Hey, everyone! You might not remember me, but I'm the one that is doing a science project on tarantulas. I wanted to get my tarantulas as soon as possible, but we just came back from a 2-week trip to NY, and we're going to Louisiana for a week in October, and I wouldn't want to stress my tarantulas out by leaving them with someone else. That, and I don't know of anyone who could take care of them. Anyways, so I'll have to wait. But in the meantime, my plan for the science project is beginning, so I'll need some help. I'm thinking I'll buy 3 tarantulas and have 2 different kinds of insect (cricket and mealworm, unless someone has a better suggestion) and when I'm doing my tests place them at 3 different distances each. So I would have 6 different variables for each tarantula. And if you remember, I'm going to do a half u-shape course with the prey on 1 end, and put the tarantula at the other end, timing how long it takes it to get to its prey, or if it does at all. I've got it figured out that basically what I'm doing is seeing how sensitive the setae are. I realize tarantulas are lazy, so my biggest questions is: how far of a distance should I put between the spider and its prey? And exactly how long do I deprive a tarantula from food for its motivation? Maybe 5 days? I don't want it to feel too hungry in between experiments~Sarah
Tarantula investigation plan beginning
- Thread starter Sarah
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I'd say go 2 weeks between trials with each T. You *want* them hungry and even2 weeks is not that long (I often let my pampered pet Ts go that long and they're not part of any experiment 
). If they're not motivated, even if they're picking up the prey, the lazy things will just wait on something to stumble over to them rather than hunt.
Distance: I'd keep it a foot or less. That's far enough the Ts shouldn't be picking up much to begin with but short enough their "attention span" should let them finish the course and discover the goodies at the end.
). If they're not motivated, even if they're picking up the prey, the lazy things will just wait on something to stumble over to them rather than hunt.Distance: I'd keep it a foot or less. That's far enough the Ts shouldn't be picking up much to begin with but short enough their "attention span" should let them finish the course and discover the goodies at the end.
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The tarantula is not gonna be looking out for, or feeling for food right after you pick it up and place it in your experiment container.
Also, to feel comfortable it the experiment would have to take place in the tarantulas container itself, where it has laid webbing etc.
My suggestion is that you make the U shape out of something and carefully place it in the container so that the tarantula is on one end and doesn't get startled. To me it seems like that would work the best to truely test your experiment.
Sure a tarantula will snatch a cricket outside of its housing, but it is less likely to happen and if you want a good outcome with this experiment, I'd leave the tarantula in its own tank.
Make sure they're somewhat hungry too...lets say about 2-3 weeks without food would be good. As far as distance goes (hehe), I'd say anywhere from 10-15 inches sounds fair.
Jake
Also, to feel comfortable it the experiment would have to take place in the tarantulas container itself, where it has laid webbing etc.
My suggestion is that you make the U shape out of something and carefully place it in the container so that the tarantula is on one end and doesn't get startled. To me it seems like that would work the best to truely test your experiment.
Sure a tarantula will snatch a cricket outside of its housing, but it is less likely to happen and if you want a good outcome with this experiment, I'd leave the tarantula in its own tank.
Make sure they're somewhat hungry too...lets say about 2-3 weeks without food would be good. As far as distance goes (hehe), I'd say anywhere from 10-15 inches sounds fair.
Jake
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The problem with the "own tank", which is a valid comment, is that it has to be large enough to accomodate the entire experimental arena which is very unlikely to be reasonable for a school science project.
An acclimation period of a day would be nice, though.
An acclimation period of a day would be nice, though.
Hmmm...well, maybe if I get them used to being out sometimes before I actually begin the experiment? I could have everything there but the prey itself, and kind of let the tarantula get the feel of it so it won't feel uncomfortable or scared when I begin the experiment.