How Much Does a First Tarantula Setup Cost in South Africa?

A first tarantula setup does not need to be expensive, but the animal price is only one part of the budget. You also need housing that fits the actual spider, suitable substrate, a retreat, access to water, feeder insects and basic maintenance tools.

Prices and availability below were checked on 14 October 2026. Stock changes, so confirm the live product page before ordering.

Start with the species and life stage

Choose the animal before buying the enclosure. A spiderling, juvenile and adult need different amounts of space, and terrestrial and arboreal species need different enclosure shapes. Our sling-versus-juvenile guide explains how life stage changes the purchase decision.

The British Tarantula Society's basic keeping guide lists a secure enclosure, substrate, a dark retreat and water as core housing elements. Tom Moran's overview of tarantulas as pets gives a similarly simple basic list. The exact setup still has to match the species and individual.

Verified Tarantula Den prices

Available item Stage or size Price
Chaco Golden Knee Spiderling R55
Mexican Red Knee Spiderling R120
Chilean Rose Spiderling R120
Mexican Black Velvet Juvenile R450
Terrestrial enclosure 65 Γ— 65 Γ— 45 mm R15
Terrestrial enclosure 190 Γ— 125 Γ— 75 mm R50

A product being available does not automatically make it the right match. Confirm the spider's current size, enclosure gaps and husbandry needs before combining any two items.

Clear ventilated terrestrial enclosure shown closed and open, labelled 65 mm Γ— 65 mm Γ— 45 mm.
The available 65 Γ— 65 Γ— 45 mm terrestrial enclosure. Confirm that its size and ventilation gaps suit the individual spiderling.

What do those prices mean for a starter budget?

A Chaco Golden Knee spiderling and the small terrestrial enclosure have a store-item subtotal of R70. A Mexican Red Knee or Chilean Rose spiderling with the same enclosure has a subtotal of R135. These are price illustrations, not ready-made bundles.

For a larger example, the available Mexican Black Velvet juvenile and the 190 Γ— 125 Γ— 75 mm enclosure total R500. Ask Tarantula Den to confirm the juvenile's actual size and housing fit before ordering.

None of these subtotals includes substrate, a retreat, a shallow water option, feeders or a suitable maintenance tool. Those essentials still need to be sourced and budgeted. You may also need another enclosure as a sling grows, so the smallest initial purchase is not necessarily the final housing cost.

Add delivery to the calculation

Tarantula Den's current shipping policy lists delivery at R250 nationwide within South Africa, normally taking one to two days. That makes the R70 example R320 delivered, or the R135 example R385 delivered, before the remaining setup supplies. Store collection pages currently advertise free delivery on orders of R1299 or more; check the cart for the final delivery charge.

Spend in the right order

  1. Select an appropriate species and life stage from the Beginner Tarantulas collection.
  2. Confirm enclosure type, dimensions, ventilation and escape gaps.
  3. Budget for substrate, a retreat, water and correctly sized feeders.
  4. Keep some budget for future rehousing as the spider grows.
  5. Add delivery only after checking the current cart and policy.

Decor can wait. A secure, species-appropriate setup matters more than filling the enclosure with extras. Read our first-setup mistakes guide, browse available enclosures, or contact Tarantula Den before buying if you are unsure about fit.

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