So you’re thinking about getting a pet tarantula? That’s awesome. They’re fascinating creatures, and despite their fearsome reputation, they make surprisingly low-maintenance pets. But I know what you might be thinking – are these creepy crawlies really okay to have in my home? Especially with those fangs and eight hairy legs? Well, you’ve come to the right place. We’ll explore the world of pet tarantulas, their different species, their needs, and what it takes to care for these incredible creatures responsibly.
Table Of Contents:
- Choosing the Right Pet Tarantula
- Creating a Comfortable Home for Your Pet Tarantula
- Feeding Your Pet Tarantula
- Handling Your Pet Tarantula
- The Misunderstood World of Tarantulas
- Conclusion
Choosing the Right Pet Tarantula
With over 1,000 species of tarantulas in the world, there’s a huge variety to choose from. But don’t worry – not all of them are suitable as pets. Let’s go through some excellent options for beginners like yourself looking to start their tarantula-keeping journey.
Beginner-Friendly Tarantulas
- Chilean Rose Tarantula (_Grammostola rosea_): This species is incredibly popular among beginners due to their docile nature and hardiness. As the name suggests, they boast beautiful rose-colored markings on their bodies.
- Curly Hair Tarantula (_Brachypelma albopilosum_): These gentle giants are known for their calm temperament and the curly hairs covering their bodies. These tarantulas are a popular choice for first-time owners due to their generally docile and calm nature.
- Mexican Redknee Tarantula (_Brachypelma smithi_): One of the most iconic tarantula species, Mexican Redknees have a striking appearance with vibrant orange-red knees. Just like the Chilean Rose, this species is docile, making it an excellent choice for beginners.
Remember, choosing your first pet tarantula is an important step. It’s about finding a species that best suits your comfort level and lifestyle.
Creating a Comfortable Home for Your Pet Tarantula
Imagine living in a small enclosure your whole life. That’s a tarantula’s reality, so it’s our job to make this limited space as enriching and comfortable for them as possible.
Types of Enclosures:
- Glass Terrariums: Glass tanks offer great visibility and are widely available in various sizes, but make sure to provide adequate ventilation.
- Plastic Tubs/Containers: Offering a more affordable alternative, plastic tubs are an excellent option. Just ensure they’re adequately ventilated with drilled holes for proper airflow.
- Acrylic Enclosures: Although slightly more expensive, these enclosures provide excellent visibility, are lightweight, and are available in a variety of shapes and sizes.
When selecting the perfect abode for your pet tarantula, keep these essential points in mind:
- Size Matters: Your enclosure’s length should be approximately three times your spider’s leg span and roughly double its leg span in width. A cramped home can stress out your spider friend, so make sure it has ample room to roam, explore, and exhibit their natural behaviors. For those on a budget, consider modified plastic tubs that can be just as effective and more cost-efficient compared to pricier glass terrariums, especially for spiderlings.
- Creating a Naturalistic Habitat: The enclosure needs a suitable substrate – this is the bedding material used on the enclosure’s floor. Use materials like coconut fiber or vermiculite, which help regulate humidity and provide burrowing opportunities. This encourages your eight-legged companion to exhibit natural behaviors. Add some hiding spots, branches for climbing (for tree-dwelling tarantulas), and a shallow water dish – don’t worry, they won’t drown. Your tarantulas can thrive in a more natural habitat while keeping a natural appearance for you.
- Keeping a Consistent Temperature and Humidity: Most tarantula species, particularly those beginner-friendly species, thrive in environments with consistent temperatures and humidity levels. Consult care sheets or reputable breeders for your specific tarantula species’ ideal requirements. However, you’re off to a good start by ensuring the temperature remains relatively stable and comfortable, generally above 60°F. They typically don’t need heat lamps. To elevate humidity, lightly misting their habitat a few times a week is usually enough. Though certain species, particularly tropical ones, require higher humidity. Maintaining appropriate temperature and humidity levels ensures your pet tarantula’s health and contributes to its overall well-being, creating a comfortable haven within their enclosure.
Cleaning and Maintenance:
Even though tarantulas are generally low-maintenance, periodic cleaning and spot-cleaning help prevent any unpleasant smells, ensuring the long-term health of your tarantula. This means promptly removing uneaten food (after 24 hours), typically referred to as boluses (leftover food remains). Also, remove any visible mold, as it can signal improper ventilation. Your pet tarantula will appreciate a clean and healthy living space, and regular cleaning helps to prevent the buildup of harmful bacteria or fungi.
Feeding Your Pet Tarantula
Contrary to popular belief, tarantulas don’t require daily feedings. Let’s explore their diet, which might be surprising.
Crickets, Mealworms, and Roaches (Oh My.):
A pet tarantula’s diet consists of insects and sometimes even the occasional pinky mouse for those larger, more daring species.
Crickets are a staple food source for many spider species. You can often purchase these wriggly snacks from local pet stores or conveniently order them online. This provides your eight-legged companion with an easily accessible and readily available meal.
Mealworms are a convenient and less active feeder option compared to crickets, and they can be stored in the refrigerator. Plus, mealworms are rich in fat and protein making them nutrition powerhouses.
While they might send shivers down the spine of some keepers, roaches are a nutritious and increasingly popular feeder option. Not only do they pack an impressive protein punch, making them a valuable addition to any tarantula’s menu, but they can be gut-loaded with nutritious food. Gut loading essentially means providing nutritious meals to your roaches before offering them to your tarantula. It’s similar to a nutritional bonus for your spider companion.
Just like with enclosures, there’s no need to shell out big bucks for expensive lighting systems for your furry friend. In fact, most pet tarantulas thrive just fine at room temperature without any fancy heating setups. Speaking of affordability, those little crickets you’ll be feeding them? They’re super cheap to maintain, making tarantulas incredibly easy on the wallet compared to those more demanding furry companions.
Just remember to consider the size of your pet tarantula before feeding.
How Often to Feed:
Feeding schedules vary by age, species, and even individual appetite. Adult pet tarantulas can get by on a weekly feeding schedule while juveniles, who are in their growing stage, require more frequent meals – every couple of days or so. And since most tarantulas are nocturnal hunters, opting for evening feedings usually coincides with their peak activity times.
Handling Your Pet Tarantula
This is one of the most frequently asked questions: Can I handle a tarantula? It’s a big question for any would-be tarantula parent. The honest truth is that it’s best to avoid it if you can.
Why? While those adorable little eight-legged companions appear to scuttle around without a care, they’re much more fragile than we often perceive. Handling can induce stress on these delicate beings, and it’s in everyone’s best interest to minimize any potential risk for both the keeper and the spider. While they may seem hardy, improper handling or accidental drops can result in injuries. Instead of handling, enjoy their beauty and fascinating behavior within their meticulously crafted enclosure.
Tarantulas have been documented living in various habitats from deserts to rainforests and have adapted different lifestyles and survival strategies making them truly incredible. Their fascinating behavior extends even to their molting process.
Remember the molting we discussed earlier? During molting, your furry companion sheds its old exoskeleton to grow larger and reveal a new, fresh exoskeleton. Pretty amazing, right?.
Observe them building intricate webs, catching their prey, and going about their daily tarantula business. You can create an observation area where you can sit back and marvel at their beauty and natural habits in a secure setting without having to disrupt their peace.
The Misunderstood World of Tarantulas
Over the years, the tarantula has found itself typecast as the villain of the spider world. Their appearance alone – those eight hairy legs, those beady eyes – strikes fear into the hearts of many.
The National Park Service points out their bad rap likely started back in Italy where their namesake town, Taranto, was linked to an unusual affliction known as “tarantism”. This belief stated that folks bitten by the eight-legged denizens of the region were destined for bouts of manic dancing. However, research shows us this dancing wasn’t from spider bites, but likely from other insects more inclined to elicit a boogie session as a response to their venom.
But this stereotype isn’t quite fair, is it? Let’s shed some light on the truths about these amazing creatures. Tarantulas, much like other animals, aren’t actively looking for a fight.
A bite from one, even from those considered “beginner species”, shouldn’t be disregarded as harmless, but it is crucial to acknowledge that tarantulas don’t pose a substantial threat. As the saying goes, knowledge is power. Understanding the docile and relatively low-risk nature of pet tarantulas not only dispels those deeply ingrained fears but also opens the door for a world of knowledge and potentially a newfound appreciation for these incredible, sometimes scary, arachnids. You never know – you might even inspire others to appreciate these remarkable creatures rather than reaching for the nearest shoe.
Conclusion
Whether it’s their slow, deliberate movements or the intricate web-building process, having a pet tarantula is undeniably a rewarding experience. And don’t forget, even though their reputation might make some folks think you’re fearless for owning a pet tarantula, these misunderstood creatures are more fascinated with insects than they are with people.