We get it: you want to be that dangerous and antisocial guy who doesn’t want a usual pet such as a cat or a dog. Surely, those animals can be a blessing in the house, but you want more than that. You want to make that girl you like to believe that you’re a real badass who eats both the meat and the bones from his plate. A guy like that couldn’t possibly keep a cute cat or dog as a pet, right?
Since dinosaurs are long extinct from the face of the Earth, choosing a tarantula also sounds like an interesting option if you have a well-developed sense of adventure. Despite their inability to win any beauty contest, tarantulas can actually be suitable pets for some people.
It’s important to make sure that you can provide the right care and environment for your future eight-legged friend. Therefore, here are some basic guidelines:
Choose the right enclosure:
Just as any other living creature out there, tarantulas love to move around and not be trapped in a very tight environment. In other words, it’s mandatory to select an appropriate-sized enclosure that will allow for some burrowing space and climbing chances for your furry little terrifying friend. To prevent any possible escapes and see the animal eventually crawling on you at night, it’s essential to have a secure lid.
Feed the tarantula well:
Tarantulas are carnivores by nature, which means that insects are often on their menu. However, you can offer these creatures appropriately-sized live prey, such as roaches, crickets, and mealworms. You must take the age and species of your tarantula into account before you decide how frequently your little friend needs to be fed.
Tarantulas also need water:
Even though tarantulas might look like they’re from another planet, they still need to drink plenty of water, similar to any other creature on Earth. In other words, you must always provide a shallow dish of fresh water to your little friend. While some tarantulas might drink directly, others are able to get their water from the food they eat. In order to prevent any possible contamination, it’s essential to keep the water dish clean.
Hide and decor
Regardless of how scary tarantulas may be, they still need to feel in the middle of nature, surrounded by green plants and trees. Therefore, it’s a good idea to provide hiding spots and decor, such as artificial planets, for your furry friend. Let’s also not forget that tarantulas also need to feel secure, which means that it’s best for them to have a place to retreat.
Humidity and temperature:
Maintaining the right temperature and humidity levels for your tarantula is also an important part of keeping such a creature as a pet. Most tarantulas will thrive in temperatures between 24 and 29 degrees Celsius, while the humidity levels range from 60 to 80%.
Health monitoring:
Tarantulas may look like invincible and terrifying monsters, but they can also get sick, just like any other animals. Therefore, if you have such a spider as your pet, you need to be on the lookout for any behavior or appearance changes. If your tarantula is going through lethargy, abnormalities in the abdomen, or refusal to eat, specific health issues could be to blame, which brings us to our next point.
Pay visits to the vet:
You need to constantly keep the phone number of a vet who is experienced with arachnids. Therefore, feel free to take your beautiful spider to the vet if needed and even for regular checkups.
While the information provided here is general, it’s always a “must” to do your own research for the needs of the specific tarantula species you have as a pet.
