Regarding temperature and humidity; Safetly heating your T's enclosures.

[Exo]

Mexico has a variety of biomes, and some species are spread through several different environments.

Many of the Brachys kept in the hobby are found in the dry interior of northern and central Mexico.

 

[Fran]

Yes, there are several species that "need" high humidity, and several keepers that have experimented, successfully, with keeping them a bit drier. Yes, many species do come from the rainforest, but some of the most commonly kept species do not.

I am not taking poor care of my tarantulas. Many people on these boards have been to my house and have seen how well looked-after my collection is. They eat well, grow fast, and drink. If you read my post, you will notice that I do not keep water dishes because they get filled up with dirt by some of my spiders, which causes the water to wick all over the enclosure, which makes my enclosure sopping wet. Yuck! I think that it is more sanitary to offer water at intervals rather than providing a dish with many of my spiders. In some cases, dishes are better. I do use dishes.

I was not correcting your English grammar. I was correcting a scientific term. If I wanted to correct your grammar, this would be a much longer post.

Then you should take a look to your own posts, first .

So you are talking about insanitary issues. We all now that taranutlas in the wild wash their burrow floors with "Mr Clean" every now and then.
They hate dirt in their water.
Jesus Christ, what you have to read sometimes...

 

[equuskat]

Many of the Brachys kept in the hobby are found in the dry interior of northern and central Mexico.

Yes, this is true. Many of those species do overlap biomes, though. Some ranges are quite large.

 

[Exo]

Then you should take a look to your own posts, first .

So you are talking about insanitary issues. We all now that taranutlas in the wild wash their burrow floors with "Mr Clean" every now and then.
They hate dirt in their water.
Jesus Christ, what you have to read sometimes...

Funny, I can picture a T.blondi with a mop complaining about how dirty her dirt burrow is!

 

[Fran]

Katy, you are contradicting yourself over and over.

First questioning if any sp besides T.blondi need high humidity. Then you stated that there are several.
Then you said most of your tanks dont have water dishes, then you said that they do...


Get your facts straight.Its important.

 

[equuskat]

Then you should take a look to your own posts, first .

So you are talking about insanitary issues. We all now that taranutlas in the wild wash their burrow floors with "Mr Clean" every now and then.
They hate dirt in their water.
Jesus Christ, what you have to read sometimes...

Fran, if mold can be prevented in a pet's enclosure, then it should be! I do not want moldy enclosures. This is not the wild. The mold, bugs, and other tank mishaps are not the same things that occur in the wild. As I said, we cannot imitate the exact conditions that a tarantula encounters in the wild. By keeping an enclosure from being soggy, then I believe that I am providing the spider with the best environment possible.

A water dish that contains nothing but dirt is exactly the same as moistening a corner every now and then, isn't it? I am just preventing the wicking and only moistening the substrate when it is needed.

 

[Fran]

Fran, if mold can be prevented in a pet's enclosure, then it should be! I do not want moldy enclosures. This is not the wild. The mold, bugs, and other tank mishaps are not the same things that occur in the wild. As I said, we cannot imitate the exact conditions that a tarantula encounters in the wild. By keeping an enclosure from being soggy, then I believe that I am providing the spider with the best environment possible.

A water dish that contains nothing but dirt is exactly the same as moistening a corner every now and then, isn't it?

I have been keeping tarantulas since age 12 and I never seen the tarantulas sistematically and constantly putting dirt in their water dishes .
Sometimes it happens, then your job is to clean it and offer clean water.
Plain and simple.

 

[equuskat]

Katy, you are contradicting yourself over and over.

First questioning if any sp besides T.blondi need high humidity. Then you stated that there are several.
Then you said most of your tanks dont have water dishes, then you said that they do...


Get your facts straight.Its important.

Fran, you are looking hard for contradictions that do not exist. I said that I use water dishes IN SOME CONTAINERS. I do not use them in all of my enclosures because it is impractical.

I know that there are several species that are said to need high humidity, notoriously T. blondi, which I mentioned. What more do you want?

 

[equuskat]

I have been keeping tarantulas since age 12 and I never seen the tarantulas sistematically and constantly putting dirt in their water dishes .
Sometimes it happens, then your job is to clean it and offer clean water.
Plain and simple.

My way works just as well as your way. I am not keeping my tarantulas wrong. My tarantulas are plump and hydrated. Some of my spiders lay web or kick substrate into their bowls and it wicks out the water, which makes a wet cage. I hope that clarifies this concept for you. Even if I were to clean out the bowl, it would just be wicked out again the next day. I don't want soaked tanks. That's all.


oh, and just thought I should mention that tarantulas in the wild don't have water bowls. They drink when it rains, or drink dew.

 

[Fran]

. In fact, I don't have water bowls in most enclosures. Why? Well, they fill up with dirt anyway and there's no point. I also don't mist any terrestrials. Ever. I only mist the arboreals, and only because they drink off of the sides of the container and the web. SO, how do I water my Ts? Wet a corner of the substrate 2-3 times a week and guess what? They all thrive.
.

Adult tarantulas need a source of open water. That is the A,B,C of the tarantula keeping.

They are probably barely making it with the water source in the prey and the humidity that your sistem can supply. But that doesnt mean they are perfectly fine.

I like to give examples, so heres is one. You probably will live with half a glass of liquid a day and by the water inside some of your daily food items.
That does not mean you dont need more water.

 

[Fran]

oh, and just thought I should mention that tarantulas in the wild don't have water bowls. They drink when it rains, or drink dew.

This makes it. I give up.

 

[equuskat]

Adult tarantulas need a source of open water. That is the A,B,C of the tarantula keeping.

They are probably barely making it with the water source in the prey and the humidity that your sistem can supply. But that doesnt mean they are perfectly fine.

I like to give examples, so heres is one. You probably will live with half a glass of liquid a day and by the water inside some of your daily food items.
That does not mean you dont need more water.

See above. Tarantulas don't have water bowls in their burrows. It is not animal abuse to take away bowls and dampen a corner of substrate every couple of days. Many keepers employ this same method.

Really, this is like talking to a wall.

 

[Fran]

See above. Tarantulas don't have water bowls in their burrows. It is not animal abuse to take away bowls and dampen a corner of substrate every couple of days. Many keepers employ this same method.

Really, this is like talking to a wall.

You are the wall Katy.A thick one.

Listen, keep your tarantulas however the heck you want. Please do so.
Go around telling the newbies that tarantulas dont need water dishes in their enclosure, and please, be proud about your methods.They are excellent.

 

[Exo]

oh, and just thought I should mention that tarantulas in the wild don't have water bowls. They drink when it rains, or drink dew.

But in the wild the humidity is also higher, at least in the rainforest. I have noticed that Ts that are kept humid need to drink less often.

 

[Exo]

Listen, keep your tarantulas however the heck you want. Please do so.
Go around telling the newbies that tarantulas dont need water dishes in their enclosure, and please, be proud about your methods.They are excellent.

Fran, sarcasm rarely works on people who think they are right.....

 

[Fran]

But in the wild the humidity is also higher, at least in the rainforest. I have noticed that Ts that are kept humid need to drink less often.

Mark, you know, only those tarantulas native to drier places can have it a bit tougher to find open water, but of course thei are native from those places, so they are gonna be fine.

Most of The rest of the NW t's, come from incredibly humid jungles, with damp areas,floded burrows,and tons of open water sources. Tons.

I have been in the Rain forest of Venezuela where its almost unbearable Mark. The temps are around 83-4 F and you cant make it because it feels WAY hotter just because of the high humidity.
You dont stop sweating and the clothing is stuck to your body.

 

[equuskat]

But in the wild the humidity is also higher, at least in the rainforest. I have noticed that Ts that are kept humid need to drink less often.

Yes, that is because they will lose water less quickly. It doesn't mean that keeping them dryer is wrong, as long as they are provided the opportunity to drink at regular intervals. A tarantula is adept at maintaining his internal hydration. If it needs to drink, it will. Because of my environment, it is silly for me to keep my tarantulas on moist substrate all the time. Molds and other unpleasant things grow with reckless abandon in Florida. By keeping my substrate dryer and offering water (either in bowls or in a corner) I reduce the possibility of having a damp stagnant tank.

Depending on the keeper's own environment, one must adapt! Find out what works best.

 

[Fran]

Yes, that is because they will lose water less quickly. It doesn't mean that keeping them dryer is wrong, as long as they are provided the opportunity to drink at regular intervals. A tarantula is adept at maintaining his internal hydration. If it needs to drink, it will. Because of my environment, it is silly for me to keep my tarantulas on moist substrate all the time. Molds and other unpleasant things grow with reckless abandon in Florida. By keeping my substrate dryer and offering water (either in bowls or in a corner) I reduce the possibility of having a damp stagnant tank.

Depending on the keeper's own environment, one must adapt! Find out what works best.

If the enviroment in your home is that humid, then ok, keep the substrate dry. But PLEASE offer them water dishes.

 

[equuskat]

Fran, sarcasm rarely works on people who think they are right.....

I'm not saying that my way is the only right way. I never called Fran wrong. I'm saying that adaptability is the key. More than one method is effective. Fran is unable to have a reasonable discussion about tarantula keeping and is resorting to insults. I am calmly discussing another effective method of keeping tarantulas hydrated.

 

[equuskat]

But PLEASE offer them water dishes.

No. Sorry.