What happens when it rains in the, umm, RAINforest

[wedge07]

TTKG, page 162. (3rd edition)

Thanks, I'll have to get my copy back from my nephew.

 

[gambite]

IIRC, tarantulas use their setae to detect vibrations, wind shifts, and touch. Ever try lightly brushing some of the hairs on a T's rump? Most of the time, they will flip around to investigate. I would imagine that all of the hair on a T works like this. Thus, being doused with water would not only stimulate all of their sensitive setae at once, it would also deaden their senses, as wet setae will stick together and not transmit anywhere near the same level of accurate information about their surroundings as they would dry. Combine that with a T's limited eyesight, and I think it would be akin to taking a partially blind person and covering them with ear-muffs and heavy coveralls. In the wild, these guys are suceptible to predation, so it is understandable that they would be very upset if their senses stopped working.

 

[SylverTear]

If you do squirt them directly, the avics might squirt back.

I love that comment lol.

 

[Pacmaster]

IIRC, tarantulas use their setae to detect vibrations, wind shifts, and touch. Ever try lightly brushing some of the hairs on a T's rump? Most of the time, they will flip around to investigate. I would imagine that all of the hair on a T works like this. Thus, being doused with water would not only stimulate all of their sensitive setae at once, it would also deaden their senses, as wet setae will stick together and not transmit anywhere near the same level of accurate information about their surroundings as they would dry. Combine that with a T's limited eyesight, and I think it would be akin to taking a partially blind person and covering them with ear-muffs and heavy coveralls. In the wild, these guys are suceptible to predation, so it is understandable that they would be very upset if their senses stopped working.

Now see, this makes perfect sense as well . . .
Great discussion here.

 

[gambite]

To add to the thread, I have found that a wet tarantula is very reluctant to do anything, especially move. Maybe it supports what I was saying, or maybe it is just uncomfortable (I know *I* hate it when I have to walk around in wet clothes).

 

[tombstone]

So in my researching for my soon to be blondi, I have read a few different sources to say that misting the enclosure is good, but getting the actual tarantula wet is bad.
No further explanations given in at least 3 sources.(robc, I loved that link and I shouldnt even have to tell ya that your not included in this statement)
Actually, I got the notion from the wording of said statements to mean getting ANY tarantula wet is bad.

Im just wondering if Im reading too much into the statements, or if it is in fact bad to get Ts wet :?

I mist my avic cube enclosures about 2-3x a week, and of course the Ts get wet- theres nowhere for them to go.
I dont and havent ever tried to NOT get them wet.
Im not talking a torrential downpour, but I use a cheapo 1pump/1spray trigger spray bottle from a 1$ store, and each cube gets 4 squirts . . .

I think I have 3 out of 35+ Ts that are not from tropical south american RAINforests . . .
Cant tell me that avics have umbrellas down there . . .

Wster runs straight off tarantulars did you know that . I can't remember the term for it . Not everyone is sn expert . Thiers very little literature on terantulars .their is so much we don't know about them . Trying to find tarantulars in the wild on film or media in the wild is so difficult. The blondi always gets coverage as it's the largest .but I I can't find anything for acanthoscurria genuculata in the wild

 

[Dorifto]

Wster runs straight off tarantulars did you know that . I can't remember the term for it . Not everyone is sn expert . Thiers very little literature on terantulars .their is so much we don't know about them . Trying to find tarantulars in the wild on film or media in the wild is so difficult. The blondi always gets coverage as it's the largest .but I I can't find anything for acanthoscurria genuculata in the wild

I'd have personally waited until the post reaches 20 years old