What Do Captive Tarantulas Eat?

Tarantulas, the largest spiders (known as arachnids), are found in natural habitats in Australia, southern Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America. Over 800 tarantula species are known to exist globally. Because most tarantulas are docile in nature, they are easy pets that require little food and drink. They also need very little space, though they are quite delicate and may die if dropped, so handle them with care.

  1. Crickets

    • Pet tarantulas live mostly on a diet of insects, crickets being the most popular choice because they are readily available from most pet stores. The crickets should be well fed and presented to the tarantula live. However, baby tarantulas are known to feed on dead crickets that are cut into pieces.

    Other Insects

    • Tarantulas can also feed on moths, grasshoppers, katydids, beetle larvae, cockroaches and houseflies. Tropical tarantulas feed on earthworms, while larger tarantulas can eat small snakes, lizards and rodents. Though more aggressive tarantulas feed on prey as large as themselves, a good rule is to present live prey the length of half the tarantula's leg span, or smaller.

    Water

    • Keep a water dish with no more than 1/2 inch of water in the tarantula's habitat. Replace the water daily, even if it appears that the tarantula did not touch it. Tarantulas satisfy some of their water needs directly through their food sources.

    Timing of Feeding

    • Offer food every four to seven days for young tarantulas, and every 10 to 14 days for larger adult specimens. The adult tarantula may decide to eat frequently, once a month or even only a few times a year. However, don't feed freshly molted young tarantulas for several days, or older molted tarantulas for two weeks.