The Pet Tarantula: Not What You Think It Is

By Leslie Brown

Tarantulas have been given a bad name, but they do not deserve it. They can be scary by association because they are portrayed as killers. We think of tarantulas as hairy spiders with many long legs and a deadly bite—and we fear them. It is an unnecessary fear. Tarantulas are actually quite gentle creatures, essentially a harmless type of spider, and are only dangerous when frightened. They are not aggressive in the way we think they are.

If they are frightened, tarantulas’ first line of defense is “flicking hairs." The spider takes a rear leg and vigorously rubs the hairs off the body, throwing them in the air. The hairs can cause a rash or irritation if skin or eye contact is made.

Tarantulas are wild animals, and need to be treated with respect. They are defensive creatures, and they tend to be survivors. If you treat a tarantula with the respect it deserves, you can have a good pet.

Tarantulas have become relatively popular pets and a fascinating hobby for some. There are so many things that attract people to pet tarantulas. These misunderstood creatures can be captivating. Tarantulas don’t demand your attention or time, and in fact they like to be left alone. They would rather retreat than bite. For such a scary looking beast, they are actually quite benign and shy.

They are kept as pets by those who enjoy their low maintenance and long lifespan. Their care and feeding is very simple, and they come with few requirements. Tarantulas are unique, quiet, and need little space. They need only a constant source of water, a cricket or two dropped in their jar once a week, a home at room temperature, and some humidity that is comparable to their natural habitat. They can be kept in a fairly small container because the majority of tarantulas are between 4 to 7 inches, ranging in size from dwarf (about a 1-inch leg span) to giants (at about 10-inch plus leg spans).

If you want to pick up and handle your pets, tarantulas aren't the best choice, largely due to stress and danger to the spider rather than to you. The biggest concern with captive tarantulas is injury due to a fall or handling. Tarantulas can lose legs from an injury or a bad molt.

Believe it or not, there are over 800 recognized species of tarantulas. They come in a great variety of sizes, shapes, and coloring. It is best to buy captive-bred tarantulas because of their health and longevity. There is no one "right" species of tarantula to have as a pet, although the Chilean Rose Hair is the most common species of tarantula kept in captivity.

Female tarantulas can live more than 30 years, which makes them a lifelong pet. A spider that outlives your other pets by a decade or more is truly amazing!

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