Tarantula Terrarium Guide

The type of cage or terrarium that you will need to buy for your tarantula, depends of the species type of the tarantula that you’re housing.

As a general rule of thumb, your tarantula terrarium should have a length and width of at least 3 by 2 times the size of the tarantula’s leg span.

How high the cage for your tarantula should be, depends on the species.

Any terrarium should have a heating pad, sufficient substrate, a water dish, a place for your tarantula to hide and a secured screen cover on top that won’t come off without your help. You have the option to add plants to the terrarium, and this comes recommended especially for the arboreal species.

All in all, a one time investment upfront of 200 dollars should be enough to set your tarantula up for a great life!

Dimensions of the Cage: how tall should a tarantula terrarium be?

Arboreal tarantulas, such as the Avicularia avicularia, require a tall terrarium, that can simulate the life in the trees that they’re used to in the wild.

Burrowing tarantulas, on the other hand, require a deeper substratum on the bottom of the terrarium, so that they can make the holes in which they live in the wild as well. For these burrowing species, a shorter terrarium is advisable, because when they crawl up too high and fall down, rupture of the abdomen is a realistic risk and a possible lethal event for your tarantula, especially after feeding. Make sure there is enough room for the substrate though.

It is considered humane to ensure that the terrarium of your tarantula is at least three by two times the leg span of your tarantula specimen. This means that a Goliath birdeater tarantula will require a much larger habitat than an Aphonopelma spp, which is one of the smallest tarantula species out there. 

Account for growth when you’re shopping for a terrarium for your tarantula when it’s not yet achieved adulthood. 

Best terrarium type for arboreal tarantulas

Arboreal tarantulas need tall cages to simulate their natural environment in the wild, where they live in trees.

But just the tall cage won’t do it. You need to add plants and branches to the cage to simulate this forest biome for your tarantula. 

It is alright to add some lighting to the terrarium, but don’t overdo it. For heating, it is better to use a heat pad than a lightbulb. 

Where to place the heat pad in the tarantula terrarium

Tarantula terrariums require a heating pad because most tarantula species live in tropical biomes. 

Just like with ant formicariums, however, it is best for the animal if it can choose itself how warm he likes it to be by placing the heat pad on one side of the terrarium. This way the animal can find the exact temperature of his liking by moving around the terrarium. It’s better to place the heat pad against the glass of the terrarium than below it, because heating the terrarium from below would distribute the heat more equally, which is what we don’t want. 

Although the ideal temperature of the cage is species specific, most tarantulas thrive when the temperature doesn’t drop below 72 degrees fahrenheit, or 22 degrees celsius. 

Can I place several tarantulas in one cage?

No, in general you should have one tarantula per enclosure, because tarantulas have a tendency to attack and sometimes kill each other.

In the wild, tarantulas are solitary species, and they only meet up with other tarantulas to mate. 

To be a good tarantula pet owner, therefore, it is imperative that you secure a terrarium for each individual tarantula that you have. 

How do I give my tarantula water?

You can simply give your tarantula water by providing it with a shallow dish of water which you regularly replenish. Make sure it is not to deep, to ensure your tarantula doesn’t drown.

Tarantulas get most of the moisture they need out of their food, so they don’t need a lot of water. They do however need to have enough moisture to successfully molt. Being dehydrated just before molting can be fatal to a tarantula, so be sure that it has access to water at all times.