Heating faunariums

[MrPterinochilus]

After several years in the hobby keeping my tarantulas at room temperature after the back then common advice "if you are comfortable your spider is" I am now starting to offer my animals some sort of controlled heat in various ways as it seems the hobby is evolving into a different care aspect where heat is now clearly recommended.

But keeping my animals in Exo terra plastic faunariums I came across a statement on Exo terras site that the plastic enclosures should never be heated by heaters and never exposed to sunlight. Only external heat by heating the room they are placed in.

I wonder why this is stated because if the heat sources are properly controlled with distance or thermostatically then accidents with melting plastic are unlikely? What do you guys think? Are they just trying to be on the safe side and advice against individually heat sources in use with faunariums or is it possible that even mild heat is causing toxic fumes to be created?

 

[Ramen]

It may be done for safety, as accidents could happen, and plastic can potentially melt if a timer breaks and the tank gets too hot. Have you ever looked into a space heater with a timer?

 

[Mustafa67]

After several years in the hobby keeping my tarantulas at room temperature after the back then common advice "if you are comfortable your spider is" I am now starting to offer my animals some sort of controlled heat in various ways as it seems the hobby is evolving into a different care aspect where heat is now clearly recommended.

But keeping my animals in Exo terra plastic faunariums I came across a statement on Exo terras site that the plastic enclosures should never be heated by heaters and never exposed to sunlight. Only external heat by heating the room they are placed in.

I wonder why this is stated because if the heat sources are properly controlled with distance or thermostatically then accidents with melting plastic are unlikely? What do you guys think? Are they just trying to be on the safe side and advice against individually heat sources in use with faunariums or is it possible that even mild heat is causing toxic fumes to be created?

If you use space heaters you won’t have this problem

 

[Andrew Clayton]

After several years in the hobby keeping my tarantulas at room temperature after the back then common advice "if you are comfortable your spider is" I am now starting to offer my animals some sort of controlled heat in various ways as it seems the hobby is evolving into a different care aspect where heat is now clearly recommended.

But keeping my animals in Exo terra plastic faunariums I came across a statement on Exo terras site that the plastic enclosures should never be heated by heaters and never exposed to sunlight. Only external heat by heating the room they are placed in.

I wonder why this is stated because if the heat sources are properly controlled with distance or thermostatically then accidents with melting plastic are unlikely? What do you guys think? Are they just trying to be on the safe side and advice against individually heat sources in use with faunariums or is it possible that even mild heat is causing toxic fumes to be created?

It will just be to cover them for safety reasons, I have a few in similar and have a space heater and heat mat.
All the spiders on the one shelving unit with 3 shelves, heat mat across the wall at the back of the unit, at the bottom that runs 24/7 during winter and space heater controlled by thermostat set at 25°c and runs through the day only. Bottom shelf gets to the 25°c through the day and drops to 19°c through the night with just the heat mat, middle shelf gets 27°c through the day and 22°c at night and top shelf gets to around 30°c day and down to around 22°c at night also. My house heating is set at 20°c constantly during winter.

Through the summer months I actually have them a bit cooler as I don't use the space heater and I only run the heat mat through the day to give it a bit of a boost.

 

[viper69]

That phrase if you’re fine they are fine should NOT be taken literally. Get a space heater.

plastics warp crack with time, and some idiot will put a heater on it that leads to a fire.

I couldn’t rule out fumes as I’ve never heated them.

 

[MrPterinochilus]

So with a space heater... you disagree with the thermoregulation debate these modern times?

 

[Arachnophobphile]

After several years in the hobby keeping my tarantulas at room temperature after the back then common advice "if you are comfortable your spider is" I am now starting to offer my animals some sort of controlled heat in various ways as it seems the hobby is evolving into a different care aspect where heat is now clearly recommended.

But keeping my animals in Exo terra plastic faunariums I came across a statement on Exo terras site that the plastic enclosures should never be heated by heaters and never exposed to sunlight. Only external heat by heating the room they are placed in.

I wonder why this is stated because if the heat sources are properly controlled with distance or thermostatically then accidents with melting plastic are unlikely? What do you guys think? Are they just trying to be on the safe side and advice against individually heat sources in use with faunariums or is it possible that even mild heat is causing toxic fumes to be created?

I use some of these enclosures and never needed to use heat mats or any other heat device attached to them. My house temperature doesn't dip down into the 50F's either.

The reason warning labels are put in the manual for these is due to legality. If the company doesn't have a warning then someone will do it then sue them afterwards.

It's not rocket science, put a heat mat on a plastic container and it's going to warp, crack or have melting issues over time. It can also be a fire hazard. This is why all heating mats are recommended for glass enclosures.

Now onto using heat mats for T's it is simply not needed. If a person's home is constantly in the 50F's range then one should never own tarantulas.

Using reason and responsibility I never got another dog after my last one as I do not have a large fenced in yard where I moved to now.

A cold home can be circumvented by keeping a small collection in a small room, like a bathroom or closest and provide heat by using a radiator type heating system.

As far as the video that guy is probably from a Facebook group. Heads up, avoid that site for T info.

 

[Brewser]

The 70's & 80's Rock

 

[TheraMygale]

So with a space heater... you disagree with the thermoregulation debate these modern times?

After watching that series of videos, did you ever learn how to do it?

Not that i dont agree or don’t believe in it.

I just think if someone goes through all the effort of explaining something, then they should show/prove you how they do it. Not just by a small clip where you see an unnamed heating element.

We all know how to use a weather app.

Many excellent breeders have good success with just a space heater.

Some species might have greater needs though. It depends what each keepers goal is.

Some people use soil heating cables, others put heat mats on styrofoam.

If the enclosure is plastic, there is always a risk. Doesnt mean you cant diy a system that keeps the heating tool away from the enclosure.

All heating tools should be used with a thermometer that allows you to regulate the heat.

I fell upon that series of videos last year and was left with many questions. I explored the board, contacted people in private, debated the subject.

I researched for hours what was available in my local. For now, i havent got any system in place because nothing fits my standard. Nothing that won’t do what a space heater does for less money.

I have a space heater if needed. But my current home heating is doing the job.


Everyone does their own thing. Thats the key, find what works for you and your objective.

For the record, i dont like the “if youre comfortable your tarantula is comfortable”. Its a comment that comes from another time, and some improvements in the keeping of tarantulas have been done in the husbandry.

Just by studying the board, you can go back very far and compare with now.

 

[MrPterinochilus]

I have kept (and even bred a few species) tarantulas on/off since 2000s and never used supplemental heating.

But getting back in the hobby I fell upon this guy's videos and I will have to say he is making valid points and I find it hard and arrogant to ignore his approach.

That's the reason why I have been experimenting with (properly controlled) heat and light sources and I realize that the animals actually seem to active thermoregulate as stated in the video theory.

But I agree that setting up individually light and heat sources for 100 enclusures is time-consuming and expensive.

Thanks to every one for input!