Part of being a pet owner is being fully aware of what a commitment you are making and the considerations (and even sacrifices) that will have to be made on your part – and these even goes for those of us who have a pet tarantula. While tarantulas may be more low maintenance than a dog, you still need to do some preparation and adjusting before just taking off.

Now, if you thought this was going to be a post about how to actually travel with your tarantula or go on vacation with your tarantula, I sincerely apologize. What you may be looking for is more information on how to safely transport or pack a tarantula – and that’s a whole different story (fortunately there are many great YouTube vids about this already). This is all about the prep necessary beforehand to ensure that your spider is going to be ok while you’re gone.

The interesting thing about tarantulas is that sometimes we are the ones that make ourselves crazy. What I mean is, if you leave for a week or two there is like a 99% chance your tarantula will be absolutely fine and not give a damn. I can leave for a week or two and Spidey won’t even notice. So a lot of the time, we are fussing far more than we have to. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take precaution!

So yes, a tarantula can go a VERY long time without eating. So food won’t be much of a concern – especially when it’s an adult like Spidey. Slings do need to be fed more often, but they will likely be fine without food for a few weeks as well. These creatures are very hardy and can withstand long periods without food. However, what is more critical, is water for them. So if you are going for vacation for an extended period (we’re talking several weeks or more), you’ll want to have a friend or family member stop by and refill the water dish every now and then – especially if you’re leaving during a warmer month or when your house is being heated because it will evaporate the water faster.

You also want to take precautions not to leave any uneaten prey in the tank before you leave. While it can be tempting to leave your pet tarantula with a meal for when you’re gone, this could be fatal if your tarantula starts molting and you’re not there to save them from a hungry cricket or roach. So be on the safe side and just remove any live prey from the tank.

It’s also good to remove anything that might stress your tarantula out and a good idea not to clean the tank or do some redesigning right before you leave for vacation. This will put your tarantula in a state of stress and make them more likely to climb the walls of their enclosure, which could lead to a fall. If you want to rearrange, rehouse, or clean their tank, do this at least 2 weeks before you leave for your trip so your tarantula has time to settle in and you can watch them if they are getting into trouble.

You will also want to take care of your tarantula’s surroundings and make sure that there are no pets or other environmental disasters that may threaten their safety while you’re away. Make sure they are away from direct sunlight or heat so they’ll be comfortable and safe while you’re gone.

In all honesty, you do not need to do much for your pet tarantula to ensure that they’ll be ok. In most cases, they won’t even know you left! But taking these little steps to ensure your tarantulas’ comfort and safety can go a long way to make sure that you have a live, happy, and healthy tarantula when you return!

What are some things YOU do before leaving your tarantulas?