Tarantulas have become one of the most sought-after arachnids in the exotic pet industry, with numerous enthusiasts fascinated by their allure. Despite their reputation as ground-dwelling creatures, tarantulas are surprisingly agile and possess the remarkable ability to climb walls.
This article aims to explore the mechanisms behind tarantulas’ climbing abilities and why they might prefer to climb a wall instead of staying on the ground.
How Do Tarantulas Climb Walls?
Tarantulas possess the ability to climb all manner of structures, including walls and ceilings. Their irregular anatomy, nimble body, and eight legs make it pretty easy for them to do so.
Tarantulas have tiny claws on their feet called ”tarsi” which allows them to grip rough surfaces like concrete walls and tree barks. They also possess tiny hairs on their feet – called setules – which can form an electric attraction to smooth surfaces. This enables them to stick on smooth surfaces without falling off. Nevertheless, using this ability to climb smooth surfaces only works for some tarantulas. Heavy ones have to rely on other means of climbing due to their weight.
Additionally, tarantulas generally spin silk from their spinnerets and use it for a range of activities, including capturing prey and protecting their egg sacs. However, tarantulas are also able to spin silk from their feet, which they use to stick to surfaces, so they don’t fall off.
What Types Of Surfaces Can Tarantulas Climb
All arboreal tarantulas know how to climb walls and structures instinctively. However, some surfaces make it easier or harder for them to do so. While only arboreal tarantulas are proficient at climbing, most tarantulas, including terrestrial ones, can climb different surfaces, including plastic, glass, wooden, concrete, and slick surfaces. That’s why it’s important to always house tarantulas in enclosures with a lid and no escape points.
Why Is My Tarantula Climbing Walls?
There are a couple of reasons why a tarantula might decide to climb a wall. The act may be caused by instincts or as a means of escaping a bleak situation.
Here are a couple of reasons why tarantulas may climb walls.
Arboreal Nature
Many tarantulas are arboreal and prefer to climb rather than remain on the ground. Arboreal tarantulas usually live in tree crevices, on plants in the wild, and may sometimes spin silks way up in tree canopies to live. So an arboreal tarantula climbing a wall, a cork bark, or any other decoration inside its enclosure is pretty standard.
The Substrate
Tarantulas might spend more time climbing the walls and items in their enclosure if they don’t like the substrate. Each tarantula has specific needs for the substrate type and depth level that’s supposed to be in their enclosure, so be sure to check out each tarantula’s care guide to find out how they like it. However, most tarantulas prefer a humid substrate rather than a wet one. So don’t be surprised if your tarantula stays away from the substrate in its enclosure when it gets too wet.
Mold
Tarantulas may not look like it, but they are actually neat creatures. They will try to find sections of their enclosure to stay at or attempt to climb the walls in their enclosure if there’s mold in there. So be sure to check the substrate in your tarantula’s enclosure for mold and dirt if you notice your tarantula is staying away from it.
Hunger And Thirst
A hungry or thirsty tarantula is an adventurous tarantula, so don’t be surprised if you find your tarantula climbing the walls of its enclosure when it hasn’t had anything to eat or drink for a long time. Odds are it’s just looking for food or some water to drink. Hunger and dehydration often kill tarantulas in a twinkle of an eye. So ensure you feed your tarantula often, and always place a water bowl in its enclosure.
No Hidden Place
Terrestrial and fossorial tarantulas like having a place to hide in their enclosure. Some prefer adequate substrate depth to burrow, while others prefer hiding in the decorations in their enclosure. As such, they will feel rather uncomfortable if they don’t have a place to hide and may often climb the walls and decorations in their enclosure to look for an alternative.
Recreating a tarantula’s natural environment is very important if you want your tarantula to be comfortable. So ensure you get adequate substrate for tarantulas that burrow and a bunch of decorations for tarantulas that prefer to hide. Each tarantula’s preference is unique, so be sure to check their care guides to know what they like.
Live Creatures
Live prey and other bugs in tarantulas’ enclosures can make them uncomfortable and cause them to climb stuff in order to distance themselves from the animals. These animals can also injure and harm tarantulas, especially when they are moulting. That’s why it’s important to always take out live and dead prey from a tarantula’s enclosure at least 24 hours after dropping off the food.
Anchor Points
Some tarantulas like spinning intricate silk in their enclosure and need anchor points to hook it on. Some of these anchor points may be in hard-to-reach places where the tarantula needs to climb to get to.
Mate
Tarantulas may climb the walls and decorations in their enclosure in search of a mate. Male tarantulas, whenever they are ready to copulate, will ceaselessly pace and climb stuff in their enclosure in search of a mate. It’s best to move restless male tarantulas to smaller enclosures whenever they get too restless.
Exploration
Just because you find your tarantula climbing its enclosure’s walls doesn’t specifically mean there’s a problem. Some tarantulas are more curious than others and may often explore their enclosure just to get a look around.
How Often Do Tarantulas Climb Walls?
Arboreal tarantulas prefer to climb; fossorial tarantulas prefer to burrow, while terrestrial tarantulas prefer to keep their feet rooted on the ground. Nevertheless, all types of tarantulas may have the urge to climb walls instinctively or if they are pushed to do so. How often a tarantula climbs walls usually depends on its nature, immediate environment, and current needs.
Is Climbing Walls Safe For Tarantulas?
Climbing is usually safe for tarantulas, but that doesn’t mean they can’t get hurt if they fall. Tarantulas are fragile animals, so the extent of the damage from a fall depends on the type of tarantula, how high it fell from and what sort of structure/substrate it hit when it fell.
How To Prevent Tarantulas From Getting Hurt When They Climb
It’s best to have plenty of substrate in an enclosure if you don’t want your tarantula getting hurt whenever it falls. The amount of substrate in an enclosure usually depends on the type of tarantula that is housed within it. Generally, it’s best to place a substantial amount of substrate in the enclosure if the tarantula is a burrower and place only a little if the tarantula is arboreal. Nevertheless, it’s crucial to always place a substantial amount of substrate in an arboreal tarantulas enclosure, so it doesn’t get hurt whenever it falls. The depth of the substrate should depend on the size of the enclosure and tarantula. So ensure you use more substrate if you have a relatively large tarantula or enclosure.
How To Make My Tarantula’s Enclosure Escape-Proof?
Ensure you buy an enclosure with a lid if you want to get one for your tarantula. Most tarantula terrariums are custom-built for tarantulas and usually come with a lid. However, some glass aquariums frequently used to house tarantulas may come with an opening. Either make sure you get a custom lid for these enclosures, or don’t buy them at all.
You should also make sure there’s a lid you can open and close whenever you want if you build a custom enclosure for your tarantula. Tarantulas shouldn’t be let out of their enclosure for too long or allowed to escape since they can easily hurt themselves out there. The humidity and temperature in a tarantula’s enclosures are also regulated, so a tarantula that escapes from its enclosure might not be able to last long out there.
Conclusion
Tarantulas have an innate ability to climb horizontal, vertical, and inclined surfaces. So don’t worry if you find your tarantula doing so often. However, ensure your tarantula’s enclosure is escape-proof and there’s enough substrate in there to soften your tarantula’s landing in case it falls. Also, be sure to check that everything is good if you notice your terrestrial or fossorial tarantula climbing stuff more often than they spend time on the ground.
References And Further Reading
Biomaterials: Silk-Like Secretion From Tarantula Feet. Pub Med.
Spiders Get A Grip. Physics World.
”Tarantulas (Araneae: Theraphosidae) Use Different Adhesive Pads Complementarily During Climbing On Smooth Surfaces: Experimental Approach In Eight Arboreal And Burrower Species” Biology Open. Biology Open.
