Tarantulas

They populate the subtropics and tropics, which includes regions of Europe, Australia, America, Africa and Asia. Some species live on bushes or trees, others prefer the ground and caves.

General Information

Tarantulas have lived on earth for over 350,000,000 years. Their family includes nearly 1,000 different species. Tarantulas are arachnids.

As a rule, tarantulas reach between 2 and 12 centimeters in size. The females are usually larger than the males.

Tarantulas are mostly eight-eyed, but their eyesight is poor. You can just about perceive contrasts between light and dark. Their sense of hearing is also not very developed.

However, these deficiencies are compensated for by the sense of touch. The many hairs on their legs ensure that tarantulas can sense the slightest movement and react very quickly.

Tarantulas in the terrarium

Tarantulas are content with a smaller terrarium. Ideally, this is cube-shaped. A falling disc terrarium is suitable to prevent the spider from escaping. Glass panes are easier to clean than plastic containers.

Before buying a tarantula, a terrarium is set up for the animal and equipped with the necessary items. This includes good lighting, a hygrometer, thermometer, heating mat, plants, substrate, hiding spots, and a shallow drinking water bowl.

The terrarium technology is first checked for functionality for a day. If necessary, improvements and readjustments can be made before the spider moves in.

Lighting and temperature

Light and warmth are important for tarantulas. They love temperatures from 23 °C to 28 °C. The nighttime temperature should be lowered to reflect their natural habitat. The tarantulas cannot tolerate too much cold or heat and can even die from it. The heating or near the window is therefore not a good choice of location for the terrarium.

The topic of humidity is also important for tarantulas, so it is worth using a hygrometer. For a cave-dwelling tarantula, the heating mat is not a good idea, as it can burn the animal if it comes into direct contact with the device. An alternative is a 25-watt incandescent lamp.

Planting

The right plants ensure a positive terrarium climate. However, the planting should be untreated so as not to damage the animals. The pet trade offers a lavish selection of plants for warm and smaller terrariums. Artificial plants also work because they can certainly tolerate the temperatures. Nest ferns, climbing ficus, and ivy are suitable.

This planting is robust. However, if the tarantula likes to dig, regular renewal of the plants is necessary. Artificial plants are more worthwhile here.

The floor

Potting soil without fertilizers and additives can be used as a substrate. If you value safety, you should buy special soil in a pet shop. However, it should be free of mold and bugs. The tarantulas like moist soil and mounds. We recommend replacing the substrate completely twice a year.

Lining

Tarantulas lie in wait when they are looking for food. They grab prey with their jaws. They then bite their victim and inject their venom, causing the body to decompose. The prey slowly liquefies and the spider sucks it in.

Depending on their species, various insects, reptiles, mice, or smaller birds are on the menu of tarantulas.

Gender Differences

Sex differences are most noticeable when tarantulas have reached sexual maturity. The sexual characteristics of the males are quite striking. These are, for example, their bulbs, which store the sperm until reproduction, after the males have built their sperm web. In some species of tarantula, male spiders have shin hooks.

If the area between the pair of book lungs is curved and has normal hair, it is a female tarantula. If the area is hairless and flat or has a ring of hair around it, it’s a male tarantula.

In females, the outer uterus and sperm store are recognizable because they are lobed in shape. Females live longer than males.

Males are noticeably smaller than females. Males die much more quickly because their job is to take care of the offspring production after the mature molt. The females often eat the males after mating.