Tarantula enrichment is something that is not often talked about, but it’s definitely worth giving a try. What is tarantula enrichment? It’s the practice of introducing items into your  tarantula’s tank to keep things interesting for your pet. Although many argue that tarantula enrichment may be pointless because tarantulas cannot operate or process information the way we do, my own experiences with my tarantula Spidey have made me think otherwise.

In this post and the accompanying video, I will be talking about the basic things that should go into a tarantula enclosure, as well as extra things you can provide your tarantula with for enrichment purposes. I have also given several examples of what I have used with Spidey to make her tank more interesting. Most importantly, I’ve included pics of some of her weirdest moments using these objects! I think that by looking at the pics alone, you’ll see that there is definitely value in tarantula enrichment and that it should not be overlooked.

I’ve also mentioned several things to be cautious of when introducing new objects into your tarantula’s environment so that you can make tarantula enrichment a safe experience for your tarantula. I hope you find this video helpful and that it helps to open your mind about how little we know about these creatures, and what is possible for them.

Watch the short video below, or scroll below to read on:

Basic items for a tarantula enclosure

Every tarantula enclosure should have quality substrate like coconut fiber, a water dish, a hide or place for the tarantula to hide, and some decor items. Arboreal tarantulas in particular will need decor items like branches to climb on. When picking decor items, it can be safer to purchase fake plants because you don’t want to introduce a parasite or any pesticides/chemicals into your tarantula’s enclosure if you bring in something from outside.

Tarantula enrichment items

Tarantula owners have used all kinds of things to make their tarantula’s lives interesting. One common enrichment items is a ping pong ball (which I have used with Spidey, my Grammostola rosea). I personally like to experiment to see what Spidey does with these items – sometimes it’s pretty hilarious. Over the last few years, Spidey has had items such as a bottle cap, ping pong ball, seashell, tea cup, fake spider, and rubber toy bunny. Here are just some of the hilarious things she’s done with these items:

The possibilities are endless – you just never know what they will do! Granted, Spidey spends most of her time ignoring these items and can go for months without interacting with them. However, when she does it is always worth the wait. It’s always a surprise!

Keeping tarantula enrichment safe

One thing you want to keep in mind is the safety of your tarantula when introducing new items into their tank. You don’t want to put any fabric in the tank, as their claws may get caught on it. You also want to sand down or make sure there aren’t any sharp corners on the objects that your tarantula may get hurt on. And of course, all items must be cleaned, parasite-free as well as chemical-free. You definitely don’t want to put anything in the tank that might be a threat or danger to your tarantula.

Is tarantula enrichment worth it?

Some people may think that tarantula enrichment is pointless, but I certainly don’t – especially after I’ve observed so many interesting interactions with these objects thanks to Spidey. I think it’s definitely worthwhile and can help us understand these creatures better. If you were in a tank for your entire life, wouldn’t you want someone to spice your life up every now and then? Even if tarantulas cannot think on the level that we do, I believe they still deserve enjoyable lives and tarantula enrichment is one way to provide that for them.

Now, I’d love to know what you think about tarantula enrichment. What have you tried? Have you seen your tarantula do any weird things? Feel free to leave a comment! Also, be sure to follow my new tarantula YouTube channel! It’s very new and I’m trying to get it off the ground, so more to come! If there are any subjects you want me to cover please let me know!

To get an even bigger overview on tarantula care and enclosures, please be sure to order my tarantula guide!

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Featured image via Flickr