Creature Feature: Could a Tarantula or Scorpion Be Your Next Pet?

Easy Does It: Everyday Care

Tarantulas and scorpions are low-maintenance creatures.

They don’t require a lot of upkeep because of their:

• Manageable Size – Most tarantulas and scorpions stay relatively small and won’t grow out of their enclosures. In fact, you don’t need a large habitat at all because they’re not wanderers. They’re ambush predators who like to sit and wait for their food to come to them.

• Unfussy Diets – For tarantulas and scorpions, “what’s for dinner” is an easy enough question to answer. They’re not picky eaters and will accept a wide variety of feeder insects (e.g., crickets) for food.

• Solitary Lifestyle – You never have to exercise a tarantula and scorpion. They prefer being left alone and shouldn’t be handled.

Did You Know: Fun Facts

Tarantulas and scorpions are not insects, they’re arachnids. Insects have three main body parts and three pairs of legs. In comparison, arachnids have two main body parts and four pairs of legs.

But that’s not the only thing you should know about them:

• Scorpions glow in the dark. Yep. Shine a black light on them and watch them glow.

• Scorpions keep their babies on their back until the kids have their first molt and can protect themselves.

• In the wild, if food is scarce, scorpions can make their metabolism so slow, they can survive off of one insect per year.

• A baby tarantula is called a spiderling.

• Even though most tarantulas stay small, some do get quite large like the Goliath birdeater. With a leg span of up to 10 inches and weight of up to 6 ounces, they’re the biggest arachnids in the world.

• A female tarantula can live 20 years or more in captivity.

If you’re thinking about getting an exotic pet, put tarantulas and scorpions on your list (they’re available at select Pet Supplies Plus stores). While they may look creepy at first, their quiet, clean and docile nature are easy to love.