 is fine. The heater is unnecessary. I'd remove it.

4 degrees will probably end up doing basically nothing.

 

[Moakmeister]

A better idea would be to submerge the bottom inch or so of the enclosure in a tub of water and put the heater in the water. Those heaters aren't supposed to be used outside of water anyway, and can be dangerous if they're just used in open air. Not even just to tarantulas, but they can malfunction or overheat and catch fire or just burn out if not submerged.

 

[Venomgland]

Answering your question. It is normal. My G.p has slowly been webbing over the whole floor of its enclosure and its molted twice in my care.

 

[Trenor]

I have a few of these and they web the floor in their enclosures making a heavier mat spot when they are about to molt. It's neat that they almost always tear it up once they are done. A lot of species have this behavior. My B.hamorii did this last week when she molted.