There are lots of animal-centric words that are used when talking about animals. One of the most popular ones is the term “arboreal” or, in this case, arboreal tarantula when referring to certain types of tarantulas. What do arboreal tarantulas actually mean, and why are they so popular in the tarantula pet trade? In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the fascinating world of arboreal tarantulas, exploring their diverse species, natural habitats, and unique characteristics. You’ll learn why these creatures have gained a dedicated following among enthusiasts, and more importantly, you’ll discover how to provide the best possible care for your arboreal tarantulas.
What Are Arboreal Tarantulas
Arboreal tarantulas are basically tarantulas that prefer to dwell on trees rather than on the ground. Unlike their ground-dwelling relatives, these arachnids are adapted to life in the branches and foliage of forests and jungles.
While some people may prefer other types of tarantulas rather than arboreal tarantulas, they still offer a unique and rewarding experience for tarantula enthusiasts and beginner tarantula owners alike. This is because arboreal tarantulas often have vivid colors, can create elaborate web structures, and are graceful in their movements.
What Happens If Arboreal Tarantulas Have No Structure To Climb
If an arboreal tarantula is kept in an environment without anything to climb, they can become stressed and agitated. This stress can negatively affect their overall health and well-being. Lack of climbing opportunities can lead to reduced physical activity, which may contribute to health problems such as obesity and muscle atrophy. Tarantulas may exhibit abnormal behaviors, such as pacing or repeatedly attempting to climb the enclosure walls when they are unable to engage in their natural climbing behaviors. This can be a sign of distress. Other symptoms include getting aggressive, kicking urticating hairs more often, which can leave a bald patch, and refusing to eat.
Chronic stress and reduced physical activity can weaken the tarantula’s immune system and make it more susceptible to illness. Over time, this can lead to health problems and a shortened lifespan.
On the other hand, a lack of places to climb in the wild will leave arboreal tarantulas without a home. Arboreal tarantulas also often create silk-lined retreats or webs for protection and catching prey. Without a vertical surface to anchor their webs or create retreats, they may be exposed to predators and environmental stressors and be unable to hunt effectively.
Can Tarantulas Be Semi-Arboreal
The specific lifestyle and habitat of a tarantula species can vary widely. Depending on their life stage and environmental conditions, some species may even exhibit a combination of these behaviors. So, depending on their characteristics and needs, tarantulas can be found in various settings, including underground, on the ground, or up in trees. This means a tarantula can simultaneously be arboreal, fossorial, and terrestrial or be two out of three. One example of a semi-arboreal tarantula is the Greenbottle Blue Tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens). Greenbottle Blue Tarantulas often live in burrows in the ground or the lower branches of shrubs and bushes. They are skilled climbers known to construct silk-lined retreats on branches or crevices, making them semi-arboreal.
How Do Arboreal Tarantulas Hunt?
Like many other spider species, arboreal tarantulas have developed specific hunting strategies to capture prey while living in trees or other elevated habitats. They are primarily ambush predators and prefer not to actively search for prey but instead wait patiently for it to come within striking distance. These tarantulas often create silk draglines or tripwires across their territory, which help them sense vibrations caused by the prey, provide a means of escape in case of danger, and sometimes help them capture the prey. Once the arboreal tarantula detects prey, it will quickly strike with its fangs, making it easier to handle and consume.
What Type of Enclosure Does an Arboreal Tarantula Need?
Arboreal tarantulas prefer trees and crevices on tree barks or plants over the ground in the wild. Consequently, when selecting an enclosure, prioritizing its height over floor space is crucial. Opt for an enclosure that opens from the front, as these spiders tend to inhabit the upper regions of their enclosure, so they don’t escape if you open the top of the enclosure. This type of enclosure makes it easy to maintain and easy to feed the tarantulas.
All tarantulas, including terrestrial and fossorial ones, require well-ventilated enclosures. Most commercially available tarantula enclosures are designed with adequate ventilation. However, if you opt for a custom plastic enclosure, ensure you drill sufficient holes for airflow. Enclosures featuring mesh or grill lids are commonly used for housing arboreal tarantulas, so consider these options if available.
Regardless of the enclosure chosen, it’s essential to have tightly fitting lids with no gaps on any side to prevent escape. Custom holes for ventilation should be small enough to prevent the tarantulas from escaping. Arboreal tarantula spiderlings can be housed in smaller containers since they require less space than adults. Deli cups or other small containers are suitable, provided they have adequate ventilation or an opening for air circulation.
What Type of Decorations Should You Place In Your Arboreal Tarantula’s Enclosure?
Arboreal tarantulas require structures in their enclosure to hide, climb, and spin their webs. That’s why some cork barks, any sturdy decorative material, and plants must always be in their enclosure at all times. You can decide to go for artificial or natural plants to place in their enclosure. It doesn’t matter which you choose as long as the plants are sturdy enough to hold the tarantula’s weight. Cork barks and plants also act as anchor points for arboreal tarantulas to spin webs. So it’s best to place them close to each other so the tarantula has an effective way of building its home.
Substrate
There’s no need to place a deep substrate in an arboreal tarantula enclosure since these tarantulas do not burrow. A depth of approximately 0.7 inches (2 cm) of the substrate is sufficient for an average arboreal tarantula’s enclosure. However, you’ll need to place some substrate in the enclosure even if they don’t burrow since substrates help maintain the proper humidity level in the enclosure, which is essential for tarantulas well well-being. This substrate can easily be created by combining a mixture of peat moss, vermiculite, coconut fiber, and dirt to build a simple substrate for their enclosure if you don’t want to buy some.
Water And Humidity
Arboreal tarantulas, just like every other tarantula, require a drink now and then. So placing a water bowl in their enclosure is necessary since it’s the easiest way to ensure they always have water to drink. However, arboreal tarantulas might only notice the bowl occasionally if you place it on the ground level of the enclosure. That’s because they usually spend most of their time in the enclosure up top on the plants, cork barks, or on their webs. As such, the best way to ensure they notice the water bowl is by placing it in an elevated position, like taping it to a cork bark or plant. Just ensure you keep the water bowl sturdy so your tarantula doesn’t topple the bowl and cause a water spillage.
On the other hand, utilizing an open water dish for arboreal tarantula spiderlings is not advised, though. Instead, try misting the sides of their enclosure so they can drink the water droplets before it dries out. You shouldn’t spray too much water so the enclosure doesn’t get too wet. Wet enclosures can invite harmful stuff like mites and bacteria. That’s why it’s always best to ensure you take time off between misting to allow the droplets to dry off completely.
Heating And Lighting
Most tarantulas need to be kept in a certain temperature range, so their enclosure might need to be heated. Achieving this can be accomplished by using a heat mat or a non-light-emitting heat lamp. It’s advisable to acquire one of these heat sources promptly upon obtaining a tarantula.
The optimal method for heating an arboreal tarantula’s enclosure involves positioning the heat source at one end, thereby creating a temperature gradient. This gradient ensures that your arboreal tarantula has the flexibility to choose the temperature it finds most comfortable at any given time. Additionally, having a reliable thermometer in the enclosure allows you to monitor and maintain the appropriate temperature levels. Since each tarantula prefers certain temperature ranges, ensure you check our specific care guides about each tarantula to find what range your specific tarantula prefers. You might also need to get an LED for your tarantula’s enclosure to give them a day and night cycle.
What Do Arboreal Tarantulas Eat?
Tarantulas have a broad diet in the wild, so you can diversify their meals with unique edible insects and worms. Suitable food options for them include dubia roaches and mealworms. However, opt for insects that can climb or fly, as these tend to catch the spider’s attention more effectively than ground-dwelling prey. It’s also crucial to select feeders that they can easily subdue and consume. Avoid offering feeders larger than the spider itself, especially if the feeder can bite or resist. However, feel free to pre-kill the feeder first, although your tarantula may not always respond positively to motionless prey.
It’s best not to over or under-feed tarantulas, so ensure you use the tarantula’s carapace size as a guide to your feeding schedule. As such, you should feed your tarantula more often if it’s thin or less often if it gets obese. Also, removing uneaten or leftover food is essential in tarantula care. Live feeders not consumed by your tarantula may pose a threat later on, and leftover dead prey can attract parasites and bacteria as they decompose. Therefore, it’s crucial to remove both live and dead food from your purple tree tarantula’s enclosure no later than 24 hours after they’ve finished eating.
Check out each tarantula’s specific care guide to find out how often they should be fed.
How To Keep Your Arboreal Tarantula Healthy
Tarantulas can lead long and healthy lives as long as they receive proper care and are kept in a clean environment. While they are generally robust and have few health-related concerns, they are susceptible to dehydration and mites. To ensure their well-being, it’s essential to provide a consistent source of water for hydration and maintain a clean enclosure.
The maintenance of their enclosure is relatively straightforward. Regularly replace the substrate when it develops an unpleasant odor, remove any leftover food remnants once they have finished eating, and periodically perform a thorough cleaning of the enclosure. Additionally, maintaining their health involves providing them with healthy feeder insects, as well as ensuring that their temperature and humidity levels are within the appropriate range for their species.
