Keeping Communal Tarantulas: Species, Setup Tips, and More

For tarantula enthusiasts, keeping communal tarantulas can be an exciting prospect. However, it also comes with challenges and risks. With careful planning and proper species selection, a communal tarantula habitat can thrive. This article provides an overview of communal tarantula keeping, including suitable species, habitat setup, feeding tips, and more.

What are Communal Tarantulas?

Most tarantula species are solitary creatures that prefer to live alone in nature. However, some species exhibit more tolerance toward cohabiting with other spiders These communal tarantulas can potentially be housed together successfully in captivity if certain conditions are met.

Communal tarantulas may share burrows or other hiding places with siblings from the same egg sac or unrelated spiders. They are able to co-exist through habituation and by having adequate space and resources to avoid conflict. However cannibalism can still occur in communal habitats, especially if conditions become overcrowded or inadequate.

Benefits of Keeping Communal Tarantulas

For experienced tarantula keepers, raising a communal group can be rewarding. Benefits include:

• Observing interesting natural behaviors like cooperation and interaction
• Potential for breeding and egg sac production
• Limiting cannibalism tendencies by providing adequate space and food
• Added educational and entertainment value

However, the endeavor does come with risks. Success is not guaranteed, even with suitable species. Patience, vigilance, and proper habitat management are required.

Choosing the Right Communal Species

Only certain tarantula species are known to tolerate communal settings from time to time. Species reported to have some success living communally include:

• Socotra Island Blue Baboon (Monocentropus balfouri)
• Orange Baboon Tarantula (Pterinochilus murinus)
• Gabon Blue Dwarf Baboon (Heterothele gabonensis)
• Red Slate Ornamental (Poecilotheria rufilata)
• Pederson’s Ornamental (Poecilotheria vittata)
• Ivory Ornamental (Poecilotheria subfusca)
• Trinidad Olive Tarantula (Neoholothele incei)
• Indian Ornamental Tree Spider (Poecilotheria regalis)
• Tanzanian Chestnut Tarantula (Heterothele villosella)

The Socotra Island Blue Baboon and the docile Tanzanian Chestnut are often recommended as good starter species for communal habitats. Poecilotheria species can also work but may be better suited for more experienced keepers due to speed and defensiveness. Avoid aggressive species like the Cobalt Blue Tarantula.

Communal Habitat Setup Tips

Proper habitat setup is key to communal success. Recommendations include:

• Use an adequately sized tank: 15-30 gallons for 5-10 spiderlings. Too small increases aggression; too large allows isolated territories.
• Add plenty of hides: Cork bark, plants, wood, rocks. Each spiderling needs hiding options.
• Substrate: 5-6 inches of substrate for burrowing species. Mix of organic topsoil, coconut fiber, moss.
• Utilize cross ventilation: Tarantulas need airflow. Mesh top with good ventilation recommended.
• Include a water dish: Shallow bowl that cannot be tipped over. Change water regularly.
• Moderate humidity: 60-75% for tropical species. Dry substrate can lead to conflict.
• Warm temperatures: 75-85°F suits most species. Heat lamps/pads can create a temperature gradient.

Feeding Tips for Communal Tarantulas

Hunger can quickly lead to cannibalism in a communal habitat. Follow these feeding best practices:

• Provide adequate prey: Crickets, roaches, worms. Amount that avoids leftover prey but satisfies all spiders.
• Feed at separate locations: Scatter prey so each tarantula can catch food alone. Distractions can cause stealing.
• Remove uneaten prey: After 1-2 hours. Leftover prey promotes aggression and cannibalism.
• Supplement prey items: Calcium and vitamins support exoskeleton growth and health.
• Water supply: Water dish for hydration and moisture. High humidity helps prevent conflicts over water sources.
• Change food and water regularly: 1-2 times per week, more as needed. Good hygiene limits bacterial issues.

Maintaining the Habitat

After establishing the communal habitat, regular maintenance is required:

• Spot clean frequently: Remove waste, uneaten prey, old webbing/molts using tongs.
• Check for signs of aggression: Missing spiders, torn legs/palps, uneaten tarantulas. Isolate aggressors.
• Watch for molting: Tarantulas are vulnerable during molts. Ensure safety or separate if needed.
• Monitor environment: Check temps, humidity, substrate condition. Make adjustments to optimize habitat.
• Limit disturbance: Don’t overhandle communal spiders. Give them space and let behaviors occur naturally.
• Replenish elements: Water, moist substrate, hides. Make sure resources are available to avoid conflict.

Diligent habitat upkeep and monitoring will help sustain a successful communal group long-term if the species and conditions are suitable.

Potential Risks and Challenges

Despite best efforts, there are risks to communal arrangements:

• Cannibalism: Hunger, molting, limited resources, and aggression can all trigger cannibalism.
• Injuries and death: Weak or molting spiders may fall victim to attacks or predation from cagemates.
• Territorial disputes: Some spiders become territorial adults and won’t tolerate others.
• Egg-eating: Gravid females may eat each other’s egg sacs.
• Escapes: Communal cages need secure lids, as missing spiders can escape.
• Breeding complications: Unwanted mating, egg-eating, and competition can occur.
• Disease transmission: Close quarters can spread pathogens between spiders.
• Added expenses: More spiders means increased feeding, housing, and care costs.

Not all communally raised spiders will safely coexist forever. Separation or alternate housing may become necessary for mature males or aggressive spiders. Extra vigilance is required to prevent losses.

Signs of Success

You can consider your communal habitat to be successful when:

• All spiders are accounted for and appear healthy.
• Spiders readily eat together at feeding time without conflict.
• There is no evidence of missing legs/palps or cannibalism.
• Natural behaviors like web-spinning and burrowing are observed.
• Interactions appear tolerant; spiders share hides without aggression.
• Breeding and egg sac production occur.
• Molting spiders are unharmed by cagemates.
• Multiple generations and ages of spiders coexist peacefully.

Communal tarantula keeping requires an experienced keeper, ideal species selection, properly organized habitat, vigilant maintenance, and contingency plans for problems like aggression or cannibalism. Success is possible but not guaranteed. With careful planning and management, a communal tarantula habitat can provide enjoyment and enrichment for the advanced hobbyist. However, solitary housing is still best practice for beginners and for species unsuitable for communal living.