Heating

Tarantulas of any species will thrive at a temperature between 70° and 75° Fahrenheit, there are several methods of providing heat to your tarantulas environment, each of which we will cover individually. Firstly we will look at ways of providing a constant temperature to your spiders habitat. This is usually done by means of a thermostat. As with for example a central heating system a thermostat will switch the central heating on or off depending on what temperature it has been set at, thus maintaining a constant temperature. Thermostats connected to a form of heating device for the purpose of keeping spiders will operate in exactly the same way. Most good pet stores or shops which specialise in reptiles will stock some form of thermostat.

1. Heating Pads/Mats:

Heater mats are by far the most easiest and common method of heating the interior of your spiders tank when combined with a suitable thermostat. They are available in different power outputs and are very efficient. These mats or pads are simply placed under your spiders container and act in much the same way as an electric blanket would. They are ideal for arboreal species of tarantula however not so well suited for burrowing species, we all know that heat rises and your burrowing tarantula knows this too. If the spider finds itself too warm it will proceed to dig down in order to cool off, instead of it finding itself cooler it will come into contact with the warm bottom of its tank and therefore your spider will find itself even warmer than it originally started with. I have however used heater mats for burrowing species with great success.

You should not encounter any problems providing that:

1. 1. YOU HAVE YOUR THERMOSTAT SET TO THE CORRECT TEMPERATURE.
2. 2. YOU DO NOT PLACE THE HEATER MAT UNDER THE ENTIRE SURFACE OF THE SPIDERS CONTAINER.

When using a heater mat with burrowing species ensure you insert the mat under 1/4 to 1/3 of the container ONLY. You will notice using this method that your spider will sit up the heated end of its container if it is too cold, usually when the room temperature drops and at the other end when too warm.

2. Hot Rocks:

Hot rocks or as they are sometimes known sizzle stones provide a low heat output via as the name suggests an ornamental rock which is placed inside your spiders container. Again when used in conjunction with a suitable thermostat this method is a good way of providing heat to your tarantulas environment. Your spider will simply climb onto the rock when it is to cold and off when warm and the low heat output will not cause any danger to the spider. As with heater mats, these can also be purchased at a reasonable price and are usually found at stores which specialise in reptiles or tarantulas.

3. Light Bulbs:

Light bulbs I do not recommend since these can prove to be dangerous to your spider even if used in conjunction with a thermostat. Firstly arboreal species of tarantula will use the bulb as an anchorage point on which to build its web, even ground dwelling species of spider will climb occasionally and may run the risk of being burned. Bulbs also pose the risk of endangering your spider with desiccation or drying out. A bulb could be made safer by incorporating a false roof made from a sheet of glass inside your spiders container, this however seems unnecessary since there are much simpler and cheaper methods of providing your spider with heat.

If you do decide to use a light bulb as a source of heat please bear in mind:

ALWAYS USE A RED OR BLUE BULB AS BRIGHT WHITE LIGHT IS AN IRRITANT TO A TARANTULAS EYESIGHT.

4. Hanging Ceramic Heaters:

Hanging ceramic heaters can pose much the same dangers as bulbs, especially to arboreal species of tarantula. They can also prove to be expensive. I do not recommend this as a means of providing your spider with heat.

5. Heating Cables:

This method is widely used by people who have a large collection of tarantulas. When purchased the cables are in a series of loops. The loops are laid out in a large tray of vermiculite and several tanks may then be placed upon the loops. This proves to be a good method of providing heat since it leaves the substrate with both warm and cool areas but is however useless to someone who has a collection of only one or two spiders.