How to Raise a Small Tarantula

Tarantulas are typically thought of as being among the largest of spiders, so many people are shocked at how tiny a young tarantula is. Baby tarantulas, or spiderlings, start off no larger than the size of an ant; adults can grow up to 5 inches in length. Tarantulas are great as pets; although they need to be nurtured, they don't take up the time, energy or space that more traditional pets do.

Things You'll Need

  • Small terrarium
  • Dirt
  • Water
  • Food
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Instructions

    • 1

      Build your new tarantula a suitable terrarium. Because a young tarantula is very small, its home should be small as well. If the terrarium is too large, the tarantula will have problems catching its food. Small, plastic terrariums can be found at any pet store, but a sufficient terrarium can easily be made out of small jars or plastic containers. If you'd like to make your own terrarium, be sure to drill holes through the jar's or container's lid so that your tarantula can breathe. Whether you buy or make one, be sure your terrarium is at least 8 inches deep. This is important because tarantulas like to dig.

    • 2

      Fill the terrarium with 2 to 4 inches of packed dirt. Because a tarantula likes to dig and bury itself, it's important that the new home has an adequate depth of dirt. The dirt used can come from outside; just be sure it's natural and free of pesticides or fertilizers. If you prefer, pet stores sell terrarium substrate for around $5 to $15 per small bag.

    • 3
      Although crickets are the most popular feed for tarantulas, grasshoppers, katydids, moths, beetle larvae, houseflies and cockroaches are all acceptable.

      Feed your tarantula two to three times a week. Because of their small size, baby tarantulas don't need to be fed daily. Keep in mind that, unlike adult tarantulas, which are able to eat crickets whole, baby tarantulas are too small to tackle a full-sized cricket. Until your young tarantula gets big enough, feed it two to three pinhead crickets (newborn crickets), or cut up one large cricket into two or three pieces.

    • 4

      Provide your tarantula with a soda bottle cap-sized amount of water to drink once it's reached 3 weeks old. Baby tarantulas don't need water; they're so tiny that they soak up all the water they need from their prey. Once they've reached 3 weeks old, they'll need an additional water source because of the rate at which they're growing.