Originally, I had zero intentions of getting involved with tarantulas. I honestly wanted a kitten. Something low maintenance, independent, and furry. But my roommate at the time was deathly allergic to cats, so that was out of the question. I did my research and realized that my other options – bunnies, hamsters, guinea pigs, etc. – were all extremely needy animals. Then on a whim, I decided to research tarantulas since I had always had an interest in spiders.

Lo and behold, I had met my match! Tarantulas, for the most part, are extremely low maintenance and easy to care for. The more I learned, the more a tarantula seemed like it was going to be the perfect fit. Once I actually got my rose hair tarantula, Spidey, I knew I had made the right choice.

Many people shy away from tarantulas for the simple reason that they have never been taught to appreciate spiders. Many people have convinced themselves that they are terrified of spiders, even though they have never had a negative experience with one. Of course, true arachnophobia is a serious condition and nothing to laugh at – but most of the time, people are able to conquer their fear of tarantulas and spiders simply through education, exposure, and a willingness to look at these creatures in a different light. People have not been taught to look at tarantulas as interesting animals (or even possible pets), and sometimes a switch in mentality is all it takes.

So why do tarantulas make great pets?

1. Well, as I mentioned before, tarantulas are low maintenance. If you get an adult tarantula, you only have to feed it once per week (sometimes less). If your tarantula is fasting (which they often are), you may go MONTHS without having to feed it! My own rose hair once went over a year and a half without eating! (NOTE: baby tarantulas need to eat more frequently and require more maintenance because they are growing).
2. They are also pretty low-cost as well. There are many affordable options for their tanks and setups on Amazon (free shipping!), and their food costs mere CENTS (check out places to buy tarantula food here). They don’t need much – unless your tarantula has specific humidity requirements, all you need is an appropriate tank, some good substrate, a water dish, and a shelter for your tarantula to hide in.
3. Tarantulas are CLEAN. Seriously – although baby tarantulas require more care and maintenance, you will likely only have to completely clean an adult tarantula’s tank a few times per year. As I feed my tarantula in a separate tank to keep the main tank clean, I can get away with cleaning her tank every 6 months (see my method here). Tarantulas do not smell and they are known for being very tidy and neurotic about their space. You will likely observe your tarantula keeping its waste in one specific corner of its tank or making adorable little garbage piles. This makes it really easy for you to pick up after them and spot clean.
4. They are fascinating. Seriously – I had no idea I would enjoy having a tarantula as much as I did. Now I am a complete lover of tarantulas and plan to get another. You will learn so much and love educating your friends and family about your pet. It’s a great conversation starter!
5. You will probably get over your fear of spiders. Take it from me – even though I wanted a tarantula, I was still kinda scared! But by educating myself and actually seeing a tarantula’s behavior up close, I think about spiders and tarantulas completely differently now. I have a profound respect for these creatures and am always surprised by their complexity and behaviors. Ask any tarantula owner: there’s nothing like it, and you will probably want another spider once you start!

WARNING: You should NOT get a tarantula if:

1. You want a pet that you can cuddle. Don’t be fooled by the pics of people holding tarantulas in this post. Tarantulas are happiest when you love them from a distance. While you can learn to safely hold a tarantula, you should only do this SPARINGLY or not at all. Some tarantulas can tolerate more handling than others, but this is not a creature that enjoys lots of attention. If you are looking for a pet like that, you should get a dog or a cat. Honestly, tarantulas are happiest when left alone, and if you want to touch your tarantula you MUST test its temperament first and never force it to interact with you if it wants to be left alone. Trust me, tarantulas will tell you with a nice defense pose or even a bite if you are being too pushy. Tarantulas get stressed out by too much touching and it is cruel to make any creature interact when they want to be left alone.
2. Are looking for a super active pet. While there are some species of tarantulas that are more active than others, most tarantulas spend their time looking great while doing nothing. My tarantula can spend days in the exact same spot in her tank and she is perfectly happy doing it.

Should you be worried about tarantula venom?

A lot of people shy away from tarantulas because of their fangs and venom. Many ask me if their fangs can be removed. The answer is no – without a tarantula’s fangs and venom, they would die as these play an important role in their feeding and digestion. So yes, all tarantulas have venom. Fortunately, it is meant to paralyze much smaller prey than you, so it will not be fatal to you. It will likely have the effect of a bee sting if you get bitten. However, there is always a chance you might be allergic to the venom (much like bee stings), and you don’t want to find this out too late. It is critical to have an epi pen or some safety plan in case you get bitten and have an allergic reaction.

NOTE: Tarantulas are NOT aggressive. They only bite in self-defense. Most tarantulas would opt to flee than fight. So as long as you are being respectful of them, you should not get bitten.

Which tarantulas are good for beginners?

As the tarantula keeping hobby is gaining more popularity, there are many options to choose from. The following tarantulas are considered good for beginners due to their great temperaments and docile behaviors:

• Eupalaestrus Campestratus (Pink Zebra Beauty)
• Brachypelma Albopilosum (Honduran Curly Hair)
• Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens (Greenbottle Blue)
• Avicularia Versicolor (Martinique pink toe)
• Mexican Red knee Tarantula

Chilean rose hair (g. rosea) tarantulas are also considered good beginner tarantulas by some, but cautioned against by others. Although they have a reputation of being docile, there have been mixed reviews on this. They also tend to randomly stop eating, which can be stressful for a first-time tarantula owner. My personal experience with my rose hair is that they are docile, although I have known many other tarantula owners to have had the opposite experience. I can confirm that a rose hair’s random fasting periods are stressful, especially in the beginning.

NOTE: It is better to get a tarantula from a reputable breeder or a tarantula convention. Pet stores will usually give you inaccurate information if you buy it from there. Here are a few good breeders.

My main point is this:

I have had many different pets throughout my life, but my tarantula is by far my favorite (don’t tell my cat)! Tarantulas are pets that you can never really get tired of – I always learn something new and they’re so fun to watch up close. Tarantulas are like the awkward introverts of the pet world – something that I think many of us can really relate to and find comfort in.

If you would like to learn more about tarantulas, or are looking for a great guide to help you get started, I highly recommend The Tarantula Keeper’s Guide!

I hope you found that helpful! If you’d like to WAY more about tarantulas and how to care about them, be sure to purchase my full tarantula guide!

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Featured image via Hamish Irvine / Flickr