Tarantulas Habitat

Tarantulas are fascinating creatures, at least for those of us who like spiders. For the rest, they bring out emotions of horror or repulsion. However, the term "gentle giants of our spider world" is an erudite observation made by entomologists Floyd Werner and Carl Olson about tarantulas, in their book 'Insects of the Southwest'. While we've been conditioned to be afraid of these spiders, in reality, it is only the tarantulas bite that is painful, but their venom is milder than a typical bee's. As facts for children, let me tell you that, the largest of the spiders, there are approximately 900 species that fall into this category of arachnids with hairy bodies and legs.

Habitat and Distribution

The different species of tarantula are spread all over the world, in tropical, subtropical, and arid regions. They can be found in Africa and Madagascar, southern Asia, parts of the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific region, southern Europe, Australia, parts of the Caribbean, northern New Zealand, some of the Micronesian Islands, all of Central and South America, and the United States north to central California and east to the Mississippi River. In the southwestern United States, tarantulas habitat is diverse and they can be found living in mountain foothills, desert basins and forested slopes. Another of fascinating facts about this creature is that many of them live in burrows in the ground, which are lined with silk. However, they may also live in burrows or crevices located on cliff faces, under tree bark, among rocks, or between tree roots.

Tarantulas as Pets

While a tarantula isn't a conventional pet, it is one that an increasing number of people are bringing home. If you are considering bringing home a tarantula, you must be well equipped to care for it. Pick a species that is easy to handle, like the South American rosy haired tarantula, which is very docile. The pink toed one is also very timid and non threatening, but is also very quick. Many opt for the Goliath bird-eater tarantula because of its size, but if you do, ensure that you are well versed with information about Goliath tarantulas. A fact that may take you by surprise is that they make a hissing sound by the rubbing of bristles on their legs together!

Tarantulas Den

Whichever species you finally settle on, you need to make a comfortable home for it, that is as similar to its natural habitat as possible, so that the stress on it is minimized. Most people use a fish tank or terrarium with a locking mesh screen top. While the ideal size is a ten gallon tank, never go for smaller than five. For the tarantula to be comfortable one needs to maintain a constant temperature of between 65 to 80°F in the tank. Either keep the tank in a warm area or place a small heating pad below it. They are not fond of bright light, so you can try a colored light for it. If you are wondering what goes in the tank, one idea is to line the base with about 3 inches of Eco Earth, sterilized potting soil or bed-a-beast, which are usually available in pet stores. Also put in a cave like structure and a shallow water dish. You may also add logs, plants, rocks and vines, and to ensure that the environment inside the tank is humid. Clean out the water dish frequently, and the tank every 4 to 6 months.

With these instructions, you should be able to prepare a warm cozy tarantulas habitat for your new pet. However, if diet is a concern, know that they mostly feed on insects, and on the occasional frog, small snake or mouse. Among the facts for kids, one that is cause for great concern is that its populations are under pressure from habitat destruction.