Tarantulas are a popular pet spider that has more than 800 species varying in color, size, and characteristics. They often tend to have docile personalities and are slow movers. The best beginner tarantulas are ground dwellers or burrowers. With proper care, many of these animals can live around 10 years or more in captivity. Here are 10 tarantula species that can make fascinating pets.

Tip

Tarantulas can bite, and their bites are venomous. But for most species, the toxicity is similar to that of a bee sting. However, like a bee sting, some people might experience serious allergic reactions to a tarantula bite.

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  • Mexican Red-Knee
  • Science Photo Library/Getty Images
  • The Mexican red-knee is often the first pet for spider enthusiasts. The females can live around 20 to 30 years while the males only live for about 10 years. A 5- to 10-gallon tank is suitable for these tarantulas. And as they’re quite docile, they typically are easy to handle.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 5 inchesWeight: 0.5 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Red-orange knees; black body with brown hairs
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  • Chilean Rose
  • Danita Delimont/Getty Images
  • Also known as the Chilean fire tarantula, this spider is popular for beginner arachnid enthusiasts. The females can live up to 20 years while the males only live around 5 years. A typical burrowing spider, the Chilean rose requires a warm, humid environment and is known to be quite calm.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 4 to 5 inchesWeight: 0.5 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Primarily black to brown; rose-colored hair on upper body
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  • Costa Rican Zebra
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  • Costa Rican zebras are calm, ground-dwelling tarantulas that can move very fast. They aren’t ideal for those who wish to handle their pet spiders. The females can live up to 20 years, with the males at around 5 years. A warm, humid, 5- to 10-gallon tank works for this spider.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 4 to 5 inchesWeight: 0.5 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Black body; deep red hairs; white stripes on legs; orange spinnerets
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  • Mexican Redleg
  • Michael D. Kern/Getty Images
  • Female Mexican redlegs can live up to 30 years while the males live around 5 years. These ground-dwelling spiders are typically docile but are easily startled. The recommended temperature range for this species is 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 29 degrees Celsius) with 65 to 70 percent humidity.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 5 to 6 inchesWeight: 0.5 to 1 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Dark body; pink, red, or orange on second joint of legs; light upper shell with black triangle at front
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  • Honduran Curly Hair
  • Danita Delimont/Getty Images
  • Also referred to as the curly hair or wooly tarantula, this spider is very hardy, slow-moving, and fast-growing. It is a ground-dwelling spider and only needs a small enclosure, such as a 5- to 10-gallon aquarium. The females can live around 10 years while the males live around 4 years.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 5.5 inchesWeight: 0.5 to 1 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Round body; short, dark bristles; long, golden bristles
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  • Pink Zebra Beauty
  • Syrio/Wikimedia Commons/CC By 4.0
  • Like many tarantulas, the pink zebra beauty hails from South America and typically has a calm personality. This hardy beginner spider is often confused with a slightly larger species known as the Chaco golden knee. The females can live up to 25 years while the males live around 10 years.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 5 to 6 inchesWeight: 0.5 to 1 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Primarily dark brown; yellow striped markings
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  • Pink Toe
  • Brent K. Moore/Getty Images
  • If you’re looking for a tree-dwelling species, consider the pink toe tarantula. It’s also referred to as the Guyana pink toe, common pink toe, South American pink toe, and pink-toed tree spider. The females live around 10 years with the males at around 5. This tree-loving spider needs roughly a 10-gallon tank with some height that’s outfitted with branches and other items for climbing.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 3.5 to 5 inchesWeight: 0.5 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Primarily black; pink-orange coloring at ends of furry legs
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  • Brazilian Black
  • Janette Hill/Getty Images
  • As a velvety black spider with a wide leg span, the Brazilian black tarantula makes for a striking pet. The females of this species can live around 20 years with the males at around 5 years. These spiders will eat about a half dozen crickets each week. They prefer temperatures in the 70s and humidity around 60 percent.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 7 inchesWeight: 0.5 to 1 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Primarily solid black; velvety hair
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  • Mexican Red Rump
  • Danita Delimont/Getty Images
  • Mexican red rump tarantulas are generally docile and slow-moving. The females live around 15 years with the males at 5 to 6 years. In the wild, these spiders tend to live near other Mexican red rumps. If you are interested in having multiple tarantulas, this might be a good option.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 6 inchesWeight: 0.5 to 1 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Primarily jet black; dark red hairs on abdomen
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  • Desert Blonde
  • Rick (RaVen) Hirschl/Getty Images
  • Although they are slightly more aggressive than many other beginner spiders, Mexican or desert blonde tarantulas still make a good option for people with limited arachnid experience. The females can live up to 30 years while the males have a 5- to 10-year lifespan. The venom from these spiders is mild unless a person is allergic.
  • Species Overview
  • Length: 5 to 6 inchesWeight: 0.5 to 1 ouncePhysical Characteristics: Blonde hairs on upper shell and lower legs; black hairs on femurs; brown hairs on abdomen

Mexican Red-Knee

The Mexican red-knee is often the first pet for spider enthusiasts. The females can live around 20 to 30 years while the males only live for about 10 years. A 5- to 10-gallon tank is suitable for these tarantulas. And as they’re quite docile, they typically are easy to handle.

Science Photo Library/Getty Images

Species Overview

Length: 5 inches

Chilean Rose

Also known as the Chilean fire tarantula, this spider is popular for beginner arachnid enthusiasts. The females can live up to 20 years while the males only live around 5 years. A typical burrowing spider, the Chilean rose requires a warm, humid environment and is known to be quite calm.

Danita Delimont/Getty Images

Length: 4 to 5 inches

Costa Rican Zebra

Costa Rican zebras are calm, ground-dwelling tarantulas that can move very fast. They aren’t ideal for those who wish to handle their pet spiders. The females can live up to 20 years, with the males at around 5 years. A warm, humid, 5- to 10-gallon tank works for this spider.

Auscape/Getty Images

Mexican Redleg

Female Mexican redlegs can live up to 30 years while the males live around 5 years. These ground-dwelling spiders are typically docile but are easily startled. The recommended temperature range for this species is 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit (24 to 29 degrees Celsius) with 65 to 70 percent humidity.

 Michael D. Kern/Getty Images

Length: 5 to 6 inches

Honduran Curly Hair

Also referred to as the curly hair or wooly tarantula, this spider is very hardy, slow-moving, and fast-growing. It is a ground-dwelling spider and only needs a small enclosure, such as a 5- to 10-gallon aquarium. The females can live around 10 years while the males live around 4 years.

Length: 5.5 inches

Pink Zebra Beauty

Like many tarantulas, the pink zebra beauty hails from South America and typically has a calm personality. This hardy beginner spider is often confused with a slightly larger species known as the Chaco golden knee. The females can live up to 25 years while the males live around 10 years.

Syrio/Wikimedia Commons/CC By 4.0

Pink Toe

If you’re looking for a tree-dwelling species, consider the pink toe tarantula. It’s also referred to as the Guyana pink toe, common pink toe, South American pink toe, and pink-toed tree spider. The females live around 10 years with the males at around 5. This tree-loving spider needs roughly a 10-gallon tank with some height that’s outfitted with branches and other items for climbing.

Brent K. Moore/Getty Images

Length: 3.5 to 5 inches

Brazilian Black

As a velvety black spider with a wide leg span, the Brazilian black tarantula makes for a striking pet. The females of this species can live around 20 years with the males at around 5 years. These spiders will eat about a half dozen crickets each week. They prefer temperatures in the 70s and humidity around 60 percent.

 Janette Hill/Getty Images

Length: 7 inches

Mexican Red Rump

Mexican red rump tarantulas are generally docile and slow-moving. The females live around 15 years with the males at 5 to 6 years. In the wild, these spiders tend to live near other Mexican red rumps. If you are interested in having multiple tarantulas, this might be a good option.

 Danita Delimont/Getty Images

Length: 6 inches

Desert Blonde

Although they are slightly more aggressive than many other beginner spiders, Mexican or desert blonde tarantulas still make a good option for people with limited arachnid experience. The females can live up to 30 years while the males have a 5- to 10-year lifespan. The venom from these spiders is mild unless a person is allergic.

Rick (RaVen) Hirschl/Getty Images