How Long Do Tarantulas Live? Do They Live Longer Than Other Spiders?

Tarantulas aren't insects, they're arthropods.

While many common house spiders live for a few years, some can survive up to seven years. Tarantulas, on the other hand, can live into their 20s, female tarantulas have a longer range of lifespan than males.

The goliath bird-eating spider is the largest tarantula species in the world and has a leg span of 12 in (30.48 cm) and has eight legs. This spider is a burrower and spends the majority of its life inside its home never moving more than a few feet away while hunting.

They prefer swampy areas near water, where their brown bodies blend with the surroundings. The tarantula species, the Goliath bird eater, has a life span of around 15–25 years.

Female tarantulas are famously long-lived. Even in duress, they have been recognized to live for over 20 years.

On the contrary, male tarantulas don’t survive as much more but they have a life span of just 5-10 years. Now, many people in the world keep those pet tarantulas species that are docile.

Scientists even have tested the lifespan of tarantulas if not given any food to eat. For that, they conducted research to have an accurate period of the longevity of tarantula without being fed.

They kept the tarantula on water only. These beefy and hairy spiders lived for the longest period of two years, nine months, and 19 days. The Mexican Redleg tarantula is debatably the longest-living species of tarantula, with various scientists claiming verified lifespans of 30-35 years.

Tarantulas live in dry, well-drained soils in open areas like the desert and grassland. Those in North America are seen in the southern and southwestern states, with many other species occurring to the south throughout Mexico, Central, and South America.

These tarantula species are getting endangered due to the destruction of their habitat and pet trade. Tarantulas primarily eat insects, though some species enjoy larger prey like frogs, crickets, mice, and small lizards.

You can also read about what eats spiders and why are there so many spiders in my house.

How long do most tarantulas live?

Female tarantulas live longer than their male counterparts. Experts have noted, the higher the temperature of their environment, the shorter the lifespan. Keeping a tarantula at room temperature at around 85 ℉ (29.44 ℃) would likely make a noticeable difference.

The more a tarantula eat, the shorter the lifespan. Power feeding tarantulas may be of shorter lifespans. It's best to offer a moderate diet to increase their lifespan.

While growing up both male and female tarantulas will molt. It means that as tarantulas grow up they form new exoskeletons to shed their old ones. The Brazilian black is one of the most popular arachnid pets. The female Brazilian black tarantula has a lifespan of 21-29 years, but the males only live for six to seven years.

The Brazilian black tarantula grows very slowly. It reaches adulthood in about four to five years.

Did you know? Brazilian black tarantulas and native Mexican tarantulas can eat prey almost double their size!

Male vs Female Tarantula Lifespan

Female tarantula's lifespans are longer than that of males. Some species of tarantula are better pets as they have docile temperaments and non-aggressive nature. The life span of a tarantula is very different from the male to the female counterpart. Regardless of sex, both take between two to five years to reach adulthood.

The Oklahoma brown tarantula has a similar lifespan to the Texas brown tarantula, with the females living up to 40 years, while the males only live for around 10 years. Oklahoma brown spiders can grow up to 4 in (10.16 cm), including leg span, and weigh up to 3 lb (85.04 g).

These tarantulas are long-lived and have dark brown bodies with light red legs

The Oklahoma brown or the Texas brown possesses a leg span that is 4-5 in (10.16-12.7 cm), with hairs on their legs in various shades of brown. It is a docile species of pet tarantula.

The lifespan of the brown tarantula is quite long and attains maturity in about 10 years. A male can live 7-12 years, and a female can live for 36 years.

Tarantula Vs Other Spiders Life Expectancy

While the common house spider lives a few years, some can survive up to seven years. The spider's lifespan can vary.

Most spiders have a lifespan of about two years, but some can live for 20 years if they are in captivity. Most female spiders live longer than male spiders. Male spiders can reach maturity in almost two years and then die after they mate.

In the wild, a spider generally does not die of old age. They simply get to a point where they are older and able to be preyed upon by other animals.

Tarantulas have varied lifespans according to their sex. While the males live for only 10 years, the females can live for 30 years. Tarantulas do not construct webs the way a spider does. Tarantulas build the burrows.

There are certain spider species that dwell in trees and will build funnel-shaped webs to live in and then reside within the middle of it, but a tarantula spider web has no shape since they do not construct them.

Tarantulas, like most species of spiders, prefer to feed on insects. Preferred insects tarantulas like to feed upon include grasshoppers, cicadas, caterpillars, sowbugs, and wasp. But as some tarantulas are quite large in body size and have muscular legs, they prey upon other animals which are outside of the insect world like lizards, birds, frogs, snakes, and rodents.

What is molting and why is it important for the lifespan?

Molting is the synthesis of the new skin and shedding of the old, and it is important for the growth and maturity of many animals. It's the same with tarantulas, to grow larger, tarantulas must form a new exoskeleton and shed their previous smaller coverings.

Tarantulas molt several times in their life. During the molting process, tarantulas contract their abdomens, which pushes fluid into the upper body. When a tarantula spider refuses to eat and becomes almost lethargic, then fluids become evident around the leg joints or loose hairs around the abdomen.

It takes from a few minutes to a few hours, the tarantula will have brand new skin and hairs. For the tarantula, that new skin will be very sensitive for a while. The tarantula's molting process can be regenerative; for example, spiders have lost a leg or part of a leg only to regenerate it during the molting phase.

What are the basic health concerns?

Cold is an enemy for these creatures. Tarantulas belong to warm weather and prefer warm dry weather. The North American tarantula species faces this problem as when the temperature drops, the spider's functions slow down, their metabolism will slow and they will try to get where it's warm.

Tarantulas may hide in their burrows to escape from predators when they grow old. Low temperatures may be quite dangerous to a tarantula. If their body temperature goes too low, their systems shut down, they cease moving, and they can die.

What is the expected lifespan in captivity?

Pink toed hair, red knee hair, and rose hair tarantulas getting a proper diet and care can live for up to seven years and females up to 30 years, depending upon the species. Owners need to understand the general spider husbandry to keep tarantula's happy and healthy. 

New owners should not go to keep a tarantula as a pet as it requires serious commitment towards them. If kept properly, tarantulas have the ideal conditions in which to prosper but the fact remains that tarantulas are wild animals, and wild animals shouldn't be kept as pets.

Tarantulas are still relatively new pets when compared to other animals, as people are threatened by them because of their aggressive look, but these creatures are docile.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for how long do tarantulas live, then why not take a look at how long can spiders live without food or tarantula facts.