Should You Catch + Keep Colorado Tarantulas as Pets?

If you've been in Colorado for long enough, it's likely that you've heard of the mass tarantula migration that takes place in the southeastern region of the state each fall.

These tarantulas, which are all mature males, migrate en masse for many miles in search of a mate.

Read More: Are the Tarantulas that Migrate through Colorado Dangerous? |

On the other hand, keeping tarantulas as pets is quite popular in some circles, and purchasing a pet tarantula to keep will typically set you back at least $100.

So, with all of the tarantulas migrating through Colorado, why wouldn't it be a good idea to catch and keep some as pets?

Why It's a Bad Idea to Keep Migrating Wild-Caught Colorado Tarantulas as Pets

Keeping tarantulas as pets is easy and pretty cheap. After the initial purpose of the specimen, its enclosure, water dish, and substrate, all it really requires is a full water dish and some inexpensive crickets to munch on every now and then.

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However, the tarantulas that migrate through Colorado each year will not make good pets. As mentioned above, these spiders are mature males which means that whether or not they end up finding a mate, their days are numbered.

When a male tarantula matures, it grows tiny hooks on its front two legs which are used in mating. Most species of tarantulas are cannibalistic in nature and in the wild, the female will typically kill and eat the male immediately after mating.

In captivity, even if the mature male spider survives mating through human intervention or doesn't mate at all, once the male tarantula "hooks out" it won't be long until it dies of natural causes.

So, technically you can catch and keep a mature, male tarantula migrating across the state, but it would be better for all parties if you simply left them alone.