Data sheet tarantulas
Trade name:
tarantula
Latin name:
Theraphosidae
Order:
web spider
Family:
tarantula
Genus:
arachnids
Origin:
subtropics, tropics
Size (in cm:
between 2 and 12
Terrarium size:
may be small, cube-shaped
Length and width:
Edge length at least 60 cm
Temperature:
23 to 28ºC
Behave
Lining:
Insects, reptiles, mice, smaller birds
Behavior/stocking:
depending on the species, peaceful to aggressive
Number:
single keeping
Life expectancy:
between 5 and 20 years
Difficulty level:
easy to intermediate Ltshears – Trisha M Shears, Tarantula 020, marked as public domain, details on Wikimedia Commons
General information
Tarantulas have been around for over 350,000,000 years on earth. Her family includes nearly 1,000 different types. Tarantulas are arachnids.
She populate the subtropics and tropics, including regions of Europe, Australia, America, Africa and Asia to count. One species lives on shrubs or treesothers prefer that soil and caves.
Usually tarantulas reach between 2 and 12 centimeters Size. The females are usually larger than the males.
Tarantulas are predominantly eight-eyed, but you eyesight is bad. You can just about perceive contrasts between light and dark. Her Hearing is also not very developed.
However, these deficiencies are compensated for by the sense of touch. The many hairs on their legs ensures that tarantulas every little movement feel and react very quickly.
Tarantulas in the terrarium
Tarantulas are content with one smaller terrarium. Ideally, this is cube-shaped. So that the spider does not break out, a drop disc terrarium. Glass panes are easier to clean than plastic containers.
Before buying a tarantula, a terrarium is set up for the animal and equipped with the necessary items. These include one good lighting, a hygrometer, a thermometer, a heating mat, plants, substrate, hiding spots, and a shallow drinking water bowl.
The Terrarium technology is first checked for functionality for a day. If necessary, improvements and readjustments can be made before the spider moves in.
lighting and temperature
Light and warmth are important for tarantulas. you love Temperatures from 23°C to 28°C. The nighttime temperature should be lowered to reflect their natural habitat. The tarantulas cannot tolerate too much cold or heat and can even die from it. The heating or near the window are therefore not a good choice of location for the terrarium.
The topic of humidity is also important for tarantulas, so it is worth using a hygrometer. The heating mat is not a good idea for a cave-dwelling tarantula, as it can burn the animalwhen it is in direct contact with the device. One An alternative is a 25-watt incandescent lamp.
planting
Proper plants ensure a positive terrarium climate. However, the planting should untreated be so as not to harm the animals. The pet trade offers a lavish selection of plants for warm and smaller terrariums. Artificial plants work just as well, because they can certainly tolerate the temperatures. Nest ferns, climbing ficus and ivy are suitable.
This planting is robust. However, if the tarantula likes to dig, regular renewal of the plants is necessary. Artificial plants are more worthwhile here.
The floor
potting soil without fertilizers and additives can be used as substrate. If you value security, you should special soil in the pet store buy. However, it should be free of mold and bugs. Moist soil and embankments please the tarantulas. We recommend replacing the substrate completely twice a year.
lining
Tarantulas lie in wait when they are looking for food. She grab the prey with their jaws. Then they bite their victim and inject their venom, which causes the body to decompose. The prey slowly liquefies and the spider sucks it in.
Depending on their species, various insects, reptiles, mice or smaller birds are on the menu of tarantulas.
gender differences
Sex differences are best seen when tarantulas die sexual maturity have attained. The sexual characteristics of the males are quite striking. These are hers, for example bulbs, which store the sperm until reproduction after the males have built their sperm web. In some species of tarantula, male spiders possess shin hooks.
If the buccal pair of lungs has a camber as well as one normal hairiness on, it is a female tarantula. If the area hairless and flat or fringe of hair formed around him, it is a male tarantula.
In females, the outer uterus and sperm store are recognizable because they are lobed in shape. females reach a older age as male.
Males are recognizable in contrast to the females smaller. Males find death much more quickly, because their job is to moult after maturing for the junior production to care. The females the males often eat after mating.
breed
If you are interested in breeding tarantulas, you need a pair of tarantulas that are suitable for breeding. Accordingly, the spiders should advance extensively observed become.
The male ready to mate pumps its semen into the reproductive organs first. This process is very complex. As a preparatory measure, it produces the so-called sperm net.
The net is attached to objects in such a way that they are hidden underneath. Now the male tarantula fastens his sperm in the web. Then it picks up the sperm with its bulbs and is now ready for mating.
When this male meets a female, they perform the mating. Included the male tarantula trembles or drums with his feelers and legs.
The female tarantula feels these vibrations and comes out of his cave. It also drums with its caliper and first pair of walking legs. This is how it communicates its willingness to mate.
The tarantula male stimulated now his female by feeling her front legs. The female elevates his front body, so that the male gets his bulbs to the hind body of his female. The male tarantula inserts these bulbs into the female reproductive organ and the mating process begins.
Once the mating process has been successful, the male tarantula runs awayso that it is not attacked, killed or eaten.
Breeders should ye Feed females properly after matingbecause that boosts egg production.
The tarantulas lay 600 to 2,000 tarantula eggs per clutch. It can a half a year before oviposition occurs. The male tarantula’s sperm are collected in the female’s sperm store to prevent loss.
The female tarantula only lays her eggs when she thinks the time is right. For this it spins dense web in a cave and lays its eggs on a spider web carpet on which it lays the eggs. The Spider eggs are not fertilized until they leave the female’s body. The clutch is compacted into a spider cocoon. The female tarantula guards and defends her cocoon. All eggs should thrive under the same good conditions.
Within 2 months, creatures arise in the eggsthat hardly look like tarantulas. They are colorless and the legs are partially developed. Now that begins hatching of the larvaebut they remain in their cocoon.
So far, the small animals have not been able to move. it pass a few weeks until they reach the second instar larvae change by moulting. The beings are still colorless and have no hair.
Now the young spiders molt again, but mostly outside their cocoon. you are now mature and viable. From now on it’s time Time to separate the young spiders as they are now hunting with some species leading to cannibalism tend. The female tarantula finishes her brood care.
Breeders should keep the young spiders enough food give. Fruit flies or young house crickets are good choices.
The different tarantula species reproduce throughout the year. There is no specific period.
socialization
tarantulas should be kept separateunless they are to be bred.
Other questions
Do tarantulas hunt birds?
No, Birds are not on the prey list of tarantulas. The name bird-like spider comes from an art engraving from 1705 by Maria Sibylla Merian. She noted that a spider over a deceased hummingbird. Linnaeus is responsible for the name tarantula.
Do tarantulas like to be in contact with humans?
No, this spider is no stuffed animal. She feels stressed when being lifted out of her terrarium and may bite or flee.
Are molting common in tarantulas?
Tarantulas begin to grow when they molt. The Shedding occurs regularlybut the gaps increase with age.
during a molt Quiet and higher humidity important. Once the tarantula’s legs are underneath its body, it’s either sick or deadsince the moult was interrupted.
You should pay attention to this when buying
Anyone who wants to buy a tarantula should keep in mind that they live very long and become aware of their responsibility for the animal. Spiders are also for many people a red clothwhich also needs to be considered.
Tarantulas are available from pet stores and breeders. Some tarantula species are protected and require one proof of their origin. There are also dangerous species notifiable. It exists of one kind or another Purchase ban for private individuals. Each state regulates this differently.