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Tarantulas - Land Invertebrates

Rose-haired TarantulaPhoto © Animal-World: Courtesy Paddy Campbell

     Tarantulas are the foundation of the invertebrate hobby. They make wonderful pets for thousands of keepers.  

     You are not alone if you enjoy keeping tarantulas. More and more people are coming to enjoy the novelty and intrigue offered by these unique pets.
     Tarantulas do not bark, will not ruin your furniture or carpet, and they will survive and even thrive with a minimal amount of care. If they are well-fed and have access to water, they can be left for a week or two while a keeper is away on business or a vacation. Very few pets can boast this hardiness.

See more on Tarantulas below:
Tarantulas in the Pet World and Availability

     Beyond the thrill of having an unusual pet, tarantula keepers inspire budding invert specialists to observe behaviors that are subtle and important and not seen elsewhere in the pet trade.

For more Information on keeping tarantulas see:
Guide to a Happy, Healthy Invertebrate

Tarantulas: Click on the small images below
for more information about each one.

Antilles Pink Toe Tarantula	Goliath Bird-eating Spider
Avicularia versicolor	Theraphosa blondi
King Baboon Spider	Metalic Blue Ornamental Tree Spider
Citharischius crawshayi	Poecilotheria metallica
Mexican Red-kneed Tarantula	Mombasa Baboon Spider
Brachypelma smithi	Pterinochilus murinus
Oklahoma Brown Tarantula	Ornamental Tree Spider
Aphonopelma hentzi	Poecilotheria regalis
Pink-toed Tarantula	Rose-haired Tarantula
Avicularia avicularia	Grammostola gala

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Tarantulas in the Pet World:      From the early B movies to the nature films of today, tarantulas have captured the imagination of both seasoned invert hobbyists and the general public alike. Their slow, methodical walk, furry legs, and mysterious nature have produced for the tarantula an important place in the exotic pet trade.

     Tarantulas are known by various names across the planet and sometimes these names cause confusion in beginning keepers. Tarantulas are called tree spiders, baboon spiders, and other common names.
     The first species kept in United States collections were mostly those found in the United States or Mexico as they were easiest to access. The Red-kneed Tarantula, Brachypelma smithi, has been a standard in the pet trade for many many years.
     African species arrived first from European collectors and then as part of shipments of reptiles beginning in the late 1980s and early 1990s. A great number of species have entered the hobby (and are still arriving) and private collections are reaching incredible populations

Availablility:      Many varieties of these fascinating creatures are available in pet stores and from breeders. This is not surprising as there are approximately 800 species of tarantulas.
     As with reptiles, probably the most difficult species to obtain have been those from areas difficult for collectors to access such as parts of Africa and the Middle East. Also, species from countries that are typically unwilling to export any wildlife such as India, Bangladesh, Brazil, Australia, and many others.
     Most tarantulas available as pets are not dangerous, though you need to handle them with care and respect. There are actually no known tarantulas that are capable of killing people outright.

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