I don't particularly have a problem with spiders, but I wouldn't want one as a pet. I don't mind observing them in nature though. I came across a wild tarantula in Mexico that was about 8 inches... They don't freak me out, but that doesn't mean I want to get up close and personal. My fiance had a T when he was younger. When we were deciding what animal to get, he wanted either a tarantula or a pacman. Needless to say, we got a pacman.