Tarantula Care and Feeding

There are approximately 35,000 known species of spiders. Out of the 35,000, about 800 of them are true tarantulas. The tarantula species belong to the theraphosidae family. They have a heavy body structure and have eight eyes on the bump in front of their bodies. All tarantulas are poisonous and have a tendency to bite. Some tarantula bites can seem like a "bee-sting". It has been observed that many tarantulas meet their end when they have a new owner, as the new owner is not informed about tarantula care and tarantula feeding. You can refer to tarantula care sheets which are available, to know more about tarantula care.

Tarantula Care
Before we actually get into the details of how to care for a tarantula, it is important that you decide the size of the tarantula you are planning to have as a pet. The enclosure and the conditions within the enclosure will depend upon its size. You can also buy a spider-ling and watch it, as it grows.

Most pet shops have specialized pet tanks made of glass or plastic, for such pets. Now, question is, whether you want to recreate the natural conditions for your tarantula to live in? The answer to this question is, 'yes', however, you will have to buy a larger tank in order to do so. The loop-side of recreating natural conditions is that, you will not get to see your pet as often as you would want to see it. I opine, you have a tank without the paraphernalia, so that you can observe your pet’s activities.

Cover the the bottom of the tank with a 2 cm layer of vermiculite and then cover it with a layer of cocoa bar. You can buy vermiculite and cocoa bark at tree nurseries. These will help in maintaining humid conditions required for the tarantula. Use of compost in the tank is not advisable, as it needs to be sterilized and changed frequently. The humidity levels in the tank should be ideally 50-60%. It is recommended that you do not let the humidity levels drop below 50%, as this can prove to be fatal for your tarantula, especially during its molting phase. Humidity is conducive to the growth of molds. Hence, you should always keep a watch, so that no molds grow in the tank.

The ideal temperature for rearing of a tarantula is 21º-24º Celsius. If you are using a central heating system for your house and this is the temperature which you are maintaining, then you will not need a special heater for the tarantula tank. However, you might need a heater for the spring and autumn months. There are devices like hot rock, heating mats, etc, which can be used for heating tarantula enclosures.

When the tarantula is in its molting phase, it is important that all uneaten food be removed from the tarantula enclosure within 24 hours as small insects or crickets can also prove fatal to your pet during this phase.

Tarantula Feeding
A number of tarantula pet owners always have a question "What to feed a tarantula?". Insects, specially crickets can be fed to these pets. There are some pet-owners who experiment with tarantula feeding. They try to recreate the wild, by feeding them with a permutation and combination of cricket and insect diet. It is advisable that the crickets are first fed a nutritious diet and then dusted with vitamin powder, before they are fed to the tarantulas. It is not advisable to feed insects caught in the wild, as these insects might be exposed to pesticides and pesticides can be harmful to your pet.

The adult tarantula can be fed pink mice and small lizards as well, but remember that the mice and the small lizards should be smaller in size than your pet. You can treat your tarantula to a worm meal once in a while.

The next question these pet owners face is "How often should I feed my tarantula?". There are some very strange facts about a tarantula, of which one is that growing tarantulas eat more than the adults. Very often, before and after molting, the adult tarantulas fast, at times even for a period of two months. Hence, in case the tarantula refuses to eat, you should not force it to.

Another frequently asked question is, "How to feed a tarantula?". To feed your pet you will have to open the pet enclosure. Before opening the enclosure check whether the tarantula is close to the opening. If it is then you will have to gently prod it away. You will need forceps to lower the insects into the enclosure and then close it once you have given the prey to your tarantula.

Although tarantulas derive their water from their prey, it is advisable to always have a ready source of water in a shallow dish inside the enclosure. Take care that the crickets do not drown in the water by adding some stones, etc to the plate, to make it safe for the crickets.

With all the tarantula care and tarantula feeding tips, I hope you are in a better position to take care of your beloved pet!