Columnist Kathy Lette says her pet phobia began when her sister brought home a python. Picture: Renae Droop. Article in Adelaide Now

Date in the current year: August 8, 2023

From Any Day Guide

Tarantulas are becoming increasingly popular as exotic pets, but a lot of people are still afraid of these large and hairy spiders. National Tarantula Appreciation Day was created to eliminate the stigma associated with these often misunderstood creatures.

Tarantulas are a group of large and often hairy spiders belonging to the family Theraphosidae. There are over 1000 tarantula species that occur in the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, Southern Europe, Africa, much of Asia, and Australia.

Tarantulas are predators that mainly eat large insects, millipedes, centipedes, and other spiders. Large tarantulas are able of killing small snakes, lizards, bats, birds, and mice. However, despite their fearsome appearance and large size, tarantulas themselves are preyed upon by large wasps, giant centipedes, large scorpions, and many vertebrates ranging from lizards and frogs to mammals. In some cultures, tarantulas are considered a delicacy and consumed by humans.

All tarantulas are venomous, but none of them are deadly to humans. The bites of most species of tarantulas aren’t even particularly painful, although they do cause some discomfort comparable to a wasp sting. However, there are tarantula species whose bites are very painful and cause serious discomfort that might last for days. In any case, tarantulas do not attack humans unless provoked.

Many tarantula species are popular as exotic pets. They come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors, are fascinating to watch and relatively easy to care for, and don’t tend to have many health problems. Tarantulas are not social animals; they are fine when left to their own devices, which makes them perfect pets for those who prefer quiet pets that don’t need much attention.

One thing you should know about keeping a pet tarantula is that the bodies of many New World tarantula species are covered with the so-called urticating hairs that can cause allergic skin reactions and serious eye inflammation. So you need to handle tarantulas with care and be careful not to rub your eyes after touching a spider without washing your hands first.

National Tarantula Appreciation Day was created in 2019 by Palp Friction Tarantulas, a US-based pet store that specializes in tarantulas. The main goal of the holiday is to celebrate these beautiful spiders and encourage people to consider taking them as pets.

National Tarantula Appreciation Day was created in 2019 by Palp Friction Tarantulas, a US-based pet store that specializes in tarantulas.

How to observe National Tarantula Appreciation Day? If you’re a proud tarantula owner, share photos and videos of your pet on social media with the hashtag #NationalTarantulaAppreciationDay to raise awareness of the holiday and show that tarantulas aren’t as scary as they are thought to be. You can introduce your friends to your pet, but keep in mind that arachnophobia is real, so don’t force anyone to bond with your tarantula if they’re not ready to.

If you don’t have a pet tarantula but have been meaning to get one for a while, this is the perfect day to finally do it! Tarantulas are relatively low-maintenance pets, but you still need to ensure that they have everything they need to live comfortably in your home.