Does a tarantula make a good pet?
Tarantulas can make wonderful pets. They are low maintenance, not messy, fascinating, and, most of all, different. What you need to keeping a tarantula varies with the species. Some, like pink-toes, are climbers that won’t spend much time at the bottom of the cage. Others, like cobalt blues, are burrowers and like to dig deep into the soil. Bites can be a problem. Venom potency also depends on the species. However, old world tarantulas (from Africa, Asia, or Australia) tend to be faster, more likely to bite, and have potent venom when compared to new world tarantulas (from the Americas). However, new world tarantulas use these specialized hairs on their abdomen to defend themselves. The hairs also vary from species to species in intensity, but some can cause intense itching for days and are described to feel like powdered fiberglass. If they get into sensitive mucous membranes like the nostrils or throat, they can cause serious problems. In general, tarantulas don’t like to be held and
