How to Care for a Cobalt Blue Tarantula
Cobalt blue tarantulas are fast, and they react aggressively to perceived threats. For these reasons, the species is not suitable for people new to tarantulas. With its brilliant coloration, large size and long life span, however, it can be a rewarding species for the experienced hobbyist. Like other tarantulas, cobalt blues have fairly simple needs. A suitable habitat and plenty of live invertebrates are the main requirements. You may prefer to acquire a female rather than a male. Female cobalt blues are larger, have the distinctive blue legs and usually live longer than the males.
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Things You'll Need
- Work gloves
- 10-gallon or larger tank
- Reptile heat pad
- Hygrometer and thermometer
- Chemical-free potting compost
- Water dish
- Plant mister
- Plastic tub
- Live insects
Instructions
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1
Position the reptile heat mat underneath one end of the tank.
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2
Add a 5-inch or deeper layer of slightly damp chemical-free potting compost to the tank. Cobalt blue tarantulas like to burrow. Place a shallow water dish on top. Decorations such as bark are optional. They make the tank more aesthetically pleasing, but cobalt blues create their own hiding places in the substrate.
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3
Monitor the temperature and humidity, which should be 80 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit at the hottest part of the tank and 80 percent or higher respectively. Adjust the thermostat on the heater and mist the tank as necessary to get the right conditions.
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4
Put on work gloves before introducing the tarantula. Allergic reactions are a risk with any tarantula, and this species is particularly likely to attack when it feels threatened. Do not handle the tarantula directly; instead move it with the aid of a plastic tub.
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5
Feed the tarantula on live insects such as crickets and roaches twice a week. Gut-loaded insects provide more nutrients. Judge how much to feed by how much your tarantula eats. If any insects are left after a day, feed fewer the next time.
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Remove uneaten insects and molted skins when you see them. Tarantulas produce very little waste, so you will need to completely clean out the tank only about once every 6 months.
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Tips & Warnings
Never feed tarantulas while they are molting or for five days afterwards. Tarantulas are very vulnerable at this time, and live prey insects could seriously damage them.
Tarantulas are not suitable pets for most children because handling them can be dangerous to both the child and the tarantula. Cobalt blue tarantulas are particularly dangerous, and young children should not be left unsupervised around the tank. If you have children yourself, consider acquiring a more appropriate pet.
