Elise: Life With A Pet Tarantula

I’ve been part of many icebreaker activities with basic questions such as, “Where is the coolest place you’ve visited” or “Do you have any pets?” However, I’ve never been part of one where “a pet tarantula” was given as an answer! I was pleased to interview TikTok creator Braden Polley, the proud owner of a Chilean Rose Hair tarantula named “Elise.” He has completed extensive research on tarantulas and was happy to share his expertise with us! Read below to find out what life is like with a tarantula in the house!

How did you become a tarantula caretaker?

“I acquired my current tarantula from a coworker at my wife’s workplace. He had to part ways with his tarantula and his bearded dragon, and my wife wanted them both! I was hesitant at first because I didn’t want another pet to take care of. While we eventually passed the bearded dragon to another owner that was more equipped to care for it, I had come to find that the tarantula was very interesting and wanted to keep it. She was a unique pet which made for good conversation, and tarantulas are very low maintenance which makes them less stressful to care for.”

Tell us about Elise herself. What kind of tarantula is she? Is she aggressive?

“My tarantula is known commonly as a Chilean Rose Hair. When discussing the species with other hobbyists, it is standard to use her Latin name, grammostola rosea. Tarantulas can be divided into categories based upon their habitats and place of origin. Tarantulas are classified as Old World or New World. Old World species are from Africa/Asia and are generally larger and have more significant venom. New World species tend to be less aggressive and, aside from their bite, may release urticating hairs from their abdomen as a form of self-defense. Urticating hairs cause itchiness in humans that may last for several hours to several days.

Aside from regional differences, tarantulas are also categorized as terrestrial or arboreal, with some displaying behaviors that are a mix between the two. Terrestrial tarantulas spend their time on the ground or burrow beneath it. While my tarantula does not burrow or use the “hide” I’ve provided in her habitat, some tarantula species will spend upwards of 90% of their time burrowed deep into the tunnels they’ve dug. Terrestrial species are often slower to some degree and are not fantastic climbers; as a result, their habitats should be filled roughly 2/3 of the way with substrate so that any fall from the walls or lid will not prove fatal.”

Okay, but isn’t she just a giant scary spider?

“Tarantulas are part of the family Theraphosidae, which is of the spider order. Effectively, they are a subset of spiders. Like other arthropods, a tarantula is an invertebrate that relies on an exoskeleton for muscular support. Most tarantulas are quite vulnerable to falling great heights or suffering blunt trauma as a result. As a tarantula keeper, it is important to be wary of this when interacting with your tarantula because any sudden movements or impulsive reactions on the owner’s part could cause harm to the creature. Tarantulas tend to differ from other spiders mostly due to size and “hairiness.” There are currently over 1,000 tarantula species identified!”

What does your daily life/routine look like with her? What does she eat?

“Tarantulas require very little maintenance. Once their habitat is established as an adult, it will not need a weekly, monthly, or even yearly cleaning. The occasional removal of waste or dead bugs is all that is required for hygiene. For diet, most adult tarantulas will only eat once every 1-2 weeks. Some species, including my grammostola rosea, will occasionally go on a “hunger strike” in which they will refuse to eat for long periods of time. It could range from 3 weeks to several months, or possibly over a year in extreme cases. Their diet can consist of gut-loaded crickets, roaches, and worms of numerous types.

Many tarantula caretakers will possess self-sufficient insect farms. The only setup I have is a superworm farm. It is a stack of three mobile drawers, each with a different purpose. The top drawer contains super worms in their adult beetle state. The bottom of this drawer is a metal mesh screen that allows for the beetle’s eggs to sift through to the second drawer. The middle drawer is where the superworms themselves grow and live. Both the top and middle drawer contain dry oats as substrate and food for the insects and a bowl for gelatinized water that won’t drown the insects or evaporate as quickly. Finally, the bottom drawer is used to hold extra dry oats, a set of long tongs for feeding, and any additional supplies. The top drawer can be opened and closed quickly to let the superworm eggs sift through to the second drawer, allowing the unit to maintain a steady supply of insects even though some are being removed as tarantula food”

Wow, I feel like I’ve learned a lot. I’ve never seen a tarantula outside of the zoo. Don’t you have kids? Aren’t these dangerous pets?

“Most people believe that tarantulas are dangerous to humans – this is not true. While tarantulas are venomous, their venom is not deadly to humans. Even Old-World tarantulas, whose venom is considered “medically significant,” are not deadly to humans. A bite from a New-World tarantula will feel comparable to that of a wasp sting, while Old-World tarantulas may leave the individual with a fever or chills while the venom runs its course. Neither will result in death. Not only are tarantulas not deadly to humans, but they are not even aggressive. The most defensive tarantula species are just that – defensive. They are opportunistic hunters: this means that they do not hunt in the traditional sense. Instead, they lie in wait for prey to come to them, and that is when they pounce. Because of this strategy, tarantulas do not wish to waste energy on creatures that are not clearly prey, and do not generally want to use venom as a method of self-defense. They don’t know when their next meal will come along, so they conserve energy as cacti cling to moisture in the desert. Tarantulas don’t want to bite anyone; they simply want to be left alone.

I’d like to eventually possess 3-5 or more tarantula species and upgrade my toolkit as my collection grows. Tarantulas can live a long time and some species, such as my own grammostola rosea, can live up to 25 years. This makes acquiring another tarantula a long-term commitment that nobody needs to rush toward too quickly. This is especially true if you buy a tarantula online because they are typically available only as spiderlings or juveniles (not adults). Tarantulas that have not reached maturity will likely eat more often and require changes in habitat as they grow. This makes acquiring new tarantulas a bit more high maintenance than the mature ones that an owner may already have. Due to this, I consider it best to start out slow and gradually add to your skill and collection and enjoy all of the milestones associated with the hobby.”

To follow Braden and Elise’s escapades, find @tarantula_central on TikTok! For more information on caring for pet tarantulas, Braden recommends visiting The Tarantula Collective channel on Youtube. Thanks for reading!