Tips for Taking Care of a Tarantula

Growing up as a child, I never really cared for exotic animals or pets. I wanted a cat and a bird, nothing more. But nowadays, it seems children want to try everything on for size. I blame it on television and the Internet. All a child must do is type "fun pets" into google, and a hundred unique breeds of monkeys, rabbits, and spiders suddenly pops up on the screen. I find it quite frustrating! But it is inevitable. And so to prepare you a little further for this upcoming journey, I present to you a basic 101 guide on tarantulas.

Tarantulas are a member of the spider family and, within the last few years, have become increasingly popular in the United States. There are numerous benefits to having a tarantula, but it is important to be aware of how to properly take care of a tarantula. To complicate the matter, there are countless breeds of tarantulas throughout the American continent.

One thing is for sure. Tarantulas may usually be handled by hand and even held, but this is not typically recommended due to the risk placed on the spider. Believe it or not, but holding a tarantula places it at MORE RISK than you. If you do wish to handle your tarantula (or let your kids handle it), first speak with a professional (at a pet store, or perhaps a veterinarian) for advice. Some breeds of tarantula are more friendly than others.

One nice benefit to owning a tarantula (or any spider for that matter) is that they are quiet. You don't have to worry about being awakened at night due to barking or meowing. Furthermore, they are a lot cheaper to feed. Small tarantulas usually eat bugs and insects like moths, crickets, and cockroaches. A tarantula is the cheapest cockroach-remover service available! However, larger tarantulas are far more aggressive and can handle eating rodents such as rats and mice. The best part about owning a tarantula is that there is no guideline how often you should feed it. Usually, they manage to feed themselves. But if you want your tarantula to grow quickly, then feel free to offer it some extra food. Tarantulas do also need water. The best bet for this is to setup a 'hamster' water-bottle into your spider cage.

Most parents might shriek at the thought of owning a tarantula. But in all honesty, it's not that bad of a choice. They eat rodents and bugs, they make no noise, and they are not dangerous to humans. Most tarantulas are actually pretty friendly and just looking for some love.