What if you had a pet that you couldn't really… pet? Well, lots of people do. They're fascinated with owning the bizarre and exotic. But should they? Believe it or not, one such untouchable pet that's gaining popularity is the world's largest spider!
Jules Sylvester is one of Hollywood's top exotic animal wranglers and works with all kinds of creatures that slither … hop … wiggle … and crawl. And the Goliath bird-eating spider is one of his all-time favorites.
"It's called a Goliath bird-eating spider from South America," says Sylvester. "Probably the largest spider I've ever seen. I've used them on many different movies. It's furry. Looks like a mammal. If you have the urge to buy a Goliath bird-eating spider, they're available. People breed them in captivity. They run, these days, between $75 to $175."
It's about nine inches across, but they've been known to get up to 12 inches across -- about the size of a dinner plate.
Even though they look tough, Jules says they're actually extremely delicate.
"The abdomen is built like a wine sack, meaning if it falls it could split," he says. "Basically all the fluid pours out of them; they just die. So they don't do gravity very well. They should not be handled. They shouldn't be walked around."
Jules says that females have large, hairy butts and the front has got fangs. And of course, they've got eight legs to grab you with -- and they do bite.
"They're called a ‘bird-eating' spider because somebody saw one once eat a small bird," explains Jules. "It gets two mice a week. So if you have this for a pet, keep in mind it's a predator. It doesn't eat dead stuff. So if you're a bit squeamish, it's the wrong pet for you. It needs a nice vivarium. It should be at almost 100 percent humidity."
Females can live up to 30 years, but males only last about seven.
"For those who are into spiders and tarantulas, this is actually the ultimate pet," says Jules. "And the ultimate untouchable pet!"
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