Beginner Essentials
Tarantula Care Guide: How to Keep a Pet Tarantula
Most terrestrial tarantulas are far easier to keep than a cat or dog. This guide covers the essentials beginners ask about — enclosure, temperature & humidity, feeding, molting and mistakes to avoid. As a breeder and wholesale supplier, we include care sheets with every order; questions are always welcome on WeChat.
1. Enclosure & setup
The enclosure should let the spider move comfortably — roughly 2–3× its leg span; too large makes it hard to catch prey and feel secure.
- Terrestrial (Brazilian Whiteknee, Brazilian Black): wide, low enclosure with 5–8 cm of coco fiber substrate, a water dish and a half-hide.
- Fossorial / burrowing: deep substrate (10 cm+) so they can dig.
- Arboreal (Antilles Pinktoe): tall enclosure with bark/cork to climb and thinner substrate.
Provide adequate cross-ventilation; use smaller containers for slings and upgrade as they grow.
2. Temperature & humidity
- Temperature: 22–28°C is ideal. Below 18°C reduces feeding and slows growth; above 32°C needs ventilation/cooling.
- Winter: keeping above 16°C is generally fine; use a reptile heat mat on the side wall (never under the enclosure).
- Humidity: ~60% for most terrestrials, maintained by the water dish and occasional light misting of a corner; arboreal/moisture-loving species need more.
Key: always keep clean water in the dish — dehydration is more dangerous than hunger. Don't soak the enclosure; damp + poor airflow invites mites and mold.
3. Feeding: what and how much
Tarantulas are carnivores. Common feeders: crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms, superworms. Feeders should be no larger than the spider's abdomen.
| Stage | Frequency | Notes |
|---|
| Sling | Every 2–4 days | Fast growth, small feeders |
| Juvenile | Every 5–7 days | Larger appetite, size up feeders |
| Adult | Every 7–14 days | Slower metabolism, avoid over-feeding |
- Refusing food before/after a molt is normal — don't force feed.
- Remove uneaten live prey within 24 hours so it can't bite a soft, molting spider.
- A plump, rounded abdomen means you can pause feeding for a few days.
4. Molting: the critical period
- Signs: refusing food, darkening/shiny abdomen, less movement, sealing off the burrow.
- Lying on its back is the normal molting position — do not assume it's dead and flip it over.
- During a molt: don't feed and don't disturb; keep humidity slightly higher.
- A freshly molted spider is very soft — wait 3–7 days (longer for large species) before feeding, until the exoskeleton hardens.
5. Common beginner mistakes
- Excessive handling: tarantulas are for display; a fall can be fatal and some have urticating hairs/attitude — handle minimally.
- Soaking the enclosure / poor airflow: the #1 cause of mites and mold.
- Feeders too large: prey can bite back, especially around a molt.
- Heating from below: can burn a burrowing spider — put heat mats on the side wall.
- Disturbing during a molt.
- Letting the water dish run dry.
Looking for a tarantula source? We supply & support
Wholesale captive-bred tarantulas for pet shops, exotic-pet stores and online sellers — first-hand source, volume discounts, live-arrival guarantee, dropshipping, with care sheets to reduce your after-sales. Message us on WeChat for the price list.
