Rosie climbing

[ShellsnMargarita]

Recently, the last two weeks or so, my rosie has been climbing the walls of her tank. She hasn't done this since I first put her in her new home in January. I don't think that this is a substrate issue. She's usually on it and prefers it to her half-log these days. I use the eco-bricks from my pet store. Coconut fibers and all that. She has a large half-log to hide beneath, and once again she doesn't usually go under it. She stays out. She's eating well and I've seen her drinking. The tank is semi-shady, so I don't think that it's a light thing either. I'm confused.

My concern is that she's climbing to the very top and I don't want her to fall and hurt herself...or worse. She's very nervous by nature, so I'm waiting for the slightest thing to upset her and cause her to take a fall. She's going to the very top of my ten gallon and hanging onto the screen top. She can't get out because I keep it weighed down.

Could it be that she's erm...feeling urges...and seeking a mate? She had an unnatural attachment to her molted skin a few months back, almost like it was a mate. If not this, could it be that she's cold or I'm not feeding her enough? I give her two to three large crickets a week and she's mature, 5" female. She refuses more than that. Could it be that it's not warm enough here? I keep my room at about 75 degrees because I have small animals in here as well. I haven't gotten her tank a separate heat source because I didn't know what to use.

In short, I know that a terrestrial climbing is dangerous and means that she's unhappy. I want to have a happy and healthy tarantula, so any advice from experienced folks is appreciated. Thanks

 

[spiderengineer]

females never look for the male. while their is seasonal trigger that may make the female more willing to mate. she will not seek out the male. are you sure you do not have a mature male?

 

[spiderengineer]

if she is a female and you are worry about falling then add more substrate so that if she did fall the height would not longer be an concern.

 

[Sabeth]

Because your terrestrial is climbing doesn't necessarily indicate a problem. I have two terrestrials and they climb sometimes, especially at night. Lately my B. smithi has taken to climbing on the plant I have in her tank; don't know why, but she does. I don't think she's searching for a mate...the males do the searching, not the females.

As far as height goes, the general recommendation is that the distance from substrate to lid should not exceed twice the tarantulas' leg span, with one leg span being better. 10 gallons is a bit of a large tank...roughly 5.5 gallons would be better. I just moved one of my Ts out of the 10-gal. tank I had her in and into a smaller one. You can reduce height by adding more substrate if necessary.

It sounds like she's getting plenty to eat. And room temperature will suit a T just fine.

 

[TheGreatWhiteKoos]

Mine is doing the same thing now the last two weeks. She climbs up right to the top and then sits motionless for hours on end....I have about 3" of substrate in there leaving about 4" climbing space. But this is puzzling me non the less...

 

[Bast]

Really odd, because over the last week and a half Noelle has been doing the same thing. Seasonal behaviour??

 

[Mad cat lady]

My Chile Rose does the same, she sits on top of her habba hut then has a little climb at night, sometimes staying at the top of her tank for ages! I made the coir substrate deep for her new tank because of it. I like the way she just plops back down :-D

 

[TheGreatWhiteKoos]

Mine is due for a substrate change. Maybe some fresh peat will do the trick and ground her again

 

[Mad cat lady]

Mine is due for a substrate change. Maybe some fresh peat will do the trick and ground her again

Mine is the opposite! When i first got her she was very active and when the substrate got very dry she hid most of the time, but now in her new tank we see her lots, she's very entertaining, on the wall of her tank last night, fangs against the glass