How often should you feed a tarantula? Learn the ideal feeding schedule for slings, juveniles, and adults, along with tips on prey size, recognizing when your tarantula isn't hungry, and avoiding overfeeding to keep your spider healthy.
Wondering if your tarantula needs supplemental heat? Learn the ideal temperature range for pet tarantulas, when heating is actually necessary, common heating mistakes to avoid, and the safest ways to keep your spider comfortable year-round. This guide explains how room temperature, seasonal changes, and proper enclosure placement affect tarantula health and behavior.
Some tarantula species are far more forgiving for beginners, offering calmer temperaments, hardy care requirements, slower movements, and simple enclosure setups ideal for first-time keepers.
New World and Old World tarantulas differ dramatically in temperament, venom potency, defensive behavior, speed, and husbandry, making the distinction one of the most important concepts in tarantula keeping.
Choosing your first tarantula involves balancing temperament, enclosure needs, growth rate, adult size, and handling expectations to find a species that matches your comfort level and long-term goals as a keeper.
The Electric Blue Tarantula (Chilobrachys natanicharum) is one of the most spectacular species in the hobby. Native to Thailand, this Old World tarantula is prized for its brilliant blue coloration, extensive webbing, and fascinating burrowing lifestyle. Explore its natural history, behavior, habitat, and captive care requirements.
The Cobalt Blue Tarantula (Cyriopagopus lividus) is a stunning Old World species known for its electric-blue legs, heavy webbing, and defensive temperament. Native to Thailand and Myanmar, this fossorial tarantula reaches 5–6 inches and is best suited for experienced keepers.
Native to the deserts of the American Southwest, Arizona Blonde Tarantulas are calm terrestrial spiders known for their hardy nature, slow movements, and exceptionally long lifespan in captivity.
The Panama Blonde Tarantula (Psalmopoeus reduncus) is a beautiful New World arboreal species known for its golden coloration, rapid growth, and impressive web-building behavior. Native to the tropical forests of Panama, this species offers keepers an engaging look at life high above the rainforest floor.
The Singapore Blue Tarantula (Omothymus violaceopes) is a massive Old World arboreal species known for its vivid blue coloration, extensive web-building behavior, and impressive size. Native to the tropical rainforests of Singapore and Malaysia, this advanced tarantula is one of the most spectacular display species in the hobby.
Brachypelma smithi vs Brachypelma hamorii ~ Mexican Red Knee Tarantulas remain one of the most iconic beginner species thanks to their striking coloration, manageable temperament, and simple terrestrial care requirements.
The Cameroon Red Baboon Tarantula (Hysterocrates gigas) is a massive Old World species from the humid rainforests and river systems of West Africa. Known for its powerful burrowing behavior, impressive size, and unusual tolerance for wet environments, this fascinating tarantula offers experienced keepers a unique glimpse into one of Africa's most remarkable subterranean predators.
The Mexican Flame Knee Tarantula, Brachypelma auratum, is a calm New World species known for its fiery orange leg markings, hardy nature, and classic terrestrial behavior.
The Sri Lankan Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria fasciata) is a stunning arboreal species native to Sri Lanka's tropical forests. Discover its natural habitat, appearance, behavior, enclosure requirements, feeding, and expert care recommendations in this comprehensive species and care guide.
The Lowland Ivory Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria subfusca) is a spectacular arboreal species from the warm tropical forests of Sri Lanka. Learn about its natural habitat, appearance, behavior, enclosure requirements, feeding, humidity, and expert care in this comprehensive species and care guide.
Discover the Highland Ivory Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria subfusca), a spectacular arboreal species from Sri Lanka's cool mountain cloud forests. Learn about its habitat, appearance, behavior, enclosure setup, feeding, humidity, and expert care requirements in this comprehensive species guide.
The Fringed Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria ornata) is a giant arboreal species from the rainforests of Sri Lanka. Known for its intricate black-and-white patterning, yellow warning coloration, and impressive size, this advanced-level tarantula is considered one of the most spectacular members of the ornamental tarantula genus.

