Is a pet tarantula right for you?
Tarantulas are the largest spiders in the arachnid world, and they have been popular in the exotic pet trade for many years not only because of their impressive size but also their beauty and relative ease of care. In addition they take up very little space, are quiet, and are fascinating to observe.
Despite being generally low-maintenance pets, it is important that before you go out and buy a pet tarantula you do some research, since not all tarantulas are the same.
There are over 900 different species of tarantulas that have been discovered thus far, and it is amazing how many of these species from all over the world are actually available in the pet trade for purchase. Different species vary in terms of their housing requirements, ease of care, and temperaments.
Within the tarantula world there are two main divisions that are used to classify tarantula species – Old World vs. New World Tarantulas. Old World Tarantulas are those originating from Africa and Asia, whereas New World Tarantulas are those originating from the Americas. Aside from these geographic differences, the tarantulas from these different regions possess differences in terms of their temperament, defense mechanisms, venom potency, and appearance. Generally speaking, Old World Tarantulas are notorious for their defensive temperament, and readiness to bite with minimal provocation. Whereas New World Tarantulas in general tend to be more docile, and will bite less frequently because they rely on a different defense mechanism – the urticating hair. New World tarantulas possess barbed hairs on their abdomens that that they can kick off into a cloud, much like pepper spray, to ward off potential attackers when they feel threatened. Old World tarantulas do not possess these hairs so they rely more on their bite and posturing to defend themselves.
Within the Old World and New World geographic subdivisions, tarantulas are further divided into groups based on their natural habitats in the wild – Terrestrial Tarantulas and Arboreal Tarantulas. Terrestrial tarantulas are those that are ground dwellers in the wild, whereas arboreal tarantulas are naturally tree dwellers in the wild. This information is crucial as it has implications for the type of enclosure that a tarantula should be kept in. In addition it is important to know what type of climate a tarantula naturally lives in, as this will have implications for temperature and humidity requirements for a given tarantula.
Clearly this information is important to consider, when deciding which species of tarantula to bring into one’s home as a pet.
Some species are known for being docile and being able to be handled, whereas others are notorious for being aggressive and biting without hesitation. However, just like dogs, tarantulas not only can vary greatly among species but also among individuals. It is not unusual to find an aggressive individual from a typically docile species or a docile individual that is labeled as an “aggressive” species. Like other animals or even people, tarantulas have individual personalities that can dramatically change over the courses of their lives.
While tarantulas are not going to give their owners kisses or play fetch, they will exhibit some pretty amazing behaviors that make them enjoyable to own and care for in their own way.
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