T. stirmi sits in water dish, any ideas why?

[BenWilly]

I have a sub adult female T. stirmi, shes about 8 inches, and about the last 2 months she has started sitting in her water dish. And I do mean in the water. Her dish is about 5 inches by 4 inches and about 3/4 inch deep. She will sit with the lower part of her body submerged in the water. Her enclosure is kept relatively humid, substrate plenty damp enough (and about 9 inches deep), she has 2 hides and a deep burrow , which she still uses them all, but she will sit in the water for hours. Ive checked for bugs in the substrate, checked for mites on her, everything I could think of to cause her to go in the dish. It dont seem to be harming her, although she does cover her book lungs. Anyone else ever have one do this? Or any suggestions why?

 

[Nightstalker47]

Typically tarantulas will do this when they are being kept too dry, but you say its damp...lets see some pictures of your setup to confirm. Now if you are using a heat lamp or anything of that nature, then turn it off asap, she is probably being slowly cooked and just trying to cool off.

 

[MrTwister]

Is the substrate appropriately moist? Impaction maybe..?
Sorry not much help here.

 

[Rigor Mortis]

As I'm sure someone will request an enclosure photo I'm gonna beat them to it! That would be really helpful, even though it seems like you probably have a good setup there.

I haven't had any experience with this but I know I've read on here that it's usually a response to not enough moisture, or sometimes even a weird T in premolt.

Edit: Nightstalker beat me to the photo request!

 

[BenWilly]

As I'm sure someone will request an enclosure photo I'm gonna beat them to it! That would be really helpful, even though it seems like you probably have a good setup there.

I haven't had any experience with this but I know I've read on here that it's usually a response to not enough moisture, or sometimes even a weird T in premolt.

Edit: Nightstalker beat me to the photo request!

Actually thats one thing I did fail to mention, that she is going into premolt . Ill get a pic of the tank as soon as I get home . Substrate is definitely damp enough. And I dont think shes impacted, I clean waste out regularly, plus bolus from the crickets and roaches.

 

[Torech Ungol]

Clearly it's because swimming is a super fun activity that transcends barriers between species.

In all seriousness, though, getting pictures of the enclosure will help a lot. Otherwise, we're really just spit balling.

 

[Ellenantula]

Agreed picture of enclosure would be beneficial.

My A seemanni loves spending time in her water dish -- even with a provided dampened substrate area. Sometimes even my B albo does this (again, with a provided dampened substrate area). Ptshaw, even my G pulchripes has even done this (but this jerk had emptied his water dish first).

Without a proper pix -- this could be normal or concerning behaviour (though, I lean towards normal without a pix).

 

[Nightstalker47]

Without a proper pix -- this could be normal or concerning behaviour (though, I lean towards normal without a pix).

Sitting in the water dish? I have never known that to be normal behavior, certainly not for prolonged periods.

 

[Ellenantula]

Sitting in the water dish? I have never known that to be normal behavior, certainly not for prolonged periods.

I've known A seemanni to spend all day on/in her dish (not lately) but it got to be a thing. I posted about it here once but Rick assured me it was no big deal for some Ts (esp those preferring damp conditions) to do this. She's absolutely fine -- had her 4 years now (and the pix is old). The substrate looks dry here because she tunneled on opposite side (which was damper and 'held' her tunnel better).

Ts -- whatcha gonna do?

 

[Nightstalker47]

Or maybe just thirsty, do you ever flow some water down the burrow? Many of my fossorials drink almost exclusively from the sub, ignoring their water bowls completely.

 

[Ellenantula]

Or maybe just thirsty, do you ever flow some water down the burrow? Many of my fossorials drink almost exclusively from the sub, ignoring their water bowls completely.

YES! We've had so many discussions about people worrying their burrowers aren't coming up to drink... and I think in some cases that might actually be true. If the mountain won't come to....

 

[esa space station]

To hot?low humidity at a guess .has it molted /due to molt?

I have a sub adult female T. stirmi, shes about 8 inches, and about the last 2 months she has started sitting in her water dish. And I do mean in the water. Her dish is about 5 inches by 4 inches and about 3/4 inch deep. She will sit with the lower part of her body submerged in the water. Her enclosure is kept relatively humid, substrate plenty damp enough (and about 9 inches deep), she has 2 hides and a deep burrow , which she still uses them all, but she will sit in the water for hours. Ive checked for bugs in the substrate, checked for mites on her, everything I could think of to cause her to go in the dish. It dont seem to be harming her, although she does cover her book lungs. Anyone else ever have one do this? Or any suggestions why?

 

[EtienneN]

You said she was in premoult, so maybe she is just drinking a lot/hunching over her water dish to get extra water before moulting. Can she walk okay? Is she able to support her own weight on her legs?