Curly Hair Tarantula

Species: Curly Haired Tarantula
Scientific Name: Tliltocatl albopilosus
Origin: Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica
Lifespan: Males generally live up to 5 years, and females can live up to 25 years.
Size: 6-6.5” diameter
Enclosure Type: Using a lid on top of the enclosure is required, but beware of using traditional mesh lids, as tarantula feet easily get stuck in them, potentially leading to injury. If you want to use mesh, make sure the gaps are large enough to prevent entrapment. Alternatively, replace the screen with a sheet of acrylic with small holes drilled into it for ventilation.
Enclosure Size: The minimum terrarium size for a curly hair tarantula varies depending on its size. Slings can be housed in basic acrylic spiderling enclosures, no smaller than four legspans by three legspans. These should be gradually upgraded until they are large enough to be comfortable in an adult-sized enclosure no smaller than 20” L x 10” W x 10” H, or a 10-gallon tank, although taller (and larger in general) is better.
Substrate: Although curly hair tarantulas are not commonly known to burrow in captivity, they are known to burrow in the wild, so it’s still a good idea to offer them that choice. Slings should have around 1-2” of substrate, and adults should have at least 4”.  Good substrates include eco earth, reptisoil, and plantation soil.
Décor: An empty terrarium can lead to a stressed tarantula, and it’s not much to look at, either. At bare minimum, you will need at least one hiding spot for the tarantula to use. However, you can also include other decorative items, such as small logs and branches, cork flats, live or artificial plants, and artificial ornaments.
Water: Of course, don’t forget a small water bowl for your tarantula to drink from! If it’s too small for a water bowl (under 2” diameter), then mist the enclosure occasionally to create water droplets for it to drink. Change the water dish daily and scrub it out with a reptile-safe disinfectant weekly.
Temperature: We recommend curly hair tarantulas are kept between 78-85°F. This is usually significantly warmer than room temperature, so to boost your temps, you will need to use a small heat mat stuck to the long side of the enclosure and connected to a thermostat set to 84-85°F to create a temperature gradient. Use a digital probe thermometer to keep track of enclosure temperatures.
Humidity: Curly hair tarantulas prefer high humidity levels between 65-85%. One of the best ways to do this is keeping the substrate appropriately damp. Simply pour water in until it’s moist, but not saturated or swampy. The top layer should be dry. Keep track of ambient humidity levels with a digital probe hygrometer.
Lighting: Curly hair tarantulas are generally kept without UVB lighting, as they have proven to be capable of surviving without it and considering that UVB wavelengths are blocked by glass and acrylic, installing the lamp could be tricky. However, there is some evidence to suggest that tarantulas may benefit from UVB lighting when appropriately provided. There is also evidence of invertebrates being able to synthesize vitamin D3 from UVB.
Type Of Diet: Carnivorous
Types Of Food: Crickets, dubia roaches, discoid roaches, black soldier fly larvae, and mealworms. Flightless fruit flies are a great option for particularly small slings.
Feeding Schedule: It is recommended slings be fed every 4-7 days, juveniles should be fed every 7-14 days, and adults should receive a meal every 14-21 days.
Supplements: While Curly Hair Tarantulas can obtain most of their nutritional needs from their prey items, it is beneficial to occasionally supplement their diet to ensure they receive a well-rounded nutrition. Calcium and vitamin supplements can be provided to support their overall health.