ArachnoSol

Heat Lights and Tarantulas

Why provide heat lights for tarantulas? Here we will get into the WHY it can be very beneficial as well as the HOW to go about it. 

This video can help with understanding some of the science of why heat in the form of light can be beneficial for you tarantulas. 

Some of the main points made in this video.

  1. Tarantulas can and absolutely do thermoregulate themselves. Below we have linked three studies that show this without a doubt.
  2. Tarantulas DO have access to the sun, even fossorial species are not completely shut off from the sun.
  3. As the only available method of delivering near infrared/infrared A, non-dimmed incandescent/halogen light is by far the superior method of providing a temperature gradient.
  4. Infrared A is the most bioavailable form of heat and will get your animals to their preferred temperature quicker than any other form of heat.
  5. Infrared A stimulates the production of ATP in ALL life on earth. This has been documented in all species from plants to arachnids, to insects, to reptiles, to mammals.

 

 

How do we go about providing heat in the form of light to our tarantulas? This video will get into some of the mechanics of how to accomplish this safely.

 

Acrylic Enclosures should not exceed 140F!

 

Below are the studies I have cited in the above videos.

Pérez-Miles, F., & Perafán, C. (2023). Thermal preferences and effects of temperature on fitness parameters of endemic Argentinian tarantula (Grammostola vichoni). Journal of Thermal Biology, 110, 103504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103504

Pérez-Miles, F., Montes de Oca, L., & Clavijo-Baquet, S. (2020). The reproductive period of tarantulas is constrained by their thermal preferences (Araneae, Theraphosidae). Journal of Thermal Biology, 92, 102665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2020.102665

Shillington, C. (2002). Thermal ecology of male tarantulas (Aphonopelma anax) during the mating season. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 80(2), 251–259. https://doi.org/10.1139/z01-227

Begum, S., Calaza, K., & Johnstone, D. M. (2015). Near-infrared light increases ATP, extends lifespan and improves mobility in aged Drosophila melanogaster. Biogerontology, 16(6), 635–642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-015-9580-9