�When choosing a tarantula, you should prod it with a pair of tweezers and see whether it reacts by running away or throwing urticating hairs(a defense mechanism).��
Species
There are many species of tarantula available. �They will be covered here.
These are from Costa Rican and Nicaraguan rainforests.��They are beautiful, being black with white or dark brown with pale stripes on their knees(hence their other common name, Stripe-knee tarantula). �This is my favourite and what I recommend for anyone, from beginners to experts. �It is hardy and forgiving of beginner mistakes, yet is very interesting to watch.��They construct very shallow burrows(usually 4 inches deep)and wait at the entrance in the day, and wander around at night. �These are the most voracious eaters of all tarantulas.��They are the most gentle of all tarantulas(at least, that's what the dealer told me and in my experience).��They can however move fast if startled.
These are becoming difficult to obtain.��I was lucky to have a friend who was tired of his(it no longer scared his friends)and it is a beautiful four-inch adult female now in my collection.��They are black, have a red cephalothorax with a black triangle and two segments of the legs are red, hence the name.��Care is as for the Zebra, and they are just as docile, but are much slower. �They will however defend themselves by throwing urticating hairs if threatened.��They do not eat as much as Zebras.��They burrow and wait at the entrance for food, just like Zebras.
They are large brown tarantulas with curly pink and orange hairs. �The care is similar to the red-leg. �They are now very hard to obtain.
Largest of all the tarantulas covered here.��They are black with a bright red abdomen.��They are docile but move very fast when startled, and also throw urticating hairs.��This and the curly-hair have the same habits as the red-leg, but are much more voracious eaters.��They are very hard to get.
These and their close cousins the Fire tarantulas are often sold to beginners.��They are slow but throw hairs a lot and are not very docile.��If you handle them in the wrong manner they just plunge their fangs in. �Their bite is also very bad for a tarantula.��They have comparitively poor appetites.��The Rose will burrow while the Fire will spin web or find a shelter.
American tarantulas
This term applies to a wide variety.��They are seldom available but you can catch some if you live in the same area as them.��Care is the same as the Zebra.��
Tucson Blonde
This is a very beautiful tarantula. ��It is brown with yellow hairy legs.��Care as for the Zebra.
These are beautiful tarantulas that are as unpredictable as Chilean Rose tarantulas. They are black with long legs and red markings and a gray and orange striped abdomen. They are among the fastest of all tarantulas. Keep like pink-toes. They need more moisture and heavy feeding.
A very beautiful tarantula. It has a black abdomen, a red cephalothorax and blood-red legs. Care similar to Red-leg.
A large beautiful and rather skittish tarantula. They will not hesitate to throw urticating hairs. They are more difficult to keep, require a lot of moisture, good ventilation and heavy feeding.
The classic, a large, beutiful and docile tarantula that grows to six inches and is very very docile and slow. It will, however, readily throw hairs. It does not need much moisture but will eat a lot.
A small black tarantula that does not differ much in habits and keeping from the Zebra.
A very small tarantula that is as docile, if not more than, the Zebra and Red-leg. It is a smooth velvety tarantula marked with emerald green, sapphire blue and bright orange. Keep like the Pink-toe, except that this is more terrestial.
This is a large, very skittish tarantula from Ecuador. Care similar to Colombian Red-leg.
Cameroon Red Baboon Tarantula
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DO�NOT keep these!��I bought one as my first tarantula, without finding out more.��It attacked anything it got the chance to.
Do not keep Baboon Tarantulas, Asian tarantulas or Bird-eaters because they are dangerous.��That is why I have not covered them here.
Go to Tarantula Care Guide Page