Native to the island of Martinique, the natural habitat of the Caribena Versicolor are lush green forests and banana plantations, where there is a hot and humid climate all year round. When trying to care for this pet, it can be challenging to find accurate information.
Pet owners may be confused by contradictory facts and statements, leading to them incorrectly handling their pets. Hence, before you decide you want to adopt a Caribena Versicolor, or if you already have one with you, learn more about them to find out how you should care for them.
Suitable Cage Conditions for Your Tarantula
When it comes to cage conditions and humidity requirements, it is challenging to find reliable information. Many swear that a hot and humid condition is all that this tarantula needs to survive, while others stress the need for good ventilation. So, as a new pet owner, it may be challenging for you to ascertain the right cage condition for your tarantula.
While humidity and warm temperature can help this tarantula grow faster, it is best to be careful not to keep your tarantula in overly hot or moist conditions. A well-ventilated cage is required for your tarantula to stay happy.
Just like with most tarantulas, the Caribena Versicolor also does well when kept in room temperature conditions, that is, between 60 F to mid-80 F (20-29 C). To meet the humidity requirements, you can keep a small water bowl in their cage or lightly spray the substrate to dampen it from time to time.
What Should You Feed Your Tarantula?
Small slings prefer pre-killed prey; you can use pinhead crickets, red runner nymphs, or segmented mealworms.
Juvenile and adult tarantulas can handle bigger prey and often love to subdue their prey before eating them. However, depending on the feeder you are using, ensure that it is no bigger than your tarantula.
You can use medium to large-sized mealworms and red runner nymphs, and some medium-sized cockroaches can also be used for this purpose. Some people even feed super worms to their tarantulas. However, supervise the feeding in such cases to ensure that the super worm does not burrow itself in the substrate and attack your tarantula later. Since super worms can bite, it is better to crush their head before using it as a feeder.
For slings, ensure that the feeder is not more than 2/3rds the size of their body. You can drop the feeder onto their webbing or near the opening of their burrow. Adult tarantulas will jump on their prey as soon as they sense them, so it is not an issue.
You can feed your younger tarantulas twice a week, and for adults, you can keep it to once a week or once every ten days. However, it is best to observe your tarantulas to determine their appetite and build an eating schedule.
What Are the Water Requirements of Your Tarantula?
There is a misconception that tarantulas do not need water. But, if you keep a water bowl in your pet’s enclosure, you will find that they do use the water bowl occasionally.
Sometimes, it can be challenging for pet owners to find a water bowl that is small enough for an enclosure. In such cases, you can shift your tarantula to a bigger enclosure or find alternative ideas such as using clean tattoo ink pots or inverted Lego bricks as water bowls. You can also keep a live plant inside your tarantula’s cage.
Spraying the side of their cage with a mist spray may also do the trick for spiderlings or smaller tarantulas. They can drink the water droplets and stay sufficiently hydrated!
Tarantulas need some special care and attention to keep them happy. However, they are not as high maintenance as other pets out there! It can be challenging to find reliable information sources for tarantulas. Hence, you should always seek advice from those who have experience in raising them.
