Tarantulas
I have been keeping tarantulas since 1994, currently my collection is around 6 spiders. At one time I had 25, all of different species. Tarantulas make great pets as long as you have the right attitude. They are not active, or interactive. Tarantulas are best viewed like tropical fish, interesting to watch but not to touch. Click here for information on tarantula care and housing.
Most people have an adverse reaction when they hear you keep tarantulas. Some common misconceptions are that all tarantulas are mean and go out of their way to attack you, and that their venom is deadly. In reality most tarantulas (except for a few select species) will do anything to avoid people and only bite as a last resort. The majority of tarantulas have venom similar to a bee sting, causing minor swelling and discomfort. The major danger from a tarantula bite is an allergic or anaphalactic reaction to the venom, which can occur.
Species Kept
Click bold names for individual care sheets.
- Giant White Knee (Acanthoscurria geniculata)
- Arizona Blond (Aphonopelma chalcodes)
- Texas Tan (Aphonopelma texensis)
- Pinktoe (Aviculara aviculara)
- Peruvian Pinktoe (Avicularia urticans)
- Antilles Pinktoe (Aviculara versicolor)
- Curly Hair (Brachypelma albopilosum)
- Mexican Blood Leg (Brachypelma boehmei)
- Mexican Red Knee (Brachypelma smithi)
- King Baboon (Citharischius crawshayi)
- Rhino Horned Baboon (Ceratogyrus brachycephalus)
- Greenbottle Blue (Chromatopelma cyanopubescans)
- Brazilian Grey Smoke (Grammostola alticeps)
- Chilean Rose (Grammostola rosea)
- Ornamental Baboon (Heteroscroda maculata)
- Cameroon Rusty Baboon (Hysterocrates gigas)
- Goliath Stripe Leg (Lasiodorides striatus)
- Bolivian Steely Blue (Pamphobeteus antinous)
- Indian Ornamental (Poecilotheria regalis)
- Mombasa Golden Starburst (Pterinochilus murinus)
- Goliath Bird Eater (Theraphosa blondi)