Imagine having a pet that needs less care than a houseplant but lives longer than most dogs!
That’s a tarantula for you. These eight-legged wonders have been pets since Victorian times.
With over 900 kinds worldwide and some living up to 25 years, picking the right tarantula is key for a great pet experience.
If you’re looking for guidance on selecting your first tarantula, check out this detailed guide on finding your ideal pet tarantula.
Best Tarantulas for Beginners
If you’re new to keeping tarantulas, start with calm New World species (from North and South America). These spiders are gentler and better for learning.
Top beginner-friendly tarantulas:
- Mexican Red Knee: Beautiful, calm spiders that move slowly and rarely hide
- Chilean Rose: Easy to care for and not expensive
- Pink Toe: Pretty spiders with pink feet that like to climb
- Curly Hair: Known for being super gentle with a fuzzy look
- Costa Rican Zebra: Active and fun to watch as they dig tunnels
I still remember when my friend Jared got his first Pink Toe. He named her “Tippy-Toes” and would crack up watching her climb around her enclosure like a tiny eight-legged parkour athlete. That tarantula had better climbing skills than I did during my failed rock climbing phase last summer!
For a more in-depth look at tarantula care beyond the basics, check out everything you need to know about tarantula care.
Understanding Costs and Care
Let’s look at what you’ll need to spend:
| Item | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Setup | $75-200 | Cage, bedding, water dish, hiding spots |
| Spider | $20-300 | Depends on type and age |
| Monthly Care | $10-25 | Food and fresh bedding |
Monthly Care $10-25 Food and fresh bedding
After the first setup, tarantulas are very cheap to keep compared to cats or dogs.
Seriously, my friend’s cat Whiskers goes through premium cat food faster than my teenager goes through snacks! Meanwhile, Charlotte eats a cricket once a week and looks at me like, “That’s all I need, human.”
Setting Up Your Spider’s Home
The Perfect Tarantula House
Your spider’s home needs to be three times bigger than its leg span in every direction. This gives them room to move and grow.
Important housing needs:
- A secure cage that locks
- Soft, clean bedding (called substrate)
- Places to hide
- Fresh water daily
- Right temperature (72-82°F)
- Good humidity (depends on species)
Think of it like setting up a tiny studio apartment – except your tenant has eight legs and thinks flies are fine dining! Last month, I redecorated Charlotte’s enclosure with a new hide and some fake plants.
She spent three days rearranging everything to her liking. Talk about a picky interior decorator!
Since humidity plays a crucial role in your tarantula’s survival, read more on how wrong humidity can be fatal.
Temperature and Humidity
Think of it like Goldilocks – your spider needs things just right:
- Keep it between 75-85°F (like a nice spring day)
- Desert spiders: 30-50% humidity (dry)
- Tropical spiders: 65-85% humidity (moist)
- Forest spiders: 70-80% humidity (in between)
It’s kinda like how I need my coffee – not too hot, not too cold, just perfect. Except if my coffee’s wrong, I just grumble. If your tarantula’s conditions are off, they can get sick. No pressure!
To learn more about maintaining optimal conditions, check out essential care tips for temperature management.
Understanding Molting
Molting is like your spider’s extreme makeover! Here’s what to know:
Pre-molt Signs:
- Food refusal
- Slowing down
- Fading colors
- A darker patch appearing on the abdomen
During molting:
- NEVER disturb your tarantula
- Raise humidity slightly
- Remove all prey insects
- Be patient – it can take hours
The first time Charlotte molted, I freaked out thinking she was dying. I called my tarantula-keeping buddy at 2 AM in a panic.
He laughed so hard I thought he’d need an inhaler! Now I know better – it’s just like how we humans shed our winter layers when summer rolls around, except spiders take it to a whole new level by ditching their entire exoskeleton!
To better understand stress signals in tarantulas, read how to decode your tarantula’s stress signals.
Seasonal Care Adjustments
Tarantulas need different care as seasons change:
| Season | Temperature | Feeding | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 60-70°F | Less | 65-75% |
| Spring | 70-75°F | Normal | 65-75% |
| Summer | 75-85°F | More | 65-75% |
| Fall | 70-75°F | Normal | 65-75% |
Just like how I swap my iced coffees for hot lattes when fall hits, your spider needs seasonal adjustments too.
Last winter, Charlotte barely ate for weeks – turns out she was just doing her version of hibernation mode, kinda like how I feel after Thanksgiving dinner!
For detailed insights, visit seasonal adjustments every tarantula owner must know.
Health and Wellness
Your spider is healthy when:
- Their abdomen is plump (like a ripe plum, not a raisin)
- They move normally
- They eat regularly
- They molt successfully
Speaking of plump abdomens, my sister saw Charlotte after skipping a visit for six months and said, “Wow, she’s really let herself go!” I had to explain that a chubby tarantula is actually a healthy tarantula – unlike the COVID-15 I gained during lockdown!
To better understand common health issues, visit your tarantula health guide.
Emergency Care
What You Need in Your Spider First Aid Kit
| Item | What It’s For | How To Use It |
|---|---|---|
| ICU enclosure | Safe place for sick spiders | Keep clean and ready |
| Heat mat | Keeping spider warm | Never put directly under spider |
| Humidity chamber | Adding moisture | Line with damp paper towels |
| Syringe (no needle) | Giving water | Gentle drops near mouth |
| Tarantula-safe disinfectant | Cleaning wounds | Use very small amounts |
Tarantula-safe Cleaning wounds Use very small amounts disinfectant
Last summer during that crazy heatwave, my AC broke down and Charlotte’s enclosure got way too hot.
I set up an emergency cooling station using some ice packs and a fan (careful not to blow directly on her). Crisis averted! Now I keep my spider first aid kit ready like I’m some kind of arachnid EMT!
If your spider is in distress, refer to emergency care for tarantulas.
Understanding Tarantula Communication
Yes, tarantulas can make sounds and show body language!
Sounds and What They Mean:
- Tarantulas make noises by rubbing body parts together (stridulation). This can mean:
- They feel threatened
- They’re marking territory
- Males are looking for mates
The first time I heard Charlotte make a hissing sound, I nearly jumped out of my skin!
Turns out she was just telling the curious cat to back off. It reminded me of how I hiss at people who try to take the last donut in the break room – everyone has boundaries!
For a deeper dive into tarantula sounds, visit what your tarantula is trying to tell you.
Final Thoughts
Pet tarantulas can be great pets if you:
- Pick the right species
- Set up their home well
- Feed them properly
- Handle them carefully
- Keep their space clean
With good care, your tarantula could be with you for many years. These interesting pets don’t need as much work as dogs or cats, but they still need regular attention.
As I write this, Charlotte is doing her evening patrol around her enclosure. She’s been with me through two breakups, one job change, and a pandemic.
While my friends’ puppies turned into barking machines during Zoom calls, Charlotte just chilled in her terrarium looking fabulous.
Who would’ve thought that one of the most stable relationships in my life would be with an eight-legged roommate who pays no rent but brings me endless joy? If that’s not a spider’s web of irony, I don’t know what is!
Happy spider keeping, friends! Remember, in the pet world, sometimes eight legs are better than four!
