Pet Tarantulas Myths Revealed

Grammostola rosea male (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Exotic pet care is all about knowing your pet well .Tarantulas are not dangerous creatures. In fact, they are very good pets. They do not take up a lot of space, they are not high maintenance and do not create a lot of noise.Pet tarantulas do have a venomous bite – but their venom is much like the venom of bees. It just causes some irritation and pain in the area which has been stung. Movies like Spiderman have led to the rise of a number of myths regarding pet tarantulas. Tarantulas are fairly harmless creatures and only attack when provoked.

More than eight hundred different species of tarantulas exist in our world. Out of these only a handful are kept as pets. Below is a list of the most popular tarantula species which are considered to be exotic pets:

1) The Chilean rose: This species of tarantula is originally from Chile. The scientific name of this tarantula is grammostola rosea. This tarantula is also known as the Chilean flame tarantula or simply as the Chilean fire. This species is the most common species of tarantulas. These tarantulas are very calm and can be tamed easily. They are not expensive to buy and maintain. They generally feed on insects – crickets are their most common food. These tarantulas prefer temperatures 20 to 30 degrees Celsius. They can grow up to 12 -13 cm in width. The females live longer than the males and the typical lifespan of a female is more than fifteen years.

2) Desert blonde: this species of spiders is native to Mexico. It is also known as the Mexican blonde tarantula. Understanding pet psychology is an obligatory part of exotic pet care. This species is a bit more aggressive than the Chilean Rose. It has a width of about 15 cm and females can live for more than two decades. They too feed on crickets. Larger spiders may be fed with a small rodent. The scientific name for this species of tarantulas is aphonopelma chalcodes. These spiders prefer temperatures ranging from 24 to 27 degrees C.

3) The Mexican red knee: This tarantula is also native to Mexico. It is among the most beautiful species of tarantulas. The scientific name of this species of tarantulas is brachipelma smithi. This tarantula lives for almost 30 years. It is a very popular pet because of its aesthetic appeal and calm temperament. The ideal temperature for this species of tarantulas is about 24 to 29 degrees C. As with all other tarantula species, the males have a much shorter lifespan than the females.

Other species like the Mexican red leg (brachipelma Emilia) and Costa Rican Zebra (aphonopelma seemani) are also popular as exotic pets. Always remember that tarantulas must be fed with insects which are 100 % free of pesticides and insecticides. This is a crucial component of exotic pet care.

Exotic pet care deals with understanding the peculiarities of your pet. Remember that pet tarantulas undergo a condition which is known as moulting. Moulting is associated with a tarantula lying on its back. Many owners think that the tarantula is dead during this period although this is not the case. When a tarantula undergoes moulting, it actually sheds its skin. The new exterior of the tarantula is delicate and the takes a few days to harden. Tarantulas must not be fed or handled during this time.