Tarantula spider description of species of tarantula spider

The tarantula spider belongs to the phylum of arthropods, the order of arachnids. The family of tarantulas includes 143 genera and even more species. In scientific language, tarantulas are also called mygalomorph spiders.

The tarantula spider Lasiodora parahybana (lat.) is a species of tarantula spider from the genus Lasiodora. Tarantula spider from the genus Aphonopelma (lat.), species Aphonopelma anax or hentzi.

An adult can reach about twenty or even more centimeters in circumference of the paws. For many people, the tarantula is not at all such a terrible creature as it might seem at first glance, but even one photo of this spider can terrify an inexperienced observer. However, this type of predator is quite peaceful, and therefore very popular among lovers of exotic pets. In addition, the tarantula is very beautiful and not picky about food - keeping it is not at all difficult. Residents of European countries especially loved this spider.

It is interesting that, despite their name, tarantulas are not at all limited to meat (poultry). Their menu also includes various insects, small spiders, rodents, etc. They hunt completely differently from their relatives. Unlike them, the tarantula spider does not lay out a web to catch prey, but tracks it from ambush.

Goliath tarantula (Theraphosa Blonda).

Tarantula Brachypelma boehmei

Habitat – South-West of Mexico Type – Ground Feeding – Standard Dimensions Body – 6-7 cm, paw span 15-17 cm Temperature – 23-26 0C Humidity – 75-80% Temperament – Active Substrate – Minimum 5 cm

Brachypelma bochmei tarantula spider

B. boehmi can be more aggressive than most other Brachypelma, and will readily shed its hairs at the slightest approach of danger. Artificial burrows can also be used, such as half a flower pot or a coconut, and will build burrows if enough substrate is provided. You can put a drinking bowl or moisten the substrate. Feed B. bohemei medium and large crickets once or twice a week.

Contents of brachypelm

As can be seen from the habitat of these spiders, they are quite unpretentious in terms of humidity and temperature.

Small spiders can be kept in small plastic containers that they cannot chew and escape, such as plastic food containers. There is no point in planting them in a large spider bed, as they will simply bury themselves and it will be difficult to feed them.

In both small and large spider plants, it is necessary:

Use coconut substrate as soil;
Make a shelter for the spider;
Maintain the necessary soil moisture, there should be no swamp, the soil should simply always be moist;
Remove uneaten food residues;
You can put a drinking bowl, but spiders practically don’t use it, it just adds moisture;
In a large spider bed it is necessary to change the soil approximately once a year, in a small one every six months;
Be sure to provide ventilation;

For large specimens, special glass spider cages are best suited, although the spider can easily live in a plastic container with ventilation.

It is necessary to take into account that these spiders are burrowers and do not like light; they leave their burrows mainly at night.

If you do not provide shelter and do not maintain the humidity level, they will begin to dig holes and hide in the ground. Under acceptable conditions and the presence of shelters, they do not dig holes.

Be sure to make places where he can climb, for example, like in my spider bed, place pieces of pine bark, only without resin. You can find some branches or roots, the main thing is that the tree is not susceptible to rotting, since the spider plant is always damp.

The bark or tree must be boiled in boiling water and dried well, this will kill insects and other pests and parasites.

On this topic, you may be interested in: Types of scorpions, what they are, which are the most dangerous

For me, he almost always sits on it and doesn’t hide anywhere, which makes it very convenient to watch him.

The normal temperature for them is about 24 degrees, they live without problems from 19 degrees, so it doesn’t make much sense to heat the spider, although mine has a favorite place under the LED lamp, where it is always warm, the spider spends there most of the time, mainly in winter.

Brachypelma smitty warms itself under a lamp

Maintain a humidity level of 60 to 70 percent by regularly misting the substrate or placing a large bowl of water.

If you see your spider sitting over a bowl of water, but not drinking, most likely the spider web is too dry; if it sits in the farthest and driest corner, then it is too wet, watch your animal.

Spider Brachypelma auratum

Habitat – Mexico Type – Ground Feeding – Standard Dimensions Body – 6-7 cm, paw span 15-17 cm Temperature – 24-28 Humidity – 77% Temperament – Active Substrate – Minimum 4 cm

Brahmapelma auratum spider

B. auratum is a good beginner spider and is quite docile but can be nervous and shed hairs easily. For this species, you can make artificial burrows, such as half a flower pot. B.auratum can also be fed medium to large crickets once or twice a week. B.auratum is very small and slow growing.

Temperament

Brachypelma smithie is a non-hostile and calm species of spider . However, the tarantula is able to use the protective hairs located on the abdomen as defense. Incidents with bites, or attempts at them, are quite rare. Spider venom does not pose a particular threat to human life. Despite this, the risk of consequences that contribute to the development of allergies, leading to death, cannot be ignored. Brachypelma does not react hostilely to cleaning the terrarium, but waits patiently and calmly for it. This helps reduce the risk of a bite at this moment.

Tarantula spider species Brachypelma vagans

Habitat – Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador Type – Ground, burrow Feeding – Standard Dimensions Body – 6-7 cm, paw span 15-16 cm Temperature – 24-28 Humidity – 75% Temperament – Active, aggression possible Substrate – Minimum 4 cm

Brachypelma vagans spider tarantula photo

A fairly fast, sometimes aggressive spider. In addition to the speed of movement, it has a fast growth rate. Capricious to humidity. Like the classi, it has a fairly rounded abdomen.

Appearance

The Mexican red-knee tarantula is famous for its popularity due to its bright colors and large size . From the name of the spider itself, one can identify the most distinctive and memorable feature of its appearance – the red knee. The tarantula has a dark brown body color close to black. On its paws, in the joint area, there are shades of red or orange with a yellow or white frame.

After each molt, the color of the spider becomes more expressive and contrasting. Its body is covered with thick hairs of light pink or brown color. When stressed, the tarantula sheds hairs from its abdomen. If a hair gets on a person's skin, irritation and redness may occur, and hair getting into the eyeball can cause vision impairment. Brachypelma smithy has the following physique: plump abdomen, extensive cephalothorax, massive paws.

The multi-colored coloring, reminiscent of a decorated Christmas tree, awakens in a person not disgust and fear of the spider, but the desire to acquire it. The white ends of the hairs give the tarantula a special appearance of softness . The body length of the tarantula reaches 7-8 cm, and the size of the paws is 17 cm. There is a sexual difference between male and female: females are somewhat larger.

Brachypelma activity is observed at night. During the daytime, the tarantula spider prefers to hide under stones or in dug holes to escape the heat, because they live in places with a dry climate. During molting, Brachypelma smithy puts on an extraordinary and unforgettable spectacle: the spider pleases the eye with a mixture of shades of red and black or yellow and black. With each subsequent molt, the color of the tarantula becomes more expressive: dark shades become almost black, and areas with a red tint increase the degree of red color. On average, the gap between molts is about two months.

Tarantula spider Brachypelma emilia

Species: Brachypelma emilia Subfamily: Theraphosinae Range: Mexico Type: terrestrial Size: 6 cm in body and 15-17 in paw span. Sexual maturity: males up to 3 years, females up to 5 years. Life expectancy: up to 25 years or more.

Red-legged tarantula spider

Depending on the locality, this Mexican tarantula can have varying degrees of color saturation - from pale cream to bright red. This species differs from other colored brachypelmas by a bright black triangle on the carapace. This look seems more elegant in color. The spider is calmer than Boehmey or Smithy, is not so noticeably nervous, but is quite active if you pick it up. Rarely combs hairs. An excellent choice for a novice spider breeder. But the species is not yet so popular in our country, mainly due to its recent shortage.

Breeding recommendations

Breeding these arthropods in captivity is not that difficult. Initially, each spider should be kept separately, but for mating they will have to be placed in the same terrarium. Most often, the process occurs without any problems: if the female is well-fed, she calmly allows the male to approach her, who quickly fertilizes her and hides away.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ocyo1NFCXQs

Nevertheless, emergency situations often occur in which the female does not like the male. She may behave aggressively towards him and even try to eat him. Therefore, the owner of the spiders needs to carefully monitor the process and, if suspicion arises, quickly place them in different terrariums.

Otherwise, problems with breeding usually do not arise. Vagans is also suitable for beginners as the first spider for breeding.

This is a very fertile species - after mating, the female lays from 600 to 1200 eggs in a cocoon. The incubation period is seventy days. After this period, the first spiders begin to appear. Several hundred individuals hatch from the eggs of one pair. This explains the low price of this type of spider and the ease of its acquisition.

Newborn tarantulas grow quite quickly - their growth rate significantly exceeds that of most other brachypelmas and is equal only to that of B. albopilosum.

Immediately after hatching, the spiders can be fed with the smallest insects, gradually moving on to larger food.

Tarantula spider Avicularia braunshauseni

Species: Avicularia braunshauseni Subfamily: Aviculariinae Area: Suriname Type: woody Size: body 10 cm, paw span up to 20 cm. Maturity: males 1-1.5 years, females 1.5-2 years. Life expectancy: about 10 years. Temperature: 23-28°C Humidity: 83%

Avicularia braunhauseni tarantula spider

A.braunshauseni is quite an interesting spider based on several criteria. The most indisputable thing is that this spider is the largest in size from the Avicularia family. It has a rather interesting color - brick-blue-brown. The spider is calmer than versicolor, and is a good purchase for arboreal lovers.

Health problems

Like most tarantula spiders, brachypelmas rarely get sick.

The most likely health problems can be caused by the following reasons:

Fall from a height - the spider's exoskeleton is similar in structure to an eggshell, so a fall leads to its splitting and subsequent death of the pet. You can avoid the problem if you use a soft substrate and do not build too high structures in the spider web.
Dehydration – Brachypelmas require higher humidity than other tarantulas. Make sure that the spider plant always has moist soil and a drinking bowl with water. Spiders do not drink water, but the water bowl maintains the humidity level, and they can sometimes bathe in it. Signs of dehydration in the spider, a slightly shriveled abdomen and very low activity. If he is severely dehydrated, he may curl his paws under him. If you see these symptoms, move the spider to a separate container containing a damp towel, after a while it will come to its senses. Do not put him in a container with water, he may drown, since his lungs are located in the lower part of his body.
Molting - do not touch the spider while it is molting, even if it is lying upside down. This state is normal during this process. But any attempt to touch it can lead to damage to the new fragile exoskeleton and subsequent death of the pet.

Tarantula spider Avicularia versicolor

Species: Avicularia versicolor Subfamily: Aviculariinae Area: Suriname Type: woody Size: body 10 cm, paw span up to 18 cm. Maturity: males 1-1.5 years, females 1.5-2 years. Life expectancy: about 10 years. Temperature: 20-30°C Humidity: 80%

Tarantula spider avicularia versicolor

Avicularia versicolor is without the slightest doubt one of the most colorful spiders. There is a big difference between the color of a small spider and an adult. It is very difficult to raise this type of spider from a nymph to a mature individual. But usually novice spider lovers do not have any problems with this. The spider grows in an ordinary terrarium, with verniculite substrate and a piece of cork tree bark.

This type of spider requires high humidity and good ventilation. The problem is that good ventilation leads to a rapid decrease in humidity in the terrarium; as a result, watering must be regular. The versicolor spider is very quiet, but can move very quickly when scared. This spider will fence its territory with a web very diligently; this is not the best manifestation of a spider, although it is characteristic of it in its normal habitat.

Names and hybrids

When looking for information about this spider, it is important to know what names it can be found under. In addition to the Latin and Russian name of the spider, you can find the following names:

Mexican black velvet.
Mexican red pump.

They can be used to find information about the tarantula on the English-language segment of the Internet. In addition, it is often called not the red-haired one, but simply the red Mexican tarantula.

The tarantula spider lives in the South of North America

In addition, the genus Brachypelma includes other similar spiders, including the most famous representative of the genus, Brachypelma albopilosum. It is he who occupies first place in the popularity chart, ahead of even the tarantula vagansa. Confusion arises not only with this species, but also with others, for example:

Brachypelma sabulosum.
Brachypelma angustum.

They are often sold under the guise of the Vagans tarantula. It is not so easy for a novice amateur to distinguish between them.

Some even claim that all spiders available in the CIS are not Brachypelma vagans, but only representatives of these two species and hybrids from B. vagans and B. albopilosum. Unfortunately, such hybrids are not always healthy and may have developmental deviations. Very often they do not even survive to adulthood due to poor health. You can recognize them by comparing the spider with both representatives of the corresponding species and finding common features with both one and the other species.

Tarantula spider of the species Acanthoscuria geniculata

Species: Acanthoscurria geniculata Subfamily: Theraphosinae Range: northern Brazil Type: terrestrial Size: up to 9 cm in body and about 20 in paw span. Sexual maturity: males 1.5-2 years, females 2-2.5 years. Life expectancy: up to 20 years. Temperature: 23-26°C Humidity: 70-80%

Spider Acanthoscuria geniculata

The A. geniculata spider is quite nervous and can be aggressive; the spider can shed intense hairs, which are among the most irritating hairs, which can result in severe itching. A. geniculata will skillfully dig the ground, as, for example, a half-filled flower pot can turn into its hole. This is a very fast growing spider and very rarely refuses the food offered.

Reproduction

After a ritual dance, indicating to the partners that they belong to the same species, mating occurs. During this process, the male transfers seminal fluid into the female, which he previously placed on a specially woven web, where the act of love takes place.

After mating is complete, the male needs to escape as quickly as possible. The female, when hungry, becomes incredibly aggressive, so she can eat a careless suitor.

A few months later, the female develops a cocoon filled with eggs from 50 to 2,000 pieces. The expectant mother jealously guards it for a week. Then the nymphs hatch, which live on the back of the spider for some time, and then crawl away.

The tarantula spider can also live at home. For this he needs a special terrarium.

Tarantula spider Aphonopelma bicoloratum

Habitat – Mexico Type – Burrow Feeding – Standard Dimensions Body – 4-5 cm, leg span 15 cm Sexual maturity: males 2-3 years, females 3-4 years Temperature – 25 Humidity – 77% Temperament – Active, non-aggressive Substrate – Minimum 4 cm

Spider Aphonopelma bicoloratum

A. bicolouratum is a good choice for beginners, although it can be active. A. bicolouratum is a nocturnal spider and is rarely seen during daylight hours. Feed A.bicoloratum on medium to large crickets, 2 or 3 times a week.

FAQ

Below are answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding the biology, physiology, keeping of tarantulas in captivity, etc.

Is it worth keeping a tarantula spider at home?
How long do tarantulas live?
Which tarantula is the largest and which is the smallest?
Are tarantula spiders poisonous and how poisonous are they?
What species of tarantulas are most dangerous to keep in captivity?
What tarantulas can be recommended for beginners?
What necessary conditions must be created for tarantulas for their successful maintenance and breeding in captivity?
How to distinguish a tarantula from another spider?
What does it mean when a spider refuses food for a long time?
How can you tell if a spider is about to molt?
How to distinguish a male tarantula from a female?
My adult spider moulted, and something was wrong with it - it changed color (body proportions, it had strange growths on its legs, etc.), in general, became “completely different”?
How to determine the onset of sexual maturity of a female tarantula?
Is it possible to pick up (transplant/carry) a tarantula with your hands?
Here I have such a tarantula (photo attached). What kind is this?
Is it necessary to heat a tarantula?
How to heat terrariums with tarantulas?
How often should you feed a tarantula?
What size should the food object be?
How should I feed my tarantula?
My spider lost/injured its leg - will it die?
Why does my tarantula have a bare patch of “skin” on its abdomen?
The bare area on my spider's abdomen has turned dark, what is it?
I found my spider lying on its back, did it die?
I often observe that my spider climbs and sits on the walls of the terrarium. Why?
My tarantula has barely moved/come out of its hole for the past few days/weeks. Is he okay?
Some flies have appeared and are flying around in the terrarium with the tarantula. What to do - will they harm the tarantula?
My spider sits with its legs tucked under itself and doesn’t move, what’s wrong with it?
Bought a very small tarantula, when will it grow up?
How to choose the right terrarium (type, size) and place it in the apartment?
I want to equip my terrarium with live plants. What plants to use and is it necessary at all?
How to set up a terrarium for my tarantula?
Is it possible to keep tarantulas together?
Is it possible to keep tarantulas of different species together?
What substrate should I use to keep a tarantula?

Is it worth getting a tarantula spider?

Probably, if you ask yourself this question and hesitate, then it’s better not to. Firstly, this is a very unconventional “pet”, the content of which is associated with a number of problems, which this site is particularly devoted to. Secondly, keeping tarantulas at home is far from safe if you cannot provide it with the necessary conditions, for example, make sure that it cannot free itself from its home and “run away” - not all people see a crawling large spider for the first time , will be touched at the sight of such an “eight-legged hamster.” In addition, if you are careless and allow yourself to be bitten by a spider, the consequences are quite difficult to predict (reactions to tarantula bites are very individual!). Of course you won’t die, but spending a couple of days in a hospital bed, you’ll agree, is also not the most pleasant outcome!

Moreover, your body’s reaction to the protective hairs scratched by many species (of the American fauna) is unlikely to bring you joy if your greatest desire for the next 24 hours is to “take off your skin” in order to get rid of the terrible itching all over your body, or, for example, take a deep breath with full lungs and scream, because you suddenly have such a kind of allergy to their influence that your throat literally constricts and you practically lose your voice, able only to wheeze and often breathe shallowly... Perhaps it is you who will experience such an individual reaction to the hairs that even I would be surprised! Yes, yes, don’t think that I’m scaring you. Such cases are known, and I personally know a sufficient number of people who either gave up keeping tarantulas at home altogether, or were forced to switch to keeping species that do not have protective hairs.

Please also note that normally tarantula spiders should be fed with live food (cockroaches, crickets, frogs, mice, etc.), which in itself causes disgust in many people.

So if you are still hesitant or, God forbid, you know about your body’s susceptibility to various allergic manifestations, then the tarantula spider is probably not the pet you should have in your home. After all, believe me, you really need to love them very much in order to keep them, clean up after them and feed them, contact them in one way or another when there is a chance that suddenly (a reaction to hairs can appear immediately, or maybe after many years), one “fine day”, you find out that every such “communication” is now forced to be accompanied by taking, for example, two tablets of “Tavegil” or “Suprastin”, so that the itching of the skin on the body is not at least so unbearable...

How long do tarantulas live?

The answer can be broken down into two parts:

1. The difference in life span between females and males. As a rule, females live much longer than males. In relative terms, we can say that if males of most species live no more than 3 years, then females live more than 12 years - see here.

Some of the earliest maturing tarantulas are species of the genera Pterinochilus, Psalmopoeus, Poecilotheria, in which males can mature by one year, and females by 2 years.

2. The difference in lifespan between females of different species. Females of the tarantulas mentioned above, as well as species of the genus Avicularia, live 7-9 years - these are the shortest living species. Females of the genera Brachypelma, Aphonopelma, Grammostola live on average up to 25 years, and for some specimens periods of more than 30 years are known.

Thus, we can say that the absolute life span of tarantulas ranges from 2 to 35 years. In general, the life span of terrestrial tarantulas is much longer than that of arboreal tarantulas. Also, regarding the lifespan of males, see here.

Which tarantula is the largest and which is the smallest?

Traditionally, the smallest species of tarantula was considered to be the species Acanthopelma annae, but currently this tarantula does not belong to Theraphosidae at all, but has been transferred to the group Barychelidae, related to tarantulas. Its size was no more than 2 cm in leg span. At the same time, of the known species of tarantulas, many representatives of the genus Ischnocolus, Chaetopelma, Cyriocosmus, as well as tarantulas Aphonopelma paloma, A. mojave, often very slightly exceed the indicated size.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest tarantula is considered to be the goliath spider Theraphosa blondi, along with which two more species claim the palm - Theraphosa apophysis and Lasiodora parahybana. For more information on the size of tarantulas, see here.

Are tarantula spiders poisonous and how poisonous are they?

Of course they are poisonous. Tarantulas use venom to infect and kill food items. Tarantula bites, in the absence of an allergic reaction, do not cause any serious consequences for human health, and are comparable to wasp or bee stings.

It should be taken into account that due to their secretive lifestyle, cases of tarantula bites in captivity and in nature are quite rare. However, they pose a serious danger to other pets, such as cats and dogs. According to published studies by Australian authors, the vast majority of spider bites on dogs are fatal (Geoffrey K. Isbister et al., Toxicon 41 (2003) 519-524).

However, when caring for tarantulas on a daily basis, a person is constantly faced with another nuisance - an allergic reaction caused by the effect of “protective” hairs (urticating, English) on the skin and mucous membranes. See also here.

What species of tarantulas are most dangerous to keep in captivity?

The most dangerous species are traditionally considered to be tarantulas of the Asian and African regions, however, this does not mean that a bite from the same goliath spider Theraphosa blondi or adult specimens of the genera Lasiodora and Pamphobeteus and other representatives of American tarantulas cannot lead to any unpleasant health consequences for the bitten person .

Representatives of the genera Poecilotheria, Pterinochilus, Haplopelma, Heteroscodra, Stromatopelma, Phlogius, Selenocosmia, Ornithoctonus, Citharischius are considered the most dangerous tarantula spiders in terms of the toxicity of the poison, as well as their aggressiveness (level of protection). See also here.

What tarantulas can be recommended for beginners?

As species with which you can start keeping tarantulas at home, the following should obviously be highlighted: Aphonopelma chalcodes, A. bicoloratum, Brachypelma albopilosa, B. smithi, Eupalaestrus campestratus, Grammostola aureostriata.

The choice of these particular species is determined, first of all, by the fact that they are unpretentious and not demanding of living conditions, and also do not show aggression. It is also believed that their poison is not capable of causing any harm to the human body.

Also, non-aggressive species, which, on the other hand, are somewhat more demanding of living conditions, include representatives of the genera Avicularia (with the exception of a few species), Cyclosternum, Aphonopelma, Brachypelma (most species), Grammostola. See also descriptions of childbirth.

What necessary conditions must be created for tarantulas for their successful maintenance and breeding in captivity?

Look here.

How to distinguish a tarantula from another spider?

Look here.

What does it mean when a spider refuses food for a long time?

When kept in captivity, fanciers often encounter such a fact as the tarantula's refusal to feed. This can last from several weeks to several months, and in some cases more than a year.

Let's look at the main reasons, there are several of them.

1. Approaching molt. The vast majority of tarantulas refuse food for a certain period before the onset of the molting process. Moreover, the older the tarantula, the longer the period of time this break is. In very large specimens it can last more than a month. Also, similarly, tarantulas refuse food after molting, which is due to the fact that the tarantula’s integument and organs must finally form and harden after molting.

However, there are cases when individual specimens (usually younger ones) do not stop feeding either before or after molting. Also see here.

2. Natural refusal of food. In some species of tarantulas, usually originating from high mountain regions and countries, periodic refusal of food is observed, not associated with the onset of molting.

Among these species are representatives of the genus Grammostola, as well as a number of species of the genus Aphonopelma, Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, Hysterocrates, Megaphobema, Paraphysa, Phoneyusa, Thrixopelma and a number of others.

Of the most common species, this applies to the record holder in its genus, Grammostola rosea, as well as the species Grammostola pulchra, when keeping which a newcomer to the hobby, not knowing about this feature, can experience a real shock.

These facts do not have a clear explanation. With some validity we can say that they can most likely be explained by the existing seasonality in the habitats of the species.

3. It should also not be ruled out that the tarantula was simply fed up (naturally, one must understand that before this the spider was feeding “for slaughter”), and it is also possible that he got sick - see here.

How can you tell if a spider is about to molt?

In the case of spiders inhabiting the American continent, this issue is resolved simply: by the onset of molting, the bare area of the top of the abdomen (the place where the “protective” hairs are located, which are combed by almost the absolute majority of tarantulas (see here) of the spider darkens, due to the formation under the existing exoskeleton new (see the molting process here).

If we are talking about Asian and African species, then the onset of an approaching molt can be determined by the combination of the following series of signs (this also, of course, applies to American tarantulas): the spider becomes more lethargic, inactive, does not accept any food, the overall color of the body becomes darker, literally a day before molting, the spider weaves around the terrarium, and especially the area of the soil where it is going to molt; if there is shelter in the terrarium, it, as a rule, contrary to usual, does not appear on the surface at night and weaves the entrance to it cobwebs

How to distinguish a male tarantula from a female?

Look here.

My adult spider moulted, and something was wrong with it - it changed color (body proportions, it had strange growths on its legs, etc.), in general, became “completely different”?

Most likely, this tarantula is a male and has now reached sexual maturity. As a rule, in most tarantulas, mature males have a different coloration (sexual dimorphism). This can be determined by the modified last segment of the pedipalps - it has a characteristic bulbous shape, and a large number of species have tibial hooks - see here.

Also, get ready for the fact that this spider will now live with you on average no more than six months, although there are cases when sexually mature males live for much longer periods - see How long do tarantulas live?

How to determine the onset of sexual maturity of a female tarantula?

In contrast to determining the period of sexual maturity of a male, determining the onset of this period in a female raises some difficulties associated with the lack of external signs by which one could clearly say that a particular female is sexually mature.

However, with a sufficient degree of certainty it is possible to judge the onset of sexual maturity of a female by a combination of the following characteristics: size (the spider has reached a certain average size known for this species), age (a certain number of spider molts has been recorded, usually more than 9, or the conditional period for reaching sexual maturity has arrived for this species of spider), the intervals between moults have noticeably increased (molting in mature individuals occurs, as a rule, no more than once a year), and also (probably one of the main signs) that the female spermatheca, being well examined by the exuvium, has a characteristic expressed form for its species (developed) and sclerotized (has a clear, definite “structure”).

From the above, several exceptions can be made. It is known that very often females that have not reached the accepted average size for their species, when mated, produce fertile cocoons and, often, are much more productive than much larger individuals of their species. Also, due to the intensity of rearing, females that have reached large sizes for their species may be unsuccessful in breeding, which does not at all determine the fact that they have not reached maturity.

It is also known that, for example, in species of the genus Cyriocosmus, the onset of sexual maturity can be determined by the appearance of clearly defined longitudinal stripes on the legs (Martin Gamahe, personal communication). Likewise, there are a number of other exceptions.

Is it possible to pick up (transplant/carry) a tarantula with your hands?

In general, picking up a tarantula is undesirable (unpleasant consequences are possible for both the spiders themselves and their owner) and should not be done unless absolutely necessary for a number of reasons. Which ones? See - (here).

However, an experienced collector with the appropriate skills can perform this operation with certain precautions, for example, if it is necessary to determine the sex of a tarantula or for the purpose of studying a sick specimen (its treatment, feeding).

Here I have such a tarantula (photo attached). What kind is this?

It should be said that the answer to such a question cannot be given. The fact is that it is impossible to determine from a photograph of a tarantula whether it belongs to a certain species, since neither coloration, nor size, nor body proportions, nor other visible signs are recognized by modern science as identifying the species taxon.

In the best case, a qualified specialist will be able to identify a tarantula in a photograph to a genus or group of genera, which, in general, is important for the selection of appropriate conditions of detention, and only in rare cases - conditionally its species affiliation (based on the similarity of the totality of external signs and characteristic visible features its structure). In any case, without a systematic study of a specific tarantula specimen, it is impossible to give its exact species identification.

Is it necessary to heat a tarantula?

The temperature required to ensure the life of most tarantulas is 24-26°C. The only exceptions are a few species of tarantulas (for example, Megaphobema mesomelas), which require low temperatures. Therefore, if the temperature in the room where tarantulas are kept is within the specified limits, then additional heating is not required.

How to heat terrariums with tarantulas?

The optimal equipment with which to heat tarantulas is heating plates or cords, which are installed under the terrarium for arboreal species, and on the back or one of its sides for terrestrial species. It is advisable to use this equipment in conjunction with automatic regulators. Also, one of the ways to heat tarantulas is to directly heat the room in which they are located.

It is not advisable for the temperature to rise above 31°C.

How often should you feed a tarantula?

In general, the following rule can be applied: small tarantulas should be fed every other day or two, adolescents - two to three times a week, adults - once or twice a week with food items of appropriate sizes.

At the same time, there are a number of features associated with the need for intensive cultivation of small fish or slower growth of males. Look here.

What size should the food object be?

On average, the size of the food item should be commensurate with the size of the tarantula's abdomen. However, many tarantulas are able to cope with much larger food sizes. Also see here.

How should I feed my tarantula?

Use the following rule: if you have a young tarantula, then it is enough to maintain the moisture of the substrate on/in which it is kept. If you have a teenager or an adult tarantula, install a drinking bowl in the terrarium where he lives and make sure that the water is not polluted.

My spider lost/injured its leg - will it die?

In the vast majority of cases, no. Tarantulas, like most spiders, have the ability to regenerate. As a rule, complete restoration of a lost limb occurs within 2-3 molts.

The wounded leg, if the wound has healed, will also be completely restored during molting. However, certain complications are possible - see here.

Why does my tarantula have a bare patch of “skin” on its abdomen?

A bare section of the exoskeleton appears on the back of the abdomen (abdomen) of most American tarantulas due to their combing of protective hairs.

The bare area on my spider's abdomen has turned dark, what is it?

This is because your spider is getting ready to moult. See - How to tell if a spider is about to moult?

I found my spider lying on its back, did it die?

No, he is currently molting/will be molting soon. The vast majority of tarantulas molt while lying on their backs. Rarely and, as a rule, only large specimens shed while standing/lying on their side. Read more about molting here.

I often observe that my spider climbs and sits on the walls of the terrarium. Why?

As a rule, in the case of terrestrial tarantulas, this means that the terrarium is waterlogged (for example, the soil is locked). Tarantulas also often climb walls to weave their territory with webs.

In addition, we cannot exclude the possibility that he has his own specific reasons for this, not related to the conditions of detention. Why not?

My tarantula has barely moved/come out of its hole for the past few days/weeks. Is he okay?

Probably yes. He's probably about to shed, so give him extra attention.

Or maybe, if you have a wild adult female from nature, or you recently/have mated her recently, she is preparing to weave a cocoon/is already sitting in a hole with a cocoon.

It is also possible that he is full and just wants to sit quietly. Why not?

Some flies have appeared and are flying around in the terrarium with the tarantula. What to do - will they harm the tarantula?

There are usually two types of “flies” found in a terrarium. In general, they cannot cause much harm to the tarantula, but, nevertheless, their presence is undesirable and, first of all, indicates that the hygienic requirements of maintenance have been violated (poor ventilation, uncleaned food debris, waterlogging, etc.). How to get rid of them - see here.

For information on the requirements for a terrarium for tarantulas, see here.

My spider sits with its legs tucked under itself and doesn’t move, what’s wrong with it?

For the most part, when a spider bends its legs under its body, it means that its body is dehydrated and surgical intervention is required so that it does not die from this. See also here.

It is also possible that this pose indicates that the spider is already dead.

Bought a very small tarantula, when will it grow up?

In this case, the concept of growing can be considered in two aspects - the spider reaching its maximum size, on the one hand, and sexual maturity, on the other.

1. Whether a spider reaches its maximum size directly depends on the conditions of detention (temperature, humidity, etc.) and the intensity of feeding of the tarantula - the higher the temperature and the more intense the feeding, the faster the spider reaches its maximum size, and vice versa.

Thus, on average, most tarantulas (except for a number of representatives of the genera Aphonopelma, Grammostola and some others) with intensive rearing can reach their maximum size by 2 years. Also see here.

2. The onset of sexual maturity is not directly related to the spider reaching its maximum size, but can be relatively determined by the age of the tarantula. In this case, we must proceed from the average parameters of keeping and feeding a given spider, since the maturation period of different species varies significantly: males from a year to 3, and according to some data, five years, females - from 2-3 to 5-7 years. See more details here.

It should be taken into account that, according to the latest data, medium-sized producers are the most suitable for breeding and productive.

How to choose the right terrarium (type, size) and place it in the apartment?

For general requirements for a terrarium, see here.

In general, we can say that for terrestrial tarantulas the terrarium should be horizontal, and for arboreal tarantulas it should be vertical. In this case, the size of the corresponding “living” surface (floor or walls, respectively) must be at least two times the length of the spider’s leg span (optimal size).

Regarding the location, it must be said that absolutely all tarantulas are exclusively twilight-nocturnal species that live in shelters. It follows from this, and this is shown by the experience of keeping tarantulas in captivity, that they do not require special lighting. Moreover, a large number of species require as little intervention as possible (Megaphobema spp., Pamphobeteus spp., etc.), especially during the period when the female is “gestating” the cocoon (almost all species). Also, we must proceed from the fact that all tarantulas need to maintain a stable temperature, without sudden fluctuations.

From the foregoing, it follows that the location in the apartment should be selected according to the following algorithm: this place should not be a passageway, the lighting in it should be dim, and be located at a relative distance from the window, entrance and balcony doors. In this case, the terrarium, at least on one side (possibly on three, except the front and top) can be completely or partially closed from the surrounding space (located against a wall, in a corner, in a rack, etc.).

I want to equip my terrarium with live plants. What plants to use and is it necessary at all?

Considerations on this issue depend on, and are directly related to, the answer to the previous question - (- How to choose the right terrarium (type, size) and place it in the apartment?). As already mentioned, bright lighting is not desirable for tarantulas, on the one hand, but on the other hand, it is necessary for the successful existence of most plants in artificial conditions.

Thus, keeping plants in a standard terrarium with a tarantula condemns the latter to oppression.

At the same time, if the tarantula is supposed to be kept in a very large terrarium with a large number of shelters to create a secluded place for it, then it is possible to decorate such a terrarium with appropriate lighting suitable for plant growth.

In this case, in any case, it is necessary to take into account that terrestrial tarantulas will dig up the substrate, and arboreal tarantulas will weave the surface and leaves of plants with cobwebs. Also, when climbing, a heavy tarantula will crush plants and scratch the surface of leaves and stems with the leg spines it has (most species).

Based on this, the choice of plants for the terrarium should be determined - they should be fast-growing, have hard stems and leaves, and at the same time not have thorns and needles that could damage the tarantula’s integument. To protect the roots of plants, it is advisable to plant them in pots, hanging them on the walls of the terrarium or placing them directly on the ground (without digging into the soil).

Based on the above, you can determine the following choice of plants: succulent plants (suitable for keeping with terrestrial tarantulas of Africa and the highlands of Central America), climbing vines with hard leaves (in a terrarium with tropical terrestrial and woody species), as well as hard-leaved plants with woody or hard leaves. trunk (monstera, ficus, dieffenbachia, etc.).

See also about decorating a terrarium here.

How to set up a terrarium for my tarantula?

This, first of all, depends on the spider itself, or more precisely on what its main lifestyle is - arboreal, “ground” or burrowing.

1. Arboreal tarantulas are kept in vertical terrariums. The internal arrangement of such a terrarium should be formed based on the basic life criteria necessary for a spider. This is the presence of: a small layer of moisture-intensive soil that can maintain humidity in the terrarium; vertically placed or inclined pieces of bark, branches or plant trunks, under the protection of which the tarantula could weave a web shelter for itself - a “tube”; containers for drinking and maintaining humidity. In this case, the terrarium must be equipped with ventilation. Such a terrarium, also if it is decorated with plants, must be sprayed periodically.

2. Burrowing tarantulas, like “terrestrial” ones, require a much larger layer of substrate. Moreover, for purely burrowing, digging species (Сitharischius spp., Hysterocrates spp., Eucratoscelus spp., Haplopelma spp., etc.), the size of the layer is essential and should be 8-10 cm. It is acceptable to provide a smaller layer, but in this case In this case, be sure to install a shelter buried in the ground. Regarding placement in a terrarium with digging species, here it is necessary to be guided by the “habits” of a particular spider specimen. For a “terrestrial” tarantula (if this specimen does not like to dig up the substrate), a drinking bowl is required.

For a number of African tarantulas (for example, Pterinochilus spp.), the species Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, and a number of other species that do not require special humidity conditions, the substrate plays a secondary role and the presence of a drinking bowl is sufficient to maintain humidity.

Also, for the proper arrangement and decoration of the terrarium, it is necessary to be guided by the habitat conditions of the corresponding species in nature.

Is it possible to keep tarantulas together?

There is information about the cohabitation in nature of the tarantula spiders Avicularia avicularia, Avicularia minatrix, Poecilotheria subfusca, Poecilotheria regalis, and also possibly Tapinauchenius latipes. At the same time, in the same shelters there are individuals of both different sexes and different ages.

Regarding keeping tarantulas together in captivity, I would like to note that, one way or another, this is associated with a certain risk of loss or damage to one or more individuals of such an improvised “colony”.

It should also be said that it is possible to keep hatched spiders of many species of tarantulas together in the same containers within the first or second molts, which is also undesirable, since in isolated cases cannibalism has been observed even between nymphs of the second instar. Occasionally, according to various reports, sexually mature males and females of certain species, placed for mating, live together for a long time in terrariums.

Is it possible to keep tarantulas of different species together?

Such information has not been published in the literature. Based on the exchange of information between amateurs, it follows that such experiments, as a rule, end in death for one of the “roommates.”

What substrate should I use to keep a tarantula?

The most convenient types of substrates suitable for use when keeping tarantulas are: vermiculite, coconut chips, a mixture of vermiculite or coconut chips with sphagnum and a mixture of peat with sphagnum (for moisture-loving tarantulas), an earthen mixture, a mixture of wood chips (dead wood) with sphagnum ( for non-digging species), etc. It should be taken into account that for digging species it is necessary to use the finest fraction of the substrate in a larger layer than for non-digging species.

It is highly discouraged to use softwood substrate unless you are sure it is made from dead bark and/or wood!

Also see substrate.

Goliath tarantula spider Theraphosa blondi

Species: Theraphosa blondi Subfamily: Theraphosinae Area: Venezuela, Guyana, Northern Brazil, Suriname Type: ground Size: body up to 11 cm, paw span up to 25 (30 max.) Sexual maturity: males - 1.5-2 years, females 2 ,5-3 years. Life expectancy: about 20 years.

Goliath tarantula

The spider, which is in great demand and popularity due to its gigantic size, as well as due to its rather loud hissing (stridulation), is still not so often found in the collections of hobbyists. Mainly because this spider is not suitable for beginners, its maintenance is somewhat difficult and some experience in handling this animal is required.

But in any case, this is a species with a rather bright appearance - brown velvet fur, reddish hairs on the body, pink stripes on the paws and, of course, a powerful physique. By nature, this spider is nervous and a little aggressive. Its irritating hairs are not that strong. Its bite can be dangerous, mainly due to the size of the spider itself and its chelicerae (about 1.5 cm).

Habitat

There is practically no continent where the tarantula does not live. A video of this eight-legged animal shows that it cannot be found except in Antarctica. The population density of these spiders varies from country to country. For example, you don’t see them often in Europe; there they have chosen only Spain, Italy and Portugal.

Tarantulas like to live where it is warm - in Africa, South America, Australia and Oceania. There are species of spiders that prefer to settle in damp places, located in the crowns of trees in equatorial forests. Other hairy octopuses like a drier climate; they choose semi-deserts.

Tarantulas defend themselves by scratching poisonous hairs from the abdomen or by biting. The latter can be dry or release a toxic substance. As for hairs, getting them into the eyes, skin or lungs is not fatal, although it can cause an allergic reaction