The Basics of Having a Pet Tarantula

How to Find Out If You're Ready and Choose the Right One for You

Tarantulas can make fascinating and rewarding pets. They require little care as compared to other exotics, and living with them gives you a window into the life of an almost alien species.

First, some important considerations pre-purchase:

Is everyone in your life as into tarantulas as you are? Some people are seriously frightened by tarantulas, and you might not know it until you ask them. Find out in advance. Who will take care of your spider when you go on trips?

Are you ready for the commitment? Female tarantulas can live as long as 25 years. This is like taking on a child. (A furry, cricket-eating low maintenance child, but a child nonetheless.)

Are you able to deal with crickets? (You won’t need to worry about pinkies unless you purchase an exceptionally large breed of tarantula, something I don’t recommend to first-timers.) Crickets need to be purchased live, and they will chirp all night long, just like….crickets. So make sure that this is something you’ll find comforting, instead of irritating.

Do you realize that this is not an active pet? As a tarantula owner, you will get to see your tarantula do beautiful and amazing things, like building webs, catching prey, and molting. But for the most part, your tarantula will be dormant, or will only be active at night. While you can carefully “play” with tarantulas, you shouldn’t force them into dangerous activities (more on this later), nor should they be used as comedy props. Be aware of your spider’s lifestyle going into ownership and you’ll be more satisfied in the long run.