Tarantula Noises Explained: What Your Pet Spider Is Trying to Tell You

Tarantulas make sounds! Many pet owners don’t know this.

 

These big, fuzzy spiders from the Theraphosidae family can make noises that tell us what they’re feeling.

 

Learning about tarantula sounds helps you be a better pet owner. In this guide, you’ll learn what different tarantula noises mean, how they make them, and which kinds of tarantulas are the loudest.

 

Types of Tarantula Sounds and Their Meanings

Stridulation: The Main Way Tarantulas Make Noise

Stridulation sounds happen when tarantulas rub body parts together.

 

Think of it like rubbing a stick on a fence – it makes noise! Tarantulas use these body parts to make sounds:

• Their legs against their body
• Their pedipalps (small leg-like parts near the mouth) against chelicerae (fangs)
• Their legs against other legs

 

Scientists found that sounds made by tarantulas are between 1-15 kHz. Most sounds are about as loud as normal talking (40-65 dB).

 

“Tarantula stridulation mechanisms are one of the most interesting ways spiders communicate. They’ve been using these techniques for about 250 million years!” – Dr. Linda Rayor, spider behavior researcher

 

Hissing Sounds: When Tarantulas Feel Threatened

Some tarantulas make hissing behavior sounds when they feel unsafe. The Goliath Birdeater is known for loud hisses.

 

If your pet tarantula hisses, it means:

1. It feels scared
2. It wants you to back away
3. It might be getting ready to defend itself

 

Mexican Red-Knee Tarantulas don’t hiss as much as other kinds. Each species has its own sound patterns.

 

Clicking and Tapping Noises

Some tarantulas make clicking noises by tapping their legs. This is different from stridulation sounds. Tapping happens when:

• Males look for mates
• Tarantulas mark territory
• They send warning signals to other animals

 

How to Understand Your Tarantula’s Sound Messages

Defense Sounds vs. Territory Sounds

You can tell the difference between defensive stridulation and territorial sounds by watching your tarantula’s body language:

Sound Purpose	Body Position	Sound Type	How Often It Happens
Defense	Raised front legs, fangs out	Loud, sharp hissing	85% of threat displays
Territory	Tapping front legs	Soft clicking	Most common at night
Stress	Fast movements, hair flicking	Short bursts of sound	Happens with temperature changes

 

When tarantulas make defense noises, they might also kick tiny hairs called urticating hairs. These can irritate skin and eyes.

 

Stress and Worry Signals

Tarantulas make more sounds when they’re stressed. Signs of tarantula stress signals include:

• More sounds than normal
• Fast movements
• Refusing to eat
• Hair flicking

If your tarantula makes 64% more sounds when the room gets warmer (from 70°F to 85°F), it might be too hot!

 

Mating and Social Sounds

Male tarantulas make sounds 3.2 times more often during mating season.

 

These mating calls are part of their mating ritual. Males use acoustic communication to:

• Get females’ attention
• Show they aren’t a threat
• Prove they’re good mates

 

Common Tarantula Species and Their Unique Sounds

Old World Tarantulas (Africa, Asia)

Old World tarantulas make higher sounds (about 12 kHz) than other tarantulas. These spiders from Africa and Asia don’t have urticating hairs, so they rely more on sounds and threat posture sounds for defense.

 

The British Tarantula Society reports that these spiders are more likely to make threat assessment sounds than to run away.

 

New World Tarantulas (Americas)

New World tarantulas from North and South America make lower sounds (about 8 kHz). The Pamphobeteus antinous is one of the loudest species, according to the American Tarantula Society.

 

“The tarantula sound production differences between New and Old World species show how these animals evolved in different places. It’s fascinating to study these spider acoustic signals!” – Quote from the Journal of Arachnology

 

Arboreal vs. Ground-Dwelling Differences

Arboreal tarantulas (tree-dwelling) and terrestrial tarantulas (ground-dwelling) make different sounds:

• Arboreal tarantulas:
  • Higher-pitched sounds
  • More leg tapping
  • Better at vibration detection
• Terrestrial tarantulas:
  • Louder stridulation
  • More body rubbing sounds
  • Use setae vibration more

 

How to Record and Identify Your Tarantula’s Sounds

Recording Equipment and Tips

You can record your pet’s tarantula sound characteristics with:

1. A smartphone with a sound app
2. A small microphone placed near (but not in) the tank
3. A vibration sensor under the tank

Remember that only 62% of tarantula sounds can be heard by human ears. Some sounds are too high or low for us to hear!

 

For more tips on recording your tarantula, check out the Arachnoboards forum, where spider experts share tarantula sound recording techniques.

 

Creating a Sound Profile for Your Pet

The Tarantula Keepers Guide suggests keeping track of your pet’s normal sounds. This helps you notice when something changes. Make notes about:

• When your tarantula makes sounds
• How loud they are
• What your tarantula is doing when making sounds
• If the sounds change with the seasons

 

Scientific Research on Tarantula Acoustics

Current Understanding and New Discoveries

Scientists are learning new things about tarantula communication methods all the time. Recent studies from the World Spider Conservation Network used tarantula noise interpretation to identify 16 endangered species!

 

Research from the University of Zurich shows that tarantula sound evolutionary purpose goes back 250 million years. This means spiders were making sounds before dinosaurs existed!

 

Why Tarantulas Evolved to Make Sounds

Tarantulas developed acoustic communication in spiders for many reasons:

1. To scare away threats
2. To find mates in the dark
3. To mark territory
4. To communicate with other tarantulas

 

The sounds tarantulas make with their stridulating organs have a 78% connection with how likely they are to attack. This means the louder the sound, the more serious the warning!

 

Final Thoughts

Understanding tarantula noises helps you be a better pet owner. By listening to your spider’s tarantula body part sounds, you can tell if it’s happy, scared, or stressed. Interpreting tarantula sounds takes practice, but it’s worth it!

 

Next time your tarantula makes noise, don’t worry! Now you know it’s just using tarantula sensory communication to tell you something.

 

Want to learn more? Check out the Tarantula Preservation Project for more information on these amazing creatures.

 

Common Questions

1. Are tarantula sounds dangerous? No, the sounds themselves can’t hurt you.
2. Why is my tarantula making more noise than usual? It might be stressed, too hot, or feeling threatened.
3. Can tarantulas hear sounds like we do? No, they feel vibrations using special hairs called trichobothria.
4. Do baby tarantulas make sounds? Yes, but they’re much quieter.
5. Which tarantulas are loudest? The Pamphobeteus antinous, Theraphosa blondi, and Psalmopoeus cambridgei.
6. How can I tell if sounds mean my tarantula is angry? Look for raised front legs and exposed fangs.
7. Do tarantulas talk to each other with sounds? Yes, especially during mating and territory disputes.
8. Can tarantulas feel vibrations from other animals? Yes, they can detect movements as small as 0.05 mm!