Light? Dark?

[aracnophiliac]

I would like to know if all T.s prefer to be in the dark? which is better? does it differ from breed to breed or even T. to T. like their personalitiy

 

[Kacey Jennings]

Dark, although some claim their T likes to bask. They prefer it dark, and light can harm them.

 

[ErinKelley]

and light can harm them.

Can someone elaborate on this?

edit - Unless of course what you meant was heat from a hot bulb.

 

[Moltar]

T's are mostly nocturnal. Some species will come out in daylight more than others but for the most part they're more active at night.

Bright, direct sunlight can be very streesful to them (heat is bad) and possibly be damaging to their eyes. Direct sunlight can also turn their tank into a greenhouse, basically cooking them. Don't keep T's in windows but DO keep them in rooms with windows so they can experience the diurnal (day/night) cycle.

 

[CellebrO]

Im not sure if this is relevant but I have observed that my g. aureostriata doenst act differently when in a light or dark place. Same with my P.Murinus. All my Ts have heatlamps because of the low temperatures here,and the lamps are not red party bulbs cause these around here are not powerful enough to heat properly and the tarantulas act in the same way in winter(when heated and lighted) and in summer(when the lights are off).

 

[Kacey Jennings]

A space heater is safer, more efficient and effect than heat lamps. The lamps could malfunction/kill the T.

 

[CellebrO]

I know I know... In general yes I agree but in my case its a bit different and the space heater is not always an option for me.Just to say - the lamps work only when the space heater doesnt and they are tuned to maintain the needed temperatures.

 

[aracnophiliac]

I was wondering about pad heaters?Are they ok or live food dishes? ive heard storys about both are they true? do they have the potential to kill?

 

[Kacey Jennings]

The heat pad is not recommended either. BIG fire hazard. Like Frankenstien's monster says "fire burns!"

 

[gambite]

Who does not recommend a heat pad? I dont see how they could start any sort of fire, unless you are referring to some kind of electrical fault they have. If they got even half as hot as they needed to start a fire, they would already be melted. I have one on my P imperator's tank (a plastic Exo Terra), and it has not come close to even melting the tank or the tape that is holding it in place.

 

[Kacey Jennings]

The bottom line is, do what you feel you need to. Just weigh the risks against the benefits. For one, the price it would cost me to set up and run enough "heat pads" or heat lamps for my collection would be astronomical. so, high cost in acquiring and maintaining. And to answer the question, yes, they can and have malfunctioned. When an electrical device shorts out (depending on wether it is a short to power, or a short to ground, said device will either trip a breaker, or increase in heat. Enough of an increase in heat least to a reaction, called fire. They are made of rubber, plastic and insulated wires. These devices can wear, and the insulated wire can lose said insulation(from the tank rubbing on it and such). I have SEEN cracked terrariums, dehydrated T's and dead T's from these objects, so I choose to stay away from them. I use a radiator type room heater. It is filled with water, that is heated. There is no device blowing out hot air. There is less of a chance for the problems I noted. Plus, to be highly redundant, I have it on a secondary thermostat, and incase of a short, a secondary breaker. And that is just my OPINION, and every one is entitled to it.

Another note on heater related deaths. many households have burnt down from a simple electric blanket. Whole aquariums have been decimated due to the thermostat in the heater malfunctioning, and the fish being boiled.

 

[blazetown]

Light is useful for establishing a day/night activity cycle in your spider but other than that only useful for plants and heat.

 

[Radamanthys]

Most T's don't like light, that's a well known fact. But i don't know if their eyes can be harmed by normal light. I mean, any eye can be harmed by strong lights, even ours. But as for normal lights, i don't know. Of course they'll get blind if you stuck a lamp right over their cephalotorax, and cooked too but who wouldn't?

They instinct says to them "go dark, it's better for your survival". So who are we to say no to it?

If you have a body that can sense all around you, independent of light and bigger animals come out mostly at the day, why get out when i's not night?

 

[barabootom]

I think they feel safer at night and are more active, so dark is good. Mine don't mind normal daylight and it doesn't harm them at all. Bright light and heat can be harmful. If you want a light in your enclosure, use a very low wattage light and provide places for your T to hide from it if it chooses.

 

[testdasi]

Of all my T's, only some of the burrowers and slings (which like to burrow) appear to be afraid of light. The rest will bask in the open, unless I disturb the tank (then SOME will run for cover). I know for sure my GBB, genic, rosie, regalis, LD and LP are completely indifferent whether it's bright or dark. And my H. gigas don't care much as well. They start to be active at about 8-12pm regardless of lighting condition! There is no sun light directly shining on them though. Just bright artificial light.