🕷️ CURLY HAIR TARANTULA CARE GUIDE

Tliltocatl albopilosus

A simple, organized guide to keeping your Curly Hair Tarantula healthy and thriving.

The Curly Hair Tarantula is a popular New World terrestrial tarantula known for its distinctive curly, fluffy-looking hairs, generally hardy nature, and fascinating behavior.

It is primarily terrestrial and semi-burrowing, so a proper setup should provide plenty of substrate, a secure retreat, good ventilation, and a safe temperature and moisture gradient.

💡 INDIGO TIP: Tarantulas don't need complicated setups. Good husbandry is about providing the right environment and then allowing your tarantula to live naturally with minimal disturbance.

📋 QUICK FACTS

Category	Information
Common Name	Curly Hair Tarantula
Scientific Name	Tliltocatl albopilosus
Former Scientific Name	Brachypelma albopilosum
Difficulty	⭐ Beginner
Adult Size	Approximately 5–6.5" leg span
Type	Terrestrial / Semi-Burrowing
Growth Rate	Slow
Lifespan	Females can live 20+ years; males considerably less
Diet	Carnivorous — Live Invertebrate Prey
Housing	Solitary
Urticating Hairs	Yes
Temperament	Generally calm, but individual behavior varies

🏠 1. ENCLOSURE

Curly Hair Tarantulas are terrestrial, meaning they spend most of their time on or beneath the substrate rather than climbing.

The enclosure should provide enough room to move naturally while avoiding excessive height.

A fall can cause serious injury to a tarantula, particularly when the abdomen is heavy.

📏 ENCLOSURE SIZE

A useful general guideline is approximately 3–4 times the tarantula's leg span in enclosure dimensions, while keeping the enclosure appropriately low for a terrestrial species.

Larger enclosures can work when properly furnished, but more space is not automatically better.

The enclosure should be:

✓ Wider than it is tall
✓ Secure and escape-proof
✓ Well ventilated
✓ Easy to access for maintenance
✓ Deep enough for appropriate substrate

🕷️ SPIDERLING

Use a small enclosure appropriate for the sling's current size.

Provide enough room for:

• A retreat
• Water access
• Burrowing
• Feeding

As the tarantula grows, upgrade the enclosure rather than placing a tiny sling into an oversized adult enclosure.

🕷️ JUVENILE

Provide a somewhat larger terrestrial enclosure with enough substrate for burrowing and a secure hide.

🕷️ ADULT

A full-grown Curly Hair needs a secure terrestrial enclosure with:

✓ Several inches of substrate
✓ A sturdy hide
✓ Water dish
✓ Good ventilation
✓ Low fall risk

🏜️ 2. SUBSTRATE

Substrate is one of the most important parts of a Curly Hair Tarantula's enclosure.

This species is capable of burrowing, so provide enough substrate for it to dig and create a secure retreat.

Recommended substrate options

✓ Reptile-safe soil
✓ Organic topsoil without fertilizers or pesticides
✓ Coco-based substrate mixed appropriately with other materials
✓ Commercial tarantula substrate
✓ Other well-draining, chemical-free substrates suitable for terrestrial tarantulas

DEPTH

For juveniles and adults, filling approximately ½ to ⅔ of the enclosure with substrate provides useful burrowing depth while reducing fall risk.

The substrate should be firmly packed enough to support a burrow.

🚫 AVOID

❌ Cedar
❌ Pine
❌ Fertilized soil
❌ Soil containing pesticides
❌ Sharp materials
❌ Extremely loose, unstable substrate
❌ Artificially scented substrates

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💧 3. WATER & HUMIDITY

This is one area where tarantula keepers sometimes make things unnecessarily complicated.

You do not need to keep the entire enclosure wet.

Instead, provide access to water while maintaining good ventilation and a moisture gradient.

💧 WATER DISH

A shallow water dish should be available at all times for juvenile and adult Curly Hair Tarantulas.

Keep it clean and refill it regularly.

💦 HUMIDITY

A moderate environment with access to moisture is appropriate.

Rather than trying to maintain an exact humidity percentage 24/7:

Keep the enclosure well ventilated, provide a water dish, and maintain some moisture deeper in the substrate while allowing the surface to dry.

For spiderlings, preventing excessive dehydration is particularly important.

💡 INDIGO TIP

Don't chase the hygrometer.

A water dish, appropriate substrate, ventilation, and a natural moisture gradient are generally more useful than trying to maintain one exact humidity number.

🌡️ 4. TEMPERATURE

Curly Hair Tarantulas can generally be maintained at comfortable household temperatures.

Recommended range

Approximately 68–76°F

A modest variation within a safe household temperature range is normal.

🔥 DOES IT NEED A HEAT LAMP?

Usually, no.

If your home remains within an appropriate temperature range, additional heating is generally unnecessary.

Avoid placing a tarantula enclosure directly under a heat lamp.

Small enclosures can heat up rapidly, and excessive heat can be dangerous.

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🪵 5. HIDES & ENCLOSURE DECOR

Your Curly Hair should have a secure retreat.

A partially buried piece of cork bark makes an excellent hide.

Add:

✓ Cork bark
✓ A sturdy hide
✓ Natural branches or décor
✓ Artificial plants
✓ Other safe, stable enrichment

Keep decorations low and stable.

🚨 FALL SAFETY

This is extremely important.

Never create a tall climbing environment for a heavy terrestrial tarantula.

A fall from even a relatively short distance can seriously injure or kill a tarantula.

Keep the enclosure's usable height low enough that your tarantula cannot take a dangerous fall.

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🍽️ 6. FEEDING

Curly Hair Tarantulas are carnivores and can be fed appropriately sized feeder insects.

Common feeder options include:

✓ Dubia roaches
✓ Crickets
✓ Other appropriately sized feeder insects

🕷️ SPIDERLINGS

Offer appropriately sized prey approximately twice per week.

Very small prey such as flightless fruit flies or tiny insects may be appropriate depending on the sling's size.

🕷️ JUVENILES

A general starting point is feeding approximately every 7–10 days, adjusting based on body condition and individual appetite.

🕷️ ADULTS

Adults can generally be offered food approximately every 2–3 weeks, although individual feeding frequency varies.

🦗 PREY SIZE

Choose prey that your tarantula can safely overpower.

When in doubt:

Smaller prey is safer than oversized prey.

Remove uneaten prey rather than allowing feeder insects to remain in the enclosure indefinitely.

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🕷️ 7. WATCH THE ABDOMEN

You don't need to feed your tarantula simply because a calendar says it's feeding day.

Body condition matters.

If the abdomen appears:

Very small compared with the carapace:
Consider offering food more regularly.

Moderately full:
Continue your normal schedule.

Extremely large:
Reduce feeding frequency.

Overfeeding can contribute to obesity and may increase the consequences of an accidental fall or create problems around molting.

🖤 8. MOLTING

Molting is one of the most important events in your tarantula's life.

Before a molt, your tarantula may:

• Stop eating
• Become less active
• Spend more time in its hide
• Become darker
• Build more webbing
• Position itself in a particular area

🚨 NEVER DISTURB A MOLTING TARANTULA

Do not:

❌ Touch it
❌ Move it
❌ Handle it
❌ Offer prey directly to it
❌ Try to assist with the molt

Simply provide proper husbandry and leave it alone.

🍽️ 9. FEEDING AFTER A MOLT

A newly molted tarantula has a soft exoskeleton and vulnerable fangs.

Do not immediately feed it.

Wait until the tarantula has fully hardened.

A good visual indicator is that the fangs have returned to a solid dark/black appearance.

Depending on the tarantula's size, this may mean waiting several days before feeding.

When in doubt:

Wait.

A healthy tarantula can safely go without food while recovering from a molt.

🧤 10. HANDLING

Although Curly Hair Tarantulas are often considered relatively calm, we do not recommend handling tarantulas as a routine activity.

Even a calm tarantula can suddenly move, kick hairs, or fall.

Why avoid handling?

Tarantulas are fragile animals.

A fall from your hands, a table, or another elevated surface can cause fatal internal injuries.

If handling is attempted:

✓ Keep the tarantula close to the ground
✓ Move slowly
✓ Avoid sudden movements
✓ Never grab the tarantula
✓ Never restrain it
✓ Keep your face and eyes away
✓ Have a safe enclosure ready

💡 SAFEST OPTION

Enjoy your Curly Hair Tarantula as a display animal rather than a pet that needs to be handled.

⚠️ 11. URTICATING HAIRS

Curly Hair Tarantulas are New World tarantulas and possess urticating hairs.

These specialized hairs can cause significant irritation if they contact skin, eyes, or airways.

If your tarantula kicks hairs:

Don't panic.

Move away and allow the tarantula to settle.

Avoid rubbing irritated skin or eyes.

During enclosure maintenance:

Consider using appropriate protective measures and wash your hands afterward.

Never intentionally provoke a tarantula to make it kick hairs.

🧼 12. CLEANING & MAINTENANCE

Tarantula enclosures generally don't need constant cleaning.

REGULARLY

✓ Remove uneaten prey
✓ Remove obvious waste
✓ Replace dirty water
✓ Check ventilation
✓ Inspect the enclosure for damage

WATER DISH

Keep the water dish clean and filled with fresh water.

DEEP CLEANING

Avoid completely tearing apart an enclosure unnecessarily.

If the substrate remains structurally sound and clean, extensive disturbance may not be necessary.

🚨 13. COMMON PROBLEMS

❗ Dehydration

Possible signs can include unusual lethargy, a noticeably shrunken abdomen, or weakness.

What to check:

✓ Is fresh water available?
✓ Is the enclosure excessively dry?
✓ Is the spiderling particularly small?
✓ Is ventilation causing excessive moisture loss?

Correct the environment gradually.

❗ Excessive Moisture

A constantly wet enclosure with poor ventilation can encourage mold and other problems.

Avoid:

❌ Saturated substrate
❌ Standing water
❌ Poor ventilation
❌ Constantly wet surfaces

The goal is access to moisture without a swampy enclosure.

❗ Refusing Food

Don't automatically assume something is wrong.

A tarantula may refuse food because it:

• Is preparing to molt
• Recently molted
• Is already adequately fed
• Is stressed
• Is adjusting to a new environment

💡 INDIGO TIP

A tarantula refusing food is often less concerning than a keeper trying to force it to eat.

Never force-feed a healthy tarantula.

❤️ 14. HEALTH MONITORING

Get familiar with your tarantula's normal appearance and behavior.

Monitor:

✓ Abdomen size
✓ Activity
✓ Movement
✓ Feeding behavior
✓ Molting behavior
✓ Webbing
✓ Overall appearance

🚨 SEEK VETERINARY HELP IF:

Your tarantula experiences an obvious injury, significant bleeding, severe abnormal behavior, or another condition that concerns you.

Because tarantulas are specialized exotic animals, seek a veterinarian experienced with arachnids or exotic invertebrates when available.

🛒 CURLY HAIR TARANTULA SHOPPING LIST

⭐ ESSENTIALS

☐ Secure terrestrial enclosure
☐ Appropriate substrate
☐ Shallow water dish
☐ Cork bark hide
☐ Digital thermometer
☐ Appropriate feeder insects
☐ Feeding tongs
☐ Secure enclosure lid

🌿 OPTIONAL

☐ Artificial plants
☐ Natural décor
☐ Additional cork bark
☐ Background décor
☐ Bioactive cleanup crew
☐ Low-profile enclosure décor

🛍️ BUILD YOUR CURLY HAIR TANK

Everything you need for a safe, simple setup.

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⭐ INDIGO CARE: THE 10 RULES

1️⃣ Keep it terrestrial.

Provide floor space rather than excessive height.

2️⃣ Give it substrate.

Curly Hairs appreciate the ability to burrow.

3️⃣ Provide a hide.

Cork bark makes an excellent retreat.

4️⃣ Always provide water.

Keep a shallow dish available.

5️⃣ Don't keep it soaking wet.

Maintain moisture without creating stagnant conditions.

6️⃣ Don't overheat it.

Normal household temperatures are generally sufficient.

7️⃣ Don't overfeed.

Use body condition to guide your feeding schedule.

8️⃣ Respect the molt.

Leave a molting tarantula completely alone.

9️⃣ Minimize handling.

A tarantula is safest when kept on the ground inside its enclosure.

🔟 Secure the enclosure.

A tarantula should never have an opportunity to escape.

❓ FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do Curly Hair Tarantulas need a heat lamp?

Usually, no.

If the room remains at an appropriate household temperature, supplemental heating is generally unnecessary. Avoid overheating small enclosures.

Do Curly Hair Tarantulas need a water bowl?

Yes.

A shallow water dish provides a reliable source of hydration for juveniles and adults.

Should the substrate be wet?

No.

The goal is not to keep the enclosure soaked. Provide access to moisture while maintaining ventilation and allowing the upper substrate to dry.

How often should I feed my Curly Hair?

There is no single perfect schedule.

As a starting point, spiderlings may eat around twice weekly, juveniles around every 7–10 days, and adults around every 2–3 weeks. Adjust based on the tarantula's size, body condition, and appetite.

Why isn't my tarantula eating?

It may be preparing to molt, recently molted, already well fed, stressed, or simply not hungry.

Do not force-feed it.

How do I know if my tarantula is molting?

You may notice reduced activity, food refusal, increased hiding, darkening coloration, or increased webbing.

When you suspect a molt:

Leave it alone.

Can I handle my Curly Hair Tarantula?

We recommend minimal handling.

Even calm tarantulas can fall, and falls can be fatal.

They are best enjoyed as display animals.

Are Curly Hair Tarantulas venomous?

Like other tarantulas, Curly Hairs possess venom used to subdue prey. They should always be treated as animals that can bite, and unnecessary handling should be avoided.

They also possess urticating hairs that can cause irritation.

📌 QUICK CARE REFERENCE

Requirement	Target
🕷️ Species	Tliltocatl albopilosus
🏠 Housing	Terrestrial
📏 Enclosure	Approximately 3–4× leg span; keep fall height low
🏜️ Substrate	Deep, stable, burrow-friendly
🌡️ Temperature	Approximately 68–76°F
💧 Hydration	Water dish + appropriate moisture gradient
💦 Humidity	Moderate; avoid saturated conditions
🪵 Hide	Cork bark or similar secure retreat
🍽️ Diet	Appropriately sized feeder insects
🕷️ Sling Feeding	Approximately 2× weekly
🕷️ Juvenile Feeding	Approximately every 7–10 days
🕷️ Adult Feeding	Approximately every 2–3 weeks
🖤 Molting	Leave completely undisturbed
🧤 Handling	Minimal / not recommended
⚠️ Urticating Hairs	Yes
🏡 Housing	Solitary

💚 INDIGO CARE

Great care starts with good information.

At Indigo Reptile Co., we want reptile and invertebrate keeping to be approachable, responsible, and enjoyable.

Whether you're bringing home your first Curly Hair Tarantula or adding another one to your collection, we're here to help you choose the right supplies and create a safe environment.

Need help building your setup?

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Happy keeping! 🕷️💚

— Indigo Reptile Co.

Largo, Florida