When I first started keeping tarantulas ten years ago, I never imagined I’d become so fascinated with their breeding behaviors.
While most folks are trying to keep spiders OUT of their homes, here we are inviting them in!
Breeding these magnificent eight-legged creatures can be challenging but incredibly rewarding, opening up a whole new world of arachnid appreciation.
Spiderlings require careful monitoring post-hatching, making it essential to follow expert tips for raising tarantula spiderlings to achieve optimal survival rates.
Prerequisites for Tarantula Breeding
Before you dive into the deep end of the spider pool, make sure you have:
- Mature tarantulas (Males: 1.5-3 years, Females: 2-5 years old)
- Knowledge about your specific spider type
- The right equipment
- Patience and time
“Sexual dimorphism in tarantulas makes it easy to tell males from females once they’re mature,” says Tom Moran, tarantula expert. “Males have special boxing-glove shaped pedipalp bulbs on the front of their face, while females don’t.”
Last summer, I mixed up a male and female Brachypelma. Talk about an awkward blind date! Always double-check before playing spider matchmaker.
Pre-Breeding Preparation Steps
Conditioning Your Tarantulas
Pre-breeding conditioning is super important. Think of it like training for a marathon – your eight-legged athletes need to be in tip-top shape! Give your tarantulas extra food for 4-6 weeks before trying to breed them.
My oldest female refuses crickets during conditioning—she’s got champagne taste on a cricket budget. I’ve found that roaches are her preferred pre-date dinner.
Creating the Ideal Environment
Your breeding enclosure setup should have:
- The right temperature (75-82°F or 24-28°C)
- Good humidity (65-80%)
- Proper hiding spots
- Enough space (at least 12″×8″×8″)
According to the Tarantula Breeding Association Survey, good setup leads to a 60-75% success rate for breeders with healthy spiders.
Think of the breeding enclosure as a spider’s version of a fancy restaurant. You wouldn’t take your date to a fast-food joint, would you? My spiders get the five-star treatment—mood lighting and all!
The Tarantula Mating Process
The tarantula mating behavior can be trickier than teaching a cat to swim. Here’s what happens:
- The male does a special tap dance (male tarantula drumming)—it’s like Spider TikTok!
- The female shows if she’s ready (female receptivity signals)
- They mate (can take from 10 to 180 minutes)—longer than some human dates I’ve been on!
- You separate them to prevent post-mating cannibalism
Be careful! About 8-12% of females eat males during breeding attempts. Talk about the ultimate “it’s not you, it’s me” breakup!
Jamie from Jamie’s Tarantulas warns: “Never leave breeding pairs alone without watching. Males can become an expensive snack for hungry females!”
Post-Mating Care
After successful mating, your female needs special post-breeding female care:
- Keep her well-fed (she’s eating for hundreds now!)
- Make sure her home has good substrate selection for egg laying
- Wait 30-60 days for the egg sac development
I once compared the waiting period to expecting grandchildren—you’re nervous, excited, and constantly checking for updates! With the recent surge in exotic pet keeping during post-pandemic times, more keepers are experiencing this spider-grandparent anxiety.
Caring for Tarantula Egg Sacs
The egg sac care procedures are simple but must be done right:
| What to Do | When to Do It |
|---|---|
| Leave mom alone | First 2-3 weeks |
| Watch for problems | After 3 weeks |
| Consider moving egg sac | Only if mother seems stressed |
| Prepare for babies | Around day 45-60 |
During my first successful breeding, I was more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! I checked that egg sac so often the mama probably wanted to file a restraining order.
Spiderling Care Essentials
Once your spiderlings hatch, you’ll need to know proper spiderling rearing techniques:
- Spiderling separation techniques (separate them soon after they emerge)
- Tiny containers for each baby
- Small prey items
- High humidity
With good care, you can expect a 70-85% spiderling survival rate.
Remember when Taylor Swift said “I’ve got a blank space baby, and I’ll write your name”? Well, that’s me labeling hundreds of deli cups for spiderlings! Just as we’re seeing record concert attendance for the Eras Tour in 2025, tarantula breeding is seeing its own renaissance in the hobby.
Troubleshooting Breeding Challenges
If your breeding attempt fails, don’t worry! Many first-time breeders only have a 35-45% success rate. The Tarantula Collective website offers great resources for solving common problems.
My first three breeding attempts were complete flops—like trying to teach a spider to fetch. The male just wandered around like he was asking for directions, and the female looked at him like he had ten legs instead of eight!
Ethical Considerations in Tarantula Breeding
Remember that breeding program ethics matter:
- Don’t breed without homes for the babies
- Keep good breeding record keeping
- Never release captive spiders into the wild
- Follow genetic line tracking to avoid inbreeding
- Know if your species is on the CITES list (16 common pet species are protected)
With California’s recent exotic pet regulations in 2024, it’s more important than ever to stay informed about legal aspects of the hobby.
Species-Specific Breeding Guides
Different tarantulas need different care:
Beginner-Friendly Species
- Brachypelma hamorii (Mexican Red Knee) – gentle, slow-growing
- Grammostola pulchripes (Chaco Golden Knee) – calm temperament
- Avicularia avicularia (Common Pink Toe) – smaller clutch size (80-120 eggs)
Advanced Species
- Poecilotheria metallica (Gooty Sapphire) – more aggressive, needs expert handling
- Pterinochilus murinus (Orange Baboon) – very fast and defensive
Dr. Sarah Johnson of the Arachnid Research Collective says: “Always research your specific species before breeding. What works for a terrestrial Brachypelma won’t work for an arboreal Avicularia.”
I learned this lesson the hard way when I tried to use the same setup for different species. That’s like expecting a fish and a hamster to enjoy the same cage!
FAQs About Tarantula Breeding
Q: How do I know if my tarantulas are ready to breed? A: Look for mature males with pedipalp bulbs and females who have molted within the last 3-9 months. Use ventral sexing methods or exoskeleton hardness assessment to check.
Q: When is the best time to breed? A: Most successful breeding happens during breeding season timing of September to March.
Q: How many babies will I get? A: Between 50-900 eggs depending on species. The British Tarantula Society has a complete guide to clutch sizes by species.
Remember, tarantula breeding takes patience and careful environmental breeding triggers. With proper tarantula husbandry techniques, your breeding project timeline can lead to many healthy babies. Always consult resources like the American Tarantula Society or Arachnoboards Forum when you have questions.
Whether you’re raising a common Brachypelma hamorii or a rare Poecilotheria metallica, proper preparation is the key to successful arachnid reproduction! As I like to tell my arachnophobic friends – these spiders might have eight legs, but they’ve got thousands of babies and millions of fans!
