You may remove that one singular pet from their custody but you're also giving them money and more or less paying them to go out and get more because you've proved that people will buy them. The best tarantulas for beginners are typically the ground dwellers, such as the curly hair tarantula. They tend to move more slowly, which makes any necessary handling easier. If you're looking for a tree-dwelling species, consider the pink toe tarantula. Feed your arachnid once every day or 2, at night. However, in general tarantulas are kept in 76°F-82°F enclosures with humidity levels between 60% and 80%. 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. With big pet stores you can't really offer help like this, but in a smaller establishment (especially if they already know you, double if it's for being "the spider weirdo"), then there's no harm in offering to help. Furthermore, molting is how the spider grows to a larger size, by shedding its old exoskeleton and producing a new one. We spider enthusiasist simply do not have the surmountable numbers to sway the opinions of a corporation of that size. Keep your arachnid in a terrarium of at least 10 gallons. However, tarantulas aren't the best choice if you want a pet you can handle, as they do have venomous bites. The females live around 15 years with the males at 5 to 6 years. Lifespan: Emperor scorpions can live up to 8 years; female Chilean rose hair tarantulas up to 15 years; males live 5-6 years, Genus: Scorpions and tarantulas are arachnids — part of the spider family, Caution: They’re venomous: tarantulas can bite, and scorpions sting with their tail, Did You Know: They molt their exoskeleton as they grow. If you've read through this post and still feel like a tarantula is the right pet for you, that's great! I only got a T about a week and half ago so I don't know everything. Otherwise, it typically will spend a lot of time in a seemingly restful state. However, if you're inexperienced, you should take a bit more caution before purchasing your new pet. It's very attractive, active, affordable, and doesn't show many signs of aggression. How do I keep my emperor scorpion or Chilean rose hair tarantula healthy? They said it came from their breeder like that and no one there was comfortable enough with spiders to move it. i just applied for a job online at petsmart as a pet caretaker (take care of pets, sell them, etc.) And when I went to my LPS (can't remember if it was PetCo or PetSmart), the Avic they had was in a terrestrial enclosure. Housing a tarantula is very simple, and an optimal enclosure can be set up within a short amount of time. I doubt they'll have the breeder come in to fix it, apparently he lives far out of town. Members must sign in for discount to apply. Tarantula bites are mostly non-fatal but can cause itching, swelling, or irritation. Later on in this post we lay out more specifics about how to care for your tarantula and keep them healthy. Expect to pay between $25 and $75 on average. As stated, tarantulas are delicate, so you wouldn't want your pet getting hurt in the process of feeding. After your scorpion or tarantula is settled in, contact a veterinarian if you notice any of these symptoms of distress: Pets purchased at PetSmart are part of our exclusive Vet Assured™ program, designed by PetSmart veterinarians to help improve the health and well being of our pets. The females can live up to 20 years while the males only live around 5 years. In general, the size of the food should be smaller than the tarantula's body. Unfortunately it's corporate policy so telling employees how wrong it is doesn't make a difference. However, if your house is a bit colder, you'll need to provide supplemental heating through either a space heater or a very gentle heat lamp that doesn't emit light. They tend to have docile personalities and are slow movers. I went to get some crickets for my Sheila and asked the lady how often they feed the tarantulas here.