Keeping a spider, responsibly
Tarantulas can live for many years and have particular needs. Here’s what the British Tarantula Society, the RSPCA and the Royal Veterinary College say about doing it well.
The RSPCA says to do plenty of research before getting an exotic pet, because exotic animals can have more complex needs than a typical pet. RSPCA: Exotic pets The RSPCA warns that exotic pets are often thought of as easy to keep when they are not, and that impulse buying means people often haven’t done their homework. RSPCA: Exotic pet concerns
Before you buy
The RSPCA suggests checking whether there is a specialist vet for the species nearby before you buy. RSPCA: Exotic pets Some exotic pets need a licence or other legal paperwork, so the RSPCA advises checking before getting one. RSPCA: Exotic pets
Captive-bred, legal and traceable
The British Tarantula Society says captive-bred tarantulas are the best option and does not advocate wild-caught ones; captive-bred spiders are more ecologically sound and don’t carry the parasites some wild-caught ones do. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
The RSPCA opposes the wild-caught animal trade and asks keepers to make sure their exotic pet hasn’t been taken illegally from the wild. RSPCA: Exotic pets
In UK wildlife trade law, all Brachypelma and Tliltocatl tarantulas, all Poecilotheria and the Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea) are listed as CITES Appendix II species. legislation.gov.uk: Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 Annex, as it applies in UK law (wildlife trade) · checked 30 Oct 2026 For CITES-listed spiders, the British Tarantula Society asks sellers at its exhibition for proof of legal origin, such as a breeder’s receipt or certificate showing the date of breeding and date of acquisition. British Tarantula Society: The sale of CITES species Ask for paperwork when you buy, and keep it.
Under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976, as updated in 2007, four spider genera are listed: Phoneutria (wandering spiders), Atrax (the Sydney funnel-web and relatives), Loxosceles (recluse spiders) and Latrodectus (widow spiders). legislation.gov.uk: Dangerous Wild Animals Act 1976 (Modification) (No. 2) Order 2007, Schedule · checked 30 Oct 2026
Non-native animals may not survive in the British countryside and it is illegal to release them or let them escape. RSPCA: Exotic pet concerns The Isle of Man is included in the British and Irish checklist; the Channel Islands are not. Lavery 2025, The spiders of Great Britain and Ireland checklist, Arachnology 20(3) (British Arachnological Society) The Isle of Man makes its own laws, so Manx keepers should check the rules with the Isle of Man Government.
Which tarantula?
Britannica notes that many tarantulas are kept as pets, among them the Chilean rose tarantula (Grammostola rosea) and the Mexican red-kneed tarantula. Britannica: Tarantula The Royal Veterinary College says the most commonly kept tarantulas are the Chilean rose and the Mexican red-knee. Royal Veterinary College: Invertebrate vet service
For beginners the British Tarantula Society suggests a ground-dwelling tarantula, such as the Chilean rose (Grammostola rosea) or the curly hair, Tliltocatl albopilosus (previously Brachypelma albopilosum). Its guide was updated in January 2026 for genus name changes. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) · checked 30 Oct 2026
The British Tarantula Society notes that Mexican red-knees have a strong tendency to kick irritant hairs. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
A home
Tarantulas must be housed one to an enclosure: they are highly cannibalistic. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) The Royal Veterinary College says tarantulas are not social animals and should generally be housed alone. Royal Veterinary College: Invertebrate vet service
For a beginner’s ground-dwelling tarantula, the British Tarantula Society suggests a small glass tank of about 30 × 20 × 15 cm, with only one or two small (2–4 mm) ventilation holes in the lid. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) Small tanks suit tarantulas because many species rarely move more than 10 cm from their burrow entrance. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Tarantulas can walk up glass and are strong enough to push a light lid off, so the lid needs to be secure. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
The guide suggests a 3–5 cm layer of substrate, kept drier at one side and moist (not sopping wet) at the other. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) Keep the moist side damp by pouring water onto the substrate; the BTS says this may only be needed about once every couple of weeks. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Tarantulas are essentially nocturnal and all need a dark shelter to hide in by day. The BTS rule of thumb: ‘a happy tarantula is one you can’t see.’ British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) Cork bark makes a good shelter because, unlike ordinary wood, it doesn’t go mouldy. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
A shallow water dish is a good idea, with a piece of rock in it so that crickets can climb out. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) Leave out anything sharp, and fish-tank ornaments such as resin logs with holes: tarantulas can get stuck in them. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Tarantulas dislike disturbance, so the substrate doesn’t need changing often: the BTS says the same substrate is fine for well over a year, as long as leftovers are removed. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Warmth
The guide gives 22–30°C as an ideal range and says to avoid going over 30°C. It suggests a heat mat on the back of the tank, covering about half of it and never placed underneath, so the spider can choose a warmer or cooler side. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Tarantulas hate light, so don’t heat the tank with a bulb, and keep it away from windows: sun can quickly overheat a tank. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Food
Live crickets are the mainstay of what a captive tarantula eats, and prey should be about half the spider’s body length or less. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) The guide says a typical adult tarantula will be content with four large crickets a week, and a well-fed adult in good condition can go over a month without food with no ill effects. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Uneaten dead food should be removed within 24 hours, along with the small balls of leftovers a tarantula leaves after feeding. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Moulting
Adult tarantulas moult about once a year; younger ones more often. Before a moult a tarantula usually stops eating. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) When it stops eating, remove any live crickets from the tank: they can damage a moulting tarantula. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Tarantulas usually moult lying on their backs. If you find one like that, don’t turn it over: a moulting tarantula must never be disturbed. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) An adult’s moult can take up to 24 hours, and touching it could do more harm than good. British Tarantula Society FAQ: Moulting
Don’t feed a freshly moulted tarantula until its new skin has hardened, which may take over a week. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
More on what moulting is on the life cycle page.
Handling
The British Tarantula Society does not recommend handling tarantulas. If it has to be done, for tank maintenance or a vet check, it should be done in a way that doesn’t put the spider or the handler at risk. British Tarantula Society: Handling tarantulas (Martin Nicholas)
Tarantulas are fragile, and falls often kill them. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026) To move a tarantula, the BTS suggests gently coaxing it into a screw-top plastic jar with a long thin stick, such as a knitting needle, touching its back legs. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
Most American tarantulas have irritating hairs on the abdomen that they can kick towards a disturbance, including their owner. The hairs cause itching on skin, so it’s best to avoid contact. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
For bites, see our calm page and the sources it links to; we don’t give advice on them here.
How long they live
- The British Tarantula Society says an average tarantula can be expected to live for about 10 years. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
- The Royal Veterinary College gives a tarantula lifespan of 5–20 years, with females living longer than males. Royal Veterinary College: Invertebrate vet service
The two sources give different figures: a typical average from the British Tarantula Society and a range from the Royal Veterinary College. Lifespan varies with species and sex. Every disagreement we found →
Greener bedding
The BTS suggests experienced keepers consider coir (coconut fibre) or vermiculite mixes instead of peat, because peat is mined from peat bogs, an important habitat. British Tarantula Society: The basic guide to keeping tarantulas (Richard C. Gallon, updated 29 January 2026)
What about jumping spiders?
Jumping spiders hunt by day, using excellent eyesight to spot prey and recognise mates. Australian Museum: How spiders see the world
Jumping spiders are kept as pets too, but we couldn’t find a care guide for them from a spider society, museum, vet school or the RSPCA that we could check, so we don’t give care figures for them here. The advice above on research, sourcing and never releasing a non-native animal applies just the same.
Care details here come from the sources linked beside each one, checked on 30 Oct 2026. Species names change: the British Tarantula Society’s guide was last updated for new genus names in January 2026.
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