A tarantula is a cost-effective pet that can be kept for a reasonable price. They can live between 10-30 years, are relatively inexpensive to buy, and are easy to keep up with month to month.
How much does it cost for a tarantula to be bought and all the necessary items to keep them happy and healthy? Here’s how it works. We have everything you need, from initial costs to monthly expenditures. So you can be sure you understand what you are getting into before you buy one.
Bringing Home a New Tarantula: One-Time Costs
The cost of bringing home the tarantula can be more than the price you pay to buy the spider. It is important to consider everything they require in their enclosure as well as the enclosure itself. So you can see exactly what to expect, we have broken down each expense.
No cost
There aren’t many tarantulas for free, but if you know someone who is tired of having one, they might be able to give them to you. They will often charge a small fee to set up and protect the tarantulas. This is a one-time expense that provides everything you need.
If they offer everything free of charge, you won’t be disappointed!
Adoption
$20-$50
There are no shelters for tarantulas, but you might see people selling older tarantulas at different websites. They will usually sell the spider with their supplies together but might only sell the tarantula if the owner wants to keep the enclosure.
These tarantulas are usually not very expensive. They can be purchased for as low as $20 to $50.
Breeder
$25-$150
A breeder is the best way to obtain a tarantula. Although these are usually pet shops, you can also find smaller breeders who sell tarantulas. They can be found for as low as $25 if they are a common tarantula. However, if they are rare, they can go for up to $50.
This includes special colorings and coats as well as sex. Female tarantulas are more expensive, live longer, and grow larger than males. Rare tarantulas may sell for up to $150
Initial Setup and Supplies
$80-$130
It’s not expensive to buy a tarantula. However, it’s also very affordable to provide everything they need to survive. They don’t require any heating source, unlike reptiles. As long as the temperature remains between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, they are fine.
Heating lamps and other accessories are not necessary for most homes that stay within this range. You can spend as much or as little as you like on your tarantula enclosure.
List of Tarantula Care Supplies & Costs
| Terrarium | $30 |
| Substrate | $10 |
| Water Dish | $5 |
| Hide | $8 |
| Plants | $15 |
| Feeding tongs | $5 |
| Spray Bottle | $5 |
| Cricket Pen | $10 |
| Heating pad (optional). | $20 |
| Accessory (optional). | $25 |
How Much Does a Tarantula Cost Per Month?
$10-$35 per month
Although it might not seem like a lot, it is the most costly part of owning a tarantula. The amount you spend per month on tarantulas is minimal once you have everything you need.
You might spend as little as $20 per year if you keep your own crickets. Here are the details of all expenses associated with these animals.
Food
$5-10 per month
Although they love all insects, Tarantulas prefer crickets as their primary food source. Crickets are cost-effective and provide everything they need. Many pet shops sell crickets at less than 20c each. If you’re looking to save even more, it’s easy to breed them!
If you purchase the right cricket container, this $5-10 expense will quickly be negligible.
Grooming
$0 per month
A tarantula can shed their skin but you don’t need to keep the humidity in the enclosure high. You can spray everything with the sprayer every now and again, and then remove any old skin that they have shed.
Medications and vet visits
$5-$10 per month
It is possible for your tarantula to get sick but it’s very rare. Many vets will not even treat tarantulas. You will need to find a specialist in exotic animals if they become sick. However, this is a rare situation.
Pet Insurance
$0 per month
Companies don’t offer pet insurance because it is rare for tarantulas to be taken to the vet. Even if they did offer it, we recommend that you skip it. The chances of your tarantula actually needing it enough for it to make ends meet is virtually zero.
Environment Maintenance
$0-$1 per month
Once everything is in place, all you have to do is change the substrate once in a while. This would be approximately every year. Their ideal substrate is around $10 so the $1 per month estimate may seem excessive.
Entertainment
$0-$5 per month
It doesn’t matter if it’s a Tarantula. You can still add items to their enclosure to keep them happy! You don’t have to add as many. Tarantulas love climbing, so the more you add to their enclosure, the better.
Remember that tarantulas prefer smaller enclosures because they can hunt and trap food. You won’t be in a position to store too much and still allow them to roam. If you make things too tall, your tarantula may try to escape from their enclosure.
You don’t have to add anything just because you are able. If you don’t wish to add anything, this is a very low expense at zero dollars per month.
The total monthly cost of owning a Tarantula
$10-$35 per month
The biggest expense in owning a Tarantula is buying them and its enclosure. There are very few expenses you should consider once you have your tarantula.
You won’t need any additional money if you decide to breed your crickets.
Additional costs to consider
A tarantula is a rare animal that doesn’t have many other price factors.
Pet sitting is the most expensive thing you should worry about when having a tarantula. This is mainly due to maintaining the right humidity and making sure that they have enough water.
This is because tarantulas can live up to 2 weeks without food, but it is not unusual for them to go a whole month without eating. Many tarantulas can go up to 2 years without eating!
You might even be able to take your standard tarantula enclosure with you on extended trips. A tarantula is very affordable!
A Tarantula on a Budget
A tarantula can be a great pet for anyone with a tight budget. They can survive on crickets which are very inexpensive and don’t require much else to support themselves.
You can even save money by breeding your own crickets!
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on enclosures for crickets, and most likely you already have everything you need. You just need to keep them all together in an area that allows them to lay eggs.
You don’t have to worry about monthly costs if you are on a budget.
Tarantula Care: Saving Money
You can save money by breeding your own crickets. Even then, it’s only a small amount of money each month. You might end up with more crickets than you need.
Pet shops sell crickets at as low as 17 cents per cricket. A tarantula can only eat one to two crickets each meal so this is not a huge cost-saving opportunity. This is mainly because you don’t have to go to the pet shop to buy crickets.
Conclusion
A tarantula can be a great pet for anyone, regardless of your budget.
Keep in mind, however, that females can live for up to 30 years. If you decide to get one, you should be ready to commit to a long-term relationship. Your tarantula will not survive in the wild if it is released.
How much does a tarantula cost?
Somewhere from $25 and $75 On average, expect to pay between $25 to $75, however, this can vary greatly based on factors like the species.
Do tarantulas bite?
Tarantulas can bite. If you are bitten by a tarantula, you may experience discomfort at the place of the bite, comparable to a bee sting. The biting site may become heated and red. When frightened, one of these spiders brushes its hind legs across its own body surface and flicks hundreds of microscopic hairs toward the intruder.
Do tarantulas scream?
Spiders cannot scream because they lack vocal cords. They create hissing and purring noises to communicate with one another or to frighten their attacker. They accomplish this through a process known as stridulation. A spider will do this by rubbing its forelegs against its pedipalps or the hairs on its legs.
Do tarantulas erupt when they are dropped?
Tarantulas are far more vulnerable than many people assume. Climbing itself is quite perilous for a tarantula. If a tarantula falls, it may fracture or explode, as the case may be. When a tarantula falls a long distance, its internal organs will explode.
Why are tarantulas so friendly?
Tarantulas do not bite. This understanding makes it easier to handle them because there isn’t the same anxiety or worry that you would have with other species. That is not to suggest that they will never bite. That would be silly to believe.
Do tarantulas in captivity bite?
Tarantulas of all species bite. They do not, however, prefer to bite people. It cannot be overstated that tarantulas will only attack humans as a last option. Although certain spiders are more aggressive and hostile than others, even those choose to flee rather than bite.
Do tarantulas in captivity jump?
If you want to define jumping, “as the tarantula launches itself many inches or feet up and down vertically
Tarantulas can they swim?
Tarantulas have been observed swimming “both in the wild and in captivity.
Do they remove the venom from pet tarantulas?
The short answer is no, removing a tarantula’s venom glands is just not done. It would be too difficult and may be harmful to your tarantula.
Is a tarantula a suitable pet?
Because tarantulas are not pets, there is no enclosure that provides a safe, exciting habitat for them indoors. They belong in their native habitat and will take any opportunity to flee. If you don’t want a tarantula loose in your home, don’t bring one in on purpose.