Ordering Info
The simple order steps on the right side of this page should answer all your questions about the ordering process, but here are some Frequently Asked Questions that specifically address ordering.
Shipping Overview
At TARANTULAS.com we take every step to ensure animal safety during shipment with special packaging and legal shipping via UPS Next Day Air. We do not ship live animals through the postal service or use other carriers. Our minimum shipping charge is $30-35 for tarantulas and $45 for reptiles and this rate applies to a small box that typically can contain one to six spiderlings, a couple of "juveniles" or one subadult specimen. Additional fees may be necessary due to destination or larger boxes for larger specimens or orders. We ship exclusively via UPS Next Day Air on Wednesdays for arrival Thursday morning. Delivery is by 10:30 a.m. in most major cities, but may be later in outlying areas. CONTINENTAL US SHIPPING ONLY for retail orders. Our live arrival guarantee requires that you be awaiting delivery on first attempt and personally accept package from driver. It is your responsibility to ensure that package is not just dropped at your door and subjected to heat or cold.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ordering
What is your guarantee?
Live arrival and satisfaction is guaranteed. Live arrival guarantee (LAG) is only validated if you personally accept package on carrier's first delivery attempt. You must be waiting for package and are responsible for ensuring that delivery driver does not leave package at door exposed to the elements. We strongly suggest that you have your package delivered to a business whenever possible. Any claims of DOA (dead-on-arrival) must be substantiated with either photographic proof or return of remains at our discretion. It is your responsibility to contact us BY PHONE AT 425-773-2997 WITHIN 24 HOURS OF RECEIPT and save dead specimens in the freezer until further instructed. Only animal replacement is offered. There are no cash refunds. Shipping charges are excluded from any guarantee and are always the responsibility of the purchaser, including any shipment of replacement animals.
How are arachnids and reptiles shipped?
We ship tarantulas and other terrarium pets throughout the continental US year-round and have for many years. We ship legally and safely using UPS Next Day Air overnight service to your doorstep. Each animal is carefully and snugly packed in a small protective container and then one or more containers is securely packed in a new styrofoam-lined small animal shipping box. Heat packs or gel cool packs are used as necessary to ensure animal safety.
What is the shipping charge and how many tarantulas can be shipped for that price?
Our current minimum price for a small styro box shipped UPS Next Day Air throughout the continental US is $30. This small box may contain as many as 6 or so small "spiderling" size tarantulas or a couple of "juveniles" or one subadult size specimen. Larger tarantula orders and all reptile orders will require a larger box and shipping charges will be greater. You will be provided with the exact freight charge during the phone or email ordering process.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Credit and debit cards via phone are our preferred method of payment. Credit/debit card payments will appear on your statement as "Northwest Zoological Supply, LLC", which is our parent company. We also accept PayPal instant payments if absolutely necessary. We will accept PayPal electronic check payments, but they will delay shipping until the funds clear. We will, however, hold your animal the 3-5 business days electronic check processing typically requires. We would prefer not to accept checks or money orders, but will do so for customers who cannot pay by the preferred methods. However, we cannot hold animals while we wait for mailed payment and significant delays are likely due to mail transit and bank clearing of funds. Note: We do not charge your debit or credit card until your order is processed the day of shipping.
When will my debit or credit card payment be debited and how will the charge appear on my statement?
We normally do not bill your credit or debit card until we process your order the day of shipping. If you order in advance of your shipping day your funds should remain in your account until shipping day. Credit/debit card payments will appear on your statement as "Northwest Zoological Supply, LLC", which is our parent company.
How do I use PayPal or postal money order to pay?
Credit and debit cards are our preferred method of payment, but we accept PayPal or postal money orders if absolutely necessary. Using these methods requires special instructions from our sales office. Please do not send payment prior to discussing your order with our sales representative by phone or email. Please email for more information.
Why don't you use an online shopping chart?
Live animals are a unique and precious "product". They deserve better than to be sold like widgets and you deserve better customer service. We want to take the time to speak to you directly and hope you will prefer having a real person who is an expert in exotic animal husbandry available to answer your questions. Also, animal safety is a primary concern and we want to ensure that we arrange shipping with your schedule so that your package is not left exposed to the elements.
Do I have to sign for the box?
UPS no longer requires signature on Next Day Air service. We prefer not to request signature service because it is an additional cost and, more importantly, if nobody is present to accept the package the driver will keep it and it will ride around all day in a potentially hot, cold and definitely bumpy truck. Our live arrival guarantee states that you must be waiting for the package and accept it on first delivery attempt. You don't have to sign, but you have to take it directly from the driver. We suggest you have the package delivered to a business or neighbor if you are not certain you can wait for it.
Why do you only use UPS?
Our company ships thousands of boxes of animals, feeder insects and dry goods each month using UPS and we have a regular pick-up on Monday through Wednesday. We have used them for years and have had great results. We will occasionally use FedEx for those customers who have their own account with FedEx and therefore want to bill freight charges separately. However, this is a bit less convenient and we would prefer to use UPS. We will not illegally ship live animals through the postal service [USPS] or use any other carriers.
Will you ship "ground" or some other 2- or 3-day service so I can save money?
Sorry, but no. We realize that it is a common practice with many other tarantula dealers to offer next day service with live arrival guarantee (LAG) at one price and two or three day service with no LAG at a reduced price. We are strongly against this practice. We care about the animals we ship. We only want to ship if we are confident the animal will arrive alive. We're not going to put them at risk with two or three day service no matter how mild the weather is. And we care about our customers and we won't sell an animal without guarantee (see terms of our LAG elsewhere on this page). We feel it is irresponsible to ship live animals any other manner than overnight via a service like UPS Next Day Air. That means no "ground" shipping and no illegal postal service shipping regardless of whether it is overnight. THE ONE EXCEPTION: If you live in the greater Seattle area we can save you money by shipping UPS Ground only because it will still arrive next day because of your proximity to our shipping center. See next FAQ for details.
I live in - or will be visiting - the Seattle area. May I stop by and pick up an order? Do you have a retail store?
Sorry, but no. TARANTULAS.com is one division of a larger wholesale animal breeding and distribution company and it is closed to the public. We cannot accept visitors for a number of reasons. If you are in the Seattle area we can save you some money on shipping by offering UPS Ground service starting at $15 instead of our usual $30 minimum. This is because ground packages will still arrive overnight due to your proximity to our shipping center. However, we must charge all Washington residents local 9.5% sales tax.
Can I choose a female tarantula? I hear they live longer.
Yes, female tarantulas do live longer but, no, in most cases we only sell "unsexed" spiders. In other words, you have a 50% chance of acquiring a female if you purchase one specimen. Our 3-lot and 6-lot pricing allows keepers to buy several specimens and increase their odds of obtaining at least one female. Simply put, we primarily sell young captive-bred tarantulas that are too small to determine sex. We pick them at random when we pack orders. We do occasionally offer larger subadult or adult tarantulas of guaranteed sex, but these command a premium price and are usually purchased by breeders. Although females do live considerably longer than males, tarantulas are fairly long-lived animals and even a male tarantula will outlive most terrarium pets like lizards and frogs.
Will my tarantula come with a care sheet?
No. We would hope that you would research the specific needs of your chosen species and tarantula care in general before you make a purchase. Our website has numerous informational pages relating to care and we also recommend two specific tarantula books. Additionally, we suggest using your favorite search engine and the species scientific name to find the wealth of information that exists on the Internet (always read a number of care sheets so that you can find a consensus opinion and don't trust one potentially inaccurate source.) Of course, we are always happy to answer your questions prior to purchase. Please submit them via email.
Can my tarantula live in the container it is shipped in?
No. (Please also refer to answer to first question and answer above.) Tarantulas are packed in very small containers that ensure little movement during transit and minimize risk of injury. A suitable home (see Care Info for recommendations) is approximately several times the legspan of the spider in width or diameter and one time the legspan in height or depth (Note: Arboreal species can and should have much taller containers. However, terrestrial or burrowing types are safest in short cages. For example, a young terrestrial tarantula with a diagonal legspan of two inches is best kept in a container about six inches in diameter and with a depth of no more than two inches from the top to the top of the substrate.
Do you sell housing (terrariums, etc.) or other supplies?
No. We only offer live tarantulas, scorpions, veiled chameleons, ball pythons and other terrarium pets. All of the necessary husbandry supplies for tarantula keeping — many of which are mentioned in this site's care pages — may be purchased at pet superstores, reptile specialty shops and online reptile supply stores such as The Bean Farm. The specialty containers like vials and deli cups that are often used in tarantula keeping are difficult to find in small quantities but bulk orders can be purchased through Thornton Plastics (clear vials for spiderling rearing) and Superior Enterprise (deli cups and animal shipping supplies).
