Tarantula vivarium pet

There are around 900 species of tarantulas divided in 13 sub-families and 112 genus, and picking the right one for your vivarium is essential. In general we can divide them in ground and tree tarantulas.

Tarantula vivarium pet

Now we’ll try to explain what characteristics should have your vivarium for each type of tarantula pet.

Ground species tarantulas don’t have a great need for air circulation in the vivarium, so the ventilation areas of the terrarium for them may be small – it will help to maintain constant temperature and humidity in the air.

However, tree tarantulas need a good ventilation – high temperature stagnant air in the terrarium can lead to death.
Tarantulas exhibit aggression towards each other, so we kept separately in separate enclosures. Different types of spiders are in need of various size and shape vivariums.
For ground species vivarium with size 40×30x30 is perfect – larger vivariums make them feel insecure and they are often stressful and refuse to eat.

My personal experience show that the spider really refuses to eat for a while, but if you are pationed and your vivarium pet doesn’t die (which just wont happen), the tarantula get used to the new eviroment and starts to explore and eat regularly.

Tree species require higher terrarium – the optimum size for them 40×30x50.
The largest species of tarantulas, reaches more than 20 centimeters (Theraphosa blondi, Lasiodora parahybana …) and they need even bigger terrariums 60×60x45.

Soil (substrate)

Soil cover of the vivarium can be prepared from various ingredients, but it generally must meet several conditions:

* To retain moisture needed for humidity
* Do not rot and suppresses the formation of fungal growth and reproduction of harmful bacteria
* To easily strained

For soil mixtures can be used – peat, peat moss, bark chunks, leaflet and sterilized soil for flowers, sand – in different proportions.
Peat and peat moss are the best materials to cover bottom of the terrarium, as many assume moisture and keep it for a long time, and also frequently moldy and tend to inhibit decay and destroy harmful bacteria.
For ground tarantula vivarium pets, who live in holes, thick soil cover substrate is compulsory – it should be sufficient for digging deep hiding.

Shelters

Tarantulas feel very relaxed when there is a place to hide. So in the tarantulas vivarium should be placed an object that can serve as a hiding spot.

Tree tarantulas build their own homes by the cobwebs and parts of the substrate.

Tarantulas earth-diggers use the items for their entrance hole.

Bird eating tarantulas don’t build their own home, they can accommodate a variety of items for its shelter.

For the spider hide in a vivarium, you can use coconut shells, pieces of bark, flat stones, hollow twigs, broken pottery and more.

Decoration of the terrarium

Your tarantula vivarium pet will need only wet substrate, a cup with water and shelter to hide. Decoration will be only for your pleasure

Humidity

The majority of bird eating spiders live in very humid and warm places such as tropical rain forests. They need a moist substrate and 80-85% humidity – this is achieved by periodic moistening of the substrate using a sprayer. Soil moisture from evaporating and thus achieve the required humidity for your vivarium pet.
Desert and semi-desert species also need humidity. Although they live in arid deserts, their holes are deep in the ground where humidity is higher. For them, the optimum humidity is 70-75% – far more than the moisture content in the air in your home during winter when central heating.

Heat and light

All tarantulas are tropical animals and need a high temperature – 22-30 ° C that night to drop a few degrees.
At temperatures below 20 ° C the pet will not die but will slow down vital functions and it may stop eating. This will also slow the growth of the spider and make it more vulnerable to fungal infections. The heat helps to proper digestion of spiders.

Water

Tarantulas need water to drink – for them it is vitally important. They get some fluids through their victims, but this is not enough.
Small spiders drink water from the substrate – so he must always be wet.
Large spiders, however, require a wide and shallow dish with water, which must always be full. In the dish should place pebbles or pieces of wood, so as not to drown the crickets.