Ever wondered why tarantula owners are so passionate about their eight-legged companions?
These misunderstood creatures make incredibly low-maintenance pets that can live for decades.
Despite their fearsome reputation, many species are gentle, fascinating to observe, and perfect for beginners.
This guide will help you choose the ideal first tarantula and provide everything you need for successful spider keeping.
Why Choose a Tarantula as Your First Exotic Pet?
Tarantulas are perfect for beginners because they:
- Need very little space (a small tank is fine)
- Eat only once a week or less
- Don’t make noise or smell
- Cost less than $10 per month to feed
- Can live for 15-30 years (females)
- Need just 15-30 minutes of care weekly
My college roommate’s goldfish needed more attention than my first tarantula! While everyone else was paying pet deposits for dogs or cats, my little spider buddy flew under the radar of our strict apartment manager. Like having a ninja pet that doesn’t bark at the mailman or need walks at 6am on freezing winter mornings.
As Tom Moran from the Tarantula Collective says: “When people ask me about starter tarantulas, I point them to species that are both hardy and docile. This makes the learning experience much more enjoyable for new keepers.”
Top 7 Best Beginner Tarantulas
These seven species are like the golden retrievers of the spider world – dependable, friendly, and perfect for newbies. For a more detailed breakdown of docile tarantula species, check out our list of the top 8 calm species.
| Species | How Friendly? | Lives How Long? | Needs Wet Home? | How Often to Feed? | Cost | Easy Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Blonde | 9.5/10 | 25-30 years | No (40-55%) | Every 2-3 weeks | $60-120 | 1.5/10 |
| Mexican Red Knee | 9.2/10 | 25-30+ years | A little (55-65%) | Every 1-2 weeks | $80-150 | 2.0/10 |
| Brazilian Black | 9.4/10 | 20-25 years | A little (60-70%) | Every 1-2 weeks | $150-300 | 1.9/10 |
| Curly Hair | 8.7/10 | 15-20 years | A little (60-70%) | Every 7-10 days | $40-75 | 1.8/10 |
| Chilean Rose | 8.5/10 | 15-20+ years | No (40-50%) | Every 10-14 days | $30-60 | 2.1/10 |
| Chaco Golden Knee | 8.8/10 | 20-30 years | A little (55-65%) | Every 7-10 days | $60-150 | 2.2/10 |
| Green Bottle Blue | 6.8/10 | 12-15 years | No (40-60%) | Every 5-7 days | $80-150 | 3.5/10 |
My first spider was a Chilean Rose I named “Dusty,” and let me tell you—that spider had fewer maintenance needs than my houseplants! One time my mom actually dusted him, thinking he was a decoration. He just sat there, probably thinking, “Lady, I’m ALREADY dust-colored. That’s the point.”
Setting Up Your Tarantula’s Home
Most beginner-friendly tarantulas are terrestrial (ground-dwelling), meaning they prefer living on the ground. Their home needs:
- A tank about 10-12 inches long and 8 inches high (think shoebox size)
- Substrate (bedding) 3-5 inches deep – coconut fiber or peat moss works best
- A hide (like half a flower pot) – everyone needs a private space
- A shallow water dish (bottle caps work great)
- Some air holes for breathing
- Temperature around 70-80°F (room temperature is usually fine)
It’s like setting up a tiny studio apartment, except your tenant has eight legs and doesn’t complain about the WiFi. When I set up my first tarantula enclosure, I went completely overboard—adding little decorations, a hammock (which was ridiculous since my terrestrial spider never used it), and even a tiny plastic palm tree. Meanwhile, my tarantula just wanted a hole to hide in. Talk about misreading your audience!
If you’re looking for the best enclosures to house your first tarantula, check out our top picks for beginner tarantula enclosures.
Feeding Your Tarantula
Feeding is simpler than you might think:
- Feed adult tarantulas once a week (or less for some species)
- Good foods: crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms
- The bug should be smaller than your tarantula’s body
- Take out uneaten food after 24 hours
- Don’t worry if your tarantula skips meals sometimes
- Don’t feed during molting or for 7 days after
During the pandemic lockdowns, I was more concerned about finding crickets for my tarantula than toilet paper for myself! I ended up driving 30 miles to a pet store that was still open, then explaining to a confused police officer why my “cricket run” was essential travel. He just shook his head and waved me through. Spider parenthood makes you do crazy things.
For a detailed feeding schedule, check out our complete tarantula feeding guide.
Best Substrates for Beginner Tarantulas
Choosing the right bedding is crucial. If you’re unsure what to use, we’ve put together a complete guide on tarantula substrates.
My tarantula cares more about her substrate than I care about my mattress. I once tried to save a few bucks by using some off-brand coconut fiber, and my Chilean Rose literally refused to touch the floor of her enclosure for two days.
She just clung to her hide like it was a life raft in shark-infested waters. Message received, your majesty—only the finest dirt for your royal eight legs!
Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Many new keepers make these errors:
- Overhandling – Limit handling to once a month or less
- Too much water – Wet substrate can kill tarantulas
- Housing too large – Big spaces stress small tarantulas
- Feeding too often – Adults don’t need daily feeding
- Using unsafe substrates – Avoid pine or cedar
- Keeping multiple tarantulas together – They’re not social!
Let me tell you about mistake #6—my friend Jake thought his two docile female tarantulas would “keep each other company” and put them in the same enclosure.
Next morning: one very full tarantula and one… missing tarantula. Turns out, tarantulas practice extreme social distancing—to the death. Nature can be so metal sometimes.
Avoiding these mistakes is essential. Learn more about common mistakes to avoid in our Tarantula Care 101 guide.
Safe Handling Tips
If you want to handle your tarantula (which should be very limited):
- Make sure your tarantula is calm first
- Wash your hands (no strong smells)
- Put your hand flat in the enclosure
- Let your tarantula walk onto your hand
- Keep your hand low (less than 12 inches from a soft surface)
- Hold still and stay calm
- Limit first handling to 30 seconds
The first time I handled my tarantula, my heart was beating faster than a TikTok dance trend.
I was trying so hard to stay calm that I forgot to breathe—meanwhile, my spider just casually strolled across my palm like she was window shopping. Who was more scared? Definitely me.
For more details, check out our beginner’s guide to tarantula handling.
Signs of a Happy, Healthy Tarantula
A happy tarantula will show:
- Vibrant color on their body
- Plump abdomen that isn’t wrinkly
- Clean body without strange marks
- Regular molting
- Normal web building
- Good appetite
- Calm movement
- Regular grooming
I swear my tarantula has better self-care habits than I do. She keeps herself immaculately clean, always makes her bed (web), and never stress-eats an entire pint of ice cream while binge-watching Netflix!
During the 2024 heat wave, I was more worried about keeping my spiders cool than myself—I had frozen water bottles next to their enclosures while I just sweated it out. Spider priorities, am I right?
Want to make sure your spider is thriving? Follow our Tarantula Happiness Checklist.
Final Thoughts
Starting with an easy to keep tarantula makes the hobby much more fun. These calm, hardy tarantulas forgive mistakes and live for many years. If you’re on a budget, consider some of the best affordable tarantula species.
Begin with species like the Arizona Blonde or Curly Hair Tarantula, and you’ll discover why tarantula keeping is simpler than most other pets.
My tarantulas have outlasted three smartphones, two relationships, and one pandemic.
They’re the Betty Whites of the pet world—surprisingly long-lived and impossibly chill. And honestly, at family gatherings when everyone’s showing baby pictures and dog videos, nothing ends awkward political conversations faster than, “Want to see my new tarantula?” Works every time!
Happy spider keeping!
