Tarantublog

There is an FAQ section in the main menu but I thought to add a more elaborate version to the Beginner's section as a sticky.

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions by beginners in the T keeping hobby.

Q1: What are safe minimum and maximum temperatures for tarantulas?
A1: Tarantulas are naturally found in a vast range of climates. The majority live in the temperate zones of the globe where temperatures rarely drop below 18 degrees Celcius or rise above 30 degrees Celcius. There are Tarantulas that can endure extreme fluctuations in temperature and humidity, but a safe range would be between 24 and 28 degrees Celcius. ALWAYS ensure that you are familiar with the conditions that exist in your spiders natural environment and endeavour to mimic this closely as possible. NEVER leave a terrarium in direct sunlight to increase its temperature and do your best not to let temps drop below 10 degrees Celsius either! Although the t may survive, it's risky and may bring complications should a T need to moult.

Q2: What about humidity?
A2: Humidity is a little less critical and anywhere between 30% and 80% will be acceptable (humidity is more critical for breeding etc.). At the lower end of the humidity scale, there will be less risk of parasites growing but you need to make sure the tarantula is regularly fed or has a water source for hydration. At higher humidity, a lot of species will be more comfortable (notably some South American rain forest species) but there is a higher risk of mould or parasites so more care needs to be taken in removing food remains and excrement. It is more difficult to accurately control humidity without the correct equipment, the safe route would be to ensure a good size shallow water bowl is available.

Don't keep your T in a swamp unless it needs these conditions like Theraphosa blondi (the Goliath Birdeating T), try find care sheets for your specific T to find out what is generally known to be acceptable. Don't spray your tarantula with water and don't mist the enclosure too often.

TIP: Get yourself a DIGITAL thermometer/hygrometer to keep an eye on your temperatures and humity levels.

Q3: What size terrarium is necessary and what sort of substrate is best?
A3: Generally triple the tarantulas maximum leg span is generally accepted as sufficient space. Substrates can vary but peat moss or peat moss mixed with soil is the most popular. The depth/volume of substrate can be quite important for terrestrial (burrowing) species. Live plants that are able to endure low light conditions are considered very healthy in a terrarium. Avoid too much room between your terrarium's lid and your substrate. Avoid sharp decorations for larger species as they can fall and injure themselves. Remember that tarantulas are nocturnal and light sensitive as a result, but light will not adversely affect them either.

Q4: My tarantula is on it's back with it's legs curled! Is it ok and what do I do?
A4: One of the most common questions from people when the witness this behaviour. A Tarantula has to moult/remove the old exuvium (skin) in order to grow, and 99% of the time it's perfectly normal for it to flip on it's back in order to break free from the old exuvium and push it up and away from it's new suit :) It's the most vulnerable stage in the growth of a Tarantula, they should not be touched, moved or bothered. It's a good idea to remove any uneaten prey items when your Tarantula enters pre-moult and stops eating in preparation for a moult.
Good indicators of an impending moult are refusal of food coinciding with an enlarged opisthosoma (abdomen). This can sometimes be a long-term condition, 18 months is not uncommon in some slow growing species. If your Tarantula has lost a lot of its bristles or "hair" on its abdomen, the light exposed skin will darken just before a moult as the newly regenerated "hair" has formed underneath. The abdomen will look almost black.

Q5: How do I know what the sex of my tarantula is?
A5: The only 100% accurate method to sex a Tarantula is by examining the exuvium (recently moulted "skin") under magnification (except on larger specimens). Females will have visible spermathecae which are the genital structures which make up part of the female reproductive system but that remain a part of the exuvium on most species.

Tarantulas can also be sexed ventrally by examining the ventral region (under the abdomen between the first set of book lungs) but it takes a lot of experience and is not very accurate. Some species being relatively easy while others are near impossible to sex via this method.

Other spiders have distinctive patterns that might be an indication of the sex. Most Tarantulas look almost identical throughout their lives, BUT in others, sexual dimorphism occurs. This means that males look completely different to females after their maturing (ultimate) moult and is a clear indication of the tarantula's sex.

More information on "sexing Tarantulas available [url=http://www.tarantulas.co.za/forum/know-your-tarantula/18753-sexing-a-tarantula]HERE[/url].

Q6: What are best foods for my tarantula?
A6: Healthy crickets and cockroaches are best and the most common food source available. Meal worms are also acceptable if your Tarantula takes them. Some larger species may also take pinkie mice on occasion. As a rule never feed prey that is larger than the Tarantulas body and be aware that some prey species can fight back and harm your tarantula! (ie. crickets if the tarantula is too small our when it's moulting, mice can also sometimes injure big tarantulas and are generally not recommended). [b][u]DO NOT FEED[/u][/b] your tarantulas crickets and other bugs that you find around the house, they may have been exposed to poisons and other toxins that could prove fatal to your tarantula. Rather feed them with crickets bought from a feeder breeder or your local pet store.

Q7:  How do I know how much too feed or when to stop?
A7: You can feed as often as you like, as long as the tarantula keeps taking the prey, if a prey item is still in the enclosure after one evening, remove it and try again in a week or so, unless of course the T is already very large and full or perhaps approaching a molt. Overfeeding is not really possible so no need to worry but try not to overfeed none the less. Tarantulas can live on surprisingly little food, they can go months without food depending on species and size. Spiderlings (slings) need food more frequently than large adults in general, and again, the prey size must not exceed the spider's body size.

Q8: Can or should I handle my tarantula?
A8: In general tarantulas are not handleable pets but there are some species which can be handled with relative ease for display etc., like some Brachypemla and Grammostola species. The risk is more often for the tarantula to get hurt from a fall, or that the person will panic and send the T flying to it's death!
If you do decide to handle them, make sure to do it on the floor or low to the ground to minimize injury in the event of a fall.
Most New World species flick urticating hairs as a defence when they feel threatened and these can be quite uncomfortably itchy depending on species and the reaction also varies from person to person. That's the first warning, if you keep pestering it there is a chance it will bite too. Old world species will not do you that courtesy, they don't have urticating bristles to defend themselves and at the most they will warn you by raising their front legs into a threat pose, exposing their fangs, and if they still feel threatened, here come the fangs and normally a nasty venom too.

Q9: Can I keep local baboon spiders?
A9: Keeping of ANY local species of baboon spiders, as well as some baboon spiders from other regions (Pterinochilus murinus 'Usumbara Starburst baboon' also know as the OBT etc.) is prohibited by law, refer to the www.tarantulas.co.za 'Rules' section IV for more info.

Q10: How often does a tarantula moult?
A10: It varies between species and size. The younger the tarantula, the more often it will moult, from 2-4 weeks when tiny, to every couple of months when a sub-adult, to up to 18 months when very large. Different species grow at considerably different rates which also influences moulting times.

Q11: Can I die if my Tarantula bites me? What happens if I get bit?
A11: There have been no confirmed deaths due to the bite of a tarantula, and the few reports which include tarantula bite when a death occurs is more due to lack of care for the wound and death was due to bacterial infections getting out of hand. Some old world species pack a powerful venom like Stromatopelma calceatum (Featherleg Baboon), and it is thought that a bite to the neck area or into a vein could prove fatal but this has yet to be established. If an Old world species with a nasty venom bites you, you will experience intense pain and a very VERY hot burning under the skin which often sends people off to hospital in search of pain relief. Another very common symptom is intense cramping of muscles all over the body from 12 to 72 hours and sometimes cramps still happen up to weeks down the line. You've been warned! Respect and take precautions when working with Tarantulas.

Q12: What are Urticating hairs?
A12: They are actually bristles, no tarantula has "hair" as such. Urticating bristles are tiny harpoon shaped bristles with sharp barbs designed to enter the skin and not come out, much like the barb on a fishing hook, once it's in, getting it out is going to be a drama. To make matters worse they possess a coating which causes itchiness and discomfort on human skin but the reaction varies person to person. These bristles were design as a defence for tarantulas that may feel threatened by approaching danger, and flicking these into the face, eyes or nose of a would be predator would certainly make the predator think twice. The bristles on the Theraphosa blondi (Goliath birdeater) are reported to have the worst itch and burn of all.

Q13: My tarantula is motionless with it's legs curled in under it's body? What's wrong?
A13: If a tarantula curls up into a small ball with it's legs curled in beneath it, it is generally a very bad sign and usually means the T is preparing for death, or is already dead. If you suspect the T to still be alive, seek help from other keepers and consider placing the T in an ICU. Don't just assume it's dead, wait until you can "smell" that it's dead before making any funeral plans.

Q14: What's an ICU?
A14: An ICU is basically a clean environment in which to place a T that is ill or suffering from one or other problem. ICU's are usually a clean plastic container with a lid, lined with moist (NOT DAMP) paper towelling and plenty of ventilation holes. ICU's can also be completely dry depending on what problem the T is dealing with. An ICU should be cleaned at least every second day.

Q15: My T has buried itself, what now?
A15: A tarantula may bury itself for many reasons, most of the time it means they are approaching a moult. DON'T go digging your T out of it's hide, just let it be and it will surface again. If you suspect after weeks that something is wrong then you can try and break in to it's hide to find out what's going on, but be VERY gentle, you will kick yourself in the shins if you happen to kill your T mid-moult as you were digging...

Q16: What does instar mean?
A16: Instar is the name given to the periods a tarantula goes through between moults and is a way of monitoring a tarantulas growth and age. 1st instar is usually when a T has moulted from being a nymph into a fully fledged spiderling. However, if you walk into a pet store and ask the attendant what instar that tarantula is, don't expect an answer, but a breeder however should always be able to tell you what instar his/her slings currently are.

Q17: My T's seem agitated and always sits on the side of the enclosure?
A17: It's mostly possible that they are not enjoying the substrate in their enclosure. Make sure that your substrate is not too wet or littered with lots of enclosure decorations that leave the T feeling like it has nowhere to rest. Keep an eye on your T and observe it's actions, you might just pick up what it's unhappy about.