My Tarantula Adventure (Halloween Special)

Once upon a time, I was a tarantula freak. I had this strange hobby of collecting tarantulas back in the days to ease the stress at work, not that I was planning to throw them at my co-workers. I'm not that evil yet. I believe this story would be timely as I know most of you out there are scared of these big hairy spiders. I am here to clear their name of the bad reputation we have given them, so I hope this post would make you appreciate them, if not cuddle, and admire their unique beauty and characteristics.

Most of the tarantula species today are endangered - thanks to humans. Don't worry, I didn't really go out of my way to hunt them in the Amazon or in Central America. These are all captive-bred. These tarantulas are used to this type of environment so they don't really need to be in a big space. They just spend most of their lives like a hermit. They don't need anyone else.

In the Tarantula world, we call them by their scientific names. Above is my big baby Brachypelma Albopilosum also known as Curly Hair. Nothing is cuter than a curly hair spidy, such a fatty isn't she? To the left was when I got her, she was still this itsy bitsy spidy cutey baby. This is a beginner's tarantula, which means - not so dangerous for you. Probably a bite will just make your skin swell and the doctor might have to cut your hand, but that's about it - no drama. You won't really die so it's safer to have this pet. Just don't provoke her. She's unique, silent - complete.

If you are planning to have them as pets, remember the types of tarantulas. My Albo above is a Burrower type, which means they just like to live in an abandoned burrow, in the crevices of rocks or under a log. These are usually for beginners as they are easier to take care and are usually calmer. If you are more experienced, then you can consider having the Arboreal tarantulas. These tarantulas make their homes in silk or tube webbing which they build in trees of elevated places. You need a taller enclosure that looks like a small tree. They are jumpy so watch out handling those cheeky Ts.

I spent my time studying and loving them that they had become an important part of my life - freaky I know. They are interesting and beautiful. They are pretty much low-maintenance, they just need to be fed every three days or every week. Never make the mistake of overfeeding them just like what you do with your cats. You just need to change the enclosure as they get bigger. You cannot just put it in a big terrarium unless you want to torture them. Baby tarantulas don't need a big space yet as they will get confused. Moving them to a new enclosure can be such a pain because you want to make sure you won't get bitten.

Here's my Brachypelma Smithi also known as the Mexican Red Knee tarantula, this is what you usually see in the horror movies. Remember that velvety black and orange tarantula, yes that's it. Beautiful isn't it? This is a very cheeky one. I remember when she escaped while I was transferring her to a new enclosure. I panicked for her life. I didn't want to wake up and crush her, so I had to find her. It's a dangerous world out there for her.

Before I traveled, I sold my kids for food, so I never got the chance to see my Smithi as an adult. But if you are wondering what she would be like, then here it is:

It is not really advisable to handle them and I don't really think tarantulas like being handled anyway. They usually like to be left alone. But there are many tarantula enthusiasts who take pleasure in handling them because it's an adrenaline rush. Some tarantulas don't react to it - if you are very very careful.

This is my Lasiodora Parahybana also known as the Brazilian Salmon Pink Bird-Eating Tarantula. It's up to you to check what it looks like when it's big, because it's really scary. Really skittish this one and I can imagine when it's already an adult. It is nice to take care a tarantula when it's still a baby because you get to see how amazing they are as they molt their exoskeletons. They grow bigger, more beautiful and more expensive too.

They can eat crickets or the Madagascar hissing roaches. I found out that I don't get along with cockroaches and my goal is to eliminate them in this world, not breed them (I'm pretty biased). The crickets are very jumpy and I ended up crawling on the floor to put them back into the jar - pain in the back. The last option would be superworms! Superworms are disgusting too but at least they are neat. I can just put them in a small candy jar and drop some breadcrumbs there and that's it. So I got to take care both tarantulas and superworms at the same time. It's interesting to feed tarantulas with live worms as you'll see how ferocious and fast they are. Make sure your hand is out of the way during the feeding process though.

This is my dream tarantula, the Chromatopelma Cyaneopubescens also known as the Green Bottle Blue. I can't imagine there's a blue tarantula, which is fascinating and so beautiful for me. There are more colorful species of tarantulas out there, more dangerous and more expensive.

In real life, I could just go on and on and talk about tarantulas until you get bored. They are great pets and they don't like that much attention. So if you are busy and you don't have time for other pets, I think you should give tarantulas a chance. It might also shoo your friends away which is good if you don't want them to come to your house all the time.

I really hope that this article will change the way you see these so-called freaky creatures - I don't expect it overnight. I don't have them anymore because I have a cat now, and I don't trust them to all get along. Someday, I would probably take care tarantulas again because they are beautiful and amazing, and they too deserve some love in this world, after all, they are only tarantulas!