Heat seeking tarantula

[tspin]

Hi all,
I have two tarantula ( a brachypelma and a Grammostola )that both spend all their time on the glass basking in the heat of our tarantula cameras. When we move the camera the tarantula follows it. The space is kept at about 25C. Should we be increasing the room temperature, moving the cameras farther away from the glass or just let the tarantulas decide if and when they want the heat from the camera?

 

[viper69]

What the hell is that thing?

 

[tspin]

What the hell is that thing?

It is a camera. If that’s the thing you are wondering about lol. We have them on all of our T’s. Here is a photo, you can see the cameras on each of the enclosures.

What the hell is that thing?

If you are referring to what the tarantula is, it is a brachypelma hamorii

 

[viper69]

If you are referring to what the tarantula is, it is a brachypelma hamorii

No I wasn't

It is a camera. If that’s the thing you are wondering about lol. We have them on all of our T’s. Here is a photo, you can see the cameras on each of the enclosures. View attachment 436820

If you are saying to us that no matter where you move the cameras (cool idea) all your Ts end up hovering over them? If so, they potentially attracted to something about them. Now you could test this a bit by getting something like styrofoam and see if the same behavior happens. If not, then something about the cameras is disturbing them, and I'd remove the cameras immediately.

 

[Introvertebrate]

Hi all,
I have two tarantula ( a brachypelma and a Grammostola )that both spend all their time on the glass basking in the heat of our tarantula cameras. When we move the camera the tarantula follows it.............

Are you sure it's the heat? Maybe they're just narcissistic.

 

[tspin]

If you are saying to us that no matter where you move the cameras (cool idea) all your Ts end up hovering over them? If so, they potentially attracted to something about them. Now you could test this a bit by getting something like styrofoam and see if the same behavior happens. If not, then something about the cameras is disturbing them, and I'd remove the cameras immediately.

Interesting…It is only the two terrestrial ones that do it but their cameras are closer to the enclosures than the arboreals. The temperature of the cameras its self is 35C. Also I see no change in behaviour or any flinch when we switch them to night mode( the light goes red in night mode and green during the day) I would think the T would show some response to that change. It also makes a small clicking sound when the cameras change as well which the T doesn’t acknowledge either (as far as I can tell)

Are you sure it's the heat? Maybe they're just narcissistic.

Haha I like your idea and I think my tarantula are very photogenic.

 

[curtisgiganteus]

If the cameras are creating a hot spot then the spiders are staying at the warmest spot if their enclosure

 

[Introvertebrate]

If I put a heating pad alongside my enclosure (and I do this conservatively, before anyone Karens out on me), more often than not, my Ts get as close to it as they possibly can.

 

[tspin]

If the cameras are creating a hot spot then the spiders are staying at the warmest spot if their enclosure

Is that good or bad? Should we remove the cameras. They have the option to move away so they shouldn’t cook themselves right?

If I put a heating pad alongside my enclosure (and I do this conservatively, before anyone Karens out on me), more often than not, my Ts get as close to it as they possibly can.

Interesting. Kind of like tarantula enrichment. I don’t know how hot heating pads can get. Like what is too hot for the T?

 

[Introvertebrate]

Is that good or bad? Should we remove the cameras. They have the option to move away so they shouldn’t cook themselves right?

You'll read conflicting views on their ability to thermoregulate themselves. With reptiles, those concerns never seem to exist.

Interesting. Kind of like tarantula enrichment. I don’t know how hot heating pads can get. Like what is too hot for the T?

This one's for humans. It can get too hot, but I put it on the lowest setting and I also allow about an inch of space in between. The thermometer reads 80 degrees.

 

[viper69]

Is that good or bad? Should we remove the cameras. They have the option to move away so they shouldn’t cook themselves right?

drawn to heat like that- I would never do it you are interfering with their behavior in a sense

Ts don’t see red and don’t see too well into the green spectrum

 

[tspin]

drawn to heat like that- I would never do it you are interfering with their behavior in a sense

Ts don’t see red and don’t see too well into the green spectrum

I think we will move the camera’s so the heat doesn’t impact their behaviour. If they are still drawn to it we will shut them down.

 

[viper69]

I think we will move the camera’s so the heat doesn’t impact their behaviour. If they are still drawn to it we will shut them down.

Smart

 

[tspin]

Thanks for all the suggestions!

 

[cold blood]

Tarantulas are drawn to heat like a moth to a flame, and like the moth, they can be drawn to their detriment, which is why we need to take special care when heating their enclosures.

 

[The Spider House]

I have a security camera in one of my blondi enclosures. Have captured some amazing behaviour. But it does not emit any heat and so generally just gets ignored

This is the funnirst thing captured. She was 'playing' with a ping pong ball.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

Alright, I'll bite...why do you have a ping pong ball in your T's enclosure?

 

[tspin]

Tarantulas are drawn to heat like a moth to a flame, and like the moth, they can be drawn to their detriment, which is why we need to take special care when heating their enclosures.

Very well said! Thank you for your input

I have a security camera in one of my blondi enclosures. Have captured some amazing behaviour. But it does not emit any heat and so generally just gets ignored

This is the funnirst thing captured. She was 'playing' with a ping pong ball.

I want to do this when mine get bigger!

 

[The Spider House]

Alright, I'll bite...why do you have a ping pong ball in your T's enclosure?

There was a thread a while back about do tarantulas play. So I thought, why not, give it a go and see what happens. There you have it ha ha

 

[Zoopy]

There was a thread a while back about do tarantulas play. So I thought, why not, give it a go and see what happens. There you have it ha ha

Lol, I bought some for my Ts last night. I need to go pick them up at the Amazon locker tomorrow.