Tarantulas might be the lowest-maintenance pet on this entire site. Feed them once a week, top up their water dish, leave them alone, that's most of the husbandry. The catch: they're display animals, not handling animals, and a single fall can be fatal.
Enclosure & Setup
Species-dependent. Terrestrial New World Ts (Chilean Rose, Mexican Red Knee, Brazilian Black) need a wide, shallow enclosure with deep substrate. Arboreal species need a tall vertical enclosure with cork bark.
Heat, Lighting & Humidity
Most tarantulas thrive at room temperature (70–80°F). No basking light needed. Humidity varies by species, dry for desert species, 70%+ for tropical.
Diet & Feeding
Crickets, discoids, or hornworms once a week for adults; more often for juveniles. Always remove uneaten prey within 24 hours, crickets will harm a molting tarantula.
Handling & Temperament
Don't, especially Old World species. New World Ts can be handled with extreme care, but a fall from any height can rupture the abdomen and kill them. Treat them as display animals.
A leftover cricket in the enclosure overnight can kill a molting tarantula. Tongs-feed; remove what isn't eaten in 24 hours.
Common Issues To Watch For
A fall from handling is the #1 cause of death. Dehydration (always provide a water dish). Mites from old prey items. During molting, leave them completely alone, interrupting a molt can be fatal.
