Invertebrates

What Are the Most Colorful Pet Tarantulas?

~ BackwaterReptiles

Spiders come in all shapes and sizes. This might get you wondering – what are the most colorful pet tarantulas?

There are many species of tarantula available that are safe to keep as pets. Some are larger than others, some are more docile than others and – you guessed it – some are more colorful than others. In this article, we’ll discuss the most colorful species of tarantula commonly kept as pets and give some useful care tips for each kind.

Greenbottle Blue Tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens)

One of the main things that gets us excited about keeping this beautiful spider is that they are typically a safe bet for beginners. Maintaining a terrarium that suits them is simple enough given that they prefer dry substrate and moderate temperatures.

Although they are skittish, fast and kind of considered “scaredy cats,” they are lovely to look at once you get past the spiderling phase. After a few molts, their gorgeous colors will begin to appear and you can watch the magic continue to unfold as you raise your tarantula.

If you are interested in a tarantula with blue or teal-colored legs and a bold, rusty-orange red abdomen, then Backwater Reptiles has got you covered! Keep in mind that we typically offer juveniles of this species, so you will be able to enjoy watching your tiny little one grow and color-up.

Mexican Fireleg Tarantula (Brachypelma boehmei)

This colorful terrestrial species is known for being very docile and grows to have a leg span between 5 to 6 inches at maturity. When fully grown, they display red and black/very dark brown coloration with their legs being particularly bright.

Here’s a fun fact about this species: females can live around 25 years in captivity, whereas males are known to live around six or seven.

Although Mexican Firelegs are best kept by intermediate level hobbyists, many consider them to be one of the more docile species of tarantula. In our experience, this can vary as some can be prone to flick urticating hairs while others are calm around people. It all depends upon the individual spider and the attention that the handler pays to the spider’s body language.

This is a popular display species because they actually do spend quite a bit of time outside of their burrow. This means that you can usually watch them eat, drink and molt without them feeling distress.

If you are interested in a Mexican Fireleg taratula, Backwater Reptiles can help you out. We sell a range of sizes of this particular spider, so you can choose a baby and watch it grow or an adult that is already sexed and displaying lovely colors.

Here’s a picture of one of our employees handling one of the larger fireleg sizes we offer.

Gooty Sapphire Ornamental Tarantula (Poecilotheria metallica)

The Gooty Sapphire is probably the most sought after tarantula species. As its name suggests, the gooty is a dazzling blue spider with yellow accents. It is also called the peacock parachute spider for its ability to catch prey mid-flight.

This is an exceedingly colorful tarantula that does well in captivity. Because of its heftier price point, rarity and supply and demand, we advise that you do a lot of research and prepare your habitat accordingly.

The basic things to note when obtaining a Gooty Sapphire are:

  • This is an arboreal species and should therefore have an arboreal set up. This means your enclosure needs to be taller rather than longer. Height is important.
  • This species grows fast! If you acquire a spiderling, be prepared for it to eat, molt and mature quickly.
  • This is considered an ornamental and display species. It is best left to its own devices and they typically don’t enjoy being held.

If you are interested in buying a gooty sapphire sling, you can visit Backwater Reptiles to do so. The bluish colors begin to show after just a few molts.

Purple Pink Toe Tarantula (Avicularia purpurea)

As you might be able to surmise, the Purple Pink Toe Tarantula is know for its purple sheen. When you see the semi-iridescent nature of the purple, you will understand why this spider is on our list of the most colorful pet tarantulas.

Purple pink toes, while colorful, are known to be on the smaller side. They usually don’t exceed legspans of 4-5 inches. Females have been known to live 12 years or so in captivity, while males typically reach around 5-6 years old.

This is an arboreal species. We’d also like to mention that they are excellent climbers and as such, they are excellent escape artists. If you are planning on buying this species, make sure you have an enclosure with a secure top! Spiderlings are especially notorious for “going missing.”

We recommend this species for intermediate-level tarantula owners. It’s propensity for escaping and its speed make it a spider that requires at least a modicum of experience.

Purchase your own gorgeous purple pink toe tarantula sling here. Please note that baby spiders (spiderlings) of this species do not typically possess the shiny purple sheen that their juveniles and adult counterparts do. It can take several molt cycles for this coloring to appear.

Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula (Avicularia versicolor)

This species of spider actually has several different common names including the Martinique Pink toe and the Martinique Red Tree Spider. It hails from the Caribbean, Martinique and Lesser Antilles. When it is mature, it has a pink or red abdomen and legs with a greenish blue head. It is quite a strong contender in the most colorful pet spider competition.

It should be noted that this arboreal species needs very good ventilation in its enclosure in order to thrive. While humidity is important to its health, it cannot live in conditions that are overly wet or misty. Make sure that proper airflow can be achieved. The good news is that this is a “room temperature” spider, meaning that if you are comfortable with the temperature, your spider should be too.

A word of caution: this is not an overly timid, shy or fearful species of colorful tarantula. While they make excellent display pets, they are very prone to jumping. If you open the spider’s enclosure to mist or feed, be aware of where your spider is at all times. They have been known to jump out onto owners unexpectedly which can be startling and potentially harmful to all parties involved if the response is panic.

Conclusion

While there are many species of colorful tarantulas, we’ve covered the most popular ones in this article. All of the spiders we discussed tend to display colors other than brown, black or grey and are highly sought after by hobbyists for display pets.

One thing that is important to keep in mind when buying a spiderling tarantula of any species is that baby spiders do not look like their adult counterparts. As we’ve mentioned, it takes many molts and some time to mature before the brilliant colors are displayed.

If you are interested in purchasing any of the tarantulas listed above, Backwater Reptiles has got you covered! Check out our list of spiders for sale and discover the tarantula that speaks to you.

What Gender is My Tarantula?

~ BackwaterReptiles

How do I know what gender my pet tarantula is?

It’s very easy to determine the gender of a cat, dog or other mammal commonly kept as a pet. However, arachnids don’t have discernible external markers that clearly determine their gender.

It takes a bit more detective work to find out what the sex of your tarantula is. Here’s a hint: you’ll need to keep your spider’s molted exoskeleton!

what gender is my tarantula

What traits can I use to help identify the gender of my tarantula?

While it’s really only useful to very experienced tarantula keepers, it is possible to examine the underside of a tarantula’s abdomen to help assess gender. However, this requires very good eyesight, a lot of experience and a calm spider that will allow you to turn it over without stress or retaliation.

It’s also necessary to have a spider with a leg span of at least two inches. We do not advise using this method to determine spider gender for those reasons.

If you have a fully mature tarantula, you can also use identifying traits that only males possess to help determine gender. For instance, most male tarantulas develop what are known as “boxing gloves” and tibial hooks on their legs.

They will also be longer and lankier-looking in appearance than females. Again, we’d like to mention that these traits take time and experience to recognize and are not usually a good method of determine gender for most owners.

Size is another trait that can be used when you are looking at a mature tarantula. Females tend to be larger and they also live much longer than males. This makes them quite prized in the hobbyist community. However, this trait is not helpful when you are dealing with juvenile spiders that have not undergone many molts.

juvenile tarantula

How do I use my tarantula’s molted exoskeleton to determine its gender?

Be aware that in tact molts can be a little hard to acquire. As soon as your spider has finished molting, you will want to secure the molt while it is still semi-pliable. If you allow the molt to dry out for too long, it can crumble when you try to look more closely at it.

Once you have your molt handy, you need to look between the first set of book lungs or respiratory organs. Female spiders will have a spermathecae, which is a special organ where the female stores sperm until she is ready to lay eggs. Males lack this organ and the molt will appear smooth in this area.

Not all spermathecae look the same in different spider species. For most species, it looks like a flap or small protrusions. Again, you will know you have a male spider if it is flat and smooth in the area between the book lungs.

Be mindful that examining a tarantula’s molt is the only tried and true method to determine gender accurately and without fail. You can most certainly use other indicators to make educated guesses, however molts are the best way to know whether or not you have a male or female spider.

mature mexican fireleg tarantula

When is my tarantula old enough to find out its gender?

There is currently no known and reliable method to determine the gender of a baby tarantula or spiderling. Not only are they very hard to keep still, they are even tougher to visually examine closely enough to make any type of assessment.

Spiderlings have also not fully developed their sex organs yet, so more molts are necessary before you can examine either the spider itself or its exoskeletons for traits to determine gender.

Usually, you can begin to determine the gender of the spider when you notice that it is large enough to leave behind a fully intact molt. In order to accurately find out if your spider is male or female, you will need to look at and handle the molt very closely. So the larger the molt, in theory, the easier you can determine gender.

tarantula molting

Conclusion

Unfortunately, you can’t find out the gender of your pet tarantula by turning it upside down and examining its abdomen. Spiders that are commonly kept as pets simply don’t possess traits that would easily identify them as male or female the way that most mammals do.

In order to find out whether your tarantula is a boy or a girl, you will need to wait until the spider has matured a bit. You will also need to keep a shed exoskeleton so that you can examine it closely.

So, unless you already know the gender of your spider, we highly recommend giving it a gender neutral name!

You can view the wonderful list of tarantulas we have for sale by clicking this link.

How Do I Order Feeder Insects?

~ BackwaterReptiles

How do I order feeder insects for my pet reptile, amphibian or invertebrate?

While pet stores are great places to purchase feeder insects when you’re on a time crunch, it’s very easy to order live insects to feed your herp. Backwater Reptiles sells a variety of feeder insects in larger quantities and at better prices than you’ll find at your local pet store. The only potential catch is waiting a day or two for them to be delivered.

ordering feeder insects online
Did you know that it’s more cost effective and convenient to order your pet’s feeder insects online?

What kind of feeder insects can be ordered online?

Just about any type of insect you would want to feed to your pet lizard, frog, toad, spider, scorpion, et cetera can be purchased online. You can even buy pet insects such as walking sticks and praying mantids, although that’s a completely separate topic.

The most common feeder insects ordered are crickets followed by meal worms/super worms and dubia roaches.

Backwater Reptiles has a large selection of feeder insects available for purchase including the most popular ones mentioned above. However, we also sell horn worms which are juicy and help hydrate reptiles to wax worms, which are fatty and help make sure your pet receives enough calories.

If you wish to see all the available feeder insects that you can order from Backwater Reptiles, feel free to visit our feeder insects for sale page.

feeder crickets
Crickets are the most common feeder insect ordered online. Nearly all insectivorous pets will eagerly consume crickets.

How do I place an order for feeder insects?

Thankfully, it’s very simple to order feeder insects from Backwater Reptiles. It’s as easy as adding them to your cart and checking out.

In fact, it’s very likely that the hardest step of ordering feeder insects is choosing the quantity you want as well as the actual type of insect. We really do have that many to choose from!

If you’re ever concerned about what size of insect to order, there is a general rule of thumb that most herp owners adhere to: the insect should not be bigger than the space between the animal’s eyes.

Not to worry. If you ever have any concerns about what type of feeder insect is right for your pet’s particular dietary needs, our helpful customer service team would be happy to assist you with ordering the insect that is best for your pet. All you have to do is send a quick email to sales@backwaterreptiles.com and someone will get back to you as soon as they are able.

fruit flies as feeder insects
Most pet stores don’t carry fruit flies, so if you have a small pet that needs small food, your best bet is to order online.

Why should I order my feeder insects online?

Of course many people simply run out to their closest pet store and purchase feeder insects in person. We think that this is a fantastic method when you need something to feed your pet in a hurry. But overall, we think ordering them online is a much better option.

First of all, when you purchase online, you get a much better price for your feeder insects. Because we sell them in larger quantities, or in bulk, the pricing is more competitive than your average brick and mortar pet store.

The other reason we encourage online purchasing of feeder insects is convenience. Clicking a button on a screen means that you don’t have to get dressed, buckle the kids in the car and make a trip to the pet store. Your insects will arrive to your doorstep in no time when you order online. It’s such a streamlined process and we think it’s highly efficient in a world where everyone is constantly busy.

mealworms
Mealworms are another very common feeder insect. They do have harder exoskeletons, so we do recommend a varied diet when offering your pet mealworms.

When should I not order feeder insects?

Ordering feeder insects online is not the best option for everyone all the time. Sometimes there are reasons why someone might choose to purchase locally in person rather than through a website.

The main reason we would advise purchasing feeder insects at your local store rather than online is when you simply cannot wait a day or two to feed your pet. If you’ve suddenly run out of crickets and your Bearded Dragon is hungry, we definitely don’t advise ordering online. We recommend that you head to your nearest store and pick up a small supply until your online order arrives to your doorstep.

Another time when it might be wise to purchase a smaller supply from a pet store would be if you are trying a new type of food for your pet. It’s highly unlikely, but there could be the chance you have a picky eater. It could be a smart move to grab a few super worms at your local store rather than ordering in bulk if you are unsure that your pet will eat them.

Finally, it might be easiest and safest to grab feeder insects at your local pet store if you are experiencing extreme cold or hot weather where you live. Sometimes we have to delay shipment of feeder insect orders or have them held at a post office or other shipping facility when the weather is too dangerous for the insects. Dead insects are no good to pets who want to catch and eat their prey.

What happens once I place an order for feeder insects?

After your order has been processed, our insect team packages your bugs up safe and sound with supplies to last them through their journey. This typically means a water source, although some feeder insects do actually come with a built in food source, such as fruit flies and horn worms.

Please be aware that if you order insects at the same time that you order your live animal/pet from us, the feeder insects will be delivered separately from the animal. The time frame for arrival will vary based on the insect you order and the carrier who is delivering it.

BONUS: All feeder insects ship for free!

How should I care for my feeder insects prior to giving them to my pet?

Depending on the type of insect you order, you may or may not have just a tiny bit of maintenance to perform in order to keep the insects that your pet isn’t ready to eat yet healthy.

For instance, our most popular feeder insect ordered is crickets. We often get asked the question of how to care for the remainder of the crickets that the pet will eat throughout the week. With crickets, we recommend housing the extras in a bin or bucket with slick, tall sides. You can put some type of disposable hiding area (i.e. some egg crate pieces or toilet paper rolls) inside the enclosure. You can provide a combo water/food source if you put a piece of potato or carrot inside the tub for the crickets to munch on.

Because crickets are our most popular feeder insect ordered, we’re including a link to an article we wrote on how to care for them. Feel free to check it out if you plan to order a large quantity of crickets.

Some of the insects we sell actually come with everything you need to care for them. Horn worms are packaged in a container with food supplies and so are fruit flies and Dubia roaches.

If you want to know more about Dubia Roaches as feeder insects, Mealworms as feeder insects, hornworms as feeder insects and how to dust feeder insects with vitamin supplements, we’ve written articles on all of those topics!

If you have specific questions about caring for an excess of feeder insects, our customer service team is happy to assist. Please email them at sales@backwaterreptiles.com with any questions.

antilles pink toe tarantula
Even invertebrates such as this Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula eat feeder insects.

Conclusion

It is safe and cost-effective to order feeder insects for your pet reptile, amphibian or invertebrate online. We highly recommend it!

Backwater Reptiles even offers live arrival guarantees on our feeder insects, just as we do with the pets we sell. If you ever encounter any issues, our customer service team is happy to assist.

If you have any specific questions about caring for your feeder insects, feel free to ask in the comments section!

Most Popular Pet Scorpions

~ BackwaterReptiles

What are the most popular pet scorpions?

Are you in the market for a pet scorpion but you’re unsure what species would be the best fit for you and your family? The good news is Backwater Reptiles is here to help!

We ship all kinds of scorpions all over the world to everyone ranging from people who want to keep them as personal pets to zoos and universities that place them into collections or exhibits for educational purposes.

If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by the number of choices on the market at pet stores and breeders, then this is the blog article for you. In this article, we’ll discuss our top four most popular scorpions and how to best care for them. Luckily, no matter which scorpion you ultimately choose, they’re all really low maintenance pets with simple care requirements.

So, without further ado, we give you……

Backwater Reptiles’ most popular scorpions

scorpion cage set up
A scorpion cage is a relatively simple enclosure to set up. These invertebrates don’t require much to thrive, which is part of the reason why they make such great pets. Learn about how to set up a scorpion habitat here.

Emperor Scorpion (Pandinus imperator)

Emperor Scorpions are probably our top-selling scorpion species at Backwater Reptiles. However, due to supply and demand, we do not always have them available so we often recommend their close cousins, the Dictator Scorpion or the Asian Forest Scorpion, when we run out.

This species of scorpion is one of the largest in the world and maxes out at around six to eight inches in length. They are also quite heavy-bodied with stocky, thick torsos and limbs and broad pincher claws. They are a very dark brown or black in coloration and the tips of their extremities can be a bit lighter in tone.

The average life span for such a large invertebrate species when kept in captivity is typically ten years, give or take. We advise that potential scorpion owners keep that in mind when purchasing.

Despite their large size, Emperor Scorpions actually don’t need a whole lot of space to thrive. A ten gallon tank will suffice for a full-grown adult or two, although if you plan to keep more together communally, we do recommend a bigger enclosure to prevent competition for resources and mates.

Unlike pet reptiles, scorpions do not like UV rays, therefore a UV lamp is not only not necessary, but impractical as well. On the other hand, a heat mat should be kept under the tank where it can provide a warm place for the scorpion to retire to.

Ambient cage temperatures should be in the eighties during the day with only a slight drop in temperature at night time since Emperors are a tropical species.

Although we mentioned that Emperor Scorpions do not need UV lighting, they are a species that glow under a black light. This is a really neat trick that children will love to see, so we recommend investing in a black light if you plan to make your scorpion a family or class room pet.

Make sure that your Emperor Scorpion’s tank has an appropriate substrate. This is a species that can burrow, although they do not always exhibit this behavior. They are shy creatures though, so in addition to the substrate a few hide spots are essential additions to your scorpion’s enclosure.

Like all scorpions, Emperors are carnivores. In captivity, they thrive on a diet of crickets, roaches, mealworms, and occasional wax worm treats. A single adult scorpion should be eating three to four insects per week, typically offered individually at night time when the scorpion will be most active.

One of the main reasons that Emperor Scorpions make such popular pets is that they are one of the more docile species of scorpion. They are very hesitant to sting and their venom is considered mild to those without allergies.

However, despite their “cheery” dispositions, we do recommend that the inexperienced handle scorpions with gloves and exercise extreme caution. Learn to read your scorpion’s body language when it’s being handled before exposing yourself or anyone else’s open skin to the animal.

If you are interested in purchasing your very own Emperor Scorpion, Backwater Reptiles has them for sale here.

Asian Forest Scorpion (Heterometrus longimanus)

Asian Forest Scorpions are extremely similar in appearance to Emperor Scorpions. In fact, to the inexperienced, the two are nearly indistinguishable until maturity at which point Emperors surpass Asian Forest Scorpions in terms of size.

As mentioned, Asian Forest Scorpions are very similar in appearance to Emperor Scorpions. They have very dark brown or black exoskeletons with lighter tips of their extremities. They are also stocky and thick-bodied. However, Asian Forest Scorpions rarely surpass five to six inches in length.

scorpion under black light
Nearly all species of scorpion glow under black light. Check out this photo of an Asian Forest Scorpion underneath a black light!

This species is probably one of the easiest kinds of scorpions to care for and they also breed easily in captivity. This means that you can acquire a gravid female of your own and watch her abdomen swell with babies and then care for those babies once they’re born! Or, alternatively, it is also fun to do breeding projects of your own once you are proficient in the care of the adults.

One thing that many people enjoy about Asian Forest Scorpions is their appetite. These scorpions rarely refuse a meal and certainly enjoy mealtime! Like all scorpions, they eat appropriately-sized insects.

Did you know that if you feed them well and make sure that all the scorpions are of a similar size, you can actually house Asian Forest Scorpions communally? They are semi-social and will typically get along fine provided they have enough space and are not competing for resources.

If you are interested in obtaining a pet Asian Forest Scorpion of your own, you can purchase a baby, adult, or even gravid/pregnant female from Backwater Reptiles here.

Desert Hairy Scorpion (Hadrurus arizonensis)

The Desert Hairy Scorpion is known for being the largest scorpion species native to North America. It gets its common name from the fact that it is typically found in desert climates and also because of the many sensitive hairs that adorn its exoskeleton and help it detect vibration in order to locate prey or avoid larger predatory animals.

Unlike the other scorpions on this list, the Desert Hairy has a pale yellow or straw-colored exoskeleton with dark brown to black accents on its back and head. It is also lankier and leaner than its darker-bodied brethren with thinner appendages and pinchers.

We’d like all potential Desert Hairy Scorpion owners to know that this species can actually be a bit more aggressive than the others on this list. In fact, they are typically more timid and flighty and are overall a bit more unpredictable as far as temperament is concerned.

Although this scorpion’s sting is not highly venomous, it can be painful, therefore we recommend that only those with intermediate to expert levels of experience handling scorpions and other venomous invertebrates take on a Desert Hairy Scorpion. These are best kept as a display pet, not an interactive one.

In the wild, Desert Hairy Scorpions are known for eating locusts and other smaller species of scorpion. In captivity, they will do well eating crickets and other appropriately sized insects.

Typically they should be fed a few times per week as adults and daily as babies. Aside from being fed and making sure they have a small source of water, they should require relatively little maintenance.

Desert Hairy Scorpions are aggressive towards one another and territorial. This means that unfortunately, unless you are attempting to breed, they should be housed individually. Humidity levels in their enclosure should be around 55 percent and the temperature should stay between 75 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you are ready for the responsibility, Backwater Reptiles has lovely Desert Hairy Scorpions for sale here.

Dictator Scorpion (Pandinus dictator)

The Dictator Scorpion is famous for being quite possibly the largest scorpion species on the planet! They can reach lengths of eight inches and beyond!

Dictators are very closely related to Emperor Scorpions and very much resemble them in terms of appearance. Both species are hefty-bodied with large pinchers and limbs and are sturdy and solid overall in appearance. The main difference between these two species is that Dictators surpass Emperors in terms of size.

Unfortunately, even though we have ongoing efforts to breed this species of scorpion, they are still considered a rarity in the scorpion enthusiast world. They are quite hard to come by!

So, although it’s true that many people might not own a pet Dictator Scorpion, we have included them on our most popular pet scorpions list because they sell out as quickly as we obtain them. We never manage to keep these beauties in stock for very long and we feel this makes them one of our top species.

pandinus dictator baby
This baby Dictator Scorpion will grow into the largest species of scorpion in the world!

Dictator Scorpions have very similar care requirements to Emperor Scorpions with a few exceptions. In fact, we’ve actually written an entire separate blog article dedicated to the husbandry of this rare species, which you can read here.

If you are interested in obtaining one of these lovely, large scorpions for your own collection, Backwater Reptiles does have them for sale here.

Conclusion

We hope you enjoyed reading about our most popular selection of pet scorpions. We think there is something unique, fascinating, and worthwhile about each and every scorpion species, however the ones in this article are the ones that people seem to gravitate towards.

We highly recommend doing your research and making sure that a pet scorpion is right for you and/or your family prior to purchasing. While they are striking, scorpions can live anywhere from five to ten plus years depending on the species! So, while most (if not all) species are incredibly low maintenance pets, they will stick around for quite a long time.

Just in case you want to check out how the scorpions at the Backwater Reptiles facility are kept happy and healthy, feel free to watch the video below. In it, we go into detail about what should be included in a typical scorpion cage set up.

What’s your favorite species of scorpion? Tell us in the comments!

Don’t miss our other scorpion-related articles including:

What do scorpions eat? and How to pick up a scorpion

Unboxing Your New Pet Reptile, Amphibian, or Invertebrate

~ BackwaterReptiles

Not all pets are purchased from a local breeder, commercial pet store, or rescued from a re-homing service. Many reptile, amphibian, and invertebrate species can actually be shipped right to your door overnight, which is where Backwater Reptiles comes in!

Did you know that each year Backwater Reptiles ships hundreds of animals overnight to customers just like you as well as to zoos, universities, and other educational facilities?

While the concept of shipping an animal might seem foreign or strange to some, we want to assure our customers that we are experienced in packing our critters so that they have the safest journey to their new forever homes.

If you wish to learn more about exactly what is involved in our shipping and packing process, you can read all about it in this article.

costa rican zebra tarantula
Every year, Backwater Reptiles ships hundreds of animals to private homes, zoos, and even educational establishments. We ship arachnids, like this Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula, reptiles, amphibians, and all sorts of other invertebrates. Read this blog article to find out our recommendations for a safe and uneventful unboxing of your new pet!

I’ve signed for my new family member. What do I do now that I’ve received my package? Should I unpack the box in any special way? Will my new pet be a bit peeved, peckish, or thirsty after its travels?

Not to worry – we get loads of questions every day about these types of matters. In this article, we’ll answer not only these frequently asked questions about unpacking your new arrival, but go into detail about how to make sure your new pet has the opportunity to acclimate to its new home with the least amount of stress possible.

What Do I Do Now That I’ve Received My Package?

Unboxing Your New Pet Reptile

When you receive your new reptile, it will come specially packaged in a box for shipping live animals. We know it’s super exciting, but make sure you don’t shake the box or turn it upside down once it’s in your care.

We recommend placing the box on a sturdy, flat surface or counter and slitting the clear packing tape sealing the box flaps shut. Once you’ve done that, the box should open effortlessly and you can remove the styrofoam lid that keeps everything neatly in place.

Depending on the size of your reptile, it will either come in a breathable canvas bag or a plastic deli cup with a secure lid. Most snakes are shipped in bags, chameleons are generally shipped in bags, and larger lizards such as monitors and ameivas are also shipped in bags. Only very small reptiles such as baby Bearded Dragons, baby turtles, and baby Leopard Geckos tend to be shipped in deli cups.

Once the styrofoam lid has been safely removed, gently lift the bag or deli cup out of the insulated box. If your pet is in a clear deli cup, you’ll likely get your first glimpse of him/her at this point!

baby map turtle
Aquatic turtles such as this baby Map Turtle, will arrive safe and sound to your home in a secure deli cup with the appropriate amount of moisture. Packing with the box also depends highly on temperatures at the animal’s final destination.

Much like a long overnight flight can be draining to a human being, please keep in mind that the shipping process can be a tad stressful on the animals as well. They feel much the same way you would if you had traveled all night long, so we highly recommend allowing your new pet time to decompress and “stretch its legs” after its travels are over. This means keep the handling to a bare minimum for the first twenty-four hours.

If your reptile came in a bag, we recommend untying the fastening on the bag and opening it up after placing the bag inside the animal’s new enclosure. Allow the critter to come out of its travel bag on its own terms and don’t force the animal out unless absolutely necessary.

If your reptile arrived in a deli cup, we recommend removing the cup’s lid and placing it inside the enclosure to allow the animal to exit the cup at its own personal leisure. You can also gently “tip” the animal out of the cup and into the enclosure as well.

In order to ensure your new pet feels at home as swiftly as possible, make sure that your enclosure has all the proper equipment needed. Your pet might be a bit cold and need to warm up, it might be thirsty, or it might need to use the bathroom, so make sure that you offer fresh water, a good place to hide, and a heated area with the proper temperature required for your specific animal’s needs.

Many people think that it’s a good idea to feed their new reptile right away. We do try to make sure that our critters are shipped on stomachs that aren’t too full or too empty, so do not be alarmed if your pet doesn’t show interest in food right away. It’s normal for it to take a day or two (or sometimes even more depending on the species) before your pet will eat. Our recommendation is to offer food and if the animal shows no interest in it, remove the food and try again in a few hours or the following day.

Unboxing Your New Pet Amphibian

Although the external packaging for pet amphibians to travel in the mail is the same as a pet reptile, the internal packing will vary slightly.

Amphibians require moisture to stay healthy, so your amphibian, whether you ordered a frog, toad, salamander, or newt, will be traveling in a deli cup with damp or wet paper towels or other appropriate substrate and a secure lid.

The interior of the box will contain styrofoam panels to keep the cup secure while in transit. You will need to remove the top “lid” panel and then gently lift the deli cup out.

slender salamander
Amphibians, such as this Slender Salamander, are packed differently than reptiles or invertebrates. They need more moisture to ensure a successful journey.

As with a pet reptile, you will want to avoid handling your new amphibian right away if you have ordered a species that is suitable for human interaction. Keep in mind that newts, salamanders, and many species of frog and toad are best as display pets and don’t do well being coddled or held.

By now your amphibian’s habitat should be all set up and ready to go. You’ll want to make sure that your new family member gets plenty of moisture and a safe place to hide right away. You might even want to mist your pet once you get him or her into the enclosure just in case the shipping process left them a tiny bit dehydrated.

Gently open the deli cup within the enclosure and allow the animal to come out on its own terms. Or alternatively, you can also very carefully tip the cup and get your pet to come out.

You can follow the same feeding instructions with an amphibian as with a pet reptile. Your pet may or may not show any interest in food once it is in its new environment, so don’t be alarmed if you offer insects or other fare and it is ignored. Make sure you remove any uneaten food, especially crickets, and try again the following day.

Unboxing Your New Pet Invertebrate

Invertebrates will travel in plastic deli cups since bags are not solid enough to protect their delicate frames. This is particularly true of tarantulas that have urticating hairs as a defense mechanism.

Spiderlings and spider slings will come in very small cups. They are very fast little critters and are also very good at hiding, so be extremely careful when opening up a cup containing a spiderling! In order to avoid any mishaps, we highly recommend opening the cup over top of or inside of the spider’s enclosure. This way if the spiderling jumps or climbs out very quickly, it will land in a safe place inside its habitat and will not fall a large height to the floor. It also means less work for you as you won’t be chasing a speedy spiderling around the house!

Larger invertebrates such as scorpions and tarantulas with longer leg spans will be a bit slower than their baby counterparts. However, because they are venomous, you should still exercise caution when opening the lid of their shipping container. Some of the more aggressive species might be eager to get out!

We recommend the same technique for getting larger invertebrates into their new enclosures. Open the cup slowly and carefully inside the new habitat and allow the critter to come out when it feels good and ready. We don’t recommend transferring the animal from the cup to its cage with your hands since it is likely a little grumpy after its overnight travels.

brown bark scorpion
Be very careful when opening up deli cups containing invertebrates such as this Brown Bark Scorpion. They can be quick and invertebrates sometimes have temperamental dispositions.

Some species, like centipedes and aggressive baboon tarantulas, should not be held at all, so it is even more imperative that you gently coax them into their new enclosure without making contact with your hands if you can at all avoid it.

Again, it’s highly likely that your new invertebrate will be uninterested in eating right away. Make sure that it has a water source and the other appropriate amenities in its new home and offer food that evening or even the following day. Many invertebrate species are nocturnal eaters anyways, so don’t be surprised if they won’t eat until nightfall.

Conclusion

Whether you ordered a reptile, amphibian, or invertebrate, you should exercise caution and be gentle during the unboxing process. Try to make the procedure as smooth and streamlined as possible and limit stress on your new friend by keeping handling to a minimum for the first 24 hours at least.

It’s very common for animals to not eat for the first day or two depending on the species. Don’t be alarmed if this is the case with your new pet. Offer food regularly and remove any uneaten remnants. More important than food is a water source for hydration as shipping can often make animals thirsty.

If you ever have any questions about an animal after you have received it or you have issues of any sort upon unboxing, remember that our customer service team is always happy to assist you. Just email them at sales@backwaterreptiles.com and they will happily offer suggestions and tips if you need any.