Tarantulas are not only unwitting masters at instilling fear in humans, they also have plenty of things to be scared of themselves. This includes natural predators such as the hawk wasp. It also includes larger animals, such as human beings. The sheer size of a human can be enough to frighten the poor spider into giving you a warning sting.
What’s The Number One Enemy Of A Tarantula?
The number one natural enemy of a tarantula is the dreaded hawk wasp. This is an insect that really seems to have it in for tarantulas. Their modus operandi is one that gives even us humans pause for horrified concern. It consists of trapping a tarantula, paralyzing it with a sting, and then dragging it back to their lair.
However, this isn’t the whole story. The real horror is what happens next. The hawk wasp – always, by the way, the female of the species – proceeds to lay their eggs on the body of the tarantula. Eventually, the eggs hatch. And when they do, they proceed to make a happy meal of the paralyzed but still living spider.
How Does A Tarantula Show Fear?
A tarantula isn’t the most diverse animal when it comes to showing surprise or fear. Their range of possible responses is pretty slim and predictable. Most will simply back up or attempt to scurry away.
If you corner a tarantula, they may lunge at you. The intention here is to scare you away while they scamper back into their lair. The lunge is simply meant to buy them time to make their escape.
What’s The Number One Killer Of Tarantulas?
As mentioned above, the hawk wasp is a dedicated foe of all tarantulas. This wasp is a true terror to all spider kind. When it comes to animal foes, the hawk wasp is probably the number one enemy that all tarantulas hope never to run into. But it may not actually be the number one killer of tarantulas.
There are plenty of other hazards that a tarantula has to contend with. One of them is cars. More and more people are moving into areas that are home to the tarantula. This means that they are slowly but surely losing their natural habitat.
As their natural range shrinks, more and more get run over by cars. Others get killed by humans who freak out at the sight of them. Humans, and the effects that we produce on natural areas, are probably more deadly to tarantulas than anything they could ever do to us.
Are Tarantulas Scared Of People?
Human beings are scary, unpredictable giants, at least from the perspective of the tarantula. They can’t predict our movements, nor can they divine our intentions. For this reason, they definitely prefer to stay away from us. They will “charge” at us in order to scare us away. Their only real aim here is to make us leave them alone.
5 Ways To Make Your Pet Tarantula Feel Safe
Are you enough of a tarantula lover to keep one in your home? Do you want to do all in your power to make your hairy lil’ critter feel cozy and safe? If so, here are 5 handy steps that you need to follow in order to make your dream come true:
1. Create the Right Kind of Environment
The first thing you will need to do is make sure that the area you keep them in is right for their very specific needs. This will depend on what kind of tarantula you own. If you own a terrestrial tarantula, meaning one that lives on the ground, you should buy a horizontal aquarium to keep them in.
On the other hand, if you own an arboreal tarantula, you will need a vertical aquarium. This is due to the fact that arboreal tarantulas live in trees and are much more adept at climbing.
Don’t make the tank too large. You want to give your pet just enough space to attack, subdue, and devour its prey. On the other hand, the tank can’t be too small because your tarantula needs room to molt.
The general rule of thumb for a terrestrial tarantula is to keep the tank 3 times as wide and long as their leg span. The rule is the same for an arboreal tarantula, only the metric will be 3 times as high.
2. Keep the Area Well Shaded
Tarantulas tend to live in the desert. To keep themselves out of direct sunlight, they prefer shady, enclosed areas. This also gives them plenty of protection from their predators. Make sure your tarantula’s aquarium has plenty of rocks, sand, and other shade providing elements.
3. Keep Your Tarantula’s Area Clean
It goes without saying that tarantulas, like most living things, prefer a clean and tidy environment to call home. You should clean their enclosure at least once a month. Your best bet will be to use a 3 percent bleach solution to clean the cage and its various furnishings. When you’re done, replace the substrate completely.
4. Keep Your Pets Away From Your Tarantula
Most other animals aren’t the biggest fans of spiders. Like humans, most of them will tend to have an instinctive fear of these large and hairy critters. For this reason, it’s best to keep your dogs, cats, and other animals away. Smaller animals like birds can even become prey if you aren’t careful.
5. Keep Yourself Away From Your Tarantula
Tarantulas are wild and solitary by nature. They really don’t appreciate being fondled, scrutinized, or picked up. If you want to keep one, your best bet will be to observe it from a safe distance. Handling it without due care can lead to a frightened tarantula that may decide to give you a warning in the form of a nasty bite.
