Features: 

• Easy to Care For
• Great Beginner Tarantula
• Medium sized
• Terrestrial, burrowing species

This is an INDIVIDUAL (1) Curly Hair Tarantula Spiderling which will measure .5-.75"

SPECIAL NOTE: USPS forbids shipping venomous spiders or scorpions in the mail.

Because of this, we ship these animals FedEx priority overnight for a flat fee of $39.99.

Background Information:

The Curly Haired Tarantula is scientifically known as Tliltocatl albopilosus. This tarantula is a terrestrial, burrowing species native to the neotropics. Adults of this species range from 4-6 inches and feature curly hairs that cover their bodies. This species has existed in the pet trade for decades and were once imported in huge numbers. Now on the CITES Appendix II list, virtually all curly hairs, include those sold at Josh's Frogs, are produced in captivity.

The juveniles tend to be a bit on the shy side, but as they mature this species will spend more and more time out in the open, although they may always retreat quickly to a burrow if surprised or threatened. This species does possess urticating hairs that can be flicked when the tarantula is alarmed. As they age, this species generally calms down and tolerates occasional handling.

Habitat Setup:

Being a primarily terrestrial species, the floor space of an enclosure is more important than it's height. A 10g or 12x12 Exo Terra makes a great enclosure, as do large critter keeper type cages. Make sure the enclosure has a secure mesh top to allow for ventilation. Josh's Frogs sells a variety of tarantula kits that makes setup and care simple.

Substrate:

Being terrestrial and loving to burrow, the Curly Hair tarantula should be provided with at least 3-4" of substrate. Coconut fiber or Josh's Frogs Dig It is beneficial for controlling humidity inside of the enclosure. 

If you want to use a cleanup crew of springtails and isopods, or you want to use live plants, get some Josh's Frogs BioBedding Tropical.

Decor:

For this species, horizontal decor that the curly hair can take cover under is needed. Cork bark is an excellent choice as it doesn’t promote mold or bacterial growth, and doesn’t break down as easily as other types of wood. Include at least two different pieces of cork bark, and ideally, have one of them as a cork bark tube to allow the spider an easy hiding place to feel safe in.

Water & Humidity:

Curly Hair Tarantulas are a grassland dweller and require a higher level of humidity and 70% relative humidity is ideal for these species. It is recommended that you have both a digital hygrometer and thermometer in your enclosure to monitor these conditions. If the enclosure gets too dry, the tarantula can have difficulty molting, and this can lead to death and disfiguring of your spider.

To keep conditions humid, keep a small water dish or bottle cap full of water available at all times. The enclosure can also be misted, but be careful not to mist the spider. This can agitate the spider and result in bites or escape attempts. Misting can be down along the walls of the enclosure so it is absorbed by the substrate. Additionally, you can mist some of the webbing to allow the spider multiple places to get water.

Reverse Osmosis, Distilled, or Spring water can be used. If using tap water, make sure to use a quality water dechlorinator.

Heating & Lighting:

These tarantulas do not require any UV lighting or any heating lamps, just a day-night cycle. Be careful your spider's enclosure doesn't receive too much sunlight. Sunlight can cause temperatures to rise rapidly, cooking your spider in its home. A thermometer should be present in the enclosure, and temperatures should be kept around 75-80 degrees. This can be accomplished with a low wattage under tank heat pad during colder conditions.

Feeding:

Our Curly hair babies are eating 4-5 D hydei fruit flies once per week. As the spiderling grows, so should its prey, with the ideal prey size equalling out to about the size of its carapace. Slings should be offered food every 4-7 days, while adults can go a week, 2 weeks or more before it will accept a feeding. Do not feed less than one week after the completion of a molt.

As with all tarantula species in your care, remove any excess feeders from your enclosure after a day, and wait a week to resume feeding after your tarantula molts.

Longevity:

Curly Hair tarantulas can be quite long lived in captivity. Males can live about 4 years, and females can easily live over a decade if cared for properly.

Links of Interest:

• Arachnoboards: a community of spider enthusiasts that will be able to or have already answered almost any question you can think of with regards to tarantulas.

http://arachnoboards.com/

Still not sure if Curly Hair Tarantulas from Josh's Frogs are the right pet invertebrate for you? Read the reviews below and see what other customers are saying!