Tarantulas visible to each other

[MrPterinochilus]

I have been ruminating this question for some time now.

When keeping several tarantulas with cages side by side I have been wondering if it may cause some sort of stress for the tarantulas that they are able to see each other. Is it possible that it can have a negative impact on the spider that it is constantly aware of the presence of other tarantulas in the neighbor cages.

Have you guys considered this question? Maybe even decided to cover cage sides or made sure that there is distance between the cages?

 

[kingshockey]

i dont think their eyesight is even good enough to see or notice each other or my cat that always sits/lays ontop of some of their cages

 

[Smotzer]

No negative impact they don’t rely on physical eyes to primarily see like we do, they’re other sensory organs located all up and down in the form of Setae are their true eyes.

 

[greeneyedelle]

I've seen a few threads about this, and just based on my t's who are kept close together, I wouldn't say they have any significant awareness of each other. Most of them remain visible, don't display any sort of defensiveness or appear to be hunting when there isn't prey in their enclosure. I definitely don't think they "see" in the sense that they'd be able to detect each other's presences through glass and acrylic. While my leopard gecko often goes into hunting mode when the a. seemanni I keep next to her is moving around his enclosure, he has never once shown an indication that he knows he's being stalked.

 

[Liquifin]

There maybe some sort of influence putting them side-by-side or on-top of one another, but who knows? They don't really seem to care as much or at all having their enclosures side-by-side or on-top of one another. So I don't really see a problem or anything too bad about it. Sometimes a mature male will drum and a female might be responsive having enclosures side-by-side but that's about it.

 

[ByMennen]

I haven't noticed any differences in solo enclosure, and close by enclosures.
I have two Brachypelma side by side, they just do their things.
I've always wondered about having mature male enclosures in close proximity.

 

[Arachnophobphile]

I have been ruminating this question for some time now.

When keeping several tarantulas with enclosures side by side I have been wondering if it may cause some sort of stress for the tarantulas that they are able to see each other. Is it possible that it can have a negative impact on the spider that it is constantly aware of the presence of other tarantulas in the neighbor cages.

Have you guys considered this question? Maybe even decided to cover cage sides or made sure that there is distance between the cages?

This topic has been asked many times on AB in the past.

As we speak my tarantula enclosures are literally next to each other. I have mostly terrestrial NW T's and one arboreal.

As known, arboreals do have some better eyesight but nothing that notices other T's in enclosures next to it as there's never been any reaction as far as I can tell.

My terrestrials really have no reaction. There is only one thing they do that I often see.

Some of the adult terrestrials will have one of their longest front legs raised and pressed against the side of it's enclosure.

Besides setae covering most of their anatomy I believe they are attempting to sense their environment with what's on the outside of their enclosure using their scopulae on the bottom of their feet.

I know they use it as a part of their senses when along time ago I offered a dubia roach from tongs and my oldest T just stuck it's foot on it sensing it and guess what....it didn't want it lol, nor was I surprised.

Added Edit:
I wanted to clarify since I didn't think about it, (senile). My T's using their leg pressed on the side of the enclosure is not solely related to another tarantula enclosure next to it that they are trying to sense. My T's do this even when there is no enclosure next to them during winter when they are moved to a different room.

 

[MrPterinochilus]

Thank you very much for this insight!

 

[viper69]

I have been ruminating this question for some time now.

When keeping several tarantulas with cages side by side I have been wondering if it may cause some sort of stress for the tarantulas that they are able to see each other. Is it possible that it can have a negative impact on the spider that it is constantly aware of the presence of other tarantulas in the neighbor cages.

Have you guys considered this question? Maybe even decided to cover cage sides or made sure that there is distance between the cages?

been asked millions of times here

little or no stress- they can barely see No stress at all.

Ever wonder why they are covered in setae?

 

[Matt Man]

no stress, as again, don't think they see that well
of note: I place my MMs next to my MFs before pairing, not because of sight, but because I am assuming there are pheromonal cues that may be at play

 

[additude]

I have been ruminating this question for some time now.

When keeping several tarantulas with cages side by side I have been wondering if it may cause some sort of stress for the tarantulas that they are able to see each other. Is it possible that it can have a negative impact on the spider that it is constantly aware of the presence of other tarantulas in the neighbor cages.

Have you guys considered this question? Maybe even decided to cover cage sides or made sure that there is distance between the cages?

I've got a lot of T's all in very close sight of one another, if they want to wave at their "Neighbors", they surely could.
I've noticed no adversity.
But hey, you know what they say, "Good Fences, means Good Neighbors"!!

 

[aprilmayjunebugs]

Wouldn't it suck if they were like Beta fish and couldn't be next to each other?

 

[Edan bandoot]

they may open their windows at night and talk to each other, it's romantic really.

 

[Smotzer]

Wouldn't it suck if they were like Beta fish and couldn't be next to each other?

Indeed it would, people collections would be a lot smaller I’d presume

 

[LucN]

My G. porteri and T. albopilosus share the same shelf space, as do my B. boehmei and B. hamorii.

I strongly doubt they'd be able to pick up their neighbors' presence. I like to imagine that they're often chatting it up

Porteri : Sup, Fluffball ?
Albo : Chillin', killin'. You ?
Porteri : Same here.
Albo : Cool beans, Rosey !

Boehmei : Hey, cuz !
Hamorii : Yo ! Wazzzup ?!
Boehmei : Same old, same old, you know...
Hamorii : I hear ya, cuz !

 

[jc55]

I have had them both next to each other and some stacked and have never noticed any signs that would indicate they were aware they had neighbors.

 

[Pmurinushmacla]

no stress, as again, don't think they see that well
of note: I place my MMs next to my MFs before pairing, not because of sight, but because I am assuming there are pheromonal cues that may be at play

This is the only situation it would affect the Ts, Ive read/seen multiple reports of MMs and MFs sensing each other through different enclosures.

 

[l4nsky]

I'd say that they're aware of each other (not visually mind you) to a certain extent, but for the most part don't seem to be bothered by it. Occasionally, there is some interaction with mature animals whose enclosures are in close proximity, but nothing that would indicate stress of any kind.

It's important to remember that tarantulas and spiders are basically organisms with their sense of touch ratcheted up about a million fold. For a better idea around what this means, watch this video:

They're basically like large, exposed nerves and get a dizzying amount of input every second from their setae. I imagine that they can tune out certain ambient sensory inputs just like humans can (Ever notice for a few minutes after shaving that you can feel the gentlest air movements on your freshly exposed skin, but you quickly lose those sensations? That's your body adjusting to the new normal in ambient sensory input) and the movements/vibrations from their neighbors are just part of the ambient background of their habitat.

 

[Chris LXXIX]

Is it possible that it can have a negative impact on the spider that it is constantly aware of the presence of other tarantulas in the neighbor cages.

No if the set up provided is equal!

Just like those brother childrens that were jealous of each other, so ended up dressed in the same way, they pushed the sanity of their parents to the limits.

 

[spideyspinneret78]

Can they see each other? Highly doubtful. Their vision is very poor and mostly exists to detect movement/ light/ dark so that they can orient themselves towards prey. I do think, however, that they may be aware to some degree that there are other spiders nearby. They may be able to sense their movement in adjacent enclosures through vibrations. I also suspect that mature males and females of the same species may be able to detect pheromones, but can't confirm it.