With animal lovers, there’s usually a right pet for everyone. That said, you might wonder why some choose pet spiders.

To some, a tarantula’s beauty is it’s selling point. Those tawny browns, rosy pinks and cobalt blues can be downright pretty. Other folks are drawn more to its interesting behavior—like the way it hunts and ingests its insect prey at lightning speeds.

No doubt tarantulas are not cuddly like dogs and cats. In fact, it’s best not to handle them at all unless absolutely necessary. But because they eat less often than most other pets and hardly soil their tank, they require less care.

If taking home a spider sounds interesting to you, start doing your homework. You’ll need to learn which tarantulas are best for beginners and ways to keep yourself—and your eight-legged friend—safe and sound.