Tarantulas are the lowest-maintenance pet in this guide: quiet, needing little space, eating once a week, and — for females of many species — living 15 to 30 years. They are display pets, not cuddly ones, and the hobby rewards patience and observation. The two decisions that matter most are which species you buy and how you treat the molt.
Check local laws first: tarantulas are regulated or prohibited in some jurisdictions. And find an exotics vet with invertebrate experience before you need one — standard vets generally cannot treat tarantulas.
At a glance
- Adult size: roughly 4–7 inches leg span, depending on species
- Lifespan: females 15–30 years in many beginner species; males much shorter
- Enclosure: 5–10 gallons for most terrestrial adults
- Temperature: 70–80°F (21–27°C) room temperature for most beginner species
- Humidity: species-dependent, roughly 50–80%
- Feeding: adults every 7–14 days; juveniles 2–3 times a week
Choosing a beginner species
Not all tarantulas are suitable for beginners. Fast-moving, defensive, or highly venomous species should be left to experienced keepers. The best beginner species are slow-moving, docile, tolerant of handling mistakes, and forgiving of small husbandry errors:
- Mexican red-knee (Brachypelma hamorii): the classic beginner tarantula. Extremely slow-growing, exceptionally docile, visually striking. Females can live 25–30 years.
- Chilean rose hair (Grammostola rosea): perhaps the most recommended starter species. Placid, slow-moving, and tolerant of room temperatures.
- Curly hair (Tliltocatl albopilosus): calm and hardy, a good first spider.
- Brazilian black (Grammostola pulchra): slow, calm, and long-lived; females may live 20–25 years.
- Chaco golden knee (Grammostola pulchripes): possibly the most laid-back tarantula in the hobby.
Avoid as a beginner any Poecilotheria (Old World arboreal, fast and with medically significant venom), Pterinochilus murinus (highly defensive), or any baboon spider. Their venom is not a joke, and their speed leaves no room for beginner mistakes.
The enclosure: floor space, deep substrate, secure lid
Terrestrial species live on and in the ground. Their enclosures should be wider than they are tall, with a floor area of at least three times the spider’s leg span in length. A 5–10 gallon glass or plastic terrarium with a secure lid is enough for most adults. Arboreal species are different — they need height — so buy the enclosure for the species you actually own.
- Substrate: deep enough to burrow — a minimum of 3–4 inches for adults, more for obligate burrowers. Coconut fibre, topsoil, or a mix works; keep it slightly moist for tropical species and mostly dry for arid species such as Grammostola and Brachypelma.
- Hide: a piece of cork bark or a half-buried hide gives the spider a retreat. Add a shallow water dish at all times, even for desert-adapted species.
- Ventilation: cross-ventilation — holes on the sides as well as the top — provides the airflow terrestrial tarantulas need.
- No bright light, no heat lamp. Tarantulas do not need bright light, and incandescent lights dry them out. Most beginner species do well at normal room temperature, around 70–80°F. Avoid under-tank heat mats for terrestrial species — they dig to find cooler spots and can overheat in the substrate. If your home is cold, warm the room, not the enclosure.
Humidity depends on the species: arid species such as Grammostola and Brachypelma want mostly dry substrate with a water dish, around 50–60% relative humidity, while tropical species need more moisture. Research your exact species — a single humidity number for “tarantulas” does not exist.
Feeding: live prey, measured portions
Tarantulas are ambush predators that eat live prey: crickets, dubia roaches, locusts, and occasional mealworms or superworms. Choose prey no larger than the tarantula’s abdomen, and buy captive-bred insects — never wild-caught, which can carry pesticides and parasites.
- Spiderlings and juveniles: small prey 2–3 times a week.
- Subadults and adults: every 7–14 days. Some slow species eat even less.
- Remove uneaten prey within 24 hours. A live cricket can injure or kill a moulting tarantula.
Do not feed mice, even thawed — they are too fatty, risk impaction, and a live mouse can bite and kill your tarantula. Tarantulas can go months without food, and fasting before a moult is normal. A spider that refuses food for weeks is usually not sick — it is usually about to moult.
The moult: do not disturb, do not feed
Moulting is the most dangerous time in a tarantula’s life, and most beginner deaths happen here. Signs of a coming moult include a darkening abdomen, refusal of food, lethargy, and sometimes a moult mat of silk on the ground.
- Do not disturb or feed during pre-moult and moult. The spider is soft and vulnerable, and a feeder insect can kill it.
- Do not handle a freshly moulted tarantula. Wait until the fangs harden — typically 7–14 days for adults and 3–7 days for juveniles — before offering food or handling.
- Keep the enclosure calm and humid enough for the species while it moults, without making the substrate wet.
If a moult goes wrong — a leg stuck in the old skin, for example — do not pull at it yourself. Contact an experienced keeper or an exotics vet.
Handling: less is more
Handling is generally discouraged. It stresses the spider, risks a fall that can rupture its abdomen, and risks a bite or a face full of urticating hairs for you. New World species flick tiny barbed hairs from their abdomen when threatened — they irritate skin and eyes and can cause a lasting allergic reaction. Tarantula venom in beginner species is generally compared to a bee sting, but an allergy can make any bite serious. Observe your spider; handle only when necessary, close to the ground, and never after it has just moulted.
Sources
- Tree of Life Exotic Pet Medical Center — Tarantula Care: https://treeoflifeexotics.vet/education-resource-center/for-clients/invertebrates/tarantula-care
- For Pets Healthcare — Tarantula Care for Beginners: https://www.forpetshealthcare.com/en/articles/tarantula-care-beginner
- Aquarium Breeder — 5 Cutest Tarantula Species for Beginners: https://aquariumbreeder.com/tarantula-as-pets/
- Learn About Nature — Keeping Tarantulas as Pets: https://www.learnaboutnature.com/invertebrates/spiders/keeping-tarantulas-pets/