Mike's Basic Tarantula
A Basic Site for the Tarantula enthusiast
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Species Care Sheet (categories)
ARBOREALS (28)
Rameshwaram Ornamental (Poecilotheria hanumavillasumica) OW
Terestrials (96)
Unknown (Aphonopelma sp.) NW
Porch Grey (Aphonopelma sp.) "Cochise" NW B
Pampas Tawney Red (Grammostola grossa) NW B
Chilean Blue Femur Beauty (Bumba sp.)
Bolivian Blueleg (Pamphobeteus antinous) NW
Costa Rican Horned Tarantula (Sphaerobothria hoffmanni) NW
Obligate Burrowers (36)
(Ceratogyrus hillyardi)
Sandy Horned Baboon (Ceratogyrus sanderi)
(Lyrognathus crotalus) OW
(Lyrognathus lessunda) OW
(Lyrognathus robustus) OW
Panay Grayish-Blue (Orphnaecus sp.) OW
These care sheets are based on my personal experiences with that particular species. I have been keeping tarantulas since 1987. Most of the tarantulas listed below were raised by me from spiderlings or juveniles. The care sheets are for juveniles to adulthood for that particular species. In the listings, tarantulas not raised from spiderlings or juveniles, but were bought as sub-adults, are listed with an asterisk. They were, I believe, wild caught but have been by me kept for over three years. Of the two-hundred-twelve tarantulas I own, I only have nine wild caught; and seven of them were purchased as juveniles, and has been in my care for at least three years. I prefer buying captive born spiders over wild caught. I find enjoyment watching my babies grow. Each care sheet is based on years of maintenance for that species. I have several species listed in my collection that I haven't drafted a care sheet, because I haven't own that species for more than three years. At three years, most of my spiderlings are young adult size. I choose not to write a care sheet for a species until it reaches adult size because there are many variables with a spiderling to an adult of the same species. For an example, most spiderlings are flighty and reclusive, where as an adult of that same species may become docile and a good display spider.
Another note to remember when reading these care sheets, are that they are written for that particular species as a "RULE", but there are EXCEPTIONS to every rule. I have seen an OBT that was a pet rock, it can be flipped on its back, while in your hand and belly rubbed. I watched it myself with amazement. "PLEASE, DON"T TRY THAT!" You must learn the disposition of your individual spider.
Because of the frequent molts of a spiderling, I keep all spiderlings on slightly damp substrate until they reaches the juvenile size for that particular species, with a lot of ventilation.
I live in Miami, Florida, which is near the tropic zone. My T room is eleven feet by twelve feet 11' x 12' (3.35m x 3.66m). It has one window, with no air conditioning. The room is insulated, so it basically keep the same temperature, except on extreme cold or hot days, 40° to 60°F (4.4-15.5c) or above 90°F (32.2c); then I need to open the door to the living quarters of the house to regulate the temperature. The window in my T room is always open except in these extreme conditions; this helps with the humidity, for in Miami, the humidity is normally above sixty-five percent 65%, which make it easier to care for my tarantulas. I explained this because where you live and housed your collection may change how you care for your tarantula; so these care sheets that I have drafted are relative; this is why I have included the natural habitat of the species in the care sheets. The climate care for the species does not change, but how you arrive at it may. I trust that you find these care sheets helpful to ensure that you and your pet have a long healthy and happy life together.
...AND REMEMBER, ALL OF THESE SPECIES ARE TO BE KEPT SOLITARY UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED.
OLD WORLD = OW
NEW WORLD = NW
BEGINNER "T" = B
DWARF = D
COMMUNAL = C
COMMON NAME (SCIENTIFIC NAME)
(click on species name)
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All photos on this website are courtesy of Mike Basic Tarantula unless stated otherwise. It's prohibited to copy without permission of author.
