We keep and Breed a couple of different species of Australian Tarantulas.

The photo below is of a male Tarantula that is yet to be classifieds by arachnologists in Australia as it is a recent discovery.

It is a bird eating spider and is the father of some of our spiderlings currently for sale.

Note the fine red hairs which make this spider particuarly gorgeous!

Watching your spider, feeding it, and seeing it grow and change is an enjoyable experience.

Australian tarantulas are venomous. 

 Handling of tarantulas is not recommended, as injury can result to either the owner or the spider. No recorded fatalities have come from an Australian Tarantula bite, but the bites are very painful, and do often cause a reaction, such as vomiting and swelling. If you need to move your spider to clean it’s enclosure, you should place another container in the enclosure, and use a long handled spoon or paintbrush (bristle side) to encourage the spider into the other container.

Tarantulas love to create burrows. You will notice that your tarantula will have or will make itself a burrow, either using the hide placed in its enclosure, or by digging its own. The spiders also like to make a burrow out of a web. (see below pics)

 In a year, if you house your spider properly and feed it enough food, it will reach quite a size! Around 4-5 years, the spider will be fully grown, and can reach sizes of 17cm or more.

One of the offspring:

SET-UP

Many people ask us how to set-up and care for their newly aquired spiderlings. Below is a guide:

We keep our babies in small enclosures (approx 11cm x 6cm) - as pictured above

Due to the ventilation required and the great escape techniques spiders have, we place a stocking over the top to ensure none manage to get out.

The substrate is peat moss and as you can see - a little bit of sphagnum moss to maintain moisture. Clean out uneaten food daily and do an entire soil change once every 3 months or sooner if fungus or mould begins to appear. DO NOT use any soil that may contain fertlizers, sand or bark chips. Use only peat moss or coco peat.

All spiders are sprayed lightly every second day or so (as needed).

Being in QLD we do not use heat mats etc unless it is cold in winter in which we put to use a blue globe light for a little extra warmth without being too intrusive on the spiders. Spiders need to be maintained at a temperature of 20-30 degrees.

Also within the enclosures is a little jar for them to hide in (they often create webs in and around the sides of these). This is important to enable to have a base from which to build webs and feel secure. Little pots etc can also be used. For decoration you may also like to add stones/rocks.

A small lid acts as a water dish with a few pebbles place in the bottom to ensure the babies aren't likely to drown (as well as their food items - crickets etc).

FEEDING

Our spiderlings are fed on one - two small sized crickets or woodroaches every 2nd day or so (as required).

We breed our own roaches and crickets to enable us to always have some on hand! But they are readily available in good pet shops.

DIFFERENT SPECIES

As stated previously, we keep a few diff. species of Aust. Tarantulas. Below is a few pics of the diff. types we keep:

Phlogius crassipes

Selenotypus sp.2

Phlogius cf. papuanus

Photo by Steve Nunn.

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FOR SALE:

No adults for sale - only captive bred spiderlings (babies)

NO SPIDERLINGS CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. MORE COMING IN THE NEXT MONTH OR SO. EMAIL FOR DETAILS.

Pick up is available from the Gold Coast and discounts apply for bulk purchases (5 or more)

Please email reptilearachnid@optusnet.com.au for further details.