How to Feed My Pet Texas Brown Tarantula

Brown tarantulas, originally native in the wild to Oklahoma and parts of Texas, are a popular spider to keep as a pet. These tarantulas grow to about five inches long and can live for more than 10 years. They are considered a good beginner tarantula as they are hardy and require little care. They are also peaceful and less skittish than other tarantula types. This means that they can usually be handled safely. These tarantulas are easy to care for but do require some specific foods in order to stay healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Insects
  • Fresh grains, fruits or vegetables
  • Water dish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select healthy, live food items for your tarantula. Brown tarantulas typically prefer crickets, locusts, mealworms and grasshoppers. Choose the correct size. Small insects are often ignored, and larger insects may injure your tarantula as they struggle. A good rule of thumb is to choose insects that are about one-quarter the size of the spider's abdomen.

    • 2

      Provide a nutritious diet to whatever insects you have chosen just before you feed the insects to the tarantula. This diet should include things like grains, fruits and vegetables. Feeding the insects these things ensures your tarantula gets all the nutrients it needs.

    • 3

      Feed the tarantula about once a week. Younger tarantulas that are still growing may require more frequent feedings. Give only as many insects as the tarantula can eat in about two or three hours. The spider stops eating when it is full. Sometimes, your spider may refuse to eat. This is most likely because it stuffed itself the week before. It is perfectly normal and healthy for a brown spider to fast for several weeks.

    • 4

      Watch the brown tarantula eat. Note the type and size of insects the spider seems to prefer. Giving your tarantula the specific insect and size it likes will encourage it to eat.

    • 5

      Remove any insects that are not eaten within two or three hours. These insects may not only create a mess in the tarantula's habitat but could physically harm the spider.

    • 6

      Provide the brown tarantula with a water dish. Although it is sometimes thought that tarantulas get all the water they need from the foods they eat, it's still important to offer the spider water to ensure it is getting the correct amount. Offer a large, shallow dish that the spider can climb in and out of easily. The dish should be big enough to fit the whole spider in it, so that the tarantula does not overlook the water. It should also be very shallow, to prevent drowning.