What Are the Necessities for Having a Tarantula?

There is a wide variety of tarantulas, each with special needs that you must meet to keep your pet alive and happy. However, there are a few common needs applicable among many species that any would-be tarantula owner should understand. Perhaps the most important factors in successfully keeping a tarantula is how well the owner knows the species, understands its behavior and adapts a plan of care to meet those needs and behavior.

  1. Enclosures

    • Before you buy a tarantula, consult local and regional laws regarding tarantulas as pets as well as your apartment rules if you live in rental housing. Before you decide on what sort of tarantula you plan to keep, you must decide on which type of enclosure will be acceptable. Tarantulas are usually tree dwellers or ground dwellers. If you live in an apartment that cannot accommodate a tall enclosure, you may wish to limit your pet search to ground-dwelling tarantulas that require low-lying shelters. All tarantulas will require an enclosure. Enclosures should always be kept out of direct sunlight.

    Food

    • Most tarantulas survive on crickets or locusts that are stocked at many pet shops. Some of the largest tarantula varieties, however, may be fed live mice. Typically, tarantulas that subsist largely on birds in the wild require larger types of food than those that subsist mainly on insects. Tarantulas need to be fed just every couple of days. Overfeeding may cause problems later during your tarantula's molting cycle. If your tarantula's abdomen swells to twice the size of its carapace, or hard upper shell, the tarantula is overfed.

    Bedding

    • Many ground-dwelling tarantulas require at least 3 to 4 inches of material into which they can burrow safely. Irish peat or vermiculite can be used as a synthetic ground in your enclosure. These two substrate varieties will help keep humidity at a tolerable level for your tarantula. Avoid including real plant matter.

    Climate

    • Tarantulas should always be kept in environments above 75 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity of at least 60 percent. Some species -- particularly rainforest species -- require even greater humidity. Tarantulas require dark areas and avoid direct light and direct sun exposure.

    Health

    • Tarantulas are prone to mite infestations that initially come into contact with the arachnid through food. Keep an eye out for excessive mites in the enclosure, as well as flies and fly eggs. Avoid buying tarantulas already infested with mites, and avoid buying tarantulas that are sluggish or curled up.

    Molting

    • Because tarantulas lack a backbone, they grow by molting. This means that they shed their skin regularly as they increase in size. Typical tarantula behavior prior to molting shows increased sluggishness and a darkening of the abdomen. When molting, most tarantulas will lie on their back while shedding their old skin. Do not agitate your tarantula during molting, as this may damage or kill it. Dispose of dead skin after molting.

    Handling

    • Tarantulas should not be handled. Handling tarantulas causes the spider stress and may lead to a tarantula bite or potential allergic reaction.