Tarantulas as “pets”
Tarantulas are mysterious creatures, displaying an array of different sizes and colors. As science and arachnology advances we are constantly learning more about these spectacular giant spiders. Although they are kept as “exotic pets” we as tarantulas enthusiasts must always keep in mind that these are wild animals and respect them as such.
Why keep a tarantula as a pet?
These different and unique creatures offer many different aspects of enjoyment when keeping them in our homes. With an extravagant list of different species to choose from, displaying a variety of sizes, colors & body builds each with different temperaments and requirements there is a tarantula species ideal for every enthusiast.
Basic housing requirements
All tarantulas need a form of substrate in their enclosure, we find that a vermiculite/palm peat mix is ideal for tarantulas with higher humidity requirements and a plain palm peat suitable for tarantulas with a lower humidity requirement.
Spiderlings should be kept in a smaller container for example a deli-cup. In the wild a spiderling would dig a burrow and wait inside for prey to cross their paths, being in a small container mimics this tunnel and provides them with a sense of safety as well as making it easier for them to hunt their food.
There are three different types of tarantulas, each of these three types have different housing requirements.
Tarantulas can eat a variety of food. In the wild they will eat lizards, insects and even small mammals. In captivity they can be fed cockroaches, crickets, mealworms, locusts, flightless fruit flies, and many other insects. Mice can also be offered to larger tarantulas.
Always keep in mind that captive tarantulas should not be offered “wild caught” insects as a meal. By feeding a tarantula an insect that has been caught in your garden you risk exposing them to pesticides and other health issues that may result in death. Most pet shops stock feeder insects especially as the exotic pet trade expands.
Some interesting facts about tarantulas
Tarantulas are mysterious creatures, displaying an array of different sizes and colors. As science and arachnology advances we are constantly learning more about these spectacular giant spiders. Although they are kept as “exotic pets” we as tarantulas enthusiasts must always keep in mind that these are wild animals and respect them as such.
Why keep a tarantula as a pet?
These different and unique creatures offer many different aspects of enjoyment when keeping them in our homes. With an extravagant list of different species to choose from, displaying a variety of sizes, colors & body builds each with different temperaments and requirements there is a tarantula species ideal for every enthusiast.
Basic housing requirements
All tarantulas need a form of substrate in their enclosure, we find that a vermiculite/palm peat mix is ideal for tarantulas with higher humidity requirements and a plain palm peat suitable for tarantulas with a lower humidity requirement.
Spiderlings should be kept in a smaller container for example a deli-cup. In the wild a spiderling would dig a burrow and wait inside for prey to cross their paths, being in a small container mimics this tunnel and provides them with a sense of safety as well as making it easier for them to hunt their food.
There are three different types of tarantulas, each of these three types have different housing requirements.
- Arboreal tarantulas live in trees in the wild and thus a longer tank providing more climbing space is more suitable for them.
- Terestrial species are ground dwelling and would prefer having more floor space than climbing space.
- Burrowing species will dig tunnels and then line them with web, an enclosure with a nice deep substrate is ideal for this species.
Tarantulas can eat a variety of food. In the wild they will eat lizards, insects and even small mammals. In captivity they can be fed cockroaches, crickets, mealworms, locusts, flightless fruit flies, and many other insects. Mice can also be offered to larger tarantulas.
Always keep in mind that captive tarantulas should not be offered “wild caught” insects as a meal. By feeding a tarantula an insect that has been caught in your garden you risk exposing them to pesticides and other health issues that may result in death. Most pet shops stock feeder insects especially as the exotic pet trade expands.
Some interesting facts about tarantulas
- Tarantulas have exoskeletons, this means that their skeleton is on the outside of their bodies. In order to grow a tarantula will lay on its back and then slowly begin to climb out of its exuvium. When the tarantula is done it is very vulnerable as its new exoskeleton is soft so if the tarantula may fall or be attacked it will most likely die.
- Some tarantulas hiss, by rubbing their pedipals against their fangs a pronounced “SSsss” can be heard, only a few species of tarantulas do this and it is used as a defence to warn off predators.
- All tarantulas have venom, although most of them only have a venom potency estimated as close to that of a bee.
- In the wild, female tarantulas will normally attempt to eat the male after mating, this will provide her with enough food to fatten up and create a nice big, healthy egg-sac.
- Spiderlings do not “hatch” from their eggs, the eggs will form little legs (what is known as the “eggs with legs” stage), then they will continue to develop into little spiders and then finally molt into fully developedspiderlings.
- Male tarantulas do not molt after maturing. They will usually die a few months to just over a year (depending on the species) after maturing. There are some cases where mature male tarantulas have attempted to moltbut this usually results in death as his “hooks” on his pedipals prevent him from pulling his pedipals out of the exuvium.