We often recommend avoiding lighting fixtures if you're new to tarantula care. This allows you to observe their natural behavior. It also makes it easier to recognize if something is wrong when you begin adding elements like lights or plants.

Tarantulas do not require lighting to survive; however, like most living creatures, they do respond to day and night cycles. If you choose to add lighting for a day/night cycle or a bioactive enclosure, we recommend low-powered LEDs to prevent overheating your tarantulas.

We always recommend providing a water source in your tarantula’s enclosure! While tarantulas can obtain some moisture from their food, having a water dish serves as a vital "safety net". This ensures they have access to clean water between feedings, particularly before or after a molt when hydration is critical.

Tarantulas hydrate by physically drinking water from a shallow water dish. Providing a water source helps tarantulas regulate their moisture levels, especially if the enclosure becomes too dry.

While humidity or damp soil can slow dehydration, they cannot replace the need for a water dish. All invertebrates (tarantulas, spiders, centipedes, scorpions, etc.) lose water over time and can dehydrate if a water source is not available.

A good rule of thumb: If you wouldn’t drink from it, your tarantula can’t either.

Note: We strongly recommend offering water to tarantulas you’ve recently picked up locally or received via shipping. Tarantulas need water to function, as they move by pumping fluid in and out of their legs. If they become dehydrated, they may lose the ability to move properly.

Tarantulas do not need much for their enclosures—just a container with ample ventilation and enough space to move around.

Sizing Guidelines:

• Fossorial Species:
  Enclosure should be 2 times the leg span in length and width, and 3-4 times the leg span in height, with a soil depth of 2-3 times the leg span.
• Terrestrial Species:
  Enclosure should be 2-3 times the leg span in length and width, and 2 times the leg span in height, with a soil depth of 1 leg span.
• Arboreal Species:
  Enclosure should be 2-3 times the leg span in length and width, and 3-4 times the leg span in height, with a soil depth of at least 3 inches.

Many keepers use containers from places like Hobby Lobby or even simple shoe boxes with ventilation holes. Others prefer more aesthetically pleasing enclosures, such as Tarantula Room Enclosures—our line of enclosures specifically designed for keeping and breeding tarantulas!

We use organic coconut fiber for our soil because it is mold resistant, and fairly cheap and easy to find.

You can use other soils if you need to for bioactive, just make sure to get them from a pet store, or that you get it from an online shop that you know makes pet-safe soil.

Lowe's Hardware, or other supplies stores DO NOT sanitize their soils and can have fertilizers or pesticides in the soil (since their dirt is meant for gardens) and can be risky to use. Message us if you have questions about the safety of your soil.

Tarantulas do not need much in their enclosure and will often create their own hide if one is not provided. However, the more naturalistic you make the enclosure, mimicking the animal's natural habitat, the more active the animal will be. We always recommend adding at least some form of hide to the enclosure. This can be a log, a chunk of cork bark, or even plastic decorations. We recommend using natural materials whenever possible.

Arboreal species need something to climb on to stay off the ground—this is a necessity! Branches, logs, or cork rounds work best, as arboreals thrive with real wood and tend to be more active when it is included.

Terrestrial and fossorial species appreciate a half log, cork round, or any other hide they can retreat under. Naturally, the more naturalistic the setup, the better!

Live plants are not required but can enhance the appearance of the enclosure. Depending on the species, live plants can also encourage more activity. Arboreals appreciate and will interact more with plants, but they can add a cool effect to terrestrial setups as well.

NOTE: We advise against using things from outside, since there can be pesticides, or things that can harm your tarantulas in these items. Remember, while they may be resistant to things in their environment, they are not resistant to things in nature here since they are often from completely different regions.

Tarantulas do not need additional heat, as all species thrive between 65°F and 75°F. We recommend avoiding the use of heating elements, especially if you're new to keeping tarantulas. They are generally unnecessary and are more likely to cause issues than to benefit your pet.

A heat source should only be considered if the ambient temperature where your tarantulas are kept drops below 60°F or if you are breeding tarantulas.

If heating is necessary, focus on warming the entire room rather than the individual enclosure, as direct heat can quickly cause overheating. Gradually increase the ambient temperature until it reaches the desired range. Never place a heater directly on or facing the enclosures, as they can trap heat like incubators, causing the temperature to rise dangerously fast.