Introduction
With their captivating appearance and unique behaviors, Tarantulas have earned a special place in exotic pet keeping. These arachnids, known for their remarkable diversity in size, coloration, and habits, are intriguing and surprisingly low-maintenance when provided with the proper care.
Whether you’re a seasoned tarantula enthusiast or considering adopting one as your first exotic pet, understanding the fundamentals of tarantula care is essential to ensure their well-being and longevity.
Housing Considerations When Caring For Tarantula
When caring for a tarantula, housing considerations are crucial to ensure the well-being and comfort of your eight-legged friend. Here are some key factors to keep in mind when it comes to the enclosure for your tarantula:
Enclosure Type: Choose an appropriate enclosure based on the size and species of your tarantula. Standard options include glass or plastic terrariums, acrylic cages, or custom enclosures.
Enclosure Size: Ensure the enclosure provides ample space for your tarantula to move around and molt comfortably. It should be at least three times the leg span of the tarantula in length and width.
Substrate: Select a suitable substrate for the enclosure, such as coconut coir, peat moss, or a mixture. The substrate should be deep enough for your tarantula to burrow if it’s a species that prefers that behavior.
Furnishings: Add hiding spots and decorations like cork bark, half logs, or artificial plants to create a more natural environment. Tarantulas appreciate places to hide and feel secure.
Temperature and Humidity: Maintain the appropriate temperature and humidity levels for your tarantula species. Research the species’ requirements, as these can vary significantly.
Ventilation: Ensure good ventilation in the enclosure to prevent mold and maintain air quality. Mesh or ventilation holes in the lid or sides of the section can help with airflow.
Security: Use secure closures on the enclosure to prevent escapes. Tarantulas can be surprisingly good at finding gaps or weaknesses in their sections.
Lighting: Tarantulas are typically nocturnal and do not require UVB lighting. However, some ambient light in the room during the day can help establish a day-night cycle.
Cleaning and Maintenance: Establish a routine for cleaning and maintenance, including removing uneaten prey, replacing soiled substrate, and checking for any signs of mold or mites.
Feeding Area: Create a designated feeding area within the enclosure. It helps keep the substrate clean and allows you to monitor your tarantula’s feeding habits easily.
Feeding And Nutrition Are Crucial Aspects Of Tarantula Care
Tarantulas are carnivorous arachnids that primarily feed on insects and other small prey. Here’s a detailed breakdown of feeding and nutrition considerations for your pet tarantula:
Appropriate Tarantula Diets
Insects: The primary diet for most tarantulas consists of live insects, such as crickets, roaches, mealworms, and waxworms. Choose insects that are appropriate for the size of your tarantula. Avoid feeding wild-caught insects as they may carry pesticides or parasites.
Small Vertebrates (Rarely): Some more prominent species of tarantulas may occasionally eat small vertebrates like pinky mice or baby lizards. However, this is relatively rare and not necessary for most pet tarantulas.
Feeding Schedule and Portion Sizes
Frequency: Tarantulas typically do not need to be fed daily. The feeding frequency varies based on the age and species of the tarantula. Juveniles may eat more frequently (every 2-3 days), while adults may eat less often (once a week or less).
Portion Sizes: Offer prey items roughly the same size or slightly smaller than the tarantula’s abdomen. Overfeeding can lead to obesity and molting problems, so avoiding offering smaller prey is better.
Remove Uneaten Prey: If your tarantula doesn’t eat a prey item within a reasonable time (24-48 hours), remove it to prevent stress and potential injury to the tarantula.
Handling And Presenting Food
Live Prey: Tarantulas are natural hunters and often prefer live prey. Use feeding tongs or forceps to place live insects in the tarantula’s enclosure. Don’t use your fingers to keep from biting yourself.
Pre-Killed Prey: Some tarantula keepers choose to pre-kill insects by freezing or crushing them before offering them to their tarantulas. It can be safer and reduce the risk of injuries to your tarantula.
Hydration Needs
Water Dish: Provide a shallow water dish with clean, dechlorinated water at all times. Ensure the container is small and shallow to prevent drowning but large enough for your tarantula to drink from.
Misting: Some tarantulas, primarily arboreal species, may benefit from occasional misting of their enclosure to increase humidity. However, avoid over-misting, as excess moisture can lead to mold or fungal issues.
Observation: It’s essential to observe your tarantula regularly. Dehydration can be a concern, so if you notice your tarantula spending extended periods near the water dish or displaying signs of dehydration (wrinkled abdomen), take action to increase humidity and provide fresh water.
Signs Of A Healthy Tarantula
Active and Responsive: A healthy tarantula should be alert and responsive to stimuli. It should move around its enclosure, explore, and react to disturbances.
Proper Feeding: Regular feeding and a healthy appetite are signs of good health. A well-fed tarantula will have a plump abdomen.
Vibrant Coloration: Some species may exhibit vibrant colors, which can fade during molting but should return after the molt.
Regular Molting: Molting is a natural process; a tarantula that periodically molts is generally healthy. Molting should be sufficiently prolonged and easy.
Clean and Dry Abdomen: The abdomen should be free from wounds, lesions, or abnormal growths. It should also be dry and not wrinkled, which can indicate dehydration.
Common Health Problems
Dehydration: Dehydration can be a common issue, especially in captive tarantulas. Signs include a wrinkled abdomen, lethargy, and excessive time near the water dish. To address dehydration, increase humidity and provide access to fresh water.
Mites: Mites can infest tarantula enclosures and may appear as tiny white or red specks on the tarantula’s body. Quarantine and clean the section if mites are detected. Treatments may include replacing the substrate and cleaning the enclosure decor.
Molting Issues: Molting problems can be life-threatening for tarantulas. Signs of molting issues include a tarantula becoming stuck in the molt, difficulty shedding the old exoskeleton, or limbs not regenerating correctly. Seek immediate veterinary help if you suspect a molting problem.
Quarantine Procedures For New Tarantulas
Isolation: Always quarantine new tarantulas in a separate enclosure for a minimum of 30-90 days. It prevents potential disease or parasite transmission to your existing collection.
Observation: During quarantine, closely observe the new tarantula for any signs of illness, mites, or unusual behavior.
Hygiene: Practice good hygiene when caring for quarantined tarantulas. Wash your hands and change clothes before and after handling the quarantine enclosure to prevent cross-contamination.
What Do Tarantulas Eat & Drink?
Give your spider crickets and other insects like mealworms, superworms, and roaches to eat. Even pinkie mice and small snakes can be given to giant tarantulas. Before feeding your tarantula crickets, give them healthy foods and dust them with vitamin powder. What you feed the cricket is what you provide your spider in the end. In general, the food should be smaller than the spider’s body.
Adults can eat about once a week, while young ones can eat once or twice a day. Just put the food in the cage near where your spider is. The best time to feed a spider is in the evening, when it is more busy. Talk to your vet about how much and what kind of food to give your spider because it depends on age, size, and type.
There should always be a small dish of fresh water. To keep people from sinking, it must be very shallow. As a protection, you can put some pebbles in the container to give the spider something to climb on.
Conclusion
Caring for tarantulas is a rewarding and fulfilling experience for those willing to invest time and effort into understanding these remarkable creatures. You can create an environment where your tarantula thrives by choosing the right species, providing suitable habitat, and offering proper nutrition.
