Heatmat loving Tarantula

[Kay Parker]

Hi all, I'm new to keeping a Tarantula. I have a female Mexican Red Knee. I purchased her from a person who had owned her from a spiderling.
I have a large glass tararium with a heat mat on the back,deep substate, a water bowl with glass pebbles in, at one end. I also have a half flower pot at the other end which is covered with substrate and a cork log in the middle. The temperature varies from 68-75 depending on time of day and outside weather. The humidity is 70 or just under. She has just had a successful moult, has grown to about 6 inchs leg to leg, and is eating well. Lastly I have sliding glass panels at the top of the tararium. I also have a lightweight cotton scarf draped over the top and sides (not the front) to reduce the light.
So after telling you all this I was just wondering why she spends most of her time hanging from the glass in front of the heat mat. Do you think she thinks the whole tararium is a hide?
I do have springtails in the substrate do you think she is trying to avoid them?
She seems happy spread out on the side, she gets down to eat and gets down on her silk mat (where she moulted) sometimes.
Just wondered if anyone would like to comment.

[Vicky Child]

I'm a newbie like you, I have a red knee who loves it's heat mat too. The only time it moves away from it is to eat and drink. She only wanders when the heat mats off. I'd love to know why she love's the heat too. Hopefully someone with experience can tell us both.

Welcome to the forum by the way.

[Mrs Linda Street]

Welcome both to the forum. Yup that's what T's do, there's not that many wander far from a heat mat, unless of course they're too warm. As long as the tank is in the 22-28c ballpark a heat mat is not really necessary.

[Colin D Wilson]

Hugging the heat could be a sign that she's needing more temperature, a few spiders i have had sat on the wall of the tank anyway (this was in a little spider room heated to suit though) and some spider just like to "sunbath".
Is it possible that the substrate may be too damp for her, some spider genus do not like the "feel" of moisture under their feet, Brachypelma/Grammostola/Aphonopelma are a few to mention and as you say there's a 70% humidity it may feel clammy at floor level for her.
The set up sounds quite nice, it's possible she is comfortable with the whole thing as her "hide" and feels secure, if she's moulted fine there's no real cause for concern.
I think it's just "leave her to it" and keep an eye on her for a while,

*edit* forgot to say welcome to the forum .... ooops

[Denny Teasdale]

Hi Kay and welcome to the BTS forums,

My G. rosea is pretty much the same and I had concerns about her also but it seems she's pretty much happy there and when she's had enough she goes on a wander...!

[Kay Parker]

Thank you all

Thank you all for your comments. It has put my mind to rest and now I can just enjoy looking at her and stop being worried.
The day she moulted I just sat and bit my nails through the whole event. I couldn't believe how much she grew in size and how bright her colour was.
I have debated having a T for many years but have always been afraid of my lack of knowledge. Now I cant imagine life without her.