Basic Adult Housing
This go's for all species of tarantula. The basic housing of an adult tarantula is a tank 30x30cm. This must have a snug lid as tarantulas are escape artists.
Fill the tank with 15-20cm of coco-peat. The coco-peat should be nuked in the microwave for a few minutes to make sure there no bugs, cool and apply. (This is a precautionary method that is recommended) You can’t just use any dirt. Store bought dirt may contain fertilizers or other chemicals and dirt from outside can contain mites and other nasties.
Tarantulas like to burrow so giving them deep soil to dig in will keep them happy. Adding decorations like rocks or reptile hides (rocks should be soaked in hot water if they are taken from outside) can give your tarantula the option not to burrow, and they can be just as happy with a cave to hide in.
A water bowl should be kept although it is not a necessity. Tarantulas can get their water from the moisture in the soil and humidity in the air.
Tarantulas that are not given soil to burrow in or a hide to take refuge in will quickly become stressed out and die
Basic Spiderling Housing
Spiderlings are easy to house. Just add coco-peat thats damp (not soggy) and a piece of sphagnum moss to give them something to hide under and start to web up on. They will live comfortably in small containers and a 30mm spiderling would do better in a 5cm container than a large tank.
Spiderling containers.
A very basic tank
Specific Housing for Adult Desert Species
Desert/Arid Species include the Selenotholus and Selenotypus Genus. These tarantulas prefer to burrow deep into the ground and are active diggers. They prefer a 50/50 sand/coco-peat mix and a slightly dryer enclosure.
These guys are Obliged Burrowers, meaning in the wild they dig burrows so to keep their tanks as natural as possible, lean more towards rocks and sticks rather than reptile hides.
Specific Housing for Adult Rainforest Species
Rainforest Species include the Phlogius, Selenocosmia and Coremiocnemis Genus. These tarantulas prefer to utilize rocks, bark, tin sheets etc. rather than build their own burrow. Plain coco-peat is good but some sand mixed in won’t hurt either.
These guys are known as opturnistic burrowers and will rather the gap under a rock or the reptile hide to the other option of digging an entire burrow.
in both cases their are exceptions. I have Rainforest tarantulas that are little bulldozers and Arids that prefer not to burrow.
keep in mind that just because you go to the effort of putting a hide in the tank, doesnt mean yout pet wont abandon it for a snug corner
