Our Tarantulas really have become pets. Some are more loved than others, but that is mostly because they were our first and they are kept in a prominent place where everyone can see and (sort of) interact with them. Charlotte and Zippy Bling Bling are the two most watched and they are interesting and beautiful.
Charlotte was a surprise because she is loaded with personality. She is not a "pet rock" as many of her particular species are referred to. She is not a Tarantula you want to handle, but she is active, unwaveringly brave in the face of my maintenance tools and very very colorful.
Zippy is cute, fuzzy and metallic blue/green and she is finally (as she ages) beginning to show her pink hues as well. Zippy we DO handle on occasion. She is not aggressive at all and we are comfortable with her crawling all over us.
Sounds odd letting a spider, especially a large metallic blue, green and pink spider, crawl all over you. It feels neat though. Most people probably think "ugh, bug creepy crawlies!" Tarantulas are both surprisingly substantial, yet feathery light at the same time. It is difficult to explain. They also have sticky feet. Yeah, as they walk on your skin you can feel each foot stick then lift off... it is a cool and strange sensation at the same time. The only other issue with letting a spider crawl around on you is you are bound to find some webbing on you. That is only natural since spiders frequently drop "drag lines."
There are many interesting anatomical points of interest with Tarantulas (and spiders in general). Tarantulas are not considered "true" spiders because of several features. Their mouth parts (chelicerae) parallel to one another, while true spiders chelicerae move against one another. Tarantulas also have 2 pairs of book lungs and NO trachea. Trachea allow "true" spiders to mechanically breath, whereas book lungs are passive and simply absorb oxygen as it hits them.
Locomotion is another interesting facet of their anatomy. Tarantulas only have muscles in their lets that can pull their legs inward toward their body, and forward and backward. They have NO muscles to extend their legs. So how do they do it? Hydraulics. Spiders maintain fluid pressures in their legs that are quite impressive and they extend their legs by increasing or decreasing their blood pressure.
What else... molting! Watching a Tarantula (probably any spider, but Tarantulas are large and easier to watch) molt is impressive and a wonder in itself. Prior to molting another, soft, exoskeleton forms inside the current one. As the exoskeleton grows the spider exudes enzymes that eat away the connective tissues between the old and new exoskeletons. Once that process is complete, the Tarantula flips over onto its back (usually) and begins the arduous and dangerous process of molting.
It is a very difficult process. The spider literally has to split its old covering open, then squirm its way out (think about how you would get out of a wet suit if you could not use your hands). The animal often has to rest and once the molt is complete will definitely rest for awhile on its back before flipping back over.
Molting can be dangerous too. Limbs can get stuck, or if the enzyme phase did not complete correctly or wholly, parts of the old exoskeleton might stick to the new. This is always tragic, and the tarantula often suffers severe injuries as it tries to escape its old skeleton. It can prove fatal.
Another interesting fact: when a Tarantula molts, it also sheds its esophagus and pumping stomach! Thing about that! Your esophagus and stomach pulled out through your mouth when you molt. For this reason Tarantulas do not eat for several days after molting (they need to wait for all their parts to harden up).
After the molting process is complete, the spider grows quickly. All the extra fluids stored in their abdomen is used to expand their now-soft exoskeleton. Because of this recent molts often appear to have shrunken abdomens.
I could go on and on but I should probably stop here for now. Hope you enjoyed my little post about my Tarantulas and if you are ever in the hunt for an easy to care for, mostly non-allergenic and clean pet, consider a Tarantula. I don't think you would be disappointed.
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