Giant tarantula spider. How to choose and maintain houses.

The white-knuckled tarantula spider is one of the most unusual representatives of arachnids. The creature got its name due to its unusual color. There is a misconception that all large spiders are tarantulas.

However, this is not at all true. The white-haired tarantula is a separate representative of Brazil, loved as a pet by many breeders.

Most terrarium owners are delighted with the Brazilian pink tarantula. Its popularity and demand is due to its aggressive nature and unpretentiousness in keeping at home.

White-kneeed tarantula spider

The tarantula of Brazilian origin is quite a bright and unusual individual in terms of external features. The striking black slate or chocolate color with reddish hairs on the belly attracts close attention.

The dimensions of the tarantula spider are relatively small: the body length is 10 centimeters, while the leg span is 22 centimeters.

The main difference from other representatives is a special decorative marking - snow-white transverse stripes along the entire length of the legs in combination with a black body. The maximum lifespan of a spider is 15 years.

What does a tarantula spider look like, its characteristics and structure

The tarantula is an arthropod spider that has an exotic appearance. He has large and fluffy paws and a very bright color; he becomes even more juicy after molting. Their body consists of an abdomen and cephalothorax, united by a bridge, covered with an exoskeleton made of chitin. Such a cover performs a protective function, protecting the tarantula from external damage; in addition, it retains moisture, and this is a very important factor for species that live in arid regions. On the cephalothorax there is a shield - a carapace, on which four pairs of eyes are located.

The abdomen houses the digestive organs and the reproductive system, and at the end of the abdomen there are arachnoid appendages; there can be from two to six pairs of them. The birdcatcher has six pairs of limbs, including four pairs of tarsi, one chelicerae and a pedipalp. They use chelicerae to dig holes, they protect themselves and hunt with them, thanks to them spiders drag caught prey, they also have small glands that contain poison.

With the help of very thin and receptive hairs that are located on their paws, they distinguish different smells and sounds.

size depends on the type of tarantula . Basically it ranges from three to ten centimeters. But you need to add the span of the legs to the size; it can be twenty-eight centimeters. Their weight varies from 65 to 85 grams, but there are individuals whose weight is 150 grams or more, they live in Brazil and Venezuela.

All tarantulas, without exception, are poisonous. But the poison is not fatal for an adult, but for small animals it can be fatal. It is also very dangerous for small children and people who are allergic to spider venom.

Tarantulas do not use venom every time they attack; they can simply bite without using it. When a birdcatcher's bite is poisonous, immediately after the bite a very sharp pain is felt, the temperature rises and convulsions may occur.

On the body of the tarantula there are many hairs that are poisonous; with these hairs the spider protects its nest, weaving it with a web, and in self-defense or in stressful situations it also scratches its abdomen with them.

Defense mechanism

Tarantula spiders have three types of defense mechanisms against external enemies:

1. Bites.
2. Burning hairs from the abdomen.
3. Attack with excrement.

Bites

The bite of a tarantula spider combines the painful sensations of piercing the skin with the action of the poison that spiders use to kill their victims and therefore you need to be doubly careful.

Many people are interested in what happens if a tarantula spider bites them? We answer that the reaction of each organism is individual: from mild itching to headache, fever and severe inflammation. However, no deaths from spider bites have been observed.

But if the tarantula spider is not dangerous to humans, this does not mean that there is no need to be afraid of it at all. Cases of cats dying after spider bites have been recorded.

Burning hairs

The hairs on the bellies of tarantulas can cause an allergic reaction when in contact with the skin of a person or animal. Therefore, spiders use them to protect the most valuable thing – egg laying. Females weave stinging hairs into their web and cocoon.

Excrement

Some types of spiders, when defending, shoot a stream of excrement in the direction of the enemy's eyes, trying to blind the enemy.

Habitat of tarantula spiders

Tarantulas can be found all over the globe except Antarctica. They live in African countries, in South America, Oceania and Australia and are also found in Europe, but much less frequently than in other countries. Their European ranges are limited to Spain, Portugal and southern Italy.

In the wild , tree spiders live on bushes and trees, and can also live in shelters that are located at ground level and in burrows. In addition, during development, their lifestyle may change: larvae that live in burrows eventually move to the ground. Some of the tarantulas give their preference to tropical and equatorial forests and semi-deserts.

Tarantulas that live in burrows dig them out on their own, after which they strengthen the burrows with arachnids. Tree bird catchers make special tubes from spider webs. Regardless of their mode of existence, all spiders move very little and make some movements only in cases of great need or danger.

Natural enemies

Despite their poisonous nature, tarantula spiders quite often become prey for many other animals. Predatory species of centipedes, including Scolopendra gigantea, are quite capable of coping not only with the largest tarantulas, which include Theraphosa blondi, but even with many species of not very large snakes. Another dangerous predator for the spider is a representative of the genus Ethmostigmus, which inhabits Australia and is one of the natural enemies of the tarantula.

Natural enemies of tarantulas in the wild include fairly large spiders from the genus Lycosidae and Latrodectus hasselti.

Some vertebrates destroy arthropods, including the largest Australian frog, Litoria infrafrenata, or the white-lipped tree frog and the aga toad Bufo marinus. The body of tarantulas is often parasitized by small dipterous insects belonging to the genus Megaselia and the family Phoridae and hawk wasps. The larvae grow and develop inside the spider, causing its death.

A natural competitor for the giant Goliath tarantula is the spider Heteroroda maxima, found in Laos and superior to the Goliath solely in the span of its legs.

Tarantula nutrition

Tarantulas wait for their prey somewhere in shelters and do not catch them in spider webs. Contrary to their name, tarantulas do not eat large birds and can constantly feed and digest meat or birds, so they mainly feed on insects :

• small spiders;
• cockroaches;
• small crickets;
• flies;
• locusts;
• mosquitoes.

And an adult tarantula can eat small birds, frogs, various rodents, fish and snakes.

Family name

origin of name

One of the ancient engravings, the image on which served as the basis for the name - tarantula

The name “tarantula spiders” arose as a result of several engravings drawn by the German researcher and animal painter Maria Sibylla Merian and published based on the results of her stay in Suriname (1699-1701) in the work “Metamorphosis insectorum Surinamensium” (1705), where she observed like a large tarantula ( Avicularia sp.

) attacked the hummingbird in the nest.

Problems with the translation of the term

In a number of European languages, tarantulas, and sometimes all large spiders, are often called tarantula. In Russian, the word tarantula is used to designate spiders of a slightly different group, in particular including spiders, which are widespread in the south of Russia. In this regard, confusion often arises when texts are translated incorrectly. In modern biological systematics, the taxa “tarantulas” and “tarantulas” do not overlap; Tarantulas are mygalomorphic spiders, and tarantulas are araneomorphic.

Types of tarantulas

At the moment, the family of these arthropods is divided into thirteen subfamilies, which have many species. Description of some of them:

• Black and white Brazilian tarantula . This tarantula is not very aggressive and has a completely unexpected character. It has a very bright color and grows quickly. Its size is from seven to nine centimeters, and the span of its legs is from eighteen to twenty-three centimeters. These tarantulas live in Brazil, between stones and tree roots. Females can live up to fifteen years. The optimal temperature for it is twenty-seven degrees, humidity - 80%.
• Red-kneeed Mexican birdcatcher or Brachypelma smitha . This species lives in the southern United States and Mexico. These are large spiders: the body is up to 8 centimeters, the leg span is 17 centimeters. They are mostly black or dark brown in color, and there are red spots on the paws; sometimes you can also see a white border. There are many light pink hairs on the body. These spiders have a calm character and are non-aggressive; their venom is of average toxicity. The lifespan of females is 25–30 years, and that of males is 4 years. They feed on various spiders, insects, mice and lizards.
• The tarantula Avicularia purpurea is a South American species of tarantula, most common in Ecuador. Their body length reaches six centimeters, and their leg span is 14 centimeters. They have a purple-blue color and brick hairs on their paws, and the bristles that are located near the mouth are orange-red. They can be found in pastures, in the hollows of various trees and in secluded areas of residential premises. They are very calm, timid and fast, and very easy to care for, which is why many people keep them at home. The temperature for their comfortable living should not exceed 28 degrees and be less than 25. Air humidity - 85%.
• Tarantula Cyclosternum fasciatum - this species is one of the smallest tarantulas, the largest span of its legs is only twelve centimeters. But, despite this, the female’s body size is five centimeters with a paw span of twelve centimeters, and the male grows up to three and a half centimeters, with a paw span of 9.5 centimeters. Their body color is dominated by dark tones and red shades: the cephalothorax can be brown or red, the belly is dark with red stripes, the legs are black, brown or gray. These tarantulas prefer the tropical forests of Guatemala and Costa Rica. If a spider of this species lives at home, it can be aggressive and nervous.
• The pink Chilean tarantula has a very beautiful appearance and is one of the first in terms of sales among arthropod tarantulas. The size reaches sixteen centimeters along with the paw span. The color contains different tones of brown: chestnut, brown and even pink in places. There are many light fibers on the paws and body. They live mainly in the southwestern United States, also capturing the Atakami desert. The suitable temperature for this species is 25 degrees during the day and 18–20 degrees at night. Air humidity should be at least 60%. Females live 15–20 years. They are not aggressive and have a calm nature.
• The Goliath tarantula or Teraphosa Blonda is the largest spider on earth. The body size of the female is 10 centimeters, and the male is 8.5 centimeters. The weight of an adult can reach 170 grams. But, despite their size, goliath tarantulas have a very calm and modest character and they show aggression in very rare cases. They are brown in color, and their paws are decorated with red-brown hairs. These birdcatchers live in the tropical regions of Suriname, northern Brazil, Guyana and Venezuela. It is forbidden to take these birdcatchers outside their habitat, so it is almost impossible to find them in terrariums or at home.

Video

Spiders are long-lived

Common house spider

The lifespan of house spiders is usually 8-12 months. They die after breeding, from lack of food, by human hands.

Only 10 species of spiders out of 42 thousand can live in houses and apartments. The most common species is Tegenaria domestica. This is a small (12 mm in diameter including legs) spider of a yellowish-brown color.

It weaves a flat triangular web, not just one, but several at once, and connects them with threads for movement. Under favorable conditions it can live up to 5 years. It is harmless and non-aggressive, but can bite a person if pressed down.

In private homes, a cross is often found. It is distinguished by a white cross on the back and a patterned circular web. The life span of the cross is short: males can live from 4 to 6 months, females - 2-3 months.

Sometimes you come across a haymaker (“long-legged”) - a small oblong body from 2 to 10 mm long on long, fragile legs. The web is woven chaotically and has no clear shape. This spider lives at home for about 2 years.

Exotic animals

Large poisonous spiders have long gained popularity as exotic animals suitable for home keeping. Even at home, it is quite possible to create favorable conditions for their existence and reproduction.

Tarantulas or tarantulas are usually kept in the apartment. There are many varieties, differing in color, behavior, hairiness and body structure. They can live for a long time, so some people become attached to such pets in the same way as to cats or dogs.

Popular types of tarantulas:

• curly-haired (Brachypelma Albopilosum) – black, covered with pinkish hairs. The most unpretentious look. The bite is noticeable, painful, but not dangerous to human health. Males live 3 to 4 years, females can live more than 20 years;
• woody (Avicularia Versicolor) – covering of young growth is blue with white hairs. The adult individual is colored in blue, red, green shades with a metallic tint. One of its features is that it moves very quickly. The poison is safe for humans. Males live from 1.5 to 2 years, females can live up to 8 years;
• The Horse Spider (Lasiodora Parahybana) is one of the largest tarantulas. The color is gray with black or brown. Actively digs the substrate and easily chews through fragile parts of the terrarium. Females can live 15-25 years, males - from 2 to 3 years.

For terrarium maintenance, 5 types are usually used:

• Apulian is one of the largest (body length up to 7 cm long). Females are red in color and their lifespan ranges from 3 to 4 years. Males are light gray and can live no more than 2-3 years.
• South Russian (also called “mizgir”). Body length 3.5 cm. Color varies from brownish to brown. Can live up to 5 years.
• Spanish. The male is dark gray. Lives for about 2 years, participates in fertilization only once in its life. Females are red in color with a striped belly. They can live more than 5 years.
• Mexican. Fluffy, abdomen length up to 14 cm, black-gray color, the folds of the legs are red (the second name of the spider is “red-knee tarantula”). They are distinguished by their slow growth and maturation: males are capable of fertilization at the age of 4 years, rarely live longer than 10, females can give birth to offspring at 6-7 years, and live up to 20-30 years. In captivity, maturation occurs faster, which reduces life expectancy.
• Brazilian black. The abdomen is 7 cm long, the body is black and shiny. Relatively calm view. They mature at the age of 6-7 years, females can live 20 years. Males rarely reach 10.

To increase the lifespan of a spider, it needs to be fed less (the rule does not apply to juveniles). The abundance of food provokes growth and change of the exoskeleton.

The more often this animal sheds, the shorter it will live. Tarantulas can refuse to eat for about 2 years for no apparent reason. They are considered the longest-livers among their relatives.

It’s not worth doing such experiments on them at home, but if he doesn’t want to eat for 1-2 weeks, then there’s no need to persistently feed him. Such a hunger strike will not affect the quality of life. This usually happens before molting.

Mice, lizards and frogs should not be given. This means an increased risk of injury to the spider and an unpleasant odor in the house. The best option is marble cockroaches.

At cool temperatures, the metabolic processes of the spider's body slow down, which also helps to increase its lifespan. In the wild, hibernating spiders will live longer than indoor spiders.

To prolong the life of a male spider during the mating process, it is important to monitor the behavior of the female. It is necessary to intervene in time with the help of special forceps or a shield, since spiders usually eat their partner after fertilization

Once the process is complete, the couple is separated.

Reproduction of tarantulas

Male tarantula spiders are ready to reproduce much earlier than females. When a male reaches reproductive age, a cymbium appears on his pedipalps, this is a reservoir for seminal fluid, and tibal hooks are formed on his paws, which are needed to hold the female during the mating period. Before mating, the male begins to weave a web, after which he covers it with seminal fluid, and then fills the cymbium with it. When a male and female meet, they perform special actions that confirm that they belong to the same species.

Mating may end in a few seconds, or it may last many hours. With the tibial hooks, which are formed on the front legs, the male holds the female’s chelicerae, and with his pedipalps he introduces his seminal fluid into her body. During mating, the female tarantula spider can eat the male, so after mating the male tries to escape.

After some time, the female begins to build a nest from the web, where she then lays eggs; there can be from 50 to 2 thousand eggs. How many eggs a female will lay depends on her species. Then, from the nest made, the female forms a cocoon, which is round in shape and contains fibers from the spider’s abdomen. The incubation period lasts from 20 to 106 days, during this period the female guards her cocoon and periodically turns it. If the female is hungry, she can easily eat the cocoon with eggs.

After some time, small nymph spiders begin to appear, which at first do not eat anything and live all together. After the nymph molts twice, it turns into a larva, this larva is similar to a spider, but unlike a spider, it has nutrients in its abdomen. After some time has passed, the larva begins to molt and turns into a tarantula spider.

Interesting Facts

The lifespan of tarantulas can be measured in tens of years! The age of some specimens exceeds 30 years - these are record-breaking long-livers among all terrestrial arthropods. True, this statement is true only in relation to females - they, as a rule, live several times longer than males. Moreover, the male may not survive mating with the female at all, since they are very aggressive and can eat the male.

But don’t rush to judge female spiders. Cannibalism is normal for tarantulas (as for many other arachnids). You can verify this by placing two spiders in one terrarium.

Tarantula spiders are often used as exotic pets. Amateur spider-keepers are attracted to tarantulas by their size, appearance and long life expectancy. It is possible to understand the choice of these particular arachnids as pets, but it is difficult to recognize it as correct. The fact is that tarantulas cannot be trained; they can easily even bite their owner. And yet, you can often see how owners of such pets, risking their health, take them into their hands.

Tarantulas are often called tarantula in European languages. And in Russian, Tarantulas are the name of a completely different kind of spider. You should remember this, and then the confusion that arises in some sources of information (as well as during translation) will not be able to mislead you.

Tarantula molt

Molting plays a big role in the life of a tarantula spider. After the spider sheds its exoskeleton, it grows approximately one and a half times in size and can even change color. Young spiders molt every month, and adult tarantulas molt once a year. When spiders molt, they lie on their backs, and in this long process some limbs may be lost, but they are restored during subsequent molts. How old a spider is can be determined by the number of its molts.

Before molting, spiders may refuse to eat. Another sign of impending molting is a darkening of the spider’s abdomen or entire color.

Tarantula spider at home

These spiders live in many homes, as they are completely unpretentious and can be bred at home. To prevent spiders from eating one by one, they must be kept alone. You should also follow some rules when keeping a tarantula at home:

1. Terrarium . If you decide to get a arboreal spider, then a terrarium with a height of at least thirty-five centimeters will suit it; you will need to place something similar on a tree in it, it can be a large snag. A layer of soil or coconut substrate must be poured onto the bottom. For spiders that live in burrows, you need a long terrarium. A coconut substrate, the thickness of which is at least ten centimeters, is placed at the bottom of such a terrarium. If the spider is young, then the bedding needs to be changed after each molt. If a burrow spider lives in a terrarium, then it needs to create something like a burrow. And also housing for the spider must be provided with a ventilated lid.
2. The temperature in the terrarium where the tarantula lives should not be less than twenty-five degrees; for this you need to install a thermal mat or an infrared heater. If the temperature changes sharply, the domestic tarantula may not survive.
3. Air humidity should be high, since our pets are from the tropics. It must be at least 80%; to achieve this, it is necessary to periodically spray the substrate in the terrarium with warm water. You only need to spray one corner of the spider’s home and only after the substrate has completely dried.
4. Feeding of tarantula spiders . Young spiders need to be fed crickets, fruit flies and cockroaches. You can also give bloodworms and mealworms. Adult spiders need to be fed once or twice a week. Marbled cockroaches, crickets, bloodworms and worms are suitable for them and can also be fed to newborn mice. Food should be given half as much as the spider itself.

King of Spiders - Tarantula Spider _Spiders_

Care and maintenance

It is quite easy to care for spiders at home. They do not require special attention, do not disturb the silence, and do not litter much. To keep the tarantula spider, they buy an aquarium or terrarium. Inside, conditions are created that are as close as possible to the natural environment. For soil species, a substrate of bark or earth is placed in a layer of at least 5 cm. For terrestrial specimens, a snag is required, where they will weave a web and build a shelter for themselves.

Tarantula spider

Remains of food and skin after molting are regularly removed from the terrarium, young spiders and males are removed after mating to prevent cannibalism. It is necessary to maintain moisture and prevent the skin from drying out. Otherwise, the abdominal cover wrinkles, cracks, and the animal gets sick.