How to Choose the Right First Tarantula for You
Last updated: October 26, 2025
The best first tarantula depends on your personality, patience, and expectations, not just what others recommend.
Getting your first tarantula is an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming with all of the options and information out there. When I got my first tarantula, I purchased the only one available at any pet store near me. In a way it was very simple back then, but I'm grateful for all the options available now. With this guide, I intend to cut through the idea of a "beginner list" and instead teach you how to decide which tarantula is the right choice for your specific situation.
What this guide is not going to do is tell you today what tarantula to get. Instead, it is going to equip you with the proper tools to research different species and decide which one makes sense for you.
TL;DR: Choosing Your First Tarantula (and Why There’s No “One Right” Answer)
- The best first tarantula depends on you: your comfort level, expectations, and reasons for wanting one.
- There’s no universal “beginner tarantula.” Almost any species can be a good first choice for the right keeper. That said, most keepers are not the "right keeper" for a defensive old-world.
- Docile, slow-moving species are often recommended for beginners, but more active or defensive species can be rewarding too if you prepare properly and fully understand the risks.
- Think about how much interaction, visibility, and maintenance you want before choosing.
- Once you’ve narrowed it down, use the free TarantulaList.com search tool to compare vendors, prices, and availability across hundreds of listings all in one place.
Pictured: My juvenile Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens, an active and colorful tarantula often recommended for new keepers.
Questions to Ask Yourself
Before looking at different species and what they have to offer, it's good to ask yourself a few questions to understand why you want a tarantula. Knowing the answers to these will help you to determine the suitability of a particular species.
- Am I afraid of spiders and want this as a way of getting over that fear?
- Do I love spiders and want to be able to observe them every day?
- Am I interested in keeping unusual animals, and the rarity is the appeal?
- Is the challenge of a tarantula part of the appeal?
- Am I comfortable with needing to practice care techniques before ever getting the tarantula?
You can easily imagine how someone trying to get over a fear will find different species suitable than someone who is looking for a challenging pet. That's why traditional "beginner" lists oftentimes miss the mark.
The "Traditional" Beginner Recommendations
These species are frequently recommended for beginners, and that is for good reason. I think a lot of these could be a good fit for a lot of first timers, I just think sticking to only traditional beginners can be limiting. This is by no means an exhaustive list, just a handful of species I see mentioned frequently. In this section I'll go over some of the common recommendations and their pros and cons.
| Species | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Brachypelma hamorii (Mexican Red Knee) | Calm, hardy, long-lived | Slow-growing, some individuals can be quick to kick urticating hairs |
| Grammostola pulchra (Brazilian Black) | Docile, beautiful, easy care | Expensive, slow to mature |
| Aphonopelma chalcodes (Arizona Blonde) | Native to the US, low-maintenance | Hides often |
The reason these are so often recommended isn't because they are the best fit for every new keeper, but rather because they are rarely a bad fit for a new keeper. Let's look at them through our earlier framing of the questions to ask yourself.
- Am I afraid of spiders and want this as a way of getting over that fear? If you are, these are likely a great entry point. They are relatively docile, easy to care for, and overall just a big spider to get used to being around.
- Do I love spiders and want to be able to observe them every day? These may not be the best choices. I think all tarantulas are beautiful in their own way, but these species are pretty likely to spend more time than most sitting perfectly still.
- Am I interested in keeping unusual animals, and the rarity is the appeal? These are all pretty common in the hobby for a reason. If rarity is what you're after, these probably aren't it.
- Is the challenge of a tarantula part of the appeal? As the old joke goes, these are slightly easier to care for than a cactus. If you want a challenge these aren't it.
- Am I comfortable with needing to practice care techniques before ever getting the tarantula? This won't be necessary here. It is always good to do your research and know what to expect, but practicing tong technique beforehand is not needed.
"Intermediate" or "Advanced" Species
Before going further, I want to be crystal clear. I am not making the case that most people should start with one of these species. I am simply making that case that under some conditions there are people who will do well and enjoy these species as a first tarantula. If you do not feel 100% confident, and you have not done a huge amount of research (some might say an unreasonably huge amount of research), I cannot recommend starting with a defensive old-world. Are we clear? Good, let's continue.
| Species | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens (Greenbottle Blue) | Vibrant colors, heavy webber, active, frequently on display | Slightly skittish and fast |
| Pterinochilus murinus (Orange Baboon Tarantula / OBT / Orange Bitey Thing) | Hardy, fast-growing, visually striking | Highly defensive and fast, more significant venom |
| Lasiodora parahybana (Salmon Pink Birdeater) | Very large size, fast-growing, good feeder | Can be defensive and requires large enclosure |
| Poecilotheria regalis (Indian Ornamental) | Beautiful patterning, impressive display species | Fast, arboreal, more advanced care needs, more significant venom |
You can probably imagine, going through our list of questions again, some of these may be a better first tarantula for some people.
- Am I afraid of spiders and want this as a way of getting over that fear? If you are, these are not a great choice. To a new keeper, their behaviors can seem more unpredictable and thus harder to adjust to.
- Do I love spiders and want to be able to observe them every day? These may be much better choices for someone who wants to observe spiders every day. The Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens and Pterinochilus murinus specifically are both heavy webbers with striking looks and behaviors. The Poecilotheria regalis is arguably one of the most beautiful spiders in the hobby, and a sight to behold. The Lasiodora parahybana is just a huge spider, there's no other way to say it, and it grows to that size relatively quickly.
- Am I interested in keeping unusual animals, and the rarity is the appeal? If you're a rarity chaser these may or may not be it. It really depends on what context you are using for rare. All of these are relatively common in the hobby, but still uncommon as first tarantulas.
- Is the challenge of a tarantula part of the appeal? These will likely do it for you.
- Am I comfortable with needing to practice care techniques before ever getting the tarantula? I think it is wise to spend a lot of time with this before getting some of these species, especially the Poecilotheria or Pterinochilus. This means having a large bin that will fit the entire enclosure comfortably in it. Practice opening the enclosure, manipulating items within from a distance with tongs, reaching for a catch cup, etc. This is outside the scope of this article, but read care guides and watch how experienced keepers handle these tarantulas, and practice it yourself before getting one of these species.
So What Tarantula Should I Get?
I'm hoping that if you've made it this far in the article, you will be better equipped to answer that question for yourself. I personally started with a Grammostola rosea, not necessarily because that is the exact tarantula I wanted, but because that is what was available to me in 2006.
Now, living in the future, we have so many more choices available. Hundreds of species can be ordered online through reputable vendors, shipped to you with FedEx overnight. We no longer are stuck with just "what the pet store has" or, if we were really lucky, "what the nearest expo's one or two tarantula vendors have." Now you, intrepid reader, really get the choice of what makes the best first tarantula for you. I have intentionally not made any specific recommendations in this article, but if you want a recommendation from me, feel free to send me an email. My contact info can be found on the about page.
Once you have made that decision, be sure to get a fair price as well. We offer a free price comparison tool at our home page, TarantulaList.com. Simply type in the name of the species you want, and get a quick comparison of which vendors carry it and for what price. That way you can easily order online or compare with the prices of your local pet store if you'd rather buy there.
Conclusions
Every tarantula could be a good beginner tarantula for the right person, but there is a reason certain species so frequently show up on those beginner lists. If you want to simply avoid a bad situation, any species of that list should be good. If your goal is to have the best first tarantula for you, do a bit more research, figure out why you really want this, and find the best fit. It could even be one from the beginner lists, but knowing why you chose a specific species besides just "it's for beginners" is definitely worth it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing Your First Tarantula
What is the best beginner tarantula?
There’s no single best tarantula for beginners, it depends on your personality and comfort level. Many people start with calm, hardy species like Brachypelma hamorii or Grammostola pulchra because they’re easy to care for and forgiving of mistakes. But more active or defensive species can also be excellent first choices if you’re prepared and know what to expect.
Are old-world tarantulas suitable for beginners?
Old-world tarantulas (from Africa, Asia, and parts of Europe) tend to be faster, more defensive, and have more potent venom than new-world species. Most beginners start with new-world species, but old-world tarantulas like Pterinochilus murinus can still be a good fit for confident keepers who are prepared to work with faster, more reactive spiders.
How much does a beginner tarantula cost?
Most beginner tarantulas cost between $30 and $100, though rare species can be more expensive. Enclosures, substrate, and basic supplies usually add another $50–$100 to the total. Always check price comparisons before buying, using a tool like TarantulaList.com can help you find the best deal and evaluate fair prices.
How do I know which tarantula is right for me?
Ask yourself what you want out of the experience. Do you want a calm, display species you can observe daily? A challenge that helps you grow as a keeper? Or a rare species to showcase your collection? Matching your motivations to the species’ temperament, visibility, and care needs is the key to choosing the right tarantula for you.
Can I handle my first tarantula?
Most tarantula keepers do not handle their spiders often, if at all. Some species are more tolerant of handling than others, but handling always carries a risk of injury (to the spider) or a defensive bite. Focus first on safe husbandry. While we do recognize that some people will want to handle their tarantulas, that is outside the scope of this article.