The best pet tarantulas are docile, easy to care for, and cool looking! If you’ve always wanted a pet spider but are a beginner, there is no doubt you’ve done some research on tarantulas. Tarantulas are the best pet spider for all beginner enthusiasts due to their docile nature.
However, not all tarantulas are good for beginners. There are many different types of species to check out with all kinds of unique looks and quirks.
Some are hardier than others and won’t require as much care or have specific needs. Generally, easy-to-care-for tarantulas are the best for beginners.
Here are some of the best beginner tarantulas:
Table of Contents
10 Of The Best Tarantulas
1. Rose Haired Tarantula
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Grammostola rosea, G. spatulata, G. cala
- Other Names: Chilean Red-haired Tarantula, Chilean fire tarantula, Chilean rose hair tarantula, Rose hair tarantula
- Adult Size: 3 inches
- Lifespan: 20 years
- Average Price Range: $20 to $100 per spider
- Where to buy: undergroundreptiles.com, mymonsters.co.ca, Joshsfrogs.com
The Rose-haired Tarantula is very docile and will first flee in defense before anything else. They also happen to be quite low-maintenance and inexpensive, which is why they are such a popular option for first-time pet tarantulas.
While they are docile and will usually not bite humans, they can become defensive or aggressive if they are handled too frequently or if their enclosure environment isn’t right.
Rose Hair Tarantulas are stocky, small spiders with dark brown or grey to black bodies and a pinkish coat of hair covering them. This pink may also be reddish or copper in color, depending on the spider. On their faces, you can see eight little beady eyes.
These tarantulas come from the shrubs and deserts of Argentina, Bolivia, and of course, northern Chile. This is why they are also known as the Chilean Red-haired or sometimes Fire Tarantula as well.
While it is believed that they like to wander their natural habitats, they have actually shown habits of burrowing. Although, they may not show their burrowing habits when in captivity.
Rose-haired tarantulas enjoy eating live crickets, but will usually feed only once or twice weekly when they are adults. Younger tarantulas tend to need to be fed more often.
2. Arizona Blonde Tarantula
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Aphonopelma chalcodes
- Other Names: Western desert tarantula, Mexican blond tarantula
- Adult Size: 3 to 4 inches
- Lifespan: 24 years
- Average Price Range: $30 to $200 per spider
- Where to buy: undergroundreptiles.com, lllreptile.com, reptilesncrittlers.com
Arizona Blondes are typically calm, but can also be quite skittish, unpredictable, reclusive, and may be quickly defensive.
These hardy, docile, nocturnal spiders are easy to care for, which is what makes them quite popular as first-time pet tarantulas.
As their name suggests, they are known for the blonde hairs that sprout all over throughout their body along with some brown and black hairs as well. Their bodies are typically mostly tan to brown sometimes with a little black or white, depending on the spider.
In the wild, they like dry, open areas of Arizona and Mexico where they burrow up to 12 inches into the desert ground. They will line these burrows with silk webbing to give them a roof as well.
While they like dry climates, they can definitely tolerate humidity since their natural habitats will typically experience two rainy seasons in the summer and winter times.
Arizona Blonde tarantulas are nocturnal hunters that feed primarily on insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, smaller spiders, and arthropods. In some cases, they will also eat smaller lizards or anything else moving in range and that is small enough for them to get their mouth around.
3. Pink Toe Tarantula
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Avicularia avicularia
- Other Names: Pinktoe Tarantula
- Adult Size: 3 to 5 inches
- Lifespan: 10 years
- Average Price Range: $20 to $40 per spider
- Where to buy: undergroundreptiles.com, backwaterreptiles.com
Pink Toe Tarantulas are laid-back and will spend most of their time quietly chilling in their terrarium. They are docile, active, and skittish all at once.
Although they don’t move much, they may be startled while you are handling them and their first reaction is to jump out of your hands. This is why it is recommended that you handle them while sitting on the ground.
You can identify these spiders by their hard-shelled, black bodies with a bit of a green illumination on their upper half. They also have a distinctive pink-orange coloring at the end of their legs, making it look like they have pink toes which is how they got their name.
Pink-toed tarantulas are native to northern South American rainforests. They can be found in northern Brazil, Guyana, French Guiana, Venezuela, and Suriname.
They will usually sit on trees or plants during the day and spend the nights hunting for prey.
These tarantulas are aggressive hunters and will mostly feed on insects such as wax moths, grasshoppers, roaches, and crickets. Sometimes they will eat small tree frogs or lizards as well.
They like more active prey; the harder to catch, the more fun the chase. They can throw their hairs from their body as a defense mechanism or warning before they try to bite.
4. Mexican Red-knee Tarantula
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Brachypelma hamorii
- Adult Size: 7 to 8 inches
- Lifespan: 30 years
- Average Price Range: $40 to $300 per spider
- Where to buy: backwaterreptiles.com, undergroundreptiles.com, exoticpetsnmore.net, microwilderness.com, bigappleherp.com
Mexican Red-knees are one of the calmest tarantulas you could ever come across. This docile and slow-moving tarantula can be handled regularly without causing it any unnecessary stress.
These tarantulas do not require much space or care and they have a long lifespan, which just adds to the list of why they are great for first-time keepers and enthusiasts. They are popular because of these things along with their unique look.
They have a black, hairy body with patches of orange or reddish-orange on their “knees” or the joints in their legs, thus giving them their name.
Mexican Red-knees come from tropical deciduous forests in Mexico, of course; it says so right in their name. This means keeping one would require consistent temperature and humidity maintenance.
These tarantulas burrow in nature and will need either a horizontal cork bark slab on a substrate that is 2 to 3 inches deep at least. If you decide to go with a deeper substrate to allow natural burrowing, just ensure that any other accessories in the tank won’t disturb them.
Mexican Red-knees feed on live crickets, locusts, and cockroaches. You may want to think about raising a colony beside your spider to always keep fresh food around for it.
5. Curlyhair Tarantula
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Tliltocatl albopilosus, (formerly Brachypelma albopilosum)
- Other Names: Curlyhair tarantula, Wooly Tarantula, Black curly-hair tarantula, Birdeater curly haired tarantula spider
- Adult Size: 3 to 6 inches
- Lifespan: Males: 9 to 10 years; Females: up to 20 years
- Average Price Range: $20 to $50 per spider
- Where to buy: backwaterreptiles.com, undergroundreptiles.com
Curlyhair tarantulas are easy to care for and do quite well with handling. They generally docile and quite calm towards humans as long as you are handling them gently.
They’re known to be the best tarantulas to handle due to their relaxed nature and typically non-defensive behavior.
They have round bodies with distinctive bristles of hair on them that come out to a slight curl, which is how they got their name. These hairs can range from dark browns to blacks, but they may also be golden, which can give them a bronze-looking finish.
They are native to Central America where they live in burrows on the ground.
In the wild, they feast on insects and small vertebrates. In an enclosure, you can feed them live insects such as crickets and roaches. They can also have the very occasional treat of a single pinky mouse.
6. Chaco Golden Knee Tarantula
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Grammostola pulchripes
- Other Names: Formerly known as the Grammostola aureostriata
- Adult Size: 7 to 8 inches
- Lifespan: Males: 6 to 7 years; Females: 20 to 25 years
- Average Price Range: $30 to $60 per spider
- Where to buy: backwaterreptiles.com, microwilderness.com, joshsfrogs.com, pinchersandpokies.com
Chaco Golden Knee Tarantulas are another great choice for beginners due to its laid-back, gentle temperament, making it easy to handle. Owners should be aware of their male’s temperament as they are reaching maturity, as they can gain slight aggression during this time.
The Chaco Golden Knee tarantula has a striking appearance and is large in size, making it an attractive option for first-time tarantula enthusiasts.
They usually have light-colored, long hairs along their dark bodies with distinctive golden-striped “knees” or golden bands along their leg joints.
These tarantulas can be found in Argentina and Paraguay. They particularly like to live in the grasslands of these areas, where they are ground-dwellers that will occasionally burrow.
They mostly feed on smaller invertebrates like arthropods in the wild. In captivity, you can feed them grasshoppers, roaches, and crickets.
7. Brazilian Black Tarantula
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Grammostola pulchra
- Adult Size: 6 to 7 inches
- Lifespan: About 20 years
- Average Price Range: $70 to $150 per spider
- Where to buy: backwaterreptiles.com, lllreptile.com, microwilderness.com
Brazilian Black tarantulas are active, docile spiders that are an awesome choice for beginners. They are fairly tolerant to handling and will usually not bite.
They are slightly venomous, but due to their docile nature, they will rarely bite and only if truly provoked. Their bite can be compared to that of a bee’s sting, but even milder.
These tarantulas come from the grasslands of Brazil and Uruguay. To mimic that of their natural habitat in captivity, they will require a more arid environment with good ventilation.
Brazilian Black tarantulas are glossy black all over with a round body and all their eyes in a cluster on their head.
In the wild, they feed on various invertebrates, including insects, and sometimes smaller mammals, reptiles, and spiders, too. In captivity, adult Brazilian Black tarantulas eat crickets and various species of roaches whereas spiderlings can feed on crickets and other small insects.
8. Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula
- Experience Level: Intermediate
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Aphonopelma seemanni
- Other Names: Striped-knee tarantula, Zebra Tarantulas
- Adult Size: 5 to 6 inches
- Lifespan: Males: up to 5 years; Females: Up to 18 years
- Average Price Range: $20 to $100 per spider
- Where to buy: joshsfrogs.com, microwilderness.com, undergroundreptiles.com
The Costa Rican Zebra Tarantula is easy to care for and is quite adaptable to many different types of living conditions. However, they can be quite skittish, which doesn’t make them completely beginner-friendly and may require a more intermediate handler.
While they are docile, they are very active and very fast, especially when they are startled. If they escape, they are tough to catch and hard to contain.
This spider may take some daily effort and very gentle handling in order to tame. Even so, they may only be moderately tamed.
They are on this list because they are adored by hobbyists and actually quite easy to care for if you are patient.
They have a striking black body with red hairs, white stripes on their knees or leg joints, and orange-colored spinnerets. They are beautiful and entertaining to look at.
This carnivorous spider will only consume its prey live. They feed mostly on cockroaches, crickets, grasshoppers, smaller beetles, pinkie mice, small lizards, and whatever else they might catch.
9. Cobalt Blue Tarantula
- Experience Level: Intermediate
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Haplopelma lividum
- Other Names: Formerly known as Haplopelma lividum
- Adult Size: Around 5 inches
- Lifespan: Males: 10 to 20 years; Females: 20 to 25 years
- Average Price Range: $50 to $100 per spider
- Where to buy: www.reptilesncritters.com, www.backwaterreptiles.com, www.lllreptile.com
The tarantula on every hobbyists list is the Cobalt Blue.
Known for its luminous electric blue coloration, this spider is native to Myanmar and can also be found on the boarders of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and sometimes Singapore.
These guys have a rapid growth rate, molting twice a year.
Female Cobalt Blues live an average lifespan of 20 to 25 years, whereas their male counterparts will be lucky if they make it to 20, as some may die after 10 years of life.
These spiders are swift-moving and can be quite defensive, making them unsuitable for beginner tarantula keepers. Due to their skittish and somewhat aggressive behavior, they are usually kept as display pets and will not enjoy being handled.
Not only can they not be handled, but they are also shy and will rarely ever leave their lair unless they are hungry.
These burrowing, swift-moving spiders will only leave their home to catch their prey at the edge of their burrows where they will use their venom to poison the unlucky prey, drag them back into their den, and eat it alive.
In the wild, they will eat insects, amphibians, mice, and even other spiders. Although handling is not recommended, intermediate tarantula keepers enjoy adding these guys to their collection as they are interesting to watch and aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
10. Greenbottle Blue Tarantula
- Experience Level: Beginner
- Family: Theraphosidae
- Scientific Name: Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens
- Adult Size: 4.5 to 6 inches
- Lifespan: Males: around 4 years; Females: 12 to 14 years
- Average Price Range: $40 to $80 per spider
- Where to buy: www.joshsfrogs.com, www.backwaterreptiles.com, www.myhomenature.com
The Greenbottle Blue are medium-sized tarantulas with a beautiful look that makes them popular in the keeper community.
Their vibrant colors can range from darker greens to brighter greens with metallic blue illumination. You might see some with more orange coloration as well, depending on the spider.
Green Bottle Blues are native to the Paraguaná Peninsula, near Punto Fijo of Venezuela. They can be found in burrows under bushes or tree roots and other local foliage in northern Venezuelan deserts.
Their intricate funnel-like webbing allows them to shelter themselves from the harsh, dry climates of the desert and can double as an insect-catching net.
It is said that keeping them in captivity can be a little difficult since they come from an arid climate with temperatures of anywhere from 73 to 96 degrees Fahrenheit and practically no rainfall throughout the year.
From their burrows, these tarantulas typically feed on insects, bug hatchlings, scorpions, worms, and mice. They will essentially eat anything that they can grab.
While they are beginner-friendly and rarely show aggression, they can sometimes be a little bit easily startled. They don’t usually have the tendency to bite and would probably show signs of discomfort first.
They are easily scared and will be skittish, causing them to move faster, which can sometimes result in self-injury.
They also don’t like when anyone or anything invades their turf, so keep an eye on their reaction, even while you’re not handling them.
Overall, they are still an interesting pet to keep and watch. Taking care of them may require more specific environments, so you must keep an eye on your temperatures and humidity levels always.
Pet Tarantula FAQ
Are tarantulas good pets?
In all honesty, it really depends on the person. Tarantulas are not the cutest most cuddly pets so if you are looking for something that will like to be handled, you might not want to get a tarantula.
While some tarantulas can become accustomed to handling, most of them usually do not enjoy it. A lot of spiders are skittish and fast-moving.
If you like how they look and are actually committed to giving them their best like, while also being able to properly care for them, then, yes, tarantulas can be a great pet.
Owners must be prepared to do the research needed to care for their specific species of tarantula, as not all will have the same needs.
All in all, it really depends on the person who wants to keep the tarantula. If you are a person who likes to watch and study your pets with very minimal handling, a tarantula might be a great option for you.
How long do tarantulas live in captivity?
If a tarantula is given proper husbandry in a healthy environment, they can actually live longer in captivity than they do in the wild by many years!
It is proven that captive tarantulas will live longer without the threat of predators and the comfort of a perfect environment. Of course, it is also important that you, as their keeper, make sure you are giving them the environment, nutrition, and safety they need.
How much is a pet tarantula?
Prices for a tarantula will really vary depending on the size, age, sex, and species of tarantula you are trying to purchase.
You could pay anywhere from as low as $25 up to as high as a few hundred and even more if you hope to purchase something more rare or harder to find.
What do pet tarantulas eat?
Tarantulas are carnivores that will typically feed on insects like crickets, dubia roaches, various types of worms, and even vertebrates such as pinky mice.
Do pet tarantulas bite?
All tarantulas can bite and have a mild venom, although it has never been known to kill anyone.
Whether or not they will bite you will depend on the species of tarantula they are and how docile that species is known to be. They may also bite if you provoke them.
New world tarantulas will have urticating hairs that they will try to throw on you that can irritate your skin. If they act in this way, it is a sign to back off because they are feeling attacked.
Old World tarantulas will flee or bite in defense and are usually quick to do so. Most of the time, spiders will flee or throw hairs first, but if you don’t leave them alone, they may bite as a last result so do not bother your tarantula if they are acting out with these defensive methods or do not want to be bothered.
Conclusion
If you’re a first-timer searching for the perfect pet spider, you’ve come to the right place. We hope this list helped you at least narrow down your options and choices and that you learned something valuable.
Check out this video called “Top 10 Beginner Tarantulas You Are Overlooking”, which names some interesting beginner-friendly tarantulas, a lot of which we didn’t overlook in this article.
Good luck with your first pet spider and welcome to the world of tarantula enthusiasts and hobbyists!
If you have any questions, you can leave a comment below or even just let us know which spider you want the most.
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