If your tarantula is behaving strangely or doing something you don’t understand, you might have many questions. For example, if your tarantula is moving dirt, moving its fangs, or simply not moving, then you might become worried why it is doing this. In this post, you will find information on various tarantula behavior, such as moving dirt, fangs, climbing the glass, tarantula standing tall, being scared of food, sitting in a water dish or moving dirt to water dish and much more.
Why is my tarantula moving dirt?
If your tarantula has started moving dirt and digging in the enclosure, it’s completely normal.
Tarantulas start moving dirt when they want to make more or less space, especially in their hides. Some tarantulas move dirt in front of their hide when they are about to molt, want privacy, or want to hide from bright lights or if temperature or humidity are not optimal.
The only thing to watch out for is whether its hide is too large, so that it doesn’t fall over and crush your tarantula. But other than that, tarantulas moving dirt only do it for rearrangement purposes and will stop once they are happy with the result. Your tarantula is also likely to dig under the hide and so on.
If your tarantula is burrowing, then you should not disturb it. That’s especially true if it is an obligate burrower, as they burrow in the wild. You can leave some extra substrate on one side of the tank where you want, so that your tarantula can dig there.
If your tarantula has buried itself in the dirt, do not worry. When your tarantula is thirsty or hungry, it will come out. You might leave pre-killed food near the dirt hide and see if it eats it (but never push in the substrate). Tarantulas might stay for weeks and months buried under dirt and come out when ready.
Another reason why a tarantula is moving dirt around its hide or burrowing is because it’s in pre-molt. Molting is stressful for tarantulas because they become vulnerable, so some will hide to molt. And then come out once their molt is finished. Don’t worry about them fasting either – they can go weeks and even months (some a couple years!) without eating. Make sure water is always available.
Why is my tarantula moving its fangs?
If your tarantula is moving its fangs or rubbing them, then it’s possible that it’s cleaning them. Sometimes, particles can get lodged in their mouth and fangs, so tarantulas move their fangs or rub them on the glass to clean them.
But also, if your tarantula’s fangs and chelicerae are out for some time (5 minutes or so), it could have been drinking water droplets from the surroundings or eating. Make sure your tarantula has enough water in the water dish, in case it’s thirsty.
However, if your tarantula has its legs up and and rubbing its fangs, it could be a threat pose, and tarantula attempting stridulation. Some tarantula species have stridulatory bristles. Stridulation is a process when a tarantula is making noise by rubbing small bristles on ends of their pedipalps and chelicerae in response to threat. If you see your tarantula in this position, do not attempt to get near or touch it!
If your tarantula doesn’t seem stressed or threatened, it is likely to be a routine cleaning session that most tarantulas have. However, to be on the safe side, you can take a magnifying glass and check the mouth and surrounding area for any dark mites. Any mites that get stuck on a tarantula, will share its food by staying near its mouthparts.
If you notice any, pick them one by one with a q-tip dipped in petroleum jelly. Do not use any miticides either, as they are dagnerous for tarantulas. However, if you see any small whitish mites in the substrate, remove your tarantula from the tank as soon as possible and clean the whole cage, replace substrate and so on. These mites can be much more dangerous.
Is my tarantula happy? Happy tarantula behavior
All tarantula keepers want their tarantula pets to be happy. But this word might not mean the same for tarantulas. Having said that, there are definitely different factors that can make tarantulas live stress-free.
Some signs of happiness in tarantulas would include normal feeding and normal body weight. Also, if your tarantula is growing at an optimal rate and doesn’t roam the tank too much – it is living a comfortable life. If a tarantula is constantly roaming the tank or trying to escape – you need to review the setup and make sure to provide a hiding spot/retreat.
Also a ‘happy’ tarantula should be healthy and its surroundings should also be clean and free of any fungi and parasitic infestations. Don’t let the substrate stay wet, and check it regularly for any mites, flies or worms. Look out for flies too, that feed on waste and cause stress and injury to tarantulas, especially spiderlings. Remove digested food carcasses and uneaten crickets as soon as possible (24 hrs).
Healthy and happy tarantulas will also poop from time to time and clean their fangs by rubbing them. Also, regular and successful molting ensures that your tarantula is growing and is healthy. Spiderlings molt up to 15 times/year or so, juveniles – approximately 5-7 times a year. Adult females will molt 1-2 in two years, while male tarantulas stop molting once they reach sexual maturity.
A hydrated tarantula is also a happy tarantula – make sure to provide it enough drinking water and keep humidity levels in check. Place couple hygrometers and thermometers with probes like this in a retreat and opposite spot of the tank to keep track. You can also use a handheld thermometer to have accurate temperature readings when you need.
If you need info on optimal temperatures and humidity levels for tarantulas, see this post (new tab).
Why is my tarantula scared of its food?
Reasons for a tarantula being scared of food:
- Prey items are too big – try offering a few smaller items instead of one for now
- Tarantula is not hungry
- It is in pre-molt
- Not ready to eat after a molt
- Young spiderlings can be afraid of food – offer pre-killed prey
- Newly acquired tarantula has not settled yet
- Enclosure is too large
If your tarantula seems to be scared of live food and various prey, such as crickets, worms, roaches, then there a few things that you could do. In case you have a young tarantula (spiderling or juvenile), it might be an instinct, as young tarantulas in the wild get easily killed if hunting. To help your spiderling or juvenile eat despite being scared, you can offer it pre-killed feeders.
Also, make sure that your tarantula’s food is not too large. Offer feeders that are not larger than your tarantula’s abdomen. If your tarantula is still scared of food, you can offer even smaller sized prey items.
Another reason why a tarantula is scared is because it has recently molted and its fangs are not hardened enough to eat yet. Make sure that your tarantula’s fangs are shiny black before you offer any food. In general, you can feed your tarantula 7-14 days after a molt has finished.
Your tarantula might also be not hungry enough to eat. Try again in a few days to see if anything changes. Also, don’t feed a tarantula straight after bringing it home. They need to get comfortable in their new surroundings (it’s stressful enough). So, wait a week or so before offering any food at all (but provide drinking water).
Another thing to think about is whether the enclosure you have for your tarantula now is too big or small. And do you have a hide/retreat for your tarantula? An enclosure that’s too big can cause stress. You can read about optimal cage sizes for tarantulas here (new tab).
But in general, if a young tarantula is scared of food, it will change as it grows and goes through molt. With time, it will start taking down more and more food.
Why is my tarantula standing tall?
If your tarantula is standing tall and raising its abdomen off the ground, then it could mean that it feels threatened or is trying to look bigger. However, some tarantulas stand tall during and after feeding, possibly to get a good view and distance from the prey (hunting position) and to aid digestion.
Sometimes, tarantulas stand tall if they are unsure about their surroundings. Or, want to see what is happening from a higher point of view. Or, if a tarantula feels threatened, it tries to look bigger so nobody attacks it. An actual threat pose is when a tarantula is in normal position, with front legs and pedipalps lifted off the ground.
Another possible reason why a tarantula is standing tall is because it’s uncomfortable with the substrate. This can be if substrate is too wet, or too fine. Some tarantulas dislike specific substrate, such as sand and coconut husk. Double check humidity levels and make sure that the substrate isn’t too damp. Sometimes replacing substrate with another type solves this problem.
If you are handling your tarantula, try to reduce it or stop handling at all. Also, some tarantulas are very nervous, and even your presence in the room can make it run to the hide or stand tall to appear bigger. Make sure your tarantula has a hide in the enclosure to retreat when it feels scared. Your tarantula can also kick off some urticating hairs (if it has them) from its abdomen in response to threat, so be wary of that.
Why is my tarantula on its back?
There are multiple different reasons why a tarantula is laying on its back. Some of the main reasons include molting or being stuck in molt. Also, male tarantulas lay on their backs to make a ‘sperm web’ – all to transfer sperm into its sperm bulbs.
Why is my tarantula rubbing its legs together?
If your tarantula is rubbing its legs, then it might be grooming itself, or giving a sign that it’s not happy and feels threatened. While grooming is a sign of a happy tarantula, lifting legs off the ground is a sign of a stressed tarantula.
When a tarantula is grooming itself, it doesn’t stand tall and doesn’t lift its front legs with pedipalps. Grooming and cleaning is important for tarantulas to make sure there are no particles and debris on their body. Because tarantulas sense vibrations, they need their legs to be clean. Tarantulas might also be grooming to get rid of any mites or debris that are near its mouth.
Why is my tarantula scrunched up?
If your tarantula is laying scrunched up or curled up, it can mean a few things. After tarantulas finish molting, they often lay in one scrunched up position for hours without moving. If your tarantula has recently finished molting, it might need some time before it gets up and walks. Their exoskeleton is very soft after molting, and they need days for it to harden.
Another possible reason why a tarantula is scrunched up is because it is very stressed. This can be when you have just brought a new tarantula home, changed its enclosure, or if any living conditions are not optimal.
Make sure everything in the tank is optimal and leave your tarantula alone for some time in a dark spot. Provide clean drinking water and offer prey. If your tarantula doesn’t eat, remove uneaten foods within 24 hours and try again days later. Provide a hide, don’t bother it and let it relax.
There is also something called a ‘death curl’. That is when a tarantula is too stressed for a long time, cannot molt successfully, or is possibly old and nearing its death. A death curl is when a tarantula lays in a upright position with its legs tucked under its body.
Always make sure that your tarantula has access to fresh water. Shriveled belly is often a sign of dehydration. Make sure that the water dish is not far from your tarantula. A tarantula in death curl needs to be place in ICU as soon as possible.
Why is my tarantula sitting in a water dish?
A few reasons why a tarantula is sitting in a water dish are when a tarantula is thirsty or dehydrated or is unhappy about humidity levels in the enclosure.
Make sure that humidity levels in your tarantula’s tank are adequate. To keep humidity levels optimal, you might need to have a water dish, and possibly overflow it once a week to allow some to get on substrate for extra humidity. If that doesn’t help, you might wet a small corner of the tank from time to time.
Sometimes, a tarantula sitting in a water dish is not something to worry about. Some tarantulas will hang around a water dish before their molt begins. This way, tarantulas get in more moisture to help them with upcoming shed of their old exoskeleton. If a tarantula is laying in a water dish upside down, it might be that it is already molting. Never touch or disturb a molting tarantula, and just let it complete its molt.
Make sure that water dish is shallow, and doesn’t have too much water in it. That’s because there is a danger of water getting into your tarantula’s book lungs. This can lead to drowning.
Some signs of upcoming molt include low appetite, loss of hair on abdomen, darkening of the abdomen (especially under a bald spot if there is one).
Why is my tarantula moving dirt to a water dish?
Many tarantulas move dirt to a water dish in their enclosures. There are many theories why tarantulas move water to their water dish, as well as poop and web all over it. Tarantulas might be moving dirt to their dish as an instinct to save their surroundings from flood (water in the dish). Also, there are theories that tarantulas do it to keep their tank clean or adjust humidity levels in the enclosure.
Whatever the reason is, tarantulas like to rearrange their enclosures to their own needs and they are great at it. Tarantulas also do not like standing water, so filling a water dish with waste might be another reason to fill this ‘puddle’.
Thank you for reading this post on tarantula behavior. If you would like to learn more about tarantula care, please see this page.