You can find tarantulas at pet stores, reptile shows, and from breeders and dealers online. I've been keeping and breeding exotic pets for over 20 years. Wearing a face mask and gloves can help protect you from urticating hairs. While we recommend leaving your pet tarantula to its own devices most of the time, there will be times when you will need to remove your spider from its enclosure. In addition, tarantulas can and will bite you if they feel threatened. But hold on there for a moment, because there are a few home truths you need to understand before taking the plunge…. Tarantula owners even recommend cleaning the tarantula's habitat within the confines of a bathtub so the resident spider can't make a speedy retreat to some dark corner of the house. We also recommend keeping overactive spiders in your hands – don’t let them crawl into your hair, clothing, or appendages. For those seeking a unique, undemanding pet, a tarantula is a fine choice. You'll have a better idea of the animal's health history, and you can be fairly certain you're not getting a spider that's pregnant or sick. For some pet owners, this might not be a concern, but for others, it's not a pleasant thought. After reaching adulthood, a male tarantula will usually live another 1-2 years, but a female tarantula can live much longer, even up to 40 years or so. And while there will always be a few bad eggs, in general it’s a great community to be part of.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. If you really can’t stand to see another ad again, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. One advantage of a tarantula as a pet is that it is so easy to feed. The females of some species can live for several decades, so this isn’t a “here-today-gone-tomorrow” invertebrate pet. Before making a commitment, make sure to ask yourself a few important questions. Unlike a cat or dog, which is pleased to see you when you get home, tarantulas couldn’t care less. Last Updated: May 24, 2020 Debbie Hadley is a science educator with 25 years of experience who has written on science topics for over a decade. Don't put the beautiful spiders at risk; do the right thing. You can set up a naturalistic vivarium with bark, moss and more that becomes a real focal point in your point. Be sure you're committed to keeping the tarantula for the long haul. Though it may appear sluggish in its terrarium, once your pet tarantula escapes, it can run with lightning quickness to find a hiding place. Don't blow on your tarantula, this will also annoy your tarantula and could cause it to run away or attack. Even worse, they've got a nasty habit of flicking urticating hairs at the faces of potential predators, which could include you and your loved ones. For tips on treating a tarantula bite, read on! I wouldn't suggest stroking them, since they're very fragile and even the slightest pressure can rupture their abdomen. So – are tarantulas good pets? I have a curly hair female tarantula. When they're not capturing and eating live prey, tarantulas spend a great deal of time doing absolutely nothing. Unless you are an expert, yes, you should wear gloves. This can make owning a tarantula a fascinating hobby. This Arachnophobia, is a natural phenomenon that occurs in most of us. That can change over time as the tarantula matures. Do You Want an Active Pet That Does Cool Tricks and Can Be Let Loose in Your Home? These spiders will eat about a half dozen crickets each week. If you want to be hands on with your spider, we do recommend wearing gloves until you are 100 percent at ease with your pet and know how it tends to react and behave in general. When you make slow movements you will keep your spider in a calm mindset and it will feel far less threatened than if you make quick, frantic, or jerky movements.