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TABLE OF CONTENTS

  • Introduction 1
  • Glossary of Tarantula Terms 2
  • Chapter One: Understanding Tarantulas 5
  • Facts About Tarantulas 6
  • Summary of Tarantula Facts 7
  • Basic Tarantula Information 7
  • Origin and Distribution 8
  • Chapter Two: Things to Know Before Getting a Tarantula 11
  • Do You Need a License? 12
  • How Many Tarantulas Should You Keep? 13
  • Do Tarantulas Get Along with Other Pets? 14
  • How Much Does it Cost to Keep a Tarantula? 15
  • What are the Pros and Cons of Keeping Tarantulas as Pets 17
  • Pros for the Tarantula 18
  • Cons for the Tarantula 18
  • Chapter Three: Ten Best Tarantula Pets for Beginners 21
  • 1. Chilean Rose (Grammostola rosea) 22
  • 2. Mexican Redleg (Brachypelma smithi) 24
  • 3. Mexican Redknee (Brachypelma smithi) 25
  • 4. Honduran Curly Hair Tarantula (Brachypelma albopilosum) 26
  • 5. Pink Zebra Beauty (Eualaestrus campestratus) 28
  • 6. Costa Rican Zebra (Aphonoplema seemanni) 30
  • 7. Pinktoe Tarantula (Avicularia versicolor) 31
  • 8. Green Bottle Blue Tarantula (Chromatopelma cyaneopubescens) 33
  • 9. Brazilian Black Tarantula (Grammostola pulchra) 35
  • 10. Chaco Golden Knee (Grammostola pulchripes) 37
  • Chapter Four: Purchasing Your Tarantula 39
  • How to Choose a Reputable Tarantula Breeder 40
  • Tips for Selecting a Healthy Tarantula 42
  • Chapter Five: Caring for Your New Tarantula 47
  • Setting up the Tarantula Habitat 48
  • Temperature and Humidity Requirements 51
  • Keeping Your Tarantula Happy and Healthy 52
  • Chapter Six: Feeding Your Tarantula 55
  • The Basics of a Tarantula’s Diet 56
  • Gut Loading Crickets 57
  • Tips for Feeding Your Tarantula 58
  • Chapter Seven: Tarantula Handling and Temperament 61
  • Tarantula Temperament 62
  • Tips for Handling Tarantulas 64
  • Behavioral Characteristics of Tarantulas 66
  • Defensive Mechanisms 67
  • Feeding 68
  • Spinning Silk 69
  • Molting 69
  • Sexual Maturity among Males 70
  • Chapter Eight: Breeding Your Tarantula 71
  • Learning Basic Tarantula Breeding Information 73
  • Sexing Tarantulas 75
  • Tips for Breeding Tarantulas 77
  • Raising Tarantula Spiderlings 81
  • Chapter Nine: Keeping Your Tarantula Healthy 89
  • Common Conditions Affecting Tarantulas 91
  • Dehydration 91
  • Losing a leg 93
  • Bleeding and injuries 94
  • Bad molting 95
  • Internal infection from mold and fungus 96
  • Parasites 97
  • Tarantula Care Sheet 99
  • 1.) Basic Tarantula Information 100
  • 2.) Habitat Requirements 101
  • 3.) Feeding and Diet 102
  • 4.) Breeding Information 102
  • Index 105
  • Photo Credits 111
  • References 113

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