Tarantulas

Tarantulas are pretty undemanding pets and in most cases are not as dangerous as many people believe. Some of the most popular ones are quite docile and as long as you are careful are not likely to hurt you -- in fact their venom has been compared to that present in a bee sting. That is not to say I'd want to take chances on being bitten by a tarantula of any sort. However -- and many people are surprised by this -- handling a tarantula is more dangerous for the tarantula than the handler, because even a fall from a short distance can seriously injure a tarantula. There are a few species that are pretty docile and best for beginners, as explained in Tarantulas as Pets.

Photo © Lianne McLeod