Heating

[jon0117]

Hey guys I'm about to get my first T (probably an avic of some kind... A.avicularia, A.metallica, or A.versicolor) and I've been doing a lot of research but I can't seem to find much info on keeping your enclosure the right temp. My problem is that I live in a basement suite and the ambient temp of the only room I can put it in is about 64 - 66*F (like 18 - 19*C) which is quite a bit lower than the 75 - 80*F they apparently need. I know they hate light so a heater lamp is probably not a good idea. I've read that heating rocks and vines are a definite no. I've also read that heating pads under the substrate are a no go but would it be alright for an arboreal?

One thing to take into consideration is that I'm planning to use these enclosures:

http://www.tarantulacages.com/arboreal.html

The small one at first and then gradually move up as the spider grows. So a heating option that would work with these would be great... like maybe using a mat outside the enclosure and letting the heat radiate in? I dunno...

I've contacted the owner of that website to see if he can make some smaller sling sized enclosures... my idea was to put the sling enclosures inside the bigger one and then just regulate the temp and humidity on the biggest enclosure. Those 2 inch vents should provide some pretty good air mixture between them. I think the smallest he can go is about 2.5x2.5x4 which might be too big for sub-1inch slings. I'll wait and see what he says.

I'm planning to start with a sling at first just cause the whole reason I want a spider is to get over my arachnophobia and if I go balls to the wall 3" or more at first it's not gonna be very healthy for either one of us. LOL

Thanks guys!

[ShadowOde]

You could look into a space heater. That is what I use to heat my T room. On the tarantula forum I frequent, I have heard of others keeping heat mats along the back wall and putting the containers beside it. Others use an infrared heat bulb (red).

If you are looking to get over your arachnophoia, I would suggest the A. avicularia as your first. They have been given the nickname "Pet rocks" simply because they are simple and easy to take care of, very hardy and slow movers - often not moving at all, hence a rock.

For containers, slings don't need a lot of room to begin with. I keep mine in pill bottle sized containers that you can find at Michael's craft stores or Wal-mart even. When they get large enough, then spend the money on a nice set-up, but for now, you want them to be able to get their food easily and be able to find them in the container.

[jon0117]

I went and saw some a.avics at petland today (shawnessey location if you're in calgary, they had two) and this location seemed pretty decent. The only negative I could pick up is that they don't have a lot of substrate in their enclosures but otherwise all the spiders they had seemed quite comfortable... almost all of them were out chilling in the open and webbing their cages. They used real water dishes instead of that gel crap and there was no dead and dismembered food anywhere. But anyways, they were like 2.5 to 3 inches and their size didn't really bother me much so I'm thinking that I might start with something around that size because I'd expect they would be easier to care for and be a little bit lower maintenance.

My only issue is the heat... the room they would be going in is my bedroom which is dark almost all the time and its a pretty big space (about 16x16 feet) so using a space heater 24/7 is gonna eat my money on the electrical bill pretty good plus it would be like 27*C in my room so sleeping at night is going to suck and my computer is going to hate me.

Has anyone tried this out?

http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products...rainforest.php

Seems like a low temp substrate heater which would be perfect for my situation... plus since avics are arboreal how much time are they really going to be spending on the substrate? I can always glue the water dish at a higher location as well to minimize time spent down there. I'd probably use a good 4 inches of 25:75 verm/plantation soil with moss on top too which should cut the final heat down quite a bit.

[AbraxasComplex]

You live around Shawnessy? Come over to my place in Millrise. I have Avicularia sp. that are cheaper than Petland ($30), and I can help you with care.


You could use a small heat pad on the side and place a piece of flat corkbark flush against the heat pad. It would create a small heated surface that would not burn the tarantula. On the substrate would work to. Avics do not spend much time on the substrate and where as a terrestrial T will burrow to get away from the heat and roast themselves on a pad, Avics make their webs in such a manner that help regulate heat and humidity.

[AbraxasComplex]

Oh and after working for many petstores and using them myself I suggest avoiding ExoTerra heat pads. Spend an extra $20 on a zoomed that is more reliable and will last years longer. They also have a protective covering unlike the exoterras. I found that the exoterras were returned more often and rarely worked as it should. I'm not sure if they changed the design in the last while though.

[jon0117]

I live in Mckenzie Towne but I will for sure send you a PM once I'm ready to buy a spider.

The zoomed pad doesn't work on Acrylic... Glass only so that's out of the question. I'll have to double check the exoterra one too though, I can't see anything on the website.

What about those exoterra double door enclosures? Anyone using those and happy?

[carol]

I have all my t`s in exoterra I have them stacked five high.
Carol

[jon0117]

So I went out and bought an exoterra enclosure.. 12x12x18... a little big but whatever. I did it up really nice too. I'll post pics later. Heating is still an issue though... humidity is no problem, it's sitting at about 80%.

I took a small chance and bought the exoterra substrate heater and mounted it under the tank... I'm not sure if it's defective or what but I really don't think it's doing anything at all. It gets luke warm... like maybe 23*C surface temp on the glass... it's like nothing. With 2 inches of damp substrate on top, the heat probably doesn't even get through. I've had everything closed off and running for about 5 hours now and I'm only at 70*F and that's with the substrate heater and a lamp running (I've got a 7W LED bulb in it so the heat it's giving off is almost nothing).


Update:
Yeah ran it all night with vents covered, heater running, and light on. Temp in the morning was 70*F measured from half way up in the enclosure.

[AbraxasComplex]

Originally Posted by jon0117

So I went out and bought an exoterra enclosure.. 12x12x18... a little big but whatever. I did it up really nice too. I'll post pics later. Heating is still an issue though... humidity is no problem, it's sitting at about 80%.

I took a small chance and bought the exoterra substrate heater and mounted it under the tank... I'm not sure if it's defective or what but I really don't think it's doing anything at all. It gets luke warm... like maybe 23*C surface temp on the glass... it's like nothing. With 2 inches of damp substrate on top, the heat probably doesn't even get through. I've had everything closed off and running for about 5 hours now and I'm only at 70*F and that's with the substrate heater and a lamp running (I've got a 7W LED bulb in it so the heat it's giving off is almost nothing).


Update:
Yeah ran it all night with vents covered, heater running, and light on. Temp in the morning was 70*F measured from half way up in the enclosure.

Yep, that's how well those rainforest exoterra's work. Buy a zoomed 10 gallon heat pad.

[jon0117]

Looked for the zoomed pad at two places and I couldn't find it. Talked to one lady in reptiles cause I wanted to see what lights they were running in the spider cabinet. After talking for a bit she told me she uses the exoterra desert pad (same wattage as the zoomed one) on her avic's enclosure, she tried the rain forest one and ran into the same problem as I did. So I returned the R.F. one and bought the desert. Also picked up a 25W NightGlo bulb. They give off literally no light (simulates moon light apparently) so I doubt a spider would get stressed out but the heat is pretty awesome for a little bulb. Ambient temp is about 73*F and rising so this might work.