Is a Tarantula the Right Pet for You-The Pros & Cons

Over the years, the tarantula has become a very popular pet. These spiders are unique, peaceful and require small space, so it not surprising that they could be an interesting addition to any household. The truth is, tarantulas are generally considered as low maintenance exotic animals and can be easily trained to become lovable pets. If you are thinking of acquiring one for your household, you should be aware of the following pros and cons before deciding to get a pet tarantula.

Tarantulas belong to the spider family and are similar to others in that they have eight legs and eight eyes near to each other. In addition to this, there a few distinguishing and interesting features which make them stand out from other spiders. Generally, they have extremely hairy legs and bodies. They have been know to live up to 30 years. Even though they will not spin webs, you will discover that they capture prey by chasing it down and killing it.

There are more than 800 species of these spiders and they are indigenous to several climates and areas in the wild. They are generally separated into two categories, namely the new world which comes from the western hemisphere and the old world originally from the far eastern hemisphere. They are further separated into tropical or desert species and tree dwelling or ground dwelling. The Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula is the one that you will most likely find in a pet shop. Overall they are probably the most desirable as a household pet as they are friendly and don't mind being handled.

As mentioned before, these pets will probably be the most low maintenance animals that you will ever find. They can easily survive in a five to ten gallon aquarium or terrarium tank, but you have to ensure that this is kept covered all the time. Basically, when you set up this home, you are only required once or twice weekly to take care of other essential aspects such as feeding and misting the tank using bottled water at room temperature to preserve correct moisture.

When it's time for food, you can feed them with live crickets or various other insects which you can purchase at the pet shop. Keep in mind that you must not catch and feed your pet tarantula with insects directly from the wild to avoid the risk of endangering them with pesticides and other toxins. Giving your pet one or two crickets at meal time will be fine but keep in mind the amount you feed them will depend on the size of your tarantula. Ensure that you have water readily available for drinking at all times.

Be sure to maintain a clean and enclosed environment for your pet tarantula. You can use a paper towel or tissue to easily cleanup up the excrement. Just a basic light cleaning on a regular basis will be enough for housekeeping and to keep his cage and other components thoroughly clean.

If there any cons to owning a tarantula for a pet it would be the fact that they are a very large spider. The have been known to bite but it's not lethal. You will probably have the same reaction as if you were stung by a bee. To anyone wanting them as a pet they are beautiful, but to many others they are scary. Tarantula feeding habits may be somewhat of a put off to many pet owners as they do eat live crickets although to tarantula lovers it will be fascinating to watch.

Even though the tarantulas are not the cuddly type they will be intriguing creatures and make wonderful, peaceful pets. They are quiet and don't appear to mind being left alone. The do appear to enjoy interacting with humans. Ultimately, the key to efficiently own one of these exotic animals is to understand all there is to know about caring for them.