|
Online pet magazine.
Almost everything you need to know about pet care.
Insects - Your First Spider
Spiders can be fascinating to watch. They are extremely quiet, clean pets that do not need much room to live. Spiders require little attention or interaction.
Before deciding on a spider as a pet, examine your particular reasons for wanting to keep a spider as a pet. This could be a very long term relationship; some tarantulas can live up to 30 years! Boys - If you are not in a relationship now - with a house full of spiders you might never be! If you are just looking for a pet to shock or impress your friends, then we suggest you think again. While insects and spiders are unique and not very demanding with their needs, they need the same level of commitment from you to give them care as much as any other pet. Many owners get spiders on impulse and once the novelty wears off they soon tire of caring for them.
Some of the things that you need to consider before buying your first Spider are the basics on housing, diet and care needed for the species you are considering. While many spiders are inexpensive to buy, providing the right housing and environment can be tricky for some tropical and desert species, especially with regard to the more exotic tarantulas. Generally you are aiming to mimic their natural environment as near as is possible. Consider what the feeding requirements are and decide if you can manage to provide the proper diet. For example, tarantulas need prey insects. Will you be able to obtain a regular supply and be comfortable feeding them the necessary food items?
Handling your spider can also be tricky, find out how to properly handle the spider you are thinking of owning. While this obvious for venomous spiders, it is very important for all arachnids as they can easily be injured or injure you, even a mildly venomous tarantula can inflict a great deal of pain, by improper handling.
If you are thinking of getting a tarantula, make sure you find out how best to avoid bites, or how to deal with them if it should happen, and what to do if you are exposed to their irritating hairs.
The most commonly sold tarantula species in the pet shops is the Chilean rose, Phrixotrichus cala which was formerly known as the Grammostola cala. Phrixotrichus is a ground-dwelling species, living in a burrow during the day & emerging at night for a feed.
Here is a small list of which we have been advised are the best tarantulas to purchase as a first time pet. This gives you a basic guide and any of these should make a good choice for your first large spider:
- Avicularia matallica - the pink toed tarantula,
- Brachypelma albopilosum - the curly hair tarantula,
- Brachypelma smithi - the Mexican red knee tarantula,
- Grammostola cala - the Chiliean rose haired tarantula
Always take professional advice before selecting a spider as a pet.
|
|
