I often get asked questions about tarantula behavior, usually regarding a tarantula that isn’t moving around, is sluggish or refusing food. Now, the inner workings of tarantulas are VERY mysterious and often we really don’t know what the hell they’re doing. Sometimes a tarantula’s behavior will change because they’re in premolt or about to molt, and this is often the case. However I think what some tarantula owners – especially new ones – aren’t aware of is how much changes in season can cause these changes.

We often forget that despite having our tarantulas in captivity, they still retain much of their spider instincts from the wild. The tarantulas we keep in our homes are very much just as instinctual as their wild counterparts, as they are not a creature we can domesticate – they don’t lose their instincts or connection to nature. And despite living in captivity for many years, I can say from personal experience my tarantulas DEFINITELY know what’s going on outside.

I believe there are a few ways our tarantulas respond to seasonal shifts and changes in climate – and the most obvious are the feeding responses and levels of activity or isolation.

For example, my tarantulas DEFINITELY slow down with eating during the colder months. Even though Spidey tends to be fasting most of the time anyway, I definitely notice that she would rather starve when it’s cold even if she’s not in premolt. Blinky, my sling, tends to be a more regular and better eater, and even they will stop eating once it gets cold. I believe this may be due to the temperature dropping in the house due to it being colder outside, and perhaps their metabolisms slow down. I really don’t know if they can “feel” the cold the way we do, as they cannot regulate their body temperatures the same way, however their bodies definitely do sense it in some way. However I have noticed that even when I keep the temperature in the house heated and at a comfortable temperature, they still have this slowed down response. So perhaps they are tuned into the environment outdoors or some sort of biological rhythm with the environment.

The other things my tarantulas will do is get REAL slow. Tarantulas can be considered “pet rocks” anyway, but they go through even longer periods of inactivity during fall and winter. Blinky, the little sling who will usually be digging holes and throwing dirt in their water dish on the daily in the summer, will legitimately DISAPPEAR from the surface and bury themselves underground for the entire fall/winter months. Once things get a little warmer, they will stay on the surface much more and get busy playing with their dirt again. The same with Spidey – while she will stay on the surface, she becomes a complete slowpoke and likes to sit around and do a whole lot of nothing. When spring comes around, she will explore and interact with her tank more.

I share these stories just to share my experience and ask you to reflect on whether your tarantulas’ shift their behavior depending on the seasons. It is likely that you have nothing to worry about when your tarantulas stop eating or moving around – it’s likely just them tuning into nature and the environment.