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How Do Tarantulas Hunt for Food?

Updated: Nov 24, 2025


A tarantula with dark legs and an orange-brown body crawls on a moss-covered log.
A tarantula with dark legs and an orange-brown body.

As an insect-based pet food company, we know that providing the right diet for exotic pets like tarantulas is essential to their health and happiness. And while feeding them is relatively straightforward, understanding how they hunt for food in the wild can give us valuable insights into their natural behaviour and dietary needs.


Tarantulas are ambush predators, which means they hunt by lying in wait for their prey to come to them. They use their webbing to create a retreat, or burrow, where they can hide and wait for prey to pass by. When an unsuspecting insect or small arthropod wanders by, the tarantula lunges out of its retreat and captures it with its fangs.


Tarantulas also use their webbing to create a trip line, which is a thin strand of silk that they stretch across the entrance of their retreat. When an insect or spider touches the trip line, the tarantula is alerted and can quickly grab its prey. This is a natural mechanism for them to find food, and it's important to mimic this behaviour in captivity.


Additionally, tarantulas have excellent eyesight, which allows them to spot potential prey from a distance. They can detect movement from up to 15 feet away and use this to their advantage when hunting. Some species of tarantulas also hunt by actively roaming around in search of food. They use their long legs and powerful fangs to catch prey.


At our insect-based pet food company, we understand the importance of mimicking the natural hunting behaviour of tarantulas in captivity. We provide a variety of live insects as food options that mimic the natural diet of tarantulas in the wild. We also ensure that the insects are raised humanely and sustainably.


In conclusion, tarantulas are ambush predators that use their webbing and excellent eyesight to hunt for food. They create retreats and trip lines to catch their prey. Providing a varied diet of live insects that mimic their natural diet and mimic their hunting behaviour can help keep them healthy and happy in captivity.


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