What is the difference between an Old World and a New World tarantula? Here at Spider Advisor, we get asked this question quite a lot and the answer, while maybe not so obvious at first, is totally geographical, although there are some major differences in behaviour between the two which will be covered in depth below.
Simply put, Old World tarantulas originate from the eastern hemisphere (that being the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe plus Australia) whereas New World tarantulas come from the western Hemisphere (the continents of North and South America, including Central America).
As you can see, the answer to that question is relatively straightforward, but let’s break it down a little and compare the REAL differences between the two.
As there are over 900 (and counting) species, we cannot possibly cover them all but our guide should give you a rough idea.
Are Old World Tarantulas Dangerous?
All old world tarantula’s have extremely potent venom and are extremely poisonous to animals. A bite from one of these gentle giants could prove fatal to pets. It is a myth that these spiders can cause death to humans.
The reason for such poisonous venom is that they lack urticating hairs so therefore rely on biting as their defence mechanism.
Despite the fact they can’t kill you, it is never recommended to handle an old world tarantula. The most potent old world tarantula is the Poecilotheria, a genus of tarantulas native to India and Sri Lanka.
Are New World Tarantula’s Dangerous?
Not all new worlds are dangerous.
They tend to be hairier, thus possessing the ability to urticate (“kick hairs”) so their venom does not need to be as potent as old worlds.
Basically, when threatened, they use their back legs to kick a cloud of small, sharp, hairs into the air. These hairs can get into your eyes, nose, throat (if you breath them in) or merely in contact with your skin, causing significant irritation.
Therefore, although their bite does not pose such a risk to humans (although it is still painful), if they kick hairs at you, it will make you very uncomfortable.
Which is Faster? New World or Old World?
Now we all know one of the things that arachnophobes hate about spiders is their speed.
In this case, Old World tarantula’s are far speedier their new world cousins. Old Worlds are extremely fast, ready to bolt at the slightest disturbance.
New worlds tend to be calmer, and crawl around at a much slower pace, although this is not the rule for all, it is totally dependent upon the individual.
TOP TIP: If you are wondering about the temperament of a new world tarantula, take a look at his butt (abdomen). If he has a bald spot, he is likely be quite unfriendly.
Would an Old World Tarantula Make a Good Pet?
If you are already an established tarantula keeper/breeder, then yes, Old World tarantula’s make great pets.
However, there are a few things to bear in mind. Firstly, as we have already discussed, they are FAST. Think Speedy Gonzalez on acid.
They are also extremely venomous and far more aggressive than their new world counterparts.
So what could possibly be the benefit of owning an old world?!
Well, they’re likely to be larger than New World tarantula’s and some of them (especially the Poecilotheria metallica) are stunning to look at.
Check out this video of a Poecilotheria metallica being very carefully handled. He’s braver than I am!
https://youtube.com/watch?v=bUB89JEp178%3Fstart%3D7
If you would like to know more about the above tarantula, we have a whole article on the Poecilotheria metallica here.
Aside from their looks, for tarantula keepers they are more diverse in their behaviour, hardy, and more challenging to keep.
Would a New World Tarantula Make a Good Pet?
Most definitely. If you are new to the tarantula keeping world, or you’re in the market for an exotic pet, and don’t have the time, money or space to look after one, a new world tarantula could be ideal for you.
As we have shown, they’re not as poisonous, fast, or agressive as old worlds, some of them in fact are quite docile. We have an article on how to care and maintain your first tarantula here. This is for the Arizona Blond.
Of course, if you dislike tarantulas and consider yourself an arachnophobe, then keeping a tarantula as a pet in the first place is probably not the best idea, but at least you have a bit more knowledge as to the differences!