Ever watched 300 baby spiders emerge from a silk-wrapped egg sac? That heart-pounding moment hooked me for life!
Tarantulas have been part of the exotic pet trade since the 1970s, but successful breeding remains a rare achievement for most keepers.
This guide will walk you through the entire tarantula breeding process—from selecting the perfect pair to raising their tiny offspring—so you can experience this eight-legged miracle for yourself and contribute to sustainable pet trade practices.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you try to breed tarantulas, make sure you:
- Have kept tarantulas for at least 2 years
- Know how to tell males from females (foolproof ways to determine tarantula gender)
- Have the right tools and cages
- Understand the risks
Last year, I jumped into breeding too quickly with my Mexican Red Knee pair, and let me tell you—that was like trying to bake a soufflé before learning how to boil water!
Tom Moran, a famous tarantula expert, says: “Never try breeding until you’ve mastered basic tarantula husbandry. The lives of many baby spiders will depend on your skills.”
I have that quote pinned above my tarantula room door now!
Best Species for Beginners
If this is your first time breeding, choose an easy species:
- Mexican Red Knee (Brachypelma hamorii)
- Chilean Rose Hair (Grammostola rosea)
- Curly Hair Tarantula (Tliltocatl albopilosum)
These species are less likely to attack each other during mating. Expert tips for breeding tarantulas can improve your success rate.
My first successful breeding was with my Curly Hair tarantulas, Fuzzy and Wuzzy (yes, I’m terrible at naming pets). They were as calm as Sunday morning during the whole process, which is exactly what you want when you’re a nervous first-time tarantula matchmaker!
Understanding How Tarantulas Make Babies
Tarantulas don’t mate like mammals. The male makes a special web called a spermatophore where he puts his sperm. During mating, he transfers this to the female. The process is part of the tarantula mating survival challenges.
It’s kind of like leaving a special package on someone’s doorstep, except this delivery can potentially get the delivery guy eaten! Talk about hazard pay!
Telling Males from Females
Sexual dimorphism means males and females look different:
- Mature males have special hooks on their front legs
- Mature males have bulbs on their pedipalps (small leg-like parts near their mouth)
- Females are usually bigger
- Females live much longer (males often die soon after mating)
You can also check for gender through ventral sexing or during a molt.
When my tarantula Felix molted last spring, I was shocked to discover “he” was actually a “she”! It was like a gender reveal party, but with way more legs and no confetti.
Choosing the Right Spiders for Breeding
| Species | Male Age at Maturity | Female Age at Maturity | Number of Babies | Survival Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexican Red Knee | 3-4 years | 5-7 years | 200-400 | 75-85% |
| Chilean Rose Hair | 2-3 years | 3-5 years | 100-300 | 70-85% |
| Curly Hair Tarantula | 1.5-2.5 years | 2-4 years | 300-700 | 80-90% |
Make sure both tarantulas are:
- Healthy (good weight, no missing legs)
- Mature (see chart above)
- Not from the same family (to avoid inbreeding concerns)
One time I accidentally tried to pair two siblings, and the other tarantula keepers at the 2024 ArachnoCon in Phoenix never let me forget it. “Hey, it’s the spider matchmaker from Alabama!” they still joke. Good thing I double-checked their lineage before the actual introduction!
Getting Ready for Breeding
Preparing the Female
For 1-2 months before breeding:
- Feed the female extra food
- Keep her in ideal conditions
- Make sure she has molted recently (gravid tarantula signs and care)
My female Pink Toe loves extra crickets during her pre-breeding buffet time. She pounces on them like I jump on the last slice of pizza at a party!
Setting Up the Breeding Box
Your breeding enclosure setup should have:
- More space than a regular cage
- The right substrate preparation (usually 2-3 inches of coconut fiber)
- Hiding spots for both spiders
- Good humidity requirements (see chart below)
- Proper temperature regulation (75-82°F for most species)
I turned an old aquarium into a love nest for my tarantulas. My roommate calls it the “spider bachelor pad,” complete with mood lighting (a red heat lamp) and romantic hideaways. Hey, even arachnids deserve a nice dating venue!
The Mating Process
Breeding can be dangerous for male tarantulas. The female might eat him! This is called post-mating cannibalism. Preventing cannibalism in tarantula breeding is crucial for success.
Talk about the ultimate “it’s not you, it’s me” breakup scenario! Males probably wish they could just send a text and ghost instead.
Steps for Safe Mating:
- Put the female in the breeding box first
- Add the male when the female seems calm
- Watch them closely the entire time
- Have a cup ready to remove the male quickly
- Look for breeding success signs like the male drumming or tapping
The first time I witnessed tarantula courtship, I was glued to my chair for two hours straight. The male’s dancing and drumming reminded me of my awkward moves at my high school prom—except he had eight legs to coordinate!
Petko Petkov from The Dark Den explains: “Never leave breeding tarantulas alone together. A successful mating can happen in minutes, but a female can attack and eat the male just as quickly.”
Taking Care of the Egg Sac
If mating works, the female will make an egg sac about 1-3 months later. This is a round, silky ball with eggs inside. Tarantula egg sac development is a fascinating process.
Waiting for an egg sac is like checking your mailbox for that package you ordered online—except this delivery takes months and comes from a very hairy, eight-legged postal worker!
Signs of a Good Egg Sac:
- Round shape
- Tight weaving
- The mother guards it carefully
Sometimes the mother might eat or abandon the egg sac. This can happen if:
- The eggs aren’t fertile
- The mother is stressed
- The conditions aren’t right
Last summer, my Chilean Rose Hair abandoned her egg sac after a thunderstorm shook the house. I was as disappointed as a kid who dropped their ice cream cone! Nature can be so unpredictable sometimes.
Caring for Baby Tarantulas
Baby tarantulas are called spiderlings or slings. They’re very small and delicate. Raising healthy baby tarantulas requires proper care.
In fact, when my first batch of babies emerged, they were smaller than the freckles on my arm! Those tiny bundles of legs had me feeling like a nervous parent sending 200 kids to their first day of kindergarten.
Spiderling Care Tips:
- Spiderling separation: Separate babies when they start to wander (the paintbrush method for tarantula slings)
- Use small containers (like medicine cups) for each baby
- Keep humidity higher for babies than adults
- Feed tiny prey like fruit fly larvae or pre-killed pinhead crickets
- Be patient – they grow slowly!
After my first successful breeding, I had over 300 baby Curly Hairs. My kitchen counter looked like a spider nursery with dozens of tiny cups labeled with birthdays. Try explaining that to first-time visitors!
Growth Timeline
Most species follow this spiderling development pattern:
- Eggs hatch inside the sac
- First molt happens inside the sac
- Mother or breeder opens sac when babies are ready
- Babies need weekly feeding
- Babies molt every few weeks when small
Watching them grow is slower than watching paint dry, but way more fascinating. My friend’s turtle Ray moves like a rocket ship compared to growing tarantula babies!
Special Tips for Different Types of Tarantulas
Ground Dwelling vs. Tree Dwelling
Terrestrial breeding (for ground species like Mexican Red Knee):
- Use deeper substrate
- Lower humidity (50-70%)
- More floor space
Arboreal breeding (for tree species like Pink Toe Tarantula):
- More vertical space
- Higher humidity (70-85%)
- More climbing objects
My arboreal Pink Toes love to do their romantic dance high up on the cork bark. They’re like the Romeo and Juliet of the spider world, except hopefully with less tragedy and more babies!
Hot vs. Humid Climate Species
Old World species (from Africa, Asia, Europe):
- Usually more aggressive
- Often need higher temperatures
- Have more breeding difficulty ratings
New World species (from North and South America):
- Usually calmer
- Often easier for beginners
- Have better breeding success rates
My Old World baboon spider reminds me of that one friend who’s always ready to fight at parties—approach with caution and respect! Meanwhile, my New World spiders are like mellow surfer dudes just chilling on the beach.
Common Problems and Solutions
| Problem | Possible Solution |
|---|---|
| Male runs away | Try again when female seems more receptive |
| Female tries to eat male | Remove male quickly and try again later |
| No egg sac after 3 months | Try breeding again with different male |
| Female eats egg sac | Improve conditions and try again next season |
| High spiderling mortality | Check humidity and temperature |
Last year, my female Mexican Red Knee tried to make a snack out of her suitor. I scooped that poor guy out so fast I could have won an Olympic medal in “tarantula rescue”!
Legal and Ethical Issues
Before breeding, know the laws. Some species like certain Brachypelma and Poecilotheria tarantulas are protected by CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species). Legal considerations for tarantula breeders can help prevent costly mistakes.
With the recent 2024 updates to endangered species protections, it’s more important than ever to make sure your breeding efforts are above board.
The Fish and Wildlife Service regulates which spiders can be shipped across state or country lines.
Sustainable arachnid breeding means:
- Not taking too many spiders from the wild
- Keeping good records of your breeding projects
- Only selling to responsible pet owners
Join groups like the American Tarantula Society or visit forums like Arachnoboards to learn more about tarantula breeding ethics. Their website https://arachnoboards.com/forums/breeding.10/ has many helpful discussions about proper breeding practices.
I joined the American Tarantula Society’s virtual conference last month and learned so much from the conservation experts. We all need to do our part to make sure these amazing creatures stay around for future generations to enjoy!
Opportunities in Tarantula Breeding
If done responsibly, tarantula breeding can also be a profitable venture. Getting started with captive-bred tarantulas can be a great opportunity for enthusiasts.
My breeding journal looks like a proud parent’s baby book, complete with “first molt” photos and growth measurements. My non-spider friends think I’m crazy, but my fellow arachnid enthusiasts get it!
You can share your success on sites like the Tarantula Collective community or with Stan Schultz, author of The Tarantula Keeper’s Guide, which is the most popular book on tarantula care. Find a copy at https://www.amazon.com/Tarantula-Keepers-Guide-Comprehensive-Information/dp/0764138855/.
Final Thoughts
Breeding tarantulas isn’t easy, but it’s very rewarding. You’ll learn a lot about Theraphosidae (the tarantula family) and help keep these amazing creatures available to hobbyists without taking more from the wild.
Start with easy species, be patient, and always put the spiders’ safety first. With care and attention, you can join the ranks of successful tarantula breeders!
Remember that even experts face breeding failure sometimes. Learn from each attempt, keep good records, and enjoy the amazing process of arachnid reproduction.
After three years of breeding these fascinating creatures, I can honestly say that helping bring new tarantulas into the world has been one of the most rewarding (and occasionally hilarious) experiences of my life. Whether you’re just starting out or trying a challenging species, remember: good things come to those who wait…about 1-3 months for an egg sac, to be exact!
