What you should know about the Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula

Maybe you are in the process of getting a new pet for yourself or your loved one. You might wonder about the best option for you.

As you research, you find a list of exciting pets that you can keep, one of them being the Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula spider. If you want to know more about this spider, here is an article that summarizes everything you need to know about it.

The lifespan

Most people don't consider rearing this spider as a pet because of its short lifespan. The male can live for around five years. However, the females live up to 15 years. Actually, most people prefer petting females compared to males because of this.

Note also that its Mexican counterpart, the Striped knee tarantula, has a longer lifespan, which can go up to 20 years.

How to handle the spider

Owners should be careful about handling pets. It would help if you remained still while it walks on your hands. Note that if it is on the verge of falling, the spider will cling to your hand using its fangs.

Another exciting thing is that owners need to ensure that they handle it with care as it can escape easily. Remember that these spiders don't have a memory to remember you as its owner. Therefore, you may not have any love towards yourself when you come close to it.

What about its venom

Unlike most tarantulas, this spider does not have a venomous sting. Although it may sting you, however, some people can develop severe allergies, which is another reason why you should be absolutely careful when handling one.

Its natural behavior

Most of these spiders are not as aggressive. The only time they can be is when they are about to fall off your hands. However, experts recommend owners to avoid putting two male tarantulas together as they can eat each other.

You also need to know that the spider has a molting season, which lasts for a few hours. During this time, the spider will shed its exterior shell. Owners should avoid touching the spider as any slight injuries on its vulnerable exoskeleton can lead to immediate death. In fact, nothing else should be in the enclosure, including flies, to avoid potential injuries.

The enclosure

The natural habit of this spider is on grasslands or green lawns. It also loves moist environments. Hence, when choosing an enclosure, ensure that you keep it moist. Experts recommend that you put it in a large chamber and cover it in a mesh lid. Also, remember to keep the temperature between 21 to 24 degrees Celsius.

When removing the lid, owners need to make sure that they cover it appropriately when returning the spider as they can escape easily.

It's also excellent to include a shallow vessel where you can add water for it to drink.

Final remarks

If you are thinking of rearing a spider, this would be an excellent pet for you. It's sting is not venomous. Additionally, feeding it is not a problem as you can provide it with bugs that you can collect on your home's lawn.