Pink Zebra Beauty Tarantula Care Sheet

The Pink Zebra Beauty tarantula (Eupalaestrus campestratus) is a 5-6”, nocturnal, terrestrial tarantula native to Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. They prefer to live in tropical to subtropical grasslands and savannas.

Pink zebra beauty tarantulas are fairly traditional tarantulas in shape. They are distinguished by their black-brown coloring and pale pinkish hairs and leg stripes.

Pink zebra beauty tarantulas make good pets for beginner-level invertebrate keepers because of their hardiness, slow movement, and exceptionally docile nature. When cared for properly, males generally live up to 5-6 years, and females can live up to 20 years.

Minimum terrarium size for pink zebra beauty tarantulas

The minimum terrarium size for a pink zebra beauty tarantula varies depending on its size. Slings can be housed in basic acrylic spiderling enclosures, no smaller than four legspans by three legspans. These should be gradually upgraded until they are large enough to be comfortable in an adult-sized enclosure no smaller than 20”L x 10”W x 12”H, or a 10 gallon tank, although taller (and larger in general) is better. It should be tall enough that your tarantula can’t attempt to climb out.

Housing multiple tarantulas in the same terrarium is not recommended, and is likely to result in cannibalism if attempted.

Do pink zebra beauty tarantulas need UVB?

Pink zebra beauty tarantulas are generally kept without UVB lighting, as they have proven to be capable of surviving without it. However, there is some evidence to suggest that tarantulas may benefit from UVB lighting when appropriately provided. This paper speculates that wild tarantulas may get at least part of their vitamin D3 from UVB exposure, and this paper provides evidence of invertebrates being able to synthesize vitamin D3 from UVB.

If you want to provide UVB for your tarantula, the best bulb to use will be a compact coil Zoo Med Reptisun 5.0 26w, mounted horizontally in a reflective fixture. Place this lamp on top of a mesh lid with holes large enough to prevent the spider from getting its feet caught, so you may want to wait to provide UVB lighting until the tarantula has grown large enough for an adult enclosure. UVB output decays with age, so the bulb must be replaced every 6 months to maintain performance.

Lights should be on for 12 hours/day.

Best temperature for pink zebra beauty tarantulas

Pink zebra beauty tarantulas should be kept between 78-80°F. This is a warmer than room temperature, so if you need to boost your temps, use a small heat mat stuck to the side of the enclosure and connected to a thermostat set to 80-82°F to create a temperature gradient. Use a digital probe thermometer to keep track of enclosure temperatures.

Best humidity levels for pink zebra beauty tarantulas

Pink zebra beauty tarantulas prefer higher humidity levels around 70%. Measure the ambient humidity levels with a digital probe hygrometer.

For slings and juveniles, this can be done by moistening the substrate. For adults, it’s best to simply provide both dry and moist areas in the enclosure. When moistening the substrate, make it slightly damp, not saturated. Misting with water in a spray bottle can also help, and provides a source of drinking water.

Best substrate for pink zebra beauty tarantulas

Pink zebra beauty tarantulas are known to enjoy burrowing and moving their substrate around, so it’s a good idea to offer them that choice. Slings should have around 1-2” of substrate, and adults should have at least 4”. 

We recommend the following substrates for pink zebra beauty tarantulas:

• Zoo Med Eco Earth
• Zoo Med ReptiSoil
• Exo Terra Plantation Soil

How to decorate a pink zebra beauty tarantula terrarium

An empty terrarium can lead to a stressed tarantula, and it’s not much to look at, either. At bare minimum, you will need at least one hiding spot for the tarantula to use. However, you can also include other decorative items, such as:

• small logs
• cork flats
• live or artificial plants
• artificial ornaments

What to feed to a pink zebra beauty tarantula

Pink zebra beauty tarantulas are primarily insectivores, which means that they need to eat a variety of insects to get the right nutrition. Both slings and adults should receive a meal once per week.

Offer 2-5 appropriately-sized insects per feeding, depending on the tarantula’s body condition and the size of the insect. Each insect should be small enough for the tarantula to easily overpower, especially for slings, which is roughly the same length as its abdomen.

Feeder insect options: crickets, dubia roaches, discoid roaches, black soldier fly larvae, mealworms

Flightless fruit flies are a good option for particularly small slings.

Uneaten prey should be removed 24 hours after offering.

Water

Of course, don’t forget a small water bowl for your tarantula to drink from! If it’s too small for a water bowl (under 2” diameter), then mist the enclosure occasionally to create water droplets for it to drink. Change the water dish daily and scrub it out with a reptile-safe disinfectant weekly.

How to handle your pink zebra beauty tarantula

Tarantulas don’t appreciate petting and handling in the same way that dogs and cats do. That being said, pink zebra beauty tarantulas tend to tolerate human interaction well. They rarely bite or even shoot hairs. Simply allow your tarantula to crawl onto your hand, and keep your movements slow. Handle them over a soft surface, like a bed or couch, to cushion them in case they fall. Handling should not be done frequently, however.

*This care sheet contains only very basic information. Although it’s a good introduction, please further your research with high-quality sources. The more you know, the better you will be able to care for your pet!