Quick Starter Tarantula Care

A Care Sheet by Exotics Unlimited – Written by William West (Owner, Tarantula Expert)

Welcome to the World of Tarantulas

So, you’ve decided to embark on the exciting journey of keeping your first tarantula – great choice! Welcome to the unlimited world of tarantula keeping. When people ask us about tarantulas, we always say: there’s a tarantula for everyone!

Whether you’re drawn to their beauty or the fact that they are the easiest, least stressful, and most affordable pets you can own, this guide has everything you need to get started. It’s based on what our team has learned from caring for thousands of tarantulas across more than 100 species. Whether you're curious about tarantulas, just purchased your first spider, or are searching for tarantulas for sale, this comprehensive guide provides expert care tips and advice for successful tarantula keeping.

Why Tarantulas Make Amazing Pets

People are often surprised when we tell them how simple and easy it is to care for a tarantula. They don’t bark, require daily walks, or scratch your furniture. In fact, they thrive with very little attention. That’s why so many hobbyists love them.

Here’s why tarantulas make great pets:

Low maintenance: Feed and mist once a week
Quiet & clean: No noise or smell
Affordable: Low investment and minimal items needed for care
Beautiful & Unique: They come in every size, shape, and color
Fascinating Behavior: Some build webs and homes with their spineretts, and add personality to any space

“I can’t really explain it – I’m just drawn to certain tarantulas. You see one, and just like it, for no particular reason. That’s how it is for me.” – Owner of EU

What Do You Need To Keep a Tarantula?

A well-ventilated enclosure
Organic coconut fiber
A shallow water dish
A shelter or hiding spot for them to feel safe (i.e. bark, logs, branches, cork bark or cork rounds)
No heat lamps or lights needed

That’s all you need to begin!

Different Types of Tarantulas

Terrestrial Tarantula (Ground dwellers - live on the ground in their natural habitat)

Great for beginners
Simple enclosures and basic setup (don’t need anything fancy or complex)
Easy to watch their behavior

Fossorial Tarantula (Burrowers - a dig and live underground in nature)

Love to dig and build tunnels
Most active at night or during feeding time
Includes some of the most beautiful specimens known to science

Arboreal Tarantula (Tree dwellers - Live in trees or high off the ground)

Active, fast, and agile
Require vertical space and climbing décor
A diagonal cork tub works great as both a hiding place, and anchor point for webbing across the enclosure, helping the tarantula stay off the ground.

Tarantula Housing Needs

Tarantulas don’t need much – just a container with adequate ventilation and enough space to move around. Some keepers use containers from Hobby Lobby or even simple shoe boxes with ventilation holes. Or check out our tarantula enclosures specifically designed for keeping and breeding tarantulas!

Choose your tarantula enclosure size based on your tarantula’s leg span. We measure the leg span diagonally from the front right leg to the back left leg of each tarantula.

Fossorial Tarantula: The size of your tarantula’s home should be 2x its leg span, and 3-4x its height. Organic Coconut Fiber Depth = 2-3x leg span.
Terrestrial Tarantula: The size of your tarantula’s home should be 2-3x its leg span, and 2x its height. Organic Coconut Fiber Depth = 1x leg span.
Arboreal Tarantula: The size of your tarantula’s home should be 2-3x its leg span, and 3-4x its height. Organic Coconut Fiber Depth = minimum 3” of soil.

Substrate tip: We recommend organic coconut fiber in the enclosures because it’s mold-resistant, cheap, and safe. There are other options available but do your research to find pet and reptile safe options. Avoid using garden soil from outside or from hardware stores as they can contain fertilizers, pesticides, or chemicals that can harm your pet.

Feeding & Hydration for Your Tarantula

Where you place food can make a big difference in ensuring your tarantulas finds it and eats it. Since they will only eat fresh prey, it’s best to offer food in the following locations:

Arboreal Tarantulas: Offer food up high or directly on their web.

Terrestrial and Fossorial Tarantulas: Place food near their burrow or hiding spot (not inside it) so that you can easily observe whether they are eating or not.

Additional Care:

Feed your tarantulas live insects like crickets or roaches once a week (as much as they will eat but typically one or two is sufficient).
Remove any uneaten food within 24 hours.
Always provide a clean, shallow water dish that they can drink directly from.
Mist their enclosure (NOT the spider) once a week to maintain humidity. Use a fine mist spray bottle and don’t make the coconut fiber soggy, just slightly moist.
If they are molting, they will not eat. Remove molt skin after their molt is complete and resume feeding.

Temperature & Lighting

Temperature: 65-75°F degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Heat the room, not the enclosure, if the room temperatures drop below 60 °F.
Lighting: Not required. Tarantulas do respond well to light and dark cycles (sunlight during the day, and dark in the evening). Low powered LEDs are fine, just avoid overheating. And turn them off at night (or set it on a 12 hour on/off timer). We suggest avoiding any lights if you’re new to keeping tarantulas. It’s easier to recognize healthy behavior in a natural setup.

Common Tarantula Myths (Busted!)

❌ Tarantulas are Dangerous and Evil

Most tarantulas want nothing to do with you – and that’s a good thing! Their natural instinct is to run and hide, not to bite. Tarantulas don’t bite unless they feel cornered, or their life is endangered. Even then, it’s extremely rare, and the venom from most species is no worse than a bee sting. A very small group of Tarantulas species from Asia and Africa do have stronger venom but it’s not lethal to humans. The best practice? Never handle tarantulas. They prefer to be left alone in their enclosures, and they’re happiest that way.

❌ Tarantulas are Hard to Care For

Not true at all! Anyone can care for a tarantula (even a 5-year-old). They are one of the easiest pets you could own. They don’t need special lighting or heat, and you can house them in anything from a simple ventilated shoe box to a fancy enclosure with plants. And you only have to feed them and mist their enclosure once a week.

❌ Tarantulas Need a Heat Lamp

Nope! Most tarantulas thrive at normal room temps (65-75 °F) and don’t need special lights or heat lamps. In fact, adding heat can be dangerous and stress them out. If your room temp drops below 60°F, we suggest heating the room, not the enclosure.

❌ You Can Keep All Tarantulas the Same Way

Each tarantula species needs an enclosure setup tailored to its type - whether its terrestrial, arboreal, or fossorial. Each has different enclosure requirements, so it’s important to mimic their natural environment and behaviors.

Choosing Your First Tarantula

We recommend starting with a calm, slow moving species like those in the Grammastola, Brachypelma, or Aphonopelma genus. Look for captive-bred tarantulas from reliable sellers like Exotics Unlimited.

Tarantulas Are Easier Than You Think

Tarantulas are perfect for anyone that wants a low-stress, quiet, clean, and easy pet. Once you own one, you might find yourself collecting more. And remember, there’s a tarantula for everyone!

Tarantulas for Sale at Exotics Unlimited

We’ve cared for and bred thousands of tarantulas and are recognized as industry leaders. Our captive-bred tarantulas are healthy, and ethically sourced, and backed by expert support from our dedicated and passionate team members.

Browse Our Tarantulas for Sale and find the perfect pet to begin your spider journey.

About the Author

William West has hands-on experience keeping thousands of tarantulas across 100+ species since he was 5-years-old. He’s a nature lover and avid enthusiast of the hobby and enjoys helping new keepers discover how incredibly easy and rewarding spider care can be.