Keeping terrarium warm

[hannwalker]

Hi, I am new to this board. This is my second tarantula, I have a 3" female B smithi which I've had about 2 months now. The enclosure is 18x18x12 exo terra glass terrarium. I put a heating pad on one side under the enclosure and it keeps the substrate warm. I am wondering which type of lighting for heat on top as I live in New England and it is cold now. I have read that they don't like bright lights. I have the back half of the top covered with a towel to keep in heat and the front half with plexi glass as it is screening. Thanks for any help!

 

[Hobo]

You need to keep it in something significantly smaller. Something with an area about 9"x6". It will never be big enough to be safely or practically housed in an exo terra that large.
Unless your temperatures are going below 50 degrees, you don't need any supplemental heating.

 

[Will240393]

Don't put a heat mat underneath in fact you don't need one at all, it could dig down to escape the heat and potentially cook itself.

 

[NGLepine]

I keep my larger T's in big Critter Keepers!! My Smithi loves to tour!

 

[hannwalker]

I had a smaller enclosure but because it was acrylic, I was unable to use any type of heating pad with it. I can section this off with plexi glass. What would be ideal dimensions for enclosure size? I was concerned about 12" height when I bought this not so much as area. Thanks for the info!

---------- Post added 10-26-2013 at 01:09 PM ----------

I have a driftwood piece which is now dug out by her underneath, the mat is on the opposite corner of wood where she dug it out. Should I still remove the pad? I have read conflicting info about keeping them warm and risk of health if they get cold.

 

[Hobo]

Ideal dimensions are in my post, but you have a lot of leeway area wise. Height is the important bit though; it should be reasonable so she doesn't go splat if she falls.
There is no risk to their health if kept cool. The only thing will be that they will grow slower and be less active.
People who breed B. smithi will often give them a cooling period of 50 degree nights/60 degree days for a few months to simulate the seasons and increase the chances of them dropping a sac.

 

[hearsemadam]

a sweater box from the container store or something similar is adequate, safe and wont break the bank.

petco has decent kritter keepers. I used to buy these when I had only a few Ts (with a growing collection, these get expen$ive)

http://www.petco.com/product/12264/...er for Reptiles, Amphibians and Insects-12264

 

[Keith B]

Mine's in a 10 gallon aquarium I had around going to waste. She's one of my favorites so I like giving her the extra space, but I had to go totally overkill on substrate to fill it high enough for her not to risk falling. In the warmer, more active months, she will sometimes cover the area of the tank. Otherwise, she barely leaves her rock hide lol. I don't necessarily say your exo-terra is too big, just luxurious ,. However, I don't use them because, with the ventilation ports in the front, it's really difficult to fill them high enough. And unless conditions are PERFECT 100% of the time, and it likely won't be, it will climb. Smithi's are somewhat notoriously restless for many owners. Probably won't need a heat pad, but If it gets really cold (below 50, in your house? doubtful), then you could think about (only if the enclosure is big enough) sticking one on one side (away from the burrow and water dish and above the soil), so it can bask and walk away as desired without risking cooking itself, and isn't driven crazy by the increasing temp. of the substrate itself. Good luck! I <3 smithi!

 

[Stan Schultz]

Hi, I am new to this board. This is my second tarantula, I have a 3" female B smithi which I've had about 2 months now. The enclosure is 18x18x12 exo terra glass terrarium. I put a heating pad on one side under the enclosure and it keeps the substrate warm. I am wondering which type of lighting for heat on top as I live in New England and it is cold now. I have read that they don't like bright lights. I have the back half of the top covered with a towel to keep in heat and the front half with plexi glass as it is screening. Thanks for any help!

WELCOME TO THE HOBBY!

WELCOME TO THIS FORUM!


Save yourself a bunch of stress, work, frustration, money and maybe even a few dead tarantulas. Go to the Spiders, Calgary webtree and start reading.

DO NOT FAIL TO READ THE FOUR BOOKS RECOMMENDED IN STAN'S RANT!

The best news is that 90% of the questions you wanted to ask plus a lot, LOT more that you didn't think to ask are all laid out for you for ABSOLUTELY FREE if you take advantage of your friendly, neighborhood, public library! All you need do is read.

Especially, read Temperature.

Hope this helps. Best of luck.


WE NEED TO RELEARN TO VIEW THE WORLD FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A LARGE, FUZZY SPIDER!

 

[845BigRed]

Heres an idea of my setup for my 4 inch girl. Ideally you should have another 2-3 inches of substrate but I ran out when I was changing everything out. Shes perfectly happy, eats fairly regularly, molted, feels completely safe in her little hide there and is my sweetest girl who I can pick up if I need to. The only T I have in a serious tank (10 gallon) is my T Stirmi, everyone else is in some sort of container.

 

[Keith B]

The only T I have in a serious tank (10 gallon) is my T Stirmi, everyone else is in some sort of container.

Ah yes, the classic Kricket Keeper of my childhood nightmares lol. They are an ideal surface area for most species. I forgot to include my reason for avoiding them. I keep slings in an enclosed area, but for my adults I have to go with heavier setups due to hazards. The only T I lost prematurely, so far, was my first T when I was a little kid. I kept him in a kricket keeper, but they are lightweight and have little bottom surface area due to the plastic feet on the bottom.
When I was at school my mother opened the room he was in to do some cleaning, and my cat snuck in and went after the crickets, knocking it off the table. It turned upside down before landing, and that same level of substrate cam down and crushed the T.. and I was crushed. I have 4 cats right now, and they are well behaved but you never know. So for the T's I keep out in the open I am forced to go for a heavier setup such as the 10 gallon. If one day I choose to keep mass amounts of T's (which is very possible), then I may turn to more compact housing. The Kricket Keepers are a solid option, but as for me, I have bad memories lol

 

[hannwalker]

Thanks for your advice, I have sectioned off half of the area, and added more substrate to decrease the height. The heat pad is on the far side with only 1/2 on her side if she wants to have a warmer spot! I was also misting daily for some humidity.

---------- Post added 10-27-2013 at 10:09 PM ----------

Thanks! I did some rearranging and I think that this is better. The heat pad is on the far side away from everything. I will do more reading on this site also for more info. I appreciate you're sharing!

 

[Keith B]

Thanks for your advice, I have sectioned off half of the area, and added more substrate to decrease the height. The heat pad is on the far side with only 1/2 on her side if she wants to have a warmer spot! I was also misting daily for some humidity.

---------- Post added 10-27-2013 at 10:09 PM ----------

Thanks! I did some rearranging and I think that this is better. The heat pad is on the far side away from everything. I will do more reading on this site also for more info. I appreciate you're sharing!

This will be a good test. I don't use heating pads cause my house stays warm enough. The reason for putting it on the opposing side (and above the substrate I hope) is to encourage her to show herself off if it is cold. You don't want it to discourage her from her hide if it's too warm, and supplemental heating dries out water dishes very quickly. If she chooses to use the heating pad when it's cold in your house, then it may prove useful. Otherwise, if she doesn't really pay attention to it, your house is probably warm enough in the first place, and you can use it on your back if it gets sore instead jk on that last part

 

[hannwalker]

I found the Tarantula Keepers Guide! I will also check out the website...I think that I have the basics now and we are now on the road to success. I didn't know that they could regulate their body temperature...I guess I won't have to knit that sweater after all, LOL! Thanks for giving this great info, truly appreciated!

---------- Post added 10-27-2013 at 10:52 PM ----------

haha, not a bad idea for the back Thanks for the info!

 

[Lorgakor]

I'm going against the grain here but I really don't think it was too big of an enclosure. IF you see her climbing a lot I would think about a shorter enclosure, but 18 x 18 isn't too big in my opinion, and if I am reading it right and it is only 12" tall, that really isn't too much. As long as she is finding her food with no problems, and is moulting okay I see no reason to change your setup.

As far as supplemental heat, I wouldn't bother. If you are comfortable in the room temps, likely the tarantula will be fine with them as well.