Tarantula Cribs

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Science-backed care guides written by real keepers. Whether you're just starting out or leveling up your husbandry, you're in the right place.

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Beginner

Tarantulas 101: Terrestrial, Arboreal & Fossorial

5 min read

Learn the three tarantula lifestyle types and how to set up the right enclosure for each.

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Feeding Your Tarantula: What, When & How Much

5 min read

Prey sizing, feeding frequency, and what to do when your tarantula refuses food.

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The Molt: What to Expect & How to Help

4 min read

Understanding the molting process, pre-molt signs, and what not to do when your T goes into molt.

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How to Rehouse a Tarantula Safely

6 min read

Step-by-step rehousing guide for new keepers — including old world species.

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Bioactive Enclosures: Cleanup Crew 101

4 min read

Why every bioactive setup needs isopods and springtails — and how to set one up right.

Coming Soon

Choosing the Right Enclosure for Your Species

5 min read

Size, ventilation, access — how to match an enclosure to your animal's actual needs.

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Tarantula Cribs

Husbandry Hub

Your go-to resource for keeping tarantulas and inverts healthy and thriving. Science-backed care guides written by real keepers, plus one-on-one expert consultations with our team. New content drops regularly.

Care Guides

Written by keepers, reviewed for accuracy, and grounded in science. Whether you're setting up your first enclosure or troubleshooting a tricky species, start here.

Understanding Tarantula Lifestyles: Terrestrial, Arboreal & Fossorial

Beginner · 5 min read

The single most important thing to know before setting up any tarantula enclosure is your animal's lifestyle type. Get this right and everything else gets easier.

🌿 Terrestrial Tarantulas

Terrestrial tarantulas live on the ground — roaming open terrain and retreating into shallow burrows or hides when threatened. Built for horizontal movement, not climbing.

Common species: Mexican Red Knee (Brachypelma hamorii), Chaco Golden Knee (Grammostola pulchripes), Salmon Pink Birdeater (Lasiodora parahybana)

PriorityFloor space over height
Substrate2–4 inches coco coir + topsoil
HumidityDry with moist corner for gradient
HeightNo more than 1.5x leg span above substrate — falls can be fatal
Water dishAlways provide one and keep it full

🌳 Arboreal Tarantulas

Arboreal tarantulas live in trees — in hollow branches, under bark, or inside bromeliad plants. Fast, agile, and highly adapted for vertical living.

Common species: Martinique Pink Toe (Caribena versicolor), Common Pink Toe (Avicularia avicularia), Indian Ornamental (Poecilotheria regalis)

PriorityHeight over floor space
VentilationCross-ventilation is non-negotiable — stagnant air is the #1 husbandry killer
AnchorCork bark leaned vertically for webbing attachment
AccessFront-opening enclosure — top access destroys tube webs
HumidityLightly moist base, good airflow — never stuffy

🪨 Fossorial Tarantulas

Fossorial tarantulas are burrowers — living almost entirely underground. Rarely seen at the surface, and that is completely normal.

Common species: Cobalt Blue (Cyriopagopus lividum), Asian Earth Tigers (Chilobrachys spp.), Trapdoor Baboon (Idiothele mira)

PriorityDeep substrate — minimum 6–8 inches
Mix70% coco coir / 20% topsoil / 10% sand
MoistureKeep bottom third moist, top dry
VisibilityDon't panic if you never see them — normal behavior
WateringPour slowly down one corner every 2–4 weeks
Sources: Foelix, R.F. (2011). Biology of Spiders (3rd ed.). Oxford University Press. · Cloudsley-Thompson, J.L. (1983). Desert Adaptations in Spiders and Scorpions. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
📋 More guides coming soon — feeding, molting, rehousing, and species spotlights.
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