Keeping a pet tarantula is certainly not for everyone, but some species will make surprisingly good pets. The most popular type is the rose-haired tarantula, also known as the Chilean rose tarantula. This is mainly because they are attractive, docile, and easier to care for than most common pets; taking care of them is very simple compared to cats or dogs, for example.

If you’ve never owned an exotic pet before, a rose-haired tarantula would be a great option. This is not only due to the aspects mentioned above, but also due to the vast amount of information available about them in books, online and elsewhere. They strike a good balance between being unusual enough to be different but being kept by enough people that they are cheap, readily available, and well-studied.

A natural concern about caring for a pet arachnid is the potential danger involved. Many people don’t realize that tarantulas are usually much less dangerous than much smaller spiders, and the Chilean rose tarantula is no exception. This species is more likely to flee from a threat than to act defensively, and rarely bites. If they do bite, the amount of venom injected is very small and not particularly potent, so it’s not serious unless you’re allergic.

As these creatures hail from the deserts and scrublands of South America (Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina to be specific), they must be kept in a warm environment and can be kept in relatively low humidity. Satisfying these requirements is straightforward: a basic heat mat can control temperature simply and effectively, and allowing the water dish to overflow a couple of times a week should provide enough humidity.

Rose-haired tarantulas do not take up much space and can easily fit into all but the smallest apartments. A 10 gallon terrarium should definitely be big enough, and they are often kept in smaller tanks as well. Many rose hairs use burrows in the wild so a simple little shelter should be provided to keep your pet happy, even a coconut shell or flower pot will work just fine.

The normal diet for a pet Rose Hair consists of gutted crickets, two or three of which should be given to an adult tarantula each week. They do not have regular feeding times, and may even be fed only once a fortnight and then left alone, as they will naturally gorge themselves when they get the chance in case a famine is brewing.

The decision to purchase a Chilean rose tarantula should not be taken lightly, as some will live twenty years or more, but rest assured, they are easy to care for and highly unlikely to cause you any problems. They also make a brilliant conversation piece and are the perfect arachnid for your first exotic pet.