Criptic's Page On Herps - Tarantulas

Tropical species do best at the mid-upper 70's F. North American and Chilean species can be kept cooler, but they will stop eating if it gets down to the 60's F. The warmer you keep tarantulas the more they eat, and the faster they grow, due to a higher metabolism. To heat a tarantulas home you have two choices that work well; ambient temperature (the room), or a light bulb. Tarantulas will not use a hot rock like some reptiles will. They do not bask for heat like most cold blooded animals. They rely on the air temperature around them. Using incandescent lights to warm a tarantula's home can be risky. You could easily dry out the tarantula. Use a low watt bulb in conjunction with a digital thermometer. A tarantula will get stressed in the upper 90's F, and will die in the 100's F.

Humidity

Tarantulas must always have water. Although, they don't always have it in the wild, your home isn't the wild. Your house in the winter is probably drier then any desert. Make sure to provide a small shallow dish of water. If you have problems with the prey food drowning in the water provide a sponge, or slanted rock for them to get out. Tarantulas can go long periods without food, but must have water. Even those that live in the desert, dig burrows to protect them from dry air. These burrows tend to be rather humid. For tropical species a humidity of 70-80 % should work. Keep the substrate moist, but not to the point that condensation is forming on the walls of the enclosure. Desert tarantulas should have about 40-50% humidity. Make sure that there is always air flow in the enclosure, or you will end up with fungus growing in/on your substrate.

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