According to one study, about 85 million families have some type of pet.
But how many of those families actually have a pet tarantula? Are you wondering, “Are tarantulas good pets?”
The answer is yes! But it does depend on what you’re looking for in a pet, so keep reading to find out if a spider is a good pet option for you.
So Are Tarantulas Good Pets?
Tarantulas can make really great pets if you’re ready to commit to them. They’re really different from all the other pets people might have.
While they might seem scary at first, they’re actually harmless if you take care of them the right way.
They are also very low maintenance, so you won’t have to worry about finding a sitter for them if you go on vacation for a week. All you have to do is make sure they have enough water once a month.
For feeding, you only have to do that two or three times a month.
You also don’t need a large area to keep a spider as a pet. You just have to make room for a tank to keep them in.
There are two main types of tarantulas that you can choose to get: a new-world or an old-world tarantula. If this is your first pet tarantula, you should get a new-world one.
These are tamer and can be handled easily. They also are hypoallergenic so you shouldn’t suffer from any allergies.
But if you want a tarantula that is more aggressive and harder to look after, you can get an old-world species. You’ll need some more experience since these are faster and don’t like to be handled.
Advantages
You might be wondering, “Should I get a pet tarantula?”
But what most people don’t realize is that there are actually a lot of benefits to getting one.
Size
If you want a small pet, tarantulas are a perfect choice! They don’t take up a lot of space, even if you get one of the larger ones. Most of them don’t have legs that reach over one foot.
Most tarantulas will only have a leg span of six inches.
Since they don’t take up much space, this is great for families who don’t have a big house. It can also be great for people who live with a lot of roommates or family members. The tarantula will stay out of their way.
Lifestyle
If you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to your pet, the tarantula will be okay with that. They spend a lot of their time not doing anything and just being by themselves.
They may seem slow in their tank, but make sure you keep them in there. Once it gets out, it can run quickly to find a hiding space.
So if you are going to take it out and play with it, make sure you will be able to find it when it runs.
Lifespan
Some people don’t like getting pets that will die in a few years, but a tarantula will last for about twenty years.
To keep it alive, you’ll need to make sure that you clean the tank and make sure it has the right humidity and heat levels.
Disadvantages
When considering getting a new pet, you’ll also have to consider some of the disadvantages as well.
There are a few of them, so make sure you don’t take getting a spider lightly.
Diet
Feeding a spider isn’t as easy as pouring some kibble into a bowl. Instead, you’ll have to feed them live insects. Many people don’t like handling mealworms, roaches, or super worms.
Some larger tarantulas even eat mice and smaller lizards. You’ll also have to have somewhere to store these live meals.
You could also feed them crickets, but those will have to be live as well. But if you are okay with that, you only have to feed them a few times a month!
Dangerous
One of the biggest turnoffs for many people is that they think the spider can be dangerous.
Some of them do have venom, and if it bites you, it could put you in the hospital or leave you with a lot of pain. However, if you handle them delicately and with care, they won’t want to bite you.
The tarantulas don’t bite you out of malice, but instead, they do it to protect themselves from getting hurt since they are delicate.
Where to Get a Pet Tarantula
If you’ve decided that a pet tarantula is right for you, you might be wondering where you can get one!
You should make sure that you find a good company that will ethically breed the spiders. Because spiders became popular pets, many people started capturing them which made them start to go extinct.
Now, they’re protected under the Washington Convention Agreement. So make sure you do your research on the company you’re going to buy them from.
If you’re interested in learning additional information about spiders, check out more info here!
Learn More About Pet Tarantulas
These are only a few things to keep in mind when you’re wondering, “Are tarantulas good pets?” It really depends on what you are looking for in a pet.
We know that choosing a pet and deciding to care for one can be stressful at first, but we’re here to help you through the process.
If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you check out the rest of our website to find more articles just like this one!
