Putting a t owner at rest

[Bigphilystyle]

I have 3 tarantulas all different age, salmon pink female juvi, unsexed giant white knee sling and a female red knee 3 years ISH. Now the temps in my room are dropping around 10°c (50°f) I do use a heat mat to make sure it doesn't drop below 18°c (64°f). Came in to find them huddled with the heat an I know the issues with them wanting to cook emselves. Is it safe with no heat source? I have 2 more from people wanting me to re-home them. Space heaters are expensive for us here to keep on. Any advice please?

 

[fcat]

How big are their enclosures? Pics? Is there something you can put them all into like a big aquarium that will create another pocket of insulated air? Then you could cover it with a towel to allow air to pass through but at a slower rate. You could even insulate the outer aquarium with towels to keep some of the heat in.

64F is cold, maybe too cold.

As long as the heat mat is on the side of their enclosures and not under it, they can still move to a cooler side if they need it.

My first winter with Ts I didn't have heat or a heat pad, I used a red lightbulb that I set on the side of their enclosure, to act as a very low watt heat source (like 6watts) that was cheap, safe (I work 24-48 shifts). I also slept with my windows open, so it was around 50 in the house. After reading other accounts of people losing their Ts to cold snaps, all I can say is that the little lightbulb was obviously enough.

Other issues when it's cold, they move less, eat less, and could drink less...at least the inactivity keeps them from going to their water dishes.

Humidity changes with the temperature. If any of yours are sensitive to changes it could be an issue, so monitor your moisture levels (moisture already in the substrate, signs of condensation even though you didn't add any moisture)

An LED bulb will only cost you a few dollars a year to run it, in addition to a heat pad it might get you a couple degrees if you can find a larger container to put everything inside of and can control hot air escape.

 

[IntermittentSygnal]

This may be of use to you

The proper use of heat mats

Mods could you please make this a sticky as there's so much misinformation about heat mats? So heat mats are perfectly safe to use IF they're used properly. They're like a mini space heater when used properly. 1) Heat mats MUST be plugged into a thermostat. That's a thermostat NOT a...

arachnoboards.com

 

[fcat]

Found some old pictures. I have metal shelves, and it looks like I draped a quilt over the shelves and not a towel, which is heavier. You can see where I have the light bulb, it would've been technically safest to place it higher but I wasnt worried because it was low wattage. So we are clear this is an indoor use color changing smart bulb, I chose red as it's believed they can't see it, NOT INFRARED OR A HEAT LAMP, do not burn your house down, but I also have the benefit of metal shelves which acts as a heat sink. I felt confident this wasn't going to burn my house down. I used extra linens in the surrounding shelves to further insulate. It was mostly to create a pocket to prevent warm air from escaping.

My boy loved it, was glued to that side of the enclosure, and even built a new tunnel out to the ground.



This is a screenshot from a video, sorry about the quality, my little pamphobeteus sling was happy dancing. The setup didn't stunt this one at all

Finally, another cover over the front of the shelves to trap that 6 watts of warmth lol. I did all this because I was too cheap to run the heat. This was the cheapest method I could find to keep them alive lol.

 

[Bigphilystyle]

Thank you very much for the replies, took your advice in and going to monitor with the heatmat and the thermostat. The rule of if your comfortable then they will be doesn't apply to me cause I live in my dressing gown at night I'll keep you guys updated and let you know things got on.

 

[Wenzer]

What about a small hydroponics tent? They're fairly inexpensive nowadays for simple ones, and many large reptile keepers even use them as enclosures because of how well they retain heat and humidity. Most are fairly tall so if needed you could likely added a low wattage ceramic heat emitter above them without it being too close to their enclosures.

 

[viper69]

50F

 

[Ultum4Spiderz]

I used a space heater once, But once I realize my temperatures are fine at 70 haven’t used it since.
50 is ridiculous I would be freezing inside my own house…