Splurge wrote: Well i'm going to try and put the heating pad on top of the enclosure tonight...Arboreal ones, they can be heated from the bottom if i'm not mistaken.

As Cerat has told you(and many other threads on this forum) heat ALL enclosure from the side. Then the T can decide if it wants to be right up agains the heat or in the furthest corner away from the heat.

HI.
I took the silver part that covers the heating cord off and put it around the reptile cage that I have my T's in and put the cages against the cord and I also heve a heating pad underneath the 1 side of the carpet in the cage.Also get yourself a themometer or whateva thay call it in english,I'm not englishe lol,I also have a normal light bulb attached right in the middle of the inside of the cage so I can help heating the cage up during the cold days.Keep the temp between 21-24degrees at all times especially during winter.
Hope that helps.

Trish wrote: Keep the temp between 21-24degrees at all times especially during winter.

Or what will happen???

Lol. Firstly, thanks to everyone's input I really appreciate it. I have moved all my heating pads cover the back of the tanks and the ones with backdrops inside the tanks to the side.

Secondly, welcome Trish I see you new to the forums If ur not, just ignore me, i don't tend to pay much attention.

Thirdly, after hours of research at work today (yes i don't work at work), i've come up with this:

Never use heating bulbs.
Never use heating rocks inside the tank.
Get a thermometer. <--- lol.
Heat from the back/side of tank when using heating pads.
Never pee into the wind.

my T's live in my lounge (+- 36m2 of floor space to heat) which has 2 of those 400w panel heaters keeps it a comfy 19degrees.

my big enclosures are just in shelves with heat cables running behind them.
i find three of those double strands gets me 24-26 degrees, which i recon is a comfortable temp.

my slings are pretty easy. modified an old double freezer popped in a digital thermostat and some heating cable and 2pc fans and a bowl of water. temp set at 28 with no sudden drops even if the power cuts water keeps humidity between 60 and 80 depending how often i open to check on my babies

but i recon one of them woodern reptile enclosures with a medium sized heat mat stuck on the back could easily keep 200+ little tubs toasty warm and super happy the whole winter through.

i also keep plenty of digital thermometers dotted around so i can keep an eye on things.... (control freak) :blush:

thats my setup.

I just read this in The Tarantula Keepers Guide
All credit to Stanley and Marguerite Schultz

"The Tarantula's First Rule of Temperature
Any temperature at which you are comfortable will suite the tarantula just fine"

More info on the topic from page 151 in the "bible"

That should clear things up