This is a collaborative post: Having tarantulas as pets is amazing. If you’re not terrified of spiders, tarantulas can be remarkably decent pets. They’re fun to watch, uses less space, and are reasonably simple to maintain. And many of the most common species are easy to care for, docile enough to manage, and also some varieties can survive for more than 20 years. Furthermore, tarantulas are generally clean species that make almost no noise and need no routine maintenance. They’re therefore perfect for people with limited time and little space at their home, but want a pet that’s a little “different.” The fur isn’t present on all “furry buddies.” Many people pick tarantulas as their companions in the family.
Tarantula owners should be prepared to commit to their pets for the foreseeable future. Males can live up to ten years, and females can survive up to thirty! To make their arachnid family member happy as well as safe, owners must understand general spider husbandry.
A tarantula can be a beautiful pet, but it isn’t for everybody. Don’t buy a tarantula on the spur of the moment unless you know what you’re getting yourself into as a tarantula owner. A spider is a living thing, not a toy. Be sure to know the answer to a few key questions before committing.
The Theraphosidae family includes over 1,000 species of tarantulas. They’re indigenous to a wide variety of habitats and climates, including arid, tropical, and subtropical climates. The Cobalt Blue Tarantula, a hardy spider native to Thailand, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, and Vietnam, is generally easy to care for and very gorgeous to look at, this is one of the most common types of species kept as a pet.
Where Should You Keep Your Tarantula
Your tarantula should be kept in a 20-gallon or bigger tank, according to experts. Because an environment of commotion and brighter lights can be disturbing for most tarantulas, the aquarium should be held in a quiet area of the house where it is not too bright. Since many tarantulas will climb the enclosure’s glass walls, a tight-fitting and securing screen top must be used to prevent escape.
A large spider must be provided enough space to roam and walk around so that it can live normally. Those shy species should have a minimum of one hiding spot. An overturned flower pot turned on its side can be a simple hiding place, or you can get some readily available hiding places from the market.
The enclosure floor has to be covered with thick, absorbent material like coconut coir, on which the tarantula can spin a thin web. Climbing options can be given by adding a few rocks. Assemble the rocks in such a manner so that the spider does not fall and get injured, or the rock falls on the spider causing harm.
Enclosure Temperature
A temperature range of 70 °F to 85 °F is ideal for most tarantulas. A good choice will be the under-tank heater, ceramic heaters, or whole-room heaters. Experts suggest placing a thermometer in the tank to make sure that the enclosure doesn’t get too hot. Since tarantulas are nervous about light sources, the heat source must not emit light.
What to Feed Your Tarantula
Tarantulas need live food sources since they are carnivores. Gut-loaded insects, such as crickets, mealworms, silkworms, king worms, hornworms, or dubia roaches are the best food sources. Tarantulas can also have young vertebrate prey like pinky mice, although this is a messier source of food.
To feed their spider throughout the week, some people might be tempted to leave multiple crickets or other prey inside the enclosure at once. That being said, the tarantula can suffer injuries as a resulting bite from the hungry insect.
The water dish for tarantulas can be dangerous, according to experts. Since drowning can occur when deep dishes are used, keep a shallow dish of water in the enclosure and refill it regularly.
Hygiene and grooming
Tarantulas molt on their backs with their feet in the air, about four times a year for juveniles and once a year for adults. It’s okay if your tarantula doesn’t eat for two weeks before the molt; don’t bother them during that time. Remove any live food from the enclosure at this period, as even a cricket might hurt them.
When Does Your Tarantula Need Veterinary Care
Oral nematodes and molting are two major issues of the spider to visit a veterinarian.
Oral nematodes are a normal infectious problem in tarantulas. While the spider is under anesthesia, a veterinarian will extract the nematodes. Oral nematodes cause a reduction in appetite as well as white substances from around the mouth. To remove the infection, multiple anesthetic episodes may be needed. This problem is less likely to affect tarantulas that are hatched in captivity.
Tarantulas molt, which includes them losing their outer layer and getting out of their old exoskeleton. It’s an incredible system. Tarantulas typically fast and avoid food for a period before molting.
This is typically a fasting period for the tarantulas. When the tarantula starts to molt, it will lie flat on its back, not moving. Molting can take anything from 15 minutes to a day, but owners who aren’t aware of the process may rush their tarantulas to the vet. That’s important to remember that the tarantula must not be shifted when it’s molting.
Final Thoughts
I’ve had tarantulas for over 20 years and consider them to be one of the best pets available. You’ll get a peek into their private lives by watching them hunt, feed, and change their skins from the comfort of your own home.
A tarantula, like every other pet, comes with commitments. However, their maintenance requirements are limited, making them a low-maintenance pet. Like several others, you can find yourself becoming quite a collector over time – the spider enthusiast seldom stops at just one pet!