When I was a kid, around six years old, my dad took me to a local pet store. While he was chatting with the store clerk, I was busy exploring all the animals they had for sale. I walked past the usual suspects – gerbils, lizards, guinea pigs, and frogs – and then I saw it. In a big tank right in the middle of the store, there was the biggest spider I had ever imagined. I had seen tarantulas in old horror movies on TV, but seeing one up close, just inches away from my face, was something else entirely. This amazing, and slightly scary, creature, which I later learned was a Mexican redknee tarantula (Brachypelma smithi), a real icon in the tarantula hobby, was the most incredible thing I had ever seen.
That was the moment my fascination with tarantulas began.
It took about 15 years, until after I moved out and got married, before I finally got my first pet spider. And even though it took a while, I eventually dove headfirst into the world of tarantulas and now have a collection of over 130 different species. As a teacher, I felt like I needed to share what I learned about tarantulas and how to care for them, which is how my website, Tom’s Big Spiders, came about. It’s a place where I can write articles about tarantula care and answer all the questions people have.
Most of the people who reach out to me for advice are already tarantula owners or are really set on getting one. But, there are also some who are unsure, trying to figure out if one of these big, hairy spiders would be a good pet for them. Now, I’m definitely a huge fan of the tarantula hobby and I love these animals as pets. However, I also know from experience that they aren’t the right pet for everyone. Just like any animal, tarantulas have their pluses and minuses, and anyone thinking about getting one should know both the good and the potentially not-so-good parts of bringing an eight-legged, furry friend home.
So, let’s get into the advantages and disadvantages of keeping a tarantula as a pet!
The Upsides of Tarantula Ownership
Minimal Space Requirements
One of the biggest advantages of having a tarantula as a pet is how little space they need compared to many other animals. Most adult tarantulas, even with a leg span of 5-6 inches, don’t need much more room than a 5- to 10-gallon tank. Many people keep their spiders on shelves, desks, dressers, or even bedside tables. This makes them perfect pets for smaller homes, apartments, bedrooms, classrooms, or offices.
Because they don’t take up much space, it’s also easy to become a collector. Many tarantula enthusiasts find themselves keeping more than one, building up collections of different species. Why would someone want more than one tarantula? Well, that brings us to the next benefit…
Incredible Variety of Species
Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (Greenbottle Blue Tarantula)
When you think of a tarantula, you probably picture a basic, big, brown, hairy spider. But, what many people don’t know is that there are over 900 different species of tarantulas, each with its own unique traits, sizes, patterns, and colors. There are terrestrial tarantulas that spend most of their time on the ground. There are fossorial species that live in burrows underground. And then there are the stunning arboreal tarantulas that live up in trees. Some species prefer dry, desert-like conditions, while others need a more humid environment to thrive.
They also come in amazing colors like blues, greens, oranges, and even purples. When I first started looking into tarantula keeping, I thought that the photos I saw of these brightly colored spiders were fake, photoshopped images. I was amazed to find out that these incredible colors were real. With all the different patterns, colors, sizes, and habitat needs, there’s a huge variety to choose from for anyone interested in the hobby.
Exceptionally Low Maintenance Pets
Most of us are used to pets that need daily feeding, regular enclosure cleaning, walks, and yearly vet visits. So, it can be a surprise to learn that tarantulas are some of the lowest maintenance pets you can get. First of all, forget about feeding them every day. Tarantulas only need to eat a meal that’s the right size for them about once a week, or even just once a month, to stay healthy. They are also very clean animals and don’t need frequent bedding or substrate changes.
If you get a spiderling, or a young tarantula, you’ll start it in a smaller enclosure and then move it to a bigger one as it grows. This is called “rehousing,” and most spiderlings will need to be rehoused a couple of times before they become young adults. Once they are in their adult homes, tarantulas can stay on the same substrate for years. You just need to spot clean, removing any leftover food (called boluses) and old exoskeletons (molts). Their waste is small and dry, often absorbed into the substrate. If any gets on the sides of the enclosure, it can easily be wiped off with a damp paper towel. Any waste on the substrate can be scooped out with a spoon. Other than that, just make sure your tarantula has a water dish with fresh water (no sponge needed, they won’t drown!), and you’re all set.
Budget-Friendly to Keep
Because they don’t need much to live comfortably, tarantulas can be one of the easiest and cheapest pets to keep. You don’t need expensive tanks or heating equipment, and many keepers successfully use enclosures that cost just a few dollars from a local store. My first spider, The Queen, lived for her first 10 years in a modified plastic storage bin that cost about $3. The truth is, a tarantula can do just as well in a simple plastic bin as in a fancy glass terrarium, giving you a lot of flexibility in how much you want to spend on its setup. A basic adult tarantula setup only needs an enclosure, some substrate (like coco fiber or topsoil), a hide (cork bark is popular), and a water dish. That’s it. They do well at room temperature (around 60s°F or higher) and don’t require special lighting, so expensive lighting systems or heat mats aren’t needed. A thrifty owner could set up a new pet tarantula for under $20.
When you consider that spiders eat insects and only need to be fed a couple of times a month, the low cost of keeping them compared to other pets is even more obvious. Feeding a tarantula crickets weekly might only cost about $0.60 a MONTH. Mealworms are another cheap option, and any you don’t use can be kept in the refrigerator for later. People with larger collections might even raise their own colonies of mealworms or roaches to have a cheap and constant supply of food for their spiders.
Even the tarantulas themselves can be quite affordable. While adult, sexed tarantulas can be pricey, baby spiders, or spiderlings, can often be bought for under $50. Finally, with tarantulas, there are no annual vet check-ups, vaccinations, or expensive medications and surgeries. Most of these amazing arachnids will grow from spiderlings to adults without any health problems. Overall, they are very healthy pets.
Creating Habitats Can Be a Fulfilling Hobby
For many tarantula keepers, a big part of the fun is creating beautiful and natural-looking enclosures for their pets. While fancy setups aren’t necessary and don’t really benefit the spider, they add another layer of enjoyment for many hobbyists. Moving beyond simple setups to more visually appealing arrangements, some keepers choose to house their spiders in high-quality glass or acrylic enclosures, adding live plants and natural elements like moss, leaf litter, and backgrounds. These setups can bring a touch of nature into a room and become a great conversation starter for visitors. For some, designing gorgeous, visually appealing homes is a core part of the hobby, much like setting up aquariums is for fish keepers.
Long Lifespans
When I bought my first tarantula, a young adult Grammostola porteri (Rose hair tarantula) in the mid-90s, I worried she wouldn’t be around for very long. I was definitely wrong. This spider, who I named The Queen, lived for another 26 YEARS in my care. Most female tarantulas can live for 10 to 30+ years, depending on the species, and many of the popular “beginner tarantulas” are slow-growing species that can easily live 20 years or more. While males have shorter lifespans, many can still live 5 years or even longer. If you’re looking for a pet that will be with you for many years, there are definitely many tarantula species to consider.
Help Overcome Arachnophobia
When I got my first tarantula back in the 90s, it was partly to help me get over a lifelong fear of spiders. It took some time, but working with tarantulas helped me completely overcome my fear of these misunderstood eight-legged creatures.
And I’m not the only one.
Over the years, I’ve talked to many keepers who were afraid of spiders when they got their first tarantula and are now no longer afraid. It might sound strange, but most people say they find the big, hairy tarantulas much less scary than the common house spiders they find around their homes. As a result, they find it easier to handle them without the same level of fear they would feel with, say, a wolf spider. For tarantula keepers, the fascination they feel watching and caring for these animals starts to replace their fear with respect and eventually admiration.
They Are Simply Fascinating
Search for “tarantula feeding videos” on YouTube, and you’ll find thousands of videos of keepers feeding their prized pets. These videos have millions of views because many people find watching spiders hunt and eat incredibly captivating. There’s something about a 6-inch arachnid doing the “tarantula happy dance,” spinning around while webbing up its prey, that really grabs people’s attention.
Feeding time is just one of the many fascinating aspects of keeping a pet tarantula. Raising a tarantula from a tiny spiderling to a strong adult is an amazing and rewarding process. Even though I’ve seen hundreds of spiders molt, I’m still amazed every time one goes through the shedding process. And for those who decide to breed their tarantulas, it’s one of the most incredible and satisfying experiences the hobby has to offer.
And sometimes, just watching them sit there and do nothing is cool too…after all, it’s a giant spider. Tarantulas are just inherently cool and fascinating animals.
The Downsides of Tarantula Ownership
Not Affectionate or Cuddly
Unfortunately, if you’re looking for a pet that will show affection, like a dog, cat, or even a rat, you won’t find that in a tarantula. While there’s still debate about how intelligent they are, and some people have seen actions that make them wonder if tarantulas can “learn,” they are simply not wired to be affectionate. Just like you wouldn’t cuddle with your pet fish, most keepers agree that spiders should be treated with the same respect and distance.
Although some people who handle their tarantulas report that their spiders seem to get used to it, there’s no proof that they enjoy or benefit from being handled. Also, a tarantula’s temperament can change after each molt, so a usually calm spider might become skittish and defensive after molting. If you want a pet to cuddle with on the couch, a tarantula is not the right choice.
Legal Restrictions in Some Areas
While it’s not common, some towns, states, and even countries have rules against keeping tarantulas. Sometimes it’s only certain species, and other times it might be any venomous arachnid. Make sure to check your local laws before getting one.
Venomous and Can Bite or Flick Hairs
Even though tarantulas can be great pets, it’s important to remember that they are exotic animals that haven’t been domesticated. If they feel threatened and need to defend themselves, they all have fangs and venom. Also, all the tarantula species considered good for beginners are New World spiders from North and South America and surrounding islands. These spiders have mild venom, and a bite from one is usually compared to a bee sting. However, New World tarantulas have another defense: urticating hairs. These are irritating, barbed hairs on their abdomens that they can kick off in a cloud if they feel threatened. These hairs can get into your skin, causing burning, itching, and discomfort. Anyone who treats their tarantula with respect and caution should easily avoid getting bitten or haired. However, anyone keeping these creatures should be aware of the potential risks.
Feeding Insects Can Be Unpleasant
Believe it or not, for some tarantula keepers, the biggest problem isn’t the spider itself, but the insects they have to feed them. People who are squeamish around creepy crawlies might find that they really dislike crickets, roaches, or mealworms. I’ve talked to many keepers over the years who dreaded feeding time because they didn’t like dealing with the feeder insects. Others struggle with the actual feeding process because they feel sorry for the bugs and don’t like feeding live prey.
Negative Reactions from Others
Recently, my wife, who is also very involved in the tarantula hobby, posted pictures of some tarantula molts on her Facebook page. After she explained that we keep tarantulas as pets, one of her “friends” actually bragged about how many tarantulas she had killed. Sadly, people who keep spiders are used to hearing comments like, “I would smash it,” “Kill it,” and “Burn that thing” when they try to show off their pets. Some people have even told me they wouldn’t visit my home because they know I keep spiders.
The truth is, arachnophobia is one of the most common phobias in the world, and fear often leads to disgust. Instead of respecting these creatures and understanding that they are actually beneficial, many people hate them. If you want to share your love of tarantulas with friends, you might be met with a very negative reaction. Even worse, people living with roommates or family members might face resistance when asking to bring a pet spider into the home. Personally, I was absolutely forbidden from keeping any tarantulas when I lived at home because my mother was arachnophobic. Others have also been turned down by roommates and partners. If you live with others, it’s important to address any potential issues early on.
Can Attract Irresponsible Keepers
In my years of working with tarantula keepers, I’ve seen that they come from all walks of life. I’ve met teachers, doctors, lawyers, veterinarians, and even grandmothers who keep these animals. The stereotype of tarantula keepers being heavily tattooed social outcasts who play with their spiders in the dark while listening to death metal is just not true.
However, there are some people who are drawn to keeping tarantulas because they are seen as “scary” and “dangerous,” and they only get them to show off their “bravery” and recklessness. A quick search on YouTube will find many sensational videos from keepers promoting their “aggressive” and “deadly” spiders to get views. Many of these keepers practice poor husbandry, like keeping adult tarantulas in tiny cages without enough substrate, just to provoke “aggressive” behavior when they interact with them. Others post photos and videos of themselves being reckless with their animals on social media, teasing them, handling highly venomous species, or even putting spiders on their faces. People like this are bad for the hobby because they put themselves and their animals at risk while reinforcing the idea that spiders are dangerous and to be feared. Tarantulas are not domesticated animals or toys, and they deserve keepers who will treat them with respect and present them responsibly to the public.
The Hobby Can Be Highly Addictive
Maybe this should be seen as more of a warning than a downside, but it needs to be mentioned. Whenever I talk to someone who is getting their first tarantula, I always end the conversation with, “Be careful: they are addictive!” Most people just laugh it off at first, but then contact me months later when they have dozens of these critters. It’s true that most people who get a tarantula as a pet end up with more than one. It took me years of keeping my Rose hair tarantula before I really got “bitten” by the hobby. Now I have a collection of over 200 spiders. I’m an extreme example, but collections of 30 or more are not uncommon. If you’re someone who enjoys collecting things, you have been warned…
So, Is a Tarantula the Right Pet for You?
For anyone looking for an unusual and truly fascinating pet, a tarantula can be an amazing choice. Beautiful, hardy, and endlessly interesting, these incredible animals are much more than the eight-legged terrors they are made out to be in movies and TV. If you treat them with respect and care, they can be wonderful pets that bring years of joy to their keepers.
If you’re thinking about getting a tarantula as a pet, doing good research is ESSENTIAL. I created this website with beginner keepers in mind, and the information is current and based on my personal experience. Also, consider joining tarantula forums or Facebook groups to talk to other people who keep these amazing animals.
Tom Moran – Tom’s Big Spiders
