Tarantula

Overview

Tarantulas are large, hairy spiders kept as exotic pets. Despite the menacing appearance, most pet species are docile, long-lived (some over 30 years), and require minimal daily care. The hobby distinguishes between "Old World" (more aggressive, more potent venom) and "New World" (calmer, weaker venom, urticating hairs) species.

Common Pet Species

• Chilean Rose Hair (Grammostola rosea) - most popular beginner species.
• Mexican Red Knee (Brachypelma hamorii) - striking colours.
• Pink Toe (Avicularia avicularia) - arboreal.
• Mexican Red Rump (Tliltocatl vagans).
• Brazilian Black (Grammostola pulchra).
• Greenbottle Blue (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens).

Brazilian Jewel Tarantula (Typhochlaena seladonia). A small, brightly coloured tree-dwelling tarantula of the Atlantic Forest in northeastern Brazil, mainly Bahia and Sergipe, that builds trapdoors in crevices of tree bark (Wikipedia). Both sexes have a greenish carapace and a black abdomen with two rows of six spots, the rear pair reddish; males reach a body length of 9.5-12.5 mm and females up to 21 mm. It is bred in captivity in the US and Europe, but Brazil's 1999 Environmental Crimes Law forbids trading or keeping its native wildlife from non-authorised breeders, so buy only from a legal captive-bred source.

Appearance

Body 5-10 cm; legspan 12-25 cm. Many colours and patterns by species.

Temperament & Handling

Best as observation pets. Handling is generally discouraged in modern keeping - risk to spider (falls are fatal) outweighs benefits.

If handled: New World species have urticating hairs that cause skin irritation. Old World species have potent venom and faster reflexes; never handle.

Enclosure

Terrestrial species: 30 × 30 × 30 cm sufficient for most. Larger isn't always better - large spaces stress some species.

Arboreal species: vertical enclosures with branches.

Substrate: coco fibre or peat 8-10 cm deep for burrowing species. Hide cave. Shallow water dish.

Heating, Humidity, Lighting

• Temperature: 22-28°C (species-specific).
• Humidity: 60-80% (species-specific; desert species drier).
• Low/no UV needed.

Diet

Live insects: crickets, dubia roaches, mealworms. Adults eat 1-2 prey items per 1-2 weeks. Some species fast for months without harm.

Health & Lifespan

Females: 15-30+ years (some over 40). Males: 3-7 years (die after maturity).

Common concerns:

• Falls - fatal from heights as low as 30 cm in heavy species.
• Dehydration.
• Moulting issues.
• Parasitic mites.

Pros & Cons

Pros: very long-lived (females), low maintenance, quiet, take little space. Cons: observation-only, falls are fatal, some species are unsafe.