Guidelines of the most common genera in the hobby. The information should be considered as guidelines and not as rules. Many tarantulas are kept in a similar way therefor I’ve divided them into groups.
For general info on how to take care of your spider – go here
CERATOGYRUS/CHAETOPELMA/EUCRATOSCELUS/PTERINOCHILUS
Temperature : 25-28c
Humidity : dry
Substrate : peat, or peat/soilmix
Terrestrial / arboreal : terrestrial
Keep these on dry substrate, with a thick layer so they can dig a burrow if wanted. Spray the cage now and then. Put a water dish in the terrarium and a slab of cork bark so they can hide. The size of the terrarium can be the standard size, 30x30x30cm but for Chaetopelma ssp. a bit smaller if you wish due to their small size.
CITHARISCHIUS/HYSTEROCRATES
Temperature : 25-28c
Humidity : slight moist
Substrate : peat, or peat/soilmix
Terrestrial / arboreal : terrestrial, deep burrowing
Keep these on slightly moist substrate, with a thick layer so they can dig a burrow. Spray the cage now and then. Put a water dish in the terrarium. No use for a cork bark or similar because they usually burrow fast after they been introduced in the new terrarium. The size of the terrarium can be the standard with a top opening so you can put as much substrate as possible.
CHILOBRACHYS/HAPLOPELMA
Temperature : 25-28c
Humidity : slight moist
Substrate : peat, or peat/soilmix
Terrestrial / arboreal : terrestrial, deep burrowing
Keep these on slightly moist substrate, with a thick layer so they can dig a burrow. Spray the cage now and then. Put a water dish in the terrarium. No use for a cork bark or similar because they usually burrow fast after they been introduced in the new terrarium. The size of the terrarium can be the standard with a top opening so you can put as much substrate as possible.
HETEROSCODRA/POECILOTHERIA/STROMATOPELMA/CYRIOPAGOPUS
Temperature : 25-28c
Humidity : slight moist
Substrate : peat, or peat/soilmix
Terrestrial / arboreal : arboreal
These are arboreal spiders, in nature you would find them in hollow trees or behind bark. You can keep these in a higher terrarium then standard, c:a 40x30x30cm, but its possible to keep them in a standard terrarium aswell. Lean a few pieces of cork bark, or cork bark tubes or bamboo tubes against the sides for shelter. Put a water dish in the cage. Spray the terrarium now and then. Place a few dry twigs and green plants to make it look a bit more natural.
AVICULARIA/PSALMOPOEUS
Temperature : 25-28c
Humidity : slight moist
Substrate : peat, or peat/soilmix
Terrestrial / arboreal : arboreal
These are arboreal spiders, in nature you would find them in bamboo tubes or in folded leafs and in rock crevices. You can keep these in a higher terrarium then standard, c:a 40x30x30cm, but its possible to keep them in a standard terrarium aswell. Lean a few pieces of cork bark, or cork bark tubes or bamboo tubes against the sides for shelter. Put a water dish in the cage. Spray the terrarium now and then. Place a few dry twigs and green plants to make it look a bit more natural.
APHONOPELMA/BRACHYPELMA “RED LEG GROUP”/CHROMATOPELMA/GRAMMOSTOLA
Temperature : 25-28c
Humidity : dry
Substrate : peat, or peat/soilmix
Terrestrial / arboreal : terrestrial
Keep these on dry substrate, with a thick layer so they can dig a burrow if wanted but many do not burrow in captivity. Spray the cage now and then. Put a water dish in the terrarium and a slab of cork bark or a dry root so they can hide. The size of the terrarium can be the standard size, 30x30x30cm.
The “Red leg group” are B. annitha, B. auratum, B. boehmei, B. smithi, B. baumgarteni, B.emilia. You can keep B. ruhnaui, B. schroederi and B. klaasi in the same way as these.
APHONOPELMA SEEMANNI/BRACHYPELMA “VAGANS GROUP”
Temperature : 25-28c
Humidity : slight moist
Substrate : peat, or peat/soilmix
Terrestrial / arboreal : terrestrial
Keep these on slightly moist substrate, with a thick layer so they can dig a burrow. Spray the cage now and then. Put a water dish in the terrarium. Put a cork bark or a root in the terrarium for shelter. The size of the terrarium can be the standard size.
“Vagans group” are B. albopilosum, B. angustum, B. epicureanum, B. sabulosum, B. vagans.
LASIODORA/PAMPHOBETEUS/THERAPHOSA/XENESTHIS
Temperature : 25-28c
Humidity : slight moist
Substrate : peat, or peat/soilmix
Terrestrial / arboreal : terrestrial
Keep these on dry substrate, with a thick layer so they can dig a burrow if wanted but many do not burrow in captivity – especially not as adults. Spray the cage now and then. Put a water dish in the terrarium and a slab of cork bark or a dry root so they can hide. The size of the terrarium should be a bit larger then standard, c:a 50x40x30cm (L D H*) or around there. For a more natural look decorate with plants that can survive with less light such as philodendron.
*Lenght Depth Hight
ACANTHOSCURRIA/EPHEBOPUS/LASIODORIDES/MEGAPHOBEMA/NHANDU/PHORMICTOPUS
Temperature : 25-28c
Humidity : slight moist
Substrate : peat, or peat/soilmix
Terrestrial / arboreal : terrestrial
Keep these on dry substrate, with a thick layer so they can dig a burrow if wanted but many do not burrow in captivity – except Ephebopus that burrows deep. Spray the cage now and then. Put a water dish in the terrarium and a slab of cork bark or a dry root so they can hide.
The size of the terrarium can be the standard size. For a more natural look decorate with plants that can survive with less light such as philodendron.
