Question regarding a water dish?

[Allthingsterrarium]

Hey Guys! I'm going to be moving October, my b. boehmei, to his bigger permanent habitat probably tomorrow or even much later tonight if I'm up to it so he'll probably be a little bit stressed out during the adjustment process. I worry a little bit because in the past he has been really grumpy whenever I have cleaned his habitat and put him back in when it's and he he's acted strangely in surroundings that have been changed even slightly, not eating for a week or more after. I bring this up because for his water dish for the past year I've just been using the lid of an old yeast jar since he's still rather small and the other dishes I have reserved for him are still too big and deep for him and it has come time to switch out his water dish because the lid is starting to rust and that can't be good for him. The point of my question is will he accept a different water dish readily? It's going to be hard enough already to get him to drink for the next week or so while he adjusts to his new surroundings and I know that some animals are most comfortable with familiar territory that they see as theirs and might be picky about eating or drinking from a dish or other source that they aren't used to. Sort of like how dogs will go to the bathroom in spots where they have lots of times before. So in other words do tarantulas usually give their keepers a lot of grief when a new food or water dish is provided? Do they ignore it?

 

[Thistles]

I haven't noticed any problems with changing dishes. Definitely switch it if it's rusting, whether he likes it or not! I don't recommend using metal dishes anyway.

 

[Kymura]

Are you removing him from his enclosure to clean it? T's require very little cleaning. Just remove any bolus, fecal matter or prey remains. Invest in a pair of long tongs and use those. Keep its dish full of fresh clean water. It will adapt to the new dish. What's stressing it is removing it from its home then changing or moving things. That's it's safe spot. If you take him out and move things around in there. It's like a rehousing every time. Just cup it if it makes you a little nervous. (Gently place an empty cup over the T while your cleaning up)

 

[Prudance]

I've only had one T have a problem with her water dish being changed or even picked up. She would charge the tongs and grab it back. Eventually she calms down and accepts new things in her enclosure like when she needs a bigger dish as she had grown. You can try distracting your T with some food and then remove/replace the water dish as it is happily eating. And yes get some long tongs for your maintenance.

 

[Allthingsterrarium]

Are you removing him from his enclosure to clean it? T's require very little cleaning. Just remove any bolus, fecal matter or prey remains. Invest in a pair of long tongs and use those. Keep its dish full of fresh clean water. It will adapt to the new dish. What's stressing it is removing it from its home then changing or moving things. That's it's safe spot. If you take him out and move things around in there. It's like a rehousing every time. Just cup it if it makes you a little nervous. (Gently place an empty cup over the T while your cleaning up)

Thanks Kymura! This time I'm moving him because he's finally big enough for me to be comfortable switching him from his growing up home to his forever home

 

[Allthingsterrarium]

I've only had one T have a problem with her water dish being changed or even picked up. She would charge the tongs and grab it back. Eventually she calms down and accepts new things in her enclosure like when she needs a bigger dish as she had grown. You can try distracting your T with some food and then remove/replace the water dish as it is happily eating. And yes get some long tongs for your maintenance.

Thanks Prudence! Great to know! On a similar issue once he's in his new home I'm going to get a specimen of my 2nd favorite tarantula after the b. boehmei, the b. smithi and since the two closely related species have pretty much identical care requirements I'm going to put him in the habitat October is in now while he himself grows up and I've left the current hiding cave in there for the new spider to use and now October has a bigger and better shelter in his new home. Do you think he will particularly miss his old one? I hope he adjusts well enough to the new one. I hope he's not too picky and deteriorates because of it. Maybe I've over thinking it lol

 

[Allthingsterrarium]

I haven't noticed any problems with changing dishes. Definitely switch it if it's rusting, whether he likes it or not! I don't recommend using metal dishes anyway.

Thanks Thistles! The one I just gave him is plastic

 

[Prudance]

He'll be fine with his new hide. When I'm moving T's to a larger enclosure I like to put a bit of their old webbing in their new home. Just in case.

 

[Allthingsterrarium]

He'll be fine with his new hide. When I'm moving T's to a larger enclosure I like to put a bit of their old webbing in their new home. Just in case.

Thanks Again prudence! I'll look around his house and see if I can't find some familiar webbing or soil to put in there

 

[Allthingsterrarium]

Well guys I moved him to his new house this afternoon and by the looks of things it will be his forever home from now on. He's doing well in the first step of adjustment, same as he did when I first got him and put him in the critter keeper he previously lived in, he's climbing around and exploring and will probably continue for the next few days before he really settles in. I just hope he doesn't fall from the ceiling since he was crawling up there earlier but he's a graceful little guy so I'm not to worried. I can just say for now somebody seems to be enjoying himself. Thanks again everybody. I put all of your advice to use.