Tarantula Delivery in South Africa: How to Prepare
Your first tarantula delivery is easier to manage when the enclosure and receiving plan are ready before the parcel arrives. This checklist covers preparation, a calm unpacking space and where to get help. It complements our first-setup guide; research the needs of your chosen species and life stage before ordering.
Store information checked on 7 October 2026. Prices and policies can change; consult the linked policy pages before ordering.
1. Plan who will receive the delivery
Tarantula Den's shipping policy currently lists a nationwide South African delivery charge of R250. It describes the courier service as overnight, with parcels normally arriving in one to two days. Treat that as the stated delivery estimate, rather than a guaranteed arrival appointment.
Check your delivery address and contact details when ordering. Arrange for someone who knows a live animal is arriving to receive the parcel. If work, travel or another commitment could prevent this, contact Tarantula Den before placing the order to discuss your circumstances. Keep the order reference and any delivery updates somewhere easy to find.
2. Finish the enclosure beforehand
Confirm the actual species, life stage and approximate size of the animal you are buying. A tiny sling and a larger juvenile need different practical arrangements; our sling-versus-juvenile guide explains the buying decision.
Have appropriate housing, substrate, shelter and a drinking-water arrangement ready before delivery. Check ventilation and lid security, including gaps through which a small sling might escape. Make these choices for the particular animal, rather than copying a display enclosure made for a different species.
Browse our enclosure range and confirm suitability before choosing. The 190 × 125 × 75 mm terrestrial enclosure is one size option to assess, not a universal recommendation for every tarantula.
3. Set up a quiet unpacking area
Clear a well-lit workspace and keep children and other pets out of the room. Have an empty catch cup and a piece of firm card ready before opening the animal's container. A large, smooth-sided storage tub can provide an additional working area, but it is not an escape-proof barrier.
Specialist keeper Tom Moran's rehousing guide explains the value of preparation and slow, deliberate movements. You do not need to handle the tarantula with bare hands or film a transfer to make delivery day successful.
4. Open carefully and follow the packing instructions
Check the parcel promptly after receipt. Ask Tarantula Den for guidance specific to its packaging if you are unsure how to open the animal's container. An unboxing video from another seller may show a different method.
Tom's sling husbandry guide warns that pulling packing material which twists or tightens can trap a tiny spider. Stop if material catches; do not pull harder. Seek help with a safe next step instead of improvising. Locate the animal before discarding packing materials, especially with very small slings.
Once the animal is safely housed, secure the enclosure and observe calmly. Ask about its most recent moult and feeding history, and when to offer food. There is no need to make immediate feeding part of the arrival checklist.
5. Know where to get help
If something concerns you, contact Tarantula Den promptly. Your order reference, a clear description and photographs where practical can help explain the situation.
The current refund policy says ordinary live-animal returns are not accepted and that an animal will be replaced if it dies within seven days. Read the live-animal section directly; the separate 30-day return wording applies to non-live products. Contact the store to clarify how the policy applies to your order.
Before delivery: confirm a receiver, finish suitable housing, clear the workspace and save the contact details. Explore more practical preparation advice in Care Guides.