Less defensive due to light?

[Cirith Ungol]

Would a defensive T be less defensive/edgy if the tank maintenance would be done under low light conditions or red light?

Or would it be the opposite? I'm mainly thinking of the influence of stress on the T and wether light affects it one way or the other...

 

[CedrikG]

T dont like the light and they hunt the night, witch mean they feel good at night , my Tank are always in the dark, or almost all the time

 

[Mattyb]

T dont like the light and they hunt the night, witch mean they feel good at night , my Tank are always in the dark, or almost all the time

Always in the dark? Ts aren't nocternal, yes they hunt at night, but they aren't like bats. they need some sunlight.



-Mattyb

 

[CedrikG]

not totally dark but theres never sun in my room, are you sure of what you sying ? if they are getting out the night that mean they are good in the dark

 

[Mattyb]

not totally dark but theres never sun in my room, are you sure of what you sying ? if they are getting out the night that mean they are good in the dark

Yes there are very good in the night, and so are cats, and dogs, but Ts are not nocternal, they need some sunlight. nocternal animals rarely if at all see the light of day.


-Mattyb

 

[CedrikG]

Yes there are very good in the night, and so are cats, and dogs, but Ts are not nocternal, they need some sunlight. nocternal animals rarely if at all see the light of day.

yeah but they are always visible this way or a lot visible, I duno why I would let the light come in my room if they are gona hide

 

[Mattyb]

yeah but they are always visible this way or a lot visible, I duno why I would let the light come in my room if they are gona hide

Well i'm just saying that they aren't nocternal. Most every living thing on earth gets its energy from sunlight.



-Mattyb

 

[jeffh_x]

i read that if they are kept too much in the dark, they may think that they're already in a burrow with no exit..kinda freaks them out i think?

jus ma 2 cents

 

[CedrikG]

i read that if they are kept too much in the dark, they may think that they're already in a burrow with no exit..kinda freaks them out i think?

jus ma 2 cents

but if they think they are in a burrow ... where the food and water is always present, do they really care ? did you read if they are in totally 100% dark, or just in less lightning, cuz I keep mine in the light im living at, in my room, where its not totally dark just a little, and the night its totally dark

 

[Darryl Albers]

Look , if you want to be fair to any creature then simulate there environment as much as possible . light , is natural and tarantulas need a clock in life just like a lot of creatures . whilst not essential , why not ? whilst typing this i am looking at all my tarantulas and they are not in there burrows , because they are not being disturbed , they are in tune with this environment that i have created for them .

then at approx 11 tonight i will turn the light off again and they will have 8 hours darkness , then when i leave for work i will turn it back on like clockwork . it sets a rythym.
mine stay visible when not disturbed but hardly move .

 

[CedrikG]

yes I want to be faire but if I can improve their life i'll, anyway that was not to say the opposite I was sure they were prefering the darkness, if everybady say its better to put light the day and dark the night i'll, it will be much more simple!

 

[JJJoshua]

Does light matter that much? If the T has a hide to go in to then they can choose whether they want to be in the light or not. My emilia hides at night and when the lights come on he comes out and sits on top of his burrow. While my rosie always hides, regardless of light. Sometimes I come home, shes out, other times shes hiding. I can see how prolonged light exposure would be stressful, but with a hide they can escape it.

I think that with the lights off, or lights they can't see such as a red light, they might be more defensive. They're kinda in their element, and if it's 'dark' to them then might think that you cannot see them and they might be more ready to strike and surprise you, thinking that this predator will be shocked and will back off more easy. While if they're in the light they will just want to get away and hide, knowing that they are exposed and this 'predator' can see them.

 

[CedrikG]

well this is why I was keeping 'em in the dark, soo they are more relax and think they are less visible

 

[Cirith Ungol]

Hi guys!

That's exactly the point I was thinking about! I had a bit of a hard time really formulating it earlier, but what I've been thinking about is:

Is a T more likely to be "attacking me" when it is dark or when it is light?
A sidequestion which determins the type of attack is ofcourse: will it attack because it is dark, the T is feeling threatened but a bit more brave because it's dark? Or might it in the same situation think "Well, it's dark, I better sit still!"?

Another scenario would be in the light: "I don't feel safe here, I better attack" vs. "I don't feel safe here I better retreat".

The questions are only interesting if we stick to one individual T instead of comparing several which have different levels of defensiveness anyway.

Some of the above models have started to get chewed through in this thread already. But are there any theories to all the above scenarios?

 

[becca81]

Well i'm just saying that they aren't nocternal. Most every living thing on earth gets its energy from sunlight.

-Mattyb

Indirectly, yes.

The T gets it food (mainly) from insects which get their food (mainly) from producers which make their food from the Sun.

The main reason, IMO, that they need to see a light is to mimic their natural daily cycle. It's not the UV rays that they need and heat is artifically provided to them in captivity.

It is possible for an animal to go without direct sunlight as long as their needs are met artificially.

 

[Lasiodora]

Always in the dark? Ts aren't nocternal, yes they hunt at night, but they aren't like bats. they need some sunlight.



-Mattyb

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Nocturnal:
1 : of, relating to, or occurring in the night <a nocturnal journey>
2 : active at night <a nocturnal predator>

Tarantulas are nocturnal. They may sometimes be active in the day but they are most active at night. They don't need exposure to uv or sunlight. Some type of lighting even if its ambient can help provide a day/night cycle. I don't think your t will suffer if it doesn't have lighting in its enclosure. btw Cirith I find that most t's are less defensive when they have a comfortable hide and are not backed into a corner. I don't believe the amount of light makes a difference.
Mike

 

[Mattyb]

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Nocturnal:
1 : of, relating to, or occurring in the night <a nocturnal journey>
2 : active at night <a nocturnal predator>

Tarantulas are nocturnal. They may sometimes be active in the day but they are most active at night. They don't need exposure to uv or sunlight. Some type of lighting even if its ambient can help provide a day/night cycle. I don't think your t will suffer if it doesn't have lighting in its enclosure. btw Cirith I find that most t's are less defensive when they have a comfortable hide and are not backed into a corner. I don't believe the amount of light makes a difference.
Mike

Well to me the word nocturnal means a creature that sleeps during the day and is only awake at night. so according to the nocturnal that i know of i am right and they aren't.


-Mattyb

 

[CedrikG]

anyway mattyb i've been informing myself and theres no difference between a T that live in the dark or in the light MOST ppl say it... soo I prefer keep mine in the dark as they are a lot visible and I think they are less stressed too

its clearly saying in the tarantula keeping guild : Tarantula dont benefit from light ... a direct sunlight can be fatar to your T

 

[Lasiodora]

Well to me the word nocturnal means a creature that sleeps during the day and is only awake at night.

-Mattyb

Very big misconception. Nocturnal animals are sometimes active in the day (e.g. I've seen horned owls out and about during the day). Like I said before though, they are predominantly active at night. This why tarantulas are considered nocturnal.

Tarantulas keeper's Guide:
"They are more active in evening than during the day"

Mike

 

[becca81]

Encylcopedia:

Nocturnal predator
Tarantulas are nocturnal predators, killing their prey by injecting venom through their fangs. It typically waits partially hidden at the entrance to its retreat to ambush passing prey. It has sensitive hairs that enable it to detect the size and location of potential victims from the vibrations caused by their movements. Like many other spiders, it can not see more than light, darkness, and movement (see spiders for more about their eyesight), and uses its sense of touch to perceive the world around it.