How to Care for Tarantula Hatchlings

Tarantulas hatch as tiny versions of their parents. Tarantula spiderlings are extremely small -- only a fraction of an inch long -- and need small houses and small food. A small container enables a spiderling to find its prey, and for you to monitor it. Whether you bought a hatchling from a supplier or bred your own, the transformation from a tiny spiderling to an animal bigger than your hand only takes a few months.

Things You'll Need

  • Delicups with insect lids, babyfood jars or similar size glass or plastic containers
  • Drill
  • Chemical-free potting compost
  • Dish
  • Plant mister
  • Pencil
  • Soft artist's or cosmetic brush
  • Piece of cardboard
  • Baby crickets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Prepare one container for each spiderling. Drill numerous tiny holes in each lid for ventilation if you are using babyfood jars or similar-sized containers. Dampen compost or vermiculite with a plant mister in a dish, and fill each container halfway. Press the compost down firmly.

    • 2

      Push the pencil into the compost to create a burrow in each container.

    • 3

      Transfer the hatchlings to their houses. Use an artist's brush to gently push them onto a piece of card and then into the container. Position the containers out of direct sunlight in a warm room. Only put one tarantula in each house; they are not social animals.

    • 4

      Let the tarantulas settle in for a day before feeding.

    • 5

      Provide baby crickets or other food items, such as flies, every two to three days. A prey insect should be the same size or smaller than the tarantula.

    • 6

      Return after a few hours to remove the cricket remains. If a tarantula hasn't touched its food, remove the live insect. This probably means the spider is about to molt, or shed its skin. Do not feed again until several days after the molt. A prey insect could seriously damage a tarantula during this vulnerable time.

    • 7

      Mist the compost occasionally to keep it slightly damp. Don't spray the tarantula directly.

    • 8

      Transfer the tarantulas to larger containers or tanks once they outgrow the little houses.