How long do tarantulas live?

Male tarantula spiders can live upwards of seven years, while females can live up to 30. Their longevity is aided by the fact they molt, or shed, their exoskeletons to enable them to grow and repair their bodies.

When a tarantula molts, it is able to replace internal organs such as its stomach lining. They are even able to replace lost limbs during this process. Over the years, they have become very popular pets, and while their bite does hurt, their venom is less dangerous than the venom of a honeybee. Most are burrowers and feed primarily on insects that wander by their burrows, although some of the larger types of tarantulas feed on small lizards.